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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.
Richard @ CanonNews
Richard has been using Canon cameras since the 1990s, with his first being the now legendary EOS-3. Since then, Richard has continued to use Canon cameras and now focuses mostly on infrared photography. Richard is the founder and editor of CanonNews since 2017, and has worked as a writer on CanonRumors and other websites in the past.
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