I’ve written several times over the past few years about the lenses I’d most like to see for the Canon RF mount, and always the one lens that tops that list is a huge upgrade from Canon. popular EF 35mm f/1.4 USM II lens.
This lens is an essential prerequisite for many professional and amateur photographers and is one of, if not and, the most versatile prime lens for the widest range of photographic work. Perfect for landscapes, weddings, fashion, street photography, documentaries and much more, like many photographers, the 35mm lens is the lens I always keep on my camera, so I’m ready for almost any moment.
The EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM was launched in 2015, three years before we saw the Canon EOS R and its RF mount that would usher in a new era. Since then, Canon has continuously released 46 RF-mount lenses, although despite popular premium models such as the 50mm f/1.2L receiving an RF upgrade, there has been no follow-up to the EF 35mm.
But after what seems like an age of patient waiting, Canon has finally answered the call of the photography world with the Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM. Although there are a few improvements for this new version from its EF brother, with the RF 35mm f/1.4L becoming only the second lens in Canon’s hybrid line-up after the RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z .
But before you rush to list your old lens for sale, read on to find out if a new lens is a must, or if you really can’t improve on a classic.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: Specifications
| Mount | Canon RF |
| Aperture range | f/1.4 – f/16 |
| Auto focus | Nano USM + VCM |
| Image stabilization | Without OIS, up to 7 stops with IBIS |
| Enlargement | x 0.18 |
| Close focus distance | 0.28 m |
| Lens construction | 14 elements / 11 groups with 2 UD + 2 aspherical elements |
| Coatings | ASC and Super Spectra coating |
| Aperture blades | 11 |
| Filter | 67 mm |
| Size (LxW) | 76.5 x 99.3 mm |
| Mass | 555 g |
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: Price
In a surprise move with inflation raging and prices rising across the industry, Canon has launched the RF 35mm f/1.4 at a lower price than the EF version’s $1,799 introductory price, with the RF 35mm f/1.4L costing 1 $499 / £1,819.99 / AU$2,699.
Despite the lower introductory price, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L is still one of the most expensive 35mm lenses on the market, with the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM costing a hundred dollars less ($1,399) in the US or AU$1,760 in Australia and Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN | The art comes in at less than half the price ($749 / $1,299).
Although none of this means much if you’re a Canon shooter, as your choices of 35mm full-frame primes (if you want autofocus) are limited to one option, the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM, and at just $499 / AU$839 , there a substantial price gap between them.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: Design and handling
In terms of design, the RF 35mm f/1.4L has the same look as the recent RF L-series lenses, which are themselves a rather simple improvement over their EF counterparts.
The new lens is slightly smaller but much lighter than the older model. This weight savings doesn’t even take into account the use of an additional EF-RF mount adapter that you would need to use the EF version of the lens on the EOS R.
I used both lenses side-by-side on the Canon EOS R5 and the weight difference between the two was striking – and the weight savings alone could be reason enough to upgrade.
Despite the reduction in size and weight, Canon managed to add a few new tricks to the RF version. These include a custom function button on the left side of the lens and the now standard RF lens control ring that can be set for various functions in the camera menu.
The lens also features an all-new VCM autofocus motor – the first time a Canon lens has used a Vibrating Coil Motor (VCM). This works alongside the usual Nano USM motor in Canon lenses and should make the lens quieter, faster and more accurate when focusing.
The RF 35mm is also only the second Canon lens, after the RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z, to feature an aperture (aperture) ring – although you may have known that there is no Z in the name of this lens, referring to the adapter power zoom, which is available for 24-105 mm.
The aperture ring is click-free and features a dial-lock switch in automatic mode; while in auto mode, the aperture can still be controlled using the front dial on the camera as usual if that’s your preferred method.
Frustratingly, the aperture wheel still only works for video and cannot be used for photography. I’m certainly no engineer, but I really don’t see why this isn’t possible, and it seems like something that could be pushed through a firmware update to existing cameras.
Could this be something new cameras will enable in the future? Canon hasn’t announced a new camera since the launch of the RF 24-105mm Z, so it will be interesting to see if the Canon EOS R1 (which appears to be another Canon release) supports aperture rings for photography when it’s released. However, it would be very disappointing to see no backwards compatibility for those who have recently purchased new Canon cameras.
The lens also features the usual switches for switching between continuous manual and autofocus modes. The lens comes with the usual petal-shaped aperture and includes 67mm filters on the front, as well as a filter holder on the back of the lens for gelatin filters – which could also become a standard feature of RF L-series lenses going forward.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: Performance
I was only able to spend the shortest amount of time testing the lens and not in the most optimal conditions, so in order to give a full assessment of the lens’ performance, stay tuned for a full review soon!
However, from initial testing of the EF mount version next to the new RF mount version, the quality seems to be on par. That might sound like a bad thing for a new lens released almost nine years after the previous one, but the EF-mount version is so optically good that keeping up with it on top of all the weight savings and other features is quite a feat.
The images were taken with the Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R. With both cameras, the lens produced incredibly sharp detail and the wide aperture created beautiful out-of-focus and background blur. The EOS R5 also has the benefit of built-in image stabilization, which allows me to push the shutter speed even lower, which really helped in the low light I was testing in.
Center sharpness was excellent, and from my early tests it looks like Canon has made improvements to sharpness across the frame, with the edges looking slightly better than in the same shots with the EF 35mm.
As we’ve come to expect from Canon lenses, autofocus is next-level, but the Canon RF 35mm takes it even further with its new VCM autofocus mechanism – a first for a Canon lens. The RF 35mm focuses almost silently and is lightning fast. I’m really excited to test this lens outside of fast and erratic moving subjects to see how it keeps up. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of this new Canon VCM autofocus motor in the future.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: Verdict
The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM II has long been a favorite among Canon photographers and a top-of-the-line lens for many professional photographers and filmmakers, so expectations for its follow-up with the RF mount are incredibly high. Still, Canon seems to have lived up to those expectations with the release of the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, which performed admirably in initial testing with sharp images and incredibly fast autofocus.
This new lens is smaller and lighter than its EF predecessor, while also featuring a new VCM motor, custom function button and aperture ring for hybrid shooters. However, there is one major disappointment – ​​the aperture ring is still strictly for video use and cannot be used for photography.
The RF 35mm maintains its reputation as an L-series lens and, as expected, comes with a hefty price tag. However, it’s reassuring to see that there hasn’t been a significant price increase for this new model.
✅ Buy…
- If you want a lighter and more portable version of the EF 35mm, only 555g compared to the 760g of the EF version.
- If you want to step up from the RF 35mm f/1.8, then this lens offers a more professional quality with a wider aperture.
🚫 Don’t buy this…
- If you don’t mind the extra weight of the EF version, there doesn’t seem to be much separating the two in terms of image quality.
- If you don’t use the custom function controls or the aperture ring, you can get an older lens for a lot less money.