Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM Review: PCMag's Excellent Verdict

The lens has received a good rating of 4.0 out of 5 (Excellent) from PC Mag. It has been praised as an excellent lens, offering bright f/1.4 glass, a compact, lightweight build (3.9 x 3.0 inches, 1.3 pounds), and fast, quiet autofocus via Canon’s new Voice Coil Motor (VCM). It excels as a lens, delivering sharp, crisp image reproduction and excellent center-resolution from f/2 onward, even on the 45MP EOS R5 Mark II.

Key Features of the Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM

Full-Frame Format | f/1.4 to f/16
Extremely Fast Design, Advanced Optics
Voice Coil Motor (VCM) for Rear Focus
Nano USM for Fast Floating Autofocus
Manual Iris/Full-Time Focus Rings
Air Sphere (ASC) Coating
Two Aspherical Elements, One UD Element
Rounded 11-Blade Diaphragm
Weather-Sealed Design

It also has good edge resolution when stopped down, has low focus breathing, is weather-sealed, has a fluorine coating, and features a range of convenient controls on the lens barrel, including a click-stop aperture ring, a control ring, and a function button.

Pros

Light and compact for an F1.4 prime
Bright, background-blurring optics
Fast, quiet autofocus
Dust, splash, and fluorine protection
On-barrel controls for video and photography

Cons

Prone to flare and ghosting in backlit scenarios
Characterful background blur can be divisive

The review states, “It’s not perfect, of course—its flare resistance and bokeh have their quirks—but it’s a very flexible lens nonetheless, good for everyday photography, portraiture, and video work on the Canon RF system. It’s certainly at the premium end of the market, with a $1,549 MSRP and no alternatives from other makers, but it’s also a lighter, less expensive alternative to the f/1.2L. PCMag recommends the RF 50mm F1.2 L USM if you’re a high-budget producer or the budget-friendly RF 45mm F1.2 STM if you’re on a budget, as an Editors’ Choice.”

Bottom line from PCMag

The Canon RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM is an overall excellent performer, even if its busy bokeh and flare-prone optics fall short of technical perfection. That said, it's a lighter lens to carry than the RF 50mm F1.2 L USM, nearly as bright, and a lot less expensive, plus it delivers fast, quiet autofocus, and shows minimal breathing, making it just as good for video as it is for photography. Even so, it falls a little short of Editors' Choice marks. We still prefer the RF 50mm F1.2 L USM for pros and enthusiasts with a big budget for photo gear, or the RF 45mm F1.2 STM for creators who want a bright standard prime that doesn't break the bank.

This lens, therefore, becomes a strong contender if you want the benefits of the f/1.4 aperture without the bulk, especially if you’re a hybrid shooter. Just be careful of flare when shooting towards bright lights.

Purchase the Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens, on sale with $50 off the normal price.