The Canon RF-mount system is a mirrorless camera lens mount developed by Canon for its full-frame mirrorless cameras, beginning with the EOS R series. Introduced in 2018, the RF-mount system represents Canon’s commitment to transitioning from DSLR to mirrorless technology.

The RF-mount system was designed to maximize the potential of mirrorless cameras while maintaining compatibility with Canon’s extensive EF lens lineup through adapters. The RF-mount has a flange focal distance of 20mm and a throat diameter of 54mm, which allows for improved communication between the camera and lens, as well as innovative lens designs.

Strengths:

• Large throat diameter enables the development of lenses with high optical performance and fast apertures
• Short flange focal distance allows for a more compact camera and lens system
• Compatibility with Canon’s EF and EF-S lenses via adapters, providing access to a vast range of existing lenses
• Rapidly expanding native RF lens lineup, catering to various user needs and budgets
• Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus system offers fast and accurate focusing capabilities with RF lenses
• Integration with the well-established Canon ecosystem, making it easier for existing Canon users to transition to the RF system

Weaknesses:

• Limited native RF lens lineup compared to more established systems, although the lineup is continually expanding
• Adapting EF lenses can lead to slightly reduced performance compared to native RF lenses, particularly in terms of autofocus speed and accuracy
• The cost of entry for some RF lenses can be high