Canon RF 50mm F/1.2 USM L

Specifications01

MountCANON RF

Focal length50mm

Max aperturef/1.2

TypeCinema · Portrait · Prime

Weight950 g

Filter size77 mm

Physical length108 mm

Min focus distance0.4 m

Max magnification0.1923

Aperture blades10

Optical elements15

Groups9

Lens hoodpetal-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)

Sensor coverage43.3 mm

Additional Info02

SpecialL USM

Category["Canon","Canon RF"]

Keywords["Canon","Prime","Standard"]

Review AuthorKlaus

Other Featuresweather sealing, configurable control ring, fluorine coating

Review VerdictLet's start with a disclaimer: Any verdict has to be very preliminary at this stage - it's our first review using the EOS R, after all. Also, keep in mind that the 30-megapixel sensor is rather average in terms of resolution today. That all being said, it is quite obvious that the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 USM L is an awesome lens ... with a similar awe-inspiring price tag. In relation to other lenses in this class, the performance is already superb at f/1.2. Yes, the outer image region is not truly stellar, but it's impressive nonetheless. The image quality is extreme at medium aperture settings - across the image frame, that is. Low lateral CAs contribute to the very high image quality perception. Image distortions are generally no issue. Vignetting is, though - at least in its uncorrected state. There is some heavy light-falloff at f/1.2 and f/1.6, but to be fair - that's to be expected. Most users will not (should not?) buy the lens for its sharpness but for its shallow depth-of-field capabilities. While not truly exceptional, the bokeh is very good, with a smooth rendition in the focus transition zone. Out-of-focus highlights are nicely rendered in the image center, less so towards the image corners. However, that's a physical limitation really. We were also very impressed by the very low bokeh fringing. Yes, you may spot some traces at f/1.2, but it's not really relevant anymore from f/1.6 onward - and that's a very rare characteristic. Thumbs up for that. In terms of mechanical qualities, there are no real weaknesses. The lens is built to professional standards, including weather sealing. The AF is surprisingly fast thanks to Canon's dual-pixel AF and the Ring-type USM drive in the lens. You won't really miss a DSLR in this respect (in this specific case, at least). Unlike on DSLRs, you also don't need to worry about AF accuracy anymore. You may think that the additional control ring at the front of the lens is a bit of a gimmick, but it has grown on us during our field trip. Given its optical and mechanical qualities ... as well as its uniqueness in the EOS R system ... it is, of course, easy to highly recommend the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 USM L ... assuming that you can afford it at least. If you'd like to support our work, please consider shopping for this or other lenses via one of the following partners: * Amazon US * Amazon Europe * B&H US * Adorama US * KEH US (used gear)

Review Published2018-12-13T04:34:00+00:00

Optical Construction15 elements in 9 groups including 3x aspherical & 1 UD elements

Field Notes02

Canon RF 50mm F1.2 USM L is a 50mm prime lens for the Canon RF mount, using a large f/1.2 maximum aperture for low-light and shallow depth-of-field portraits.

AI-assisted summary — verify against linked sources

Catalog note · source: opticallimits