Re-test for 2020: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 'L' USM (Full-frame (45mp) & APS-C (32.5mp)

Let's go back and take a look at a classic (although not necessarily universally celebrated) Canon 'L' lens, which is still being made and sold today at a surprisingly high price. Is it good enough for modern, high-resolution digital cameras?

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All sample pictures taken by me on Canon EOS 6D, EOS R5, and EOS M6 Mark ii cameras.

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Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[cameron-w]

I love watching these videos even for lenses I’m probably not gonna buy. They’re just so quality.

[photographybydaniellee]

This is my exact setup. I’m still in love with this lens even after upgrading to the R5. Those are great tests and fun to watch, but they are things that my customers will never ever notice. This lens has a quality that transcends technical specs. It took my photography to a new level when I started using it years ago on my 5D Mark III. Also, I love the size. It is a joy to shoot with. It also adapts seamlessly with the R5. This lens is the best investment that I have made as a photographer.

[nathanquintanilla]

I really like your reviews Chris, I've watched them for years. However I am increasingly disappointed with everyone's reviews of lenses which focus on sharpness and contrast alone. When I started this is also all I focused on, but I've come to learn that Image quality is so much more that sharpness. I wish you and others would start to talk how images look over how sharp they are. I work in the film/video industry, and this is something the professionals there have known for decades. Many photography lenses are sharper then lenses used in cinema, but that doesn't mean they make a nicer looking image. This lens has a lot of flaws, but I love the images it creates, so for me it's worth more than a sharper lens that doesn't look as good.

[nicolask.]

I'm glad you're commenting on the actual light transmission of bright aperture lenses. In fact, I think it merits mention on a lot of f/1.4 lenses, as well.

[Skux]

This lens is a lot better on mirrorless than it ever was on DSLRs. My lens has severe back focusing on my 5D Classic, and moderate back focusing on my 5D IV, even at f/1.2 when the focus point isn't affected by its (separate) focus shift issue. But on the RP the focus is dead-on at f/1.2.

[mhsvz]

This is my favorite walk-about lens at night on my Canon 5D4... the images are magical. Definitely a legacy lens.

[MikeMena]

Thanks for doing these! Even though these are old lens, for the very first time, these L lenses are becoming affordable for the very first time to many of us!! So these "old" lens are becoming extremely relevant AGAIN (or for the first time to many of us)!! THANKS!

[nckotene]

Stats are one thing, but there is a quality about the images from this lens which cannot be measured. My favourite lens (on my 5D IV) for sure.

[rafeekwoods]

I really enjoy your reviews and appreciate the time you put in. That being said, I own both the RF and EF 1.2 lenses and I’d say the EF has a dreamy character that the more surgical RF lens lacks. Technically, there are much better lenses but this EF 1.2 will still have a place in my camera bag.

[alexdavid]

Lens has character softness that brings skin look nice, unlike other lenses overly sharp that you spend so much time photoshoping blemishes

[austinrichards]

I have this lens and still love it. It's far from perfect technically, but the way the images look in the end is great.

[jetblakink]

I used this lens once, I borrowed it from my son, who was using it for a film project he was shooting while at Uni. I’d heard all the misgivings about it previously, so was interested to try it out with some street photography. In short, absolutely loved it... the images were gorgeous shot at 2.0, with syrupy backgrounds and vivid colours. At 600 grams I found it substantial, but not too heavy. I would love to add it to my lens Arsenal, but not at that silly price. Canon really need to do a price drop on some of these older L lenses, now that the R is taking over... 🤔

[future]

The RF 50 1.2 is probably the first high end AF Canon 50 worth buying.

[mamari_ph]

I'd really like to see a re-test for the sigma 18-35 f1.8 with the new cameras

[Paullebbon]

Hi Chris. Lovely lens review as always. You mentioned right at the end to buy the Sigma f1.4 Art lens for half the price of the Canon f1.2 but I bought the Sigma lens first and returned it to buy the f1.2 because of the massive weight difference. The Sigma weighs over twice that of the Canon f1.2 and so you should have mentioned the weight difference to your viewers. I find the Canon f1.2 lens used at f2 or f4 to be even sharper than the Art lens and with the weight difference it makes it much more enjoyable over long periods of time. Thank you for re-testing the older lenses on the R5 it is great watching the reviews again but updated. I bought the M6 mk2, R5 and R6 and love all of the cameras, R6 for video and R5 and M62 for stills. Excellent cameras. Thanks again for all of the great videos.

[marcb.]

Please another Test with the EF 85LII.

[lorenzofortunati]

I watched lots of reviews by you in the last years, I respect you but I think here you missed the shot. I've been extensively using this lens for two years on an Eos R and it's become a favourite. The colors are the best ever seen, straight out of the camera. Portraits are amazing. Its got some limits though (color aberration being the worst), but as long as you know its character and understand how to extract its juice, it delivers (I always use strobes on my subjects). Shooting a subject like that dolphin with the sea on the background is a no-go for lots of reasons and I guess you know it, what did you expect? Also the best bokeh it's more often at 1.8 than 1.2. The lens has a vintage look (love it), but stopped at f4 or narrower aperture it's sharper than the Canon 24/70 markII, so it's definitely sharp.

[alexanderpopov]

Might be not the best lens for shooting test charts, but great for portreture. I think it is not about ultimate sharpness but the image it produces. Nice piece of glass.

[niladri.ssv.bhattar]

Hey Chris. I'm just starting with my photography and buying RF lenses is a pain in the bank. I was wondering would be kind enough giving this lens to me if it is of no use to you?

[everydaythingschannel]

Thanks for this review. Very interesting to see how this lens performs at your new EOS R5. I would also be curious how the Sigma 50mm 1.4 ART would perform at the R5.