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Review: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Posted on January 4, 2021January 3, 2021 by Jordan Steele

Contents

  • 1Construction and Handling
  • 2Autofocus
  • 3Image Quality
  • 4Conclusion
  • 5Image Samples

Conclusion

Pros

  • Solid build quality and good handling despite the size
  • Very accurate autofocus
  • Exceptional sharpness right from f/1.2
  • Beautiful, creamy bokeh
  • Very good control of chromatic aberration
  • Almost no distortion
  • Excellent color and contrast

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Large and heavy
  • High vignetting

Canon came out swinging with the RF 50mm f/1.2L, and managed to produce an exceptional optic. The lens is extremely sharp right from f/1.2, with beautiful bokeh, and makes for an outstanding lens for portraiture, event photography and more.

I was really impressed with the lens in the time I had with it. It consistently produced images that were pleasing and impactful, and I loved picking up the camera every time I went to shoot with it. The high cost is going to limit appeal for the general consumer, but this is a staple lens for any portrait or event photographer who uses the RF system.

The RF 50mm f/1.2L is big and heavy, and it is extremely expensive at $2,299 US, but it is also the best normal lens I’ve ever had the pleasure to shoot with. A truly outstanding lens.

Image Samples

Click on an image to enlarge.

Snow Portrait – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L @ f/1.2, 1/1250s, ISO 100
Deer in the City Lights – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/8s, ISO 200
Morning in the City – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/2.8, 1s, ISO 200
Winter Morning – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/11, 10s, ISO 100
Snow Portrait – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/1000s, ISO 100
Deer Viewing Lights – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/10s, ISO 200
On the iPad – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/60s, ISO 640
Snowy Bench – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/15s, ISO 125
Winter Reflections – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/11, 30s, ISO 100
Morning Mist – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/4s, ISO 200
Snow Portrait – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/1600s, ISO 100
Bike Rack – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/30s, ISO 200
Columbus at Night – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/2.5, 1/2s, ISO 200
Winter Grass – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/25s, ISO 400
Nyx – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM @ f/1.2, 1/50s, ISO 400
If you enjoyed this review, check out my other reviews in the Review Index

Pages: 1 2 3

2 thoughts on “Review: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM”

  1. J says:
    January 6, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Are you still planning on reviewing the Voightlander 50mm F2 APO ?

    Reply
    1. Jordan Steele says:
      January 6, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      Thank you for the reminder! I had been unable to locate a copy for review for so long, and LensRentals didn’t have one for quite some time, so it sort of dropped off my radar. Yes, I very much want to review that lens. It looks like I can rent it now, so will look to get that for review here soon!

      Reply

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