Overview of the Canon RF F 1.4 L lenses

Canon EOS R series users now have not one, but multiple choices for superb f1.4 lens performance. Each of these lenses is an f1.4 L series lens, with distinct focal lengths that provide a range of tremendous visual options. And these are hybrid lens designs, providing distinct benefits to still image photographers as well as serious video users. The choices in the VCM L series lens line are a 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. These hybrid lenses share a common exterior design, meaning that video users can maintain consistent balance when mounted in rigs or gimbals. They share the same length and a common 67mm filter size. Their manual focus rings are placed consistently, along with a click-stopped Canon RF lens control ring. Again, this simplifies both operation and quick lens changes for the advanced video user. And they each have a manual aperture or iris ring on the lens barrel, allowing smooth manual iris adjustments during video. With certain EOS cameras, manual aperture adjustments can be made with this lens ring during still image shooting. But these lenses begin with strong performance for still image users. Their f1.4 maximum apertures and their superior image quality make them each terrific choices for still image applications. Optical designs are superb, each optimized for its focal length. The designs follow Canon's L-series tradition, liberal use of specialized aspheric and ultralow dispersion glass in each lens, and not just traditional multi-coating, but also specialized advanced coating technologies to minimize flare in strong backlit conditions. Each uses Canon's powerful Voice Coil Motor, or VCM, as the focus drive system, a drive motor that can swiftly and silently move groups of lens elements for super smooth video focusing as well as extremely quick transitions during still image shooting. A big part of these hybrid lenses is what the f1.4 maximum aperture brings, both in visual potential to isolate subjects and throw backgrounds out of focus, as well as low light performance. At f1.4, each of these lenses gives a two-stop advantage in low light capability compared to f2.8 lenses. In low light, that can be the difference between working at ISO 1600 instead of 6400. The 20mm and 24mm f1.4 VCM lenses give two possibilities for wide and ultra-wide angle imagery with superb correction of linear distortion and excellent, sharp rendering, even wide open at f1.4. For more classic, traditional wide-angle coverage, the RF 35mm f1.4 L VCM lens is the answer. This is the sharpest 35mm lens for full-frame cameras that Canon has made to date, based on MTF chart results from Canon engineers. Likewise, the RF 50mm f1.4 L VCM lens is absolutely superb optically, rivaling the output from Canon's highly regarded 50mm f1.2 L RF lens. The 50mm is a classic, standard lens focal length, and the excellent performance of this VCM version, along with that f1.4 maximum aperture, makes this an obvious choice for critical video and still image creators. Finally, the RF 85mm f1.4 L VCM lens brings all these virtues to a portrait-length telephoto lens. Much lighter than the 85mm f1.2 lens options in the RF system, this lens combines the benefits of simply superb optical sharpness and contrast with a fast f1.4 maximum aperture. And it shares the common exterior design, same length, ring positioning, and nearly the same weight and balance as the 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm VCM lens options. These fixed focal length VCM lenses rely on image stabilization in the camera body on those EOS cameras so equipped, there is no built-in optical IS. This allowed for a more compact, integrated overall design, internally and externally. But the lack of IS in the lens is about the only shortcoming. Otherwise, I repeat that these are among the sharpest lenses at these focal lengths that Canon has ever made and the f1.4 maximum lens aperture opens many doors to still image and video applications. Whether you consider investing in the VCM L series lenses as individual additions to your still imaging camera system or as a cinema-oriented set of lenses, these are a tremendous way to expand the imaging possibilities with your Canon EOS mirrorless cameras.