Canon Announces the Canon RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM

[Richard CR]

This is certainly the lens that astrophotography landscape photographers have been waiting for Canon to make, as today Canon has announced the Canon RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM. This lens is the latest in the lineup of Canon's f/1.4 L series VCM lenses that feature the Voice Coil Motor for extremely fast autofocus suitable for both […]

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[neuroanatomist]

RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM preordered at 11:03 PM EST. Right at 11p the top banner on the B&H site changed to show the new lenses, but the Preorder button just delivered a generic search for 'canon-lenses' and even searching for 'Canon 14mm' did not bring up the lens. A minute later the email from B&H hit my inbox, and the preorder button in that worked properly.

 

[Richard CR]

This lens is bonkers. I don't think my wait time estimate if you don't get on the preorder is actually too far wrong

 

[neuroanatomist]

As Richard points out in the article, that's a lot of glass inside the barrel, including fluorite and some 'blue goo'.

The surprising thing to me is the end of February availability date, sooner than I had expected.

 

[Skux]

I just watched the video with Rudy and I'm hyped haha, this looks like the dream astro lens for a lot of people

 

[G650ER]

I'm excited to acquire the 14mm to complement my RF 24L which I've been quite happy with. Sold my Sigma 14mm nearly 2 years ago in aniticipation for this lens. The price is steep but it was expected and will be worth it when it goes on a sale. I'm thrilled to see it maintain similar dimensions to the RF 10-20L.

 

[David - Sydney]

14/1.4 is definitely very busy internally!
They have thrown everything in one lens and hoping that users needing just one feature will pony up the $$$$

 

[David - Sydney]

Comparing the new fisheye vs the EF8-15mm... it looks like about the same length as the adapted EF version which would account for including the filter options.
4.4” long vs EF 3.3" + 0.9" adapter if my non-metric is correct.
Same weight (unadapted) though so saving the adapter weight.

Would you use the circular polariser drop in filter with a fisheye? I've never tried it.
The variable NF filter is normally problematic for wide angled but this would be next level.

Nice to add 11 blades vs 7 for the EF version.

My EF8-15/4 does suffer from bad CA around the outside so I normally have to circular crop part of the field of view as I can't correct it. Hopefully the new one is better.

 

[davidespinosa]

So how much computer correction does this one require ?

 

[Richard CR]

So how much computer correction does this one require ?

an amount greater than 0, because the price isn't 5 digits.

 

[Dannyjeffers]

I don't shoot Canon anymore and don't really care that much but why would someone spend nearly 3k on this lens when the old sigma version is almost certainly as good. Astro isn't exactly a run and gun genre. It's almost always planned, with a car, on a tripod. Native mount and smaller size doesn't really do much for you here. IDK I'm sure people will defend it but yeah.

 

[David - Sydney]

oh, and the limited edition G7X is also available in Australia
https://cloud.my.canon.com.au/powershot-g7-x-mark-iii-limited-edition

 

[G650ER]

I don't shoot Canon anymore and don't really care that much but why would someone spend nearly 3k on this lens when the old sigma version is almost certainly as good. Astro isn't exactly a run and gun genre. It's almost always planned, with a car, on a tripod. Native mount and smaller size doesn't really do much for you here. IDK I'm sure people will defend it but yeah.

There are plenty of scenarios where you can't use a tripod or it isn't practical to do so. For example, I'm a pilot and for cockpit photos during low light I absolutely need f/1.4 handheld. Using the 24 f/1.4L now as my widest option, the performance and quality differences between f/1.4 and my 14-35 f/4L is absolutely tremendous. I for one will need this lens for my type of shooting and it will be phenomenal for astro. I actually may sell my RF 10-20 now and just stick with a 14L/24L/24-105L combo for travel.

 

[davidespinosa]

G7X Mark III:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1948715-REG/canon_7563c001_powershot_g7_x_mark.html

 

[gabedamien]

I don't shoot Canon anymore and don't really care that much but why would someone spend nearly 3k on this lens when the old sigma version is almost certainly as good. Astro isn't exactly a run and gun genre. It's almost always planned, with a car, on a tripod. Native mount and smaller size doesn't really do much for you here. IDK I'm sure people will defend it but yeah.

The Sigma Art DG DN 14mm f/1.4 isn't available for Canon (in EF or RF mounts) – it's just not an option for Canon shooters.

Sigma makes an older 14mm f/1.8 that is available in EF mount. But of course, as good as f/1.8 is, it isn't f/1.4, so we can't compare price directly. There may be other technical differences in terms of AF performance, weather sealing, size & weight as you noted, and so on that also matter to some people in some circumstances... we'll have to see how this new lens reviews first.

 

[Richard CR]

I don't shoot Canon anymore and don't really care that much but why would someone spend nearly 3k on this lens when the old sigma version is almost certainly as good. Astro isn't exactly a run and gun genre. It's almost always planned, with a car, on a tripod. Native mount and smaller size doesn't really do much for you here. IDK I'm sure people will defend it but yeah.

The sigma 14/1.4 was never out in the EF mount. Only the 14/1.8 was released for the EF mount, and it's not even available anymore. Do you propose to take a time machine back and purchase one?

Not to mention that this simply is not "just" an astro lens

But using your astro example, in many cases, you need to hike to your location. I'm sure a few people wouldn't mind shaving bulk and weight off their kit if it even was available, or the poor disadvantaged person decided to use the sigma 14/1.4 with a Sony camera.

 

[Richard CR]

oh, and the limited edition G7X is also available in Australia
https://cloud.my.canon.com.au/powershot-g7-x-mark-iii-limited-edition

we're ignoring that for now. Craig is going to write that one up because he doesn't trust me to do so

 

[Canon Rumors]

we're ignoring that for now. Craig is going to write that one up because he doesn't trust me to do so

I have to really dive into how the "twill front ring" will change everything.

 

[vjlex]

I think the RF 14mm is the lens I had been holding out for several years ago, but ended up getting the RF 15-35mm. I only ever used it for landscape and a bit of astrophotography when I could. I'm currently planning to sell the 15-35mm and use it to subsidize the 14mm. Outside of it being a zoom lens, is there any advantage of the 15-35mm over the 14mm that I may be over looking?

 

[erader]

I think the RF 14mm is the lens I had been holding out for several years ago, but ended up getting the RF 15-35mm. I only ever used it for landscape and a bit of astrophotography when I could. I'm currently planning to sell the 15-35mm and use it to subsidize the 14mm. Outside of it being a zoom lens, is there any advantage of the 15-35mm over the 14mm that I may be over looking?

i own the 14-35. as a landscape photographer it is essential kit to me. i would never sell it or any of my essential lenses