Canon unveiled the 28mm f/2.8 STM, a new pancake-style prime lens for the RF-mount, alongside the new R100 mirrorless camera. While it was released at the same time as the APS-C R100, Canon’s new pancake does cover a full-frame 35mm sensor, which means it will work with any of the company’s mirrorless RF-mount cameras. When mounted to a camera with an APS-C-sized sensor, its corresponding focal length is 45mm.

The lens is being promoted as being perfect for various photographers, from amateurs to experts.

Eight elements, including three aspherical lenses and Canon’s Super Spectra Coating (SSC), are built into the new lens from Canon. These elements are grouped into six groups. SSC is a multi-layered coating, according to Canon, that is intended to eliminate flare and ghosting brought on by reflections on the lens surface and create a durable hard lens surface with stable characteristics. The result, according to the company, has the best color balance.

The 28mm f/2.8 STM has a seven-bladed aperture diaphragm, allowing it to have an aperture range of f/2.8 through f/22. As implied by the lens’ name, autofocus is powered by a gear-type stepping motor (STM), which Canon claims enables smooth autofocus operation even when recording video.

It shouldn’t be surprising that the lens lacks optical image stabilization, given the optic size (2.7 by 1.0 inches), as there isn’t much room inside for anything other than the optics and the autofocus motor. However, it does offer an electronic manual focus ring with an unrestricted rotation angle.