Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM vs Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM

Last Updated & Fact Checked:  April 19, 2026

Are you trying to decide between the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM?

Product Versus will provide you with all the product details so you can quickly compare the facts to find which product is right for you – the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM or the Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM – and find out exactly what the differences are.

Both the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM are quality products, so read on to find out which one is best for your needs!

Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM quick facts

Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM quick facts

Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM product details

Bestseller No. 1
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM Wide Angle Lens - Fixed (Renewed)
  • Focal length and maximum aperture: 24mm 1:2.8
  • Lens construction: 11 elements in 9 groups
  • Diagonal angle of view: 84 Degree
  • Rear focusing system with USM focus adjustment
Bestseller No. 2
Canon EF-S 24MM 1.2.8 STM
  • Wide-angle lens for Canon APS-C cameras (equivalent to 38mm on a full-frame camera)
  • Slimmest and lightest lens of the EF-S series
  • Circular aperture (7 blades) delivers beautiful, soft backgrounds
  • Full-time manual focus allows manual focus adjustment while in One Shot AF mode
  • Minimum focusing distance of 0.5 ft./0.16 m; maximum magnification of x0.27
Bestseller No. 3
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens | Compact Wide-Angle Prime with Bright f/2.8 Aperture & Smooth Autofocus | Perfect for Travel, Street & Everyday Photography (9522B002) + Shoulder Bag + 64GB Card
  • Canon USA Authorized. Items Include: Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens, Canon EOS 200ES Shoulder Bag, 64GB Memory Card
  • Designed for APS-C DSLRs, the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM provides a 38.4mm equivalent focal length, delivering a natural perspective ideal for everyday shooting. Its compact pancake design makes it highly portable, ensuring you always have a versatile prime lens at hand for street, travel, and lifestyle photography without adding bulk to your kit.
  • A bright f/2.8 maximum aperture allows shooting in low-light conditions while providing creative control over depth of field. This balance of speed and portability makes the lens a flexible option for both stills and video, offering the ability to isolate subjects with smooth background blur or capture sharp, clear shots in dimly lit environments.
  • The optical design incorporates one aspherical element to reduce distortion and spherical aberrations, resulting in sharp images with high accuracy and minimal optical flaws. A Super Spectra coating further improves image quality by minimizing lens flare and ghosting, enhancing contrast and delivering vibrant, color-neutral results even in challenging lighting conditions.
  • Powered by Canon’s STM stepping motor, the autofocus system offers fast, near-silent operation that is well-suited for both photography and video. Complemented by a rear focus system, optimized algorithms, and full-time manual override, this design ensures precise, responsive focusing while maintaining smooth performance for video shooters who need quiet operation.

Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM product details

Bestseller No. 1
Canon EF-S 24MM 1.2.8 STM
  • Wide-angle lens for Canon APS-C cameras (equivalent to 38mm on a full-frame camera)
  • Slimmest and lightest lens of the EF-S series
  • Circular aperture (7 blades) delivers beautiful, soft backgrounds
  • Full-time manual focus allows manual focus adjustment while in One Shot AF mode
  • Minimum focusing distance of 0.5 ft./0.16 m; maximum magnification of x0.27
Bestseller No. 2
Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens (9522B002) + Filter Kit + Cap Keeper + Cleaning Kit + More
  • Items Include: 1 x Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens, 1 x 52mm 3 Piece Filter Kit, 1 x Lens Cap Keeper, 1 x Cleaning Kit
  • Recognizable by its truly thin profile, along with an advanced autofocus motor, the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM from Canon is a 38.4mm-equivalent prime designed for APS-C-format DSLRs. Its optical design features one aspherical element, which helps to reduce distortion and spherical aberrations for high sharpness and clarity. A Super Spectra coating has also been applied, which helps to minimize lens flare and ghosting for improved contrast and color fidelity in bright lighting conditions.
  • Short normal-length prime is designed for use with APS-C-format Canon EF-S-mount DSLRs and provides a 38.4mm equivalent focal length. Modestly bright f/2.8 maximum aperture benefits working in low-light, affords control over depth of field, and helps to keep the overall physical design compact and lightweight. Pancake form factor measures less than 1"-thick for an ultra-portable, versatile design.
  • Key Features: EF-S-Mount Lens/APS-C Format - 38.4mm (35mm Equivalent) - Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22 - One Aspherical Element - Super Spectra Coating - STM Stepping AF Motor - Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm
  • Compatibility: Axis Communications Q16 Q1659, Blackmagic Design URSA Broadcast G2, 70D, 77D, 7D, 7D Mark II, 80D, 90D, SL1, SL2, SL3, T5, T5i, T6, T6i, T6s, T7, T7i, T8i, Work Zone Cam WZ1800G
Bestseller No. 3
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens, Black
  • 50 millimeter focal length and maximum aperture of f/1.8
  • Great for portraits, action, and nighttime photography; Angle of view (horizontal, vertical, diagonal): 40º, 27º,46º
  • Minimum focusing distance of 1.15 feet (0.35 meter) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x
  • Stepping motor (STM) delivers near silent, continuous move Servo AF for movies and smooth AF for stills
  • 80 millimetre effective focal length on APS C cameras, 50 millimetre on full frame cameras. Lens construction: 6 elements in 5 groups

New products & alternatives to the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM

New
Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L is USM Lens | L-Series Standard Zoom with Image Stabilization, Macro Mode & Fast Autofocus | Perfect for Portraits, Weddings, & Travel Photography (6313B002) + Bag + 64GB Card
  • Canon USA Authorized. Items Include: Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens, Shoulder Bag, 64GB Memory Card
  • The Canon EF 24–70mm f/4L IS USM is a professional L-series zoom lens covering wide-angle to short telephoto focal lengths with a constant f/4 aperture, ideal for landscapes, portraits, and general photography.
  • Its advanced optical design includes two ultra-low dispersion and two aspherical elements to minimize aberrations, distortion, and color fringing, producing sharp, high-contrast images. A Super Spectra Coating reduces flare and ghosting for accurate color reproduction.
  • Built-in Optical Image Stabilization compensates for up to four stops of camera shake, enabling crisp handheld shots in low light. A ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) and internal focusing system ensure fast, quiet, and precise autofocus with full-time manual override.
  • A dedicated macro mode provides up to 0.7x magnification and a minimum focusing distance of 7.9", offering impressive close-up capabilities. Weather-sealed construction, fluorine coatings, and a rounded nine-blade diaphragm enhance durability and image quality.
New
Canon EOS R5 C Mirrorless Cinema Camera Kit with RF 24-70mm f/2.8L Lens Bundle | 8K Cinema RAW, Full-Frame Sensor, Advanced AF & Pro Video | for Film & Production + Adapter EF-EOS R + 64GB Card + Bag
  • Canon USA Authorized. Items Include: Canon EOS R5 C Mirrorless Cinema Camera, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens, Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R, 64GB Memory Card, Battery, Camera Bag
  • The Canon EOS R5 C is a hybrid mirrorless camera designed for professionals who need both high resolution still photography and advanced cinema video in one compact body. With a simple switch it functions as a full featured photo camera or a full frame cinema camera capable of internal 8K recording.
  • Equipped with a 45 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC X processor the R5 C delivers exceptional image quality fast performance and accurate color for demanding workflows including weddings documentaries journalism and drone based shooting.
  • In video mode the camera records internal Cinema RAW Light in 8K up to 60 frames per second along with advanced options such as 4K up to 120 frames per second Canon Log 3 HDR support timecode and unlimited recording thanks to an active internal cooling system.
  • Included with the camera is the Canon RF 24 70mm f 2.8 L IS USM lens a professional grade standard zoom that covers wide angle to portrait focal lengths and features a constant bright aperture optical image stabilization fast quiet autofocus and weather sealed L series construction for reliable everyday use.
New
Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM Lens | Compact Wide-Angle Prime with Fast f/2.8 Aperture, Smooth STM Autofocus & Lightweight Design | Ideal for Travel, Street & Everyday Photos (6128C002) + 64GB Card + Bag
  • Canon USA Authorized. Items Include: Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM Lens (Canon RF), 64GB Memory Card, Camera Bag
  • Ultra-compact and lightweight, the Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is a pancake-style wide-angle prime designed for everyday shooting on full-frame RF-mount cameras. Its slim profile makes it an ideal companion for travel, street photography, and casual video work, allowing creators to keep their camera portable without sacrificing image quality or creative flexibility.
  • A bright f/2.8 maximum aperture supports available-light shooting and offers effective depth-of-field control while maintaining the lens’s exceptionally small form factor. The classic 28mm focal length delivers a natural wide-angle perspective for stills and video, and provides an approximate 45mm equivalent field of view when used on APS-C cameras.
  • Optical performance is driven by three aspherical elements that help minimize distortion and maintain sharpness across the frame. Super Spectra Coating further enhances contrast and color accuracy by reducing flare and ghosting, ensuring clean, detailed images even when working in bright or backlit environments.
  • Designed for smooth operation, the gear-type STM autofocus motor delivers fast, quiet, and precise focusing well suited to video and stills. Close-focusing capability down to 9.1 inches with 0.17x magnification adds versatility, while a configurable Control Ring allows intuitive adjustment of exposure settings directly on the lens.
New
Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 is USM Lens | All-in-One Superzoom with Image Stabilization, Wide 10x Zoom Range, & Fast USM AF | Ideal for Travel & Everyday Photography (3684C002) + 64GB Card + Camera Bag
  • Canon USA Authorized. Items Include: Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM Lens, 64GB Memory Card, Camera Bag
  • Designed for photographers and creators who value flexibility, the Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM covers an expansive 10x zoom range from wide-angle to super-telephoto. This single-lens solution makes it easy to capture landscapes, portraits, travel scenes, wildlife, and everyday moments without stopping to change lenses, ideal for fast-paced and unpredictable shooting environments.
  • A built-in Optical Image Stabilizer provides up to five stops of shake compensation, helping deliver sharper still images when shooting handheld at slower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths. For video creators, Dynamic IS adds enhanced stabilization that actively reduces motion while walking or moving, resulting in smoother handheld footage without the need for external stabilizers.
  • Canon’s Nano USM autofocus system combines the speed of ring-type USM with the smooth, quiet performance of an STM mechanism, making it equally effective for still photography and video recording. Fast subject acquisition, fluid focus transitions, and near-silent operation ensure reliable performance for action, portraits, vlogging, and cinematic-style video work.
  • Enhancing handling and creative control, the lens features Canon’s customizable Control Ring, which can be assigned to adjust aperture, ISO, or exposure compensation directly from the lens barrel. This intuitive design allows faster exposure changes without diving into camera menus, supporting efficient shooting in dynamic lighting conditions and fast-moving scenarios.
New
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 is STM Lens | Versatile Standard Zoom with Image Stabilization, Smooth STM AF & Compact Design | Great for Travel & Everyday Photography (4111C002) + 64GB Card + Bag
  • Canon USA Authorized. Items Include: Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM Lens, 64GB Memory Card, Camera Bag
  • Designed for everyday versatility, the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM covers wide-angle to short-telephoto focal lengths in a compact, lightweight form. Its flexible zoom range makes it ideal for travel, street photography, family moments, and casual video work, allowing creators to move seamlessly between landscapes, portraits, and close framing without changing lenses.
  • A built-in Optical Image Stabilizer provides up to five stops of correction, helping reduce camera shake when shooting handheld in low-light conditions or at longer focal lengths. This stabilization improves sharpness for stills and produces smoother footage for video, expanding creative flexibility when shooting without a tripod in real-world environments.
  • The STM stepping motor delivers smooth, quiet, and precise autofocus performance, making the lens well suited for both photography and video recording. Focus transitions appear natural and unobtrusive, while full-time manual focus override allows fine adjustments when needed, supporting confident operation for vloggers and hybrid content creators.
  • A dedicated Center Macro Focus position enables close-up shooting with a 1:2 maximum magnification and a short minimum focusing distance, ideal for capturing food, details, and small subjects. The configurable Control Ring adds intuitive access to exposure settings, while the rounded seven-blade diaphragm produces pleasing background blur.

Our conclusion on the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM vs Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM

Both the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM are high quality products and we are sure you will be happy with either one. In the end it comes down to your budget and the value for money you are looking for.

Either way, the Canon EF 24mm F/2.8 IS USM and the Canon EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM are both excellent products that will more than do their job!