I’ve written quite a few times over the years about the lenses I’d most like to see for the Canon RF mount, and consistently the one lens topping that list is an update to Canon’s hugely popular EF 35mm f/1.4 USM II -lens.
This lens is the basic lens for many professional and amateur photographers, and perhaps one of the most important the, most versatile prime lens for the widest variety of photographic work. Perfect for landscapes, weddings, fashion, street photography, documentaries and much more. Like many photographers, a 35mm is the lens that always stays on my camera, so I’m prepared for just about any moment.
The EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM was released in 2015, three years before we glimpsed the Canon EOS R and the RF mount that would herald a new era. Since then, Canon has steadily released 46 RF mount lenses, although despite popular primes like the 50mm f/1.2L getting an RF upgrade, there was no follow-up to the EF 35mm.
But after what seems like an era of patient waiting, Canon has finally answered the calls of the photography world with the Canon RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM. While this new version should make its mark, there are a few tweaks to its EF brother, with the RF 35mm f/1.4L becoming just the second lens in Canon’s hybrid range, after the RF 24-105mm f/2.8L IS USM Z .
But before you rush to put your old lens up for sale, read on to find out if the new lens is a must-have, or if you essentially can’t improve on a classic.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: specifications
| To assemble | Canon RF |
| Aperture range | f/1.4 – f/16 |
| Autofocus | Nano USM + VCM |
| Image stabilization | No OIS, up to 7 stops with IBIS |
| Magnification | x 0.18 |
| Close focus distance | 0.28 meters |
| Lens construction | 14 elements / 11 groups with 2 UD + 2 aspherical elements |
| Coatings | ASC coating and Super Spectra |
| Aperture blades | 11 |
| Filter | 67mm |
| Size (DxL) | 76.5 x 99.3mm |
| Weight | 555g |
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: price
In a surprising move, with inflation raging and prices rising across the sector, Canon has launched the RF 35mm f/1.4 at a price lower than the EF version’s launch price of $1,799, while the RF 35mm f/1.4 L $1,499 / £1,819.99 / cost. AU$2,699.
Despite the lower introductory price, the Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L lens is still one of the most expensive 35mm lenses on the market, with Sony’s FE 35mm f/1.4 GM costing a hundred dollars less ($1,399) in the US or AU $1,760 in Australia, and the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN | Art comes in at less than half the price ($749 / AU$1,299).
Although none of this means much if you’re a Canon photographer, as your choice of 35mm full-frame prime lenses (if you want autofocus) is limited to the one RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM option, and at just $499 / AU$839, there’s a significant price gap between the two.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: design and operation
In terms of design, the RF 35mm f/1.4L follows the same aesthetic as the recent L-series RF lenses, which themselves are more of a simple refinement of their EF counterparts.
The new lens is slightly smaller but much lighter than the older model. That weight saving doesn’t even take into account the use of the additional EF-RF mount adapter that you would need if you were using the EF version of the lens on an EOS R camera.
I used the two lenses side by side on a Canon EOS R5 and the weight difference between the lenses was significant – and the weight savings alone might be reason enough to upgrade.
Despite the decrease in size and weight, Canon has managed to add a number of 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, each of which can be set for a variety of functions in the camera menu.
The lens also features a brand new VCM autofocus motor – the first time a voice coil motor (VCM) has been used in a Canon lens. This works in conjunction with 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 iris ring (aperture ring), although you may have already guessed that there is no Z in this lens name, which refers to the power zoom adapter that is available for the 24-105 mm.
The aperture ring is clickless and features a switch to lock the dial in automatic mode; while with automatic the aperture can still be controlled as usual with the front wheel on the camera, if that is your preferred method.
Frustratingly, the aperture button still only works for video and cannot be used for photography. I’m by no means an engineer, but I really don’t understand why this isn’t possible and it seems like something that could be pushed in a firmware update for existing cameras.
Could this be possible in new cameras in the future? Canon hasn’t announced a new camera since the release of the RF 24-105mm Z, so it will be interesting to see if the Canon EOS R1 (which looks likely to be the next Canon release) will support aperture rings for stills photography when the case is. issued. However, it would be a huge disappointment if there was no backwards compatibility for those who have recently purchased new Canon cameras.
The lens also features the usual switches to switch between full-time manual and autofocus modes. The lens comes with a usual petal-shaped lens hood and has 67mm filters on the front, and a filter holder on the back of the lens for gelatin filters – which could also become a standard feature of L-series RF lenses. forward.
Canon RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM: Performance
I only managed to test the lens for a very short time and not in the most optimal conditions, so to provide a full review of the lens’ performance, stay tuned for the full review soon!
However, the first tests of the EF mount version and the new RF mount version show that the quality of both is at the same level. This may sound like a bad thing for a new lens launched almost nine years after the last one, but the EF mount version is so optically good that keeping up with this lens is a great achievement, on top of all weight savings and additional features.
The images were taken with a Canon EOS R5 and Canon EOS R. On both cameras, the lens produced incredibly sharp detail, and the large aperture provided beautiful focus and background blur. The EOS R5 also has the benefit of built-in image stabilization, which allowed me to set the shutter speed even lower, which really helped in the dark environment I was testing in.
Center sharpness was excellent and from my initial testing it appears that Canon has made improvements to sharpness across the frame, with the edges looking slightly better than on the same shots with the EF 35mm.
As we have come to expect from Canon lenses, the autofocus is next level, but the Canon RF 35mm manages to improve this even further with its new VCM autofocus mechanism – the first time this has been used in a Canon lens. The RF 35mm focuses almost silently and is lightning fast. I’m really excited to try this lens out on fast and erratically moving subjects to see how it holds up. I’m sure we’ll see 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 the prime lens of choice for many professional photographers and filmmakers, making expectations for the follow-up to the RF mount incredibly high. Yet Canon seems to have met these expectations with the introduction of the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, which delivered great performance in initial tests with razor-sharp images and incredibly fast autofocus.
This new lens is both smaller and lighter than its EF predecessor, but also features a new VCM motor, a custom function dial and an aperture ring for hybrid photographers. There is one notable disappointment, however: the aperture ring is still designed exclusively for video use and cannot be used in still photography.
The RF 35mm lens retains its reputation as an L-series lens and, as expected, comes with a high price tag. Nevertheless, it is reassuring to see that there have been no significant price increases for this new model.
✅ Buy it…
- If you want a lighter and easier to carry version of the EF 35mm, weighing only 555 grams versus 760 grams for the EF version.
- If you’d like to go a step further than the RF 35mm f/1.8, this lens offers more professional quality with a larger aperture.
🚫 Don’t buy it…
- If you don’t mind the extra weight of the EF version, it doesn’t seem like there’s much in image quality to separate the two.
- If you don’t use the custom function buttons or the aperture ring, you can get the older lens for a lot less money.