Canon RF 50mm F1.2L Review: Part 1 | 4K

Want to support this channel? Use these affiliate links to shop at:

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Keywords:  Canon RF 50mm 1.2, Canon RF 50mm F1.2L, Canon 50 1.2, RF 50 1.2, Canon RF 50mm Review, RF, 50mm, 1.2, 1.2L, F1.2L, Review, Canon EOS R, EOS R, Canon, Mirrorless, Dustin Abbott, Review, Hands-On, Sample Images, Video, AF, Resolution, Demonstration, Focus, Bokeh, Portrait

[TherconJair]

"Go shovel snow, I need to do a video!" 😂

[Junpyo]

As an owner of this lens, it's a fantastic lens on its own class and you can't get such great lens at f/1.2. Very premium feeling and sharp too as well. The only downside would be the weight since it's like carrying two full-frame body in a bag.

[pierrefonjallaz]

Excellent analysis of this wonderful lens. I may have trouble concentrating on the video because of the guy sweeping the snow in the background... Thank you for this remarkable and useful work.

[camerapunk]

I remember asking if the rf 50mm would ever get reviewed. Good things come to those who wait 😊

[lsaideOK]

I like your videos so much I even watch them when the subject matter is of no purchasing concern for me. I thought the guy shoveling snow in the background was hilarious! But, the snow adds so much to the images. A great set of pics particularly those of your model/daughter. You are so fortunate to have such a willing and photogenic daughter at hand! Your mastery of these conditions is evident.

[Xetenor]

Really lovely shots at F/1.2 outdoors. That background separation is so gorgeous! There is also speculation that sigma will release a 50 1.2 and 85 1.2. They did it first with the 35 1.2 so can't see why they couldn't do it with a 50 or 85mm! These canon RF lenses surely as specialty lenses for those with deep pockets :-D There is something unique though having eye AF with a large aperture lens. It truly changes the experience shooting and REALLY lets the photographer put more time on composition than trying to always nail focus. Shooting with F/1.2 and F/1.4 lenses with eye AF on mirrorless is an absolute dream! Looking forward to your next part!! Thank you dustin.

[dimitristsagdis]

Can’t wait for the rumoured canon pro-bodies to gives a descent home to all this wonderful glass.

[xkben]

I know people say these new lenses are huge, but I grew up using my dad’s camcorder from the 90’s, so they all feel decent and small to me haha!

[Francisfphoto_]

You should do a long term review of this RF 50 with the R5 now

[adam.foster]

Absolutely fantastic review! Can’t wait for part 2

[zackchoy]

Thanks for the great review !~ Gonna miss the rendering of the EF 50mm f/1, 2L and EF 85mm f/1, 2L

[Stanlyok]

Waiting for that Part 2! Hope you have Otus to compare this lens to :D

[mariap]

Waited for this review for so long ! Next we need a comparison between 85 DS and non DS

[scottstorck]

I am excited about getting this lense. I think however my first RF purchase will end up being one of the F2.8 zooms.

[phatrix]

dustin there reviewing the lens and my best guess is his son in the background clearing off the snow lol

[marioplus]

still using C50/1.8II on my RP body;however, this one is sooo much better! thx for the review!

[gerardferry]

they have started giving away the R body, its down to five cereal box tops

[klaymoon]

Nice detailed part 1 review! Bokeh looks particularly beautiful to my eyes.

[trannel]

I guess my photo insanity is complete. But I'm aiming for the 50mm f/1.2 + Canon R5 this year.
I'm currently in love with the old EF 85 f/1.4... but for adding more variety to my street shots I would love to give this fifty mm a shot. The quality simply looks ridiculous :D

[Carbonisation]

Sorry for yet another long and messy comment.


Even though I don’t have the R on hand anymore, I held on to this lens. It’s simply phenomenal.

I owned the RF 15-35mm as well, but I was fairly disappointed after seeing soft corners even at f/5.6 and f/8 in many of my images. Hopefully it was just my copy, but of course that’s to be expected in most wide angles. I just didn’t think that it would be that visible, and it will be even more so on a future high resolution RF camera.

Just waiting for a future Canon mirrorless camera. I don’t think the R5 is for me, as I rarely do video, and it’s probably going to be very expensive with all of those features and it being the flagship camera for the RF system. Not $3500-4000 expensive but even more so! That’s at least what most think. It would be a steal in the range above.

Hoping to see a more photo-based high resolution camera sooner or later that probably will be cheaper. Hopefully not too overkill, as I already feel the compromises in the a7R IV’s sensor. Currently got the Sony a7R IV, as can be understood, but I might swap it out with a Canon if they play their cards right. The image quality is superb, but I always feel like something is missing.

Always fell for the EF lenses and now also the RF lenses. There are only few lenses for the FE mount that I would ever consider getting. Some of them are certain Zeiss Loxia, Zeiss Batis and Voigtländer lenses. And then there is Sigma 14-24mm, GM 24mm, GM 135mm and Planar 50mm f/1.4.

I always felt like something was missing when I used Canon, and the same is true with Sony, but that might change with a Sony-like Canon body in terms of features and image quality, but with their usual fantastic ergonomics and great L lenses.

At the same point, I really enjoy top grade manual focus lenses from Zeiss and Voigtländer, so I hope that they will join the RF mount. Might also adapt some from the EF mount with some other EF lenses.

The a7R series spoiled me after the disappointment of an announcement of the R in late 2018. But at this point, the RF system starts to form a solid mount that could work out for my use. With a proper Canon mirrorless, some RF lenses and a twist of top grade manual focus lenses, this could be just perfect.

I guess time will tell. There are many options, but it’s hard to stick to one. There will always be something missing. If money wasn’t an object, I would probably use 3 different systems just to use some specific lenses and because of the look and feel (look and feel of ergonomics and images) of some cameras and lenses.

For example, my favourite ultra wide angle lenses by physical apperance are the RF 15-35mm and the Zeiss Milvus 15mm, but I prefer the more even image that the Sigma 14-24mm produces. I feel like the RF lenses feel even more plasticy than the EF lenses, but it’s probably a part of the shock resistance design. Another example could be the 35mm focal length, whereas I prefer the Milvus 35mm in terms of physical apperance, construction and rendering, but I prefer the 35mm f/1.4L II in an absolute sense. I also like the Loxia 35mm, but in terms of size and weight and also sharpness and color reproduction when stopped down. Probably about the same as the Milvus. Some of the Voigtländer options on Sony FE are also very delicious as the 21mm, 40mm and 65mm. The 10mm and 15mm also seems very interesting, but they are even more so designed for compactness over “optical perfection”. The color reproduction and rendering are nice, though.