Canon Officially Announces the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM

[Richard CR]

Canon releases its ultra-fast, yet moderately priced Canon 45mm f1.2 STM today. The RF 45mm F1.2 STM is comprised of 9 elements in 7 groups using a molded aspherical element for sharpness and small size. The lens achieves good bokeh, with nine aperture blades creating smooth, circular background blur, making it good for portraits. However, […]

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[fotodj]

This is ridiculous, You can't even log in into B &H website, I've been trying for twenty minutes... Common B&H you don't make enough money o have decent servers??? Pathetic.

 

[Maximilian]

Hooray! Waiting and guessing is over!
German MRSP at 499,- and size and weight is positively surprising me.
I guess this will end up in my bag pretty soon.
Now let's see the first RL hands on and measurements.
And until then all the whiners whine about not offering all the things you get from twice as big and heavy lenses or 6 times more expensive lenses

 

[mxwphoto]

Pre-ordered! The mtf is similar to the EF 50 1.2L and I liked that lens! (Only sold it as I had to fund half off deal on my RF 85mm 1.2) This will be the lightest AF 1.2 lens on the market, no brainer for every day carry use.

 

[Cerulean42]

It's partially a surprise with the price, but also a let down as it is not using the patent that was previously published. From gordon's video that is just posted, it is fake internal focusing with all groups moving inside the barrel, and not a true internal focusing design like the patent. Also the CA and corner image quality is pretty bad. The MTF is also rather "vintage" for lack of a better word. They might be making some changes but it's canon after all.

 

[Maximilian]

The mtf is similar to the EF 50 1.2L ...

Thanks for that MTF comparison.
To me those of the RF 45 look significantly smother and sharper up to the midframe than the ones if the EF 50 L.
Could be optically even better, but we'll see.

 

[Canon Rumors]

Pre-ordered! The mtf is similar to the EF 50 1.2L and I liked that lens! (Only sold it as I had to fund half off deal on my RF 85mm 1.2) This will be the lightest AF 1.2 lens on the market, no brainer for every day carry use.View attachment 226774

You're right, I really liked the EF 50 f/1.2L USM, I used it professionally for years. No lens will ever have the cool shape that it did.

It was weird to be told that it was presented as having similar image quality as the EF 1.2, that turned out to be true.

 

[Skux]

This is $800 NZD here, which is cheaper than used sales of the EF 50mm f/1.2 L. Crazy in the best way.

 

[m4ndr4ke]

So, the patent is not that 48.5mm f/1.2, after all. This lens shows a few less elements.

Gordon Laing first-looks review for the RF 45mm

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[Snapster]

Digital Picture already has the RF 45mm 1.2 STM in their catalogue

 

[Maximilian]

Digital Picture already has the RF 45mm 1.2 STM in their catalogue

Thanks for sharing.

As expected from the MTFs the 50STM is sharper at max aperture, but if you stop down the 45 to f/1.8 this one wins in the center and mid-frame.
Corners of the 45 are something we should cast a veil of silence over
Flare looks well controlled.
Overall very interesting for its price and size.

 

[blackcoffee17]

Slightly disappointing, i wasn't expecting RF 50 1.2 performance but was hoping for a little surprise in image quality.

 

[Snapster]

This seems like a great addition to the RF lens lineup on paper but I'm also a bit disappointed.

If you want the vintage 1.2 look, you can already buy a used EF 50mm 1.2 L for a similar price. You get better build quality, weather sealing and USM on top. In that sense, this new lens doesn't really add much to the table. I would rather get the EF lens, personally.

On the other hand, the RF 35mm 1.8 STM has superior IQ at 1.8 for the same price + IS + semi-macro. It still seems like the better lens overall, unless you only want the extreme soft look and don't want to use an adapter.

 

[m4ndr4ke]

I expected near zero distortion, like the RF 50 1.8, and maybe a little extra resolution specifically when stopped down to f/2.8 or beyond. Nothing else to complain.

The promised similar optical performance to the EF 50mm f/1.2 L seems to be delivered, with very slightly more centre sharpness, exactly as I expected.

Size, weight and ergonomics seem great. Poor man's internal focusing is very highly appreciated, all these cheap lenses should be like this!

I'm happy it's not the 48.5mm patent we saw, because this probably has a wider field of view, so it's not a 50 labeled as a 45.

I don't know, I'll have to try it for myself.
I don't know if this level of image quality will please me. I didn't went with the EF 50mm f/1.2 L, years ago, I bought with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art instead because it was sharper, but I also don't use R5s so, I have to try it.

I'm looking forward to handle this lens.



I wouldn't buy EF glass at this point, unless I needed something specific that I couldn't afford on RF, like a supertelephoto prime.
EF glass is being discontinued, needs the adapter, and this will be serviceable for much longer.
I bet a lot of EF 50mm f/1.2s will appear now for sale, because owners will probably be able to replace it with this for free or even with some extra cash in their pockets, while removing the adapter.

 

[Besisika]

For me, it is the flare outdoor that decides whether a buy or not. I will wait for Chris's review. If flare is better controlled than the 50 1.8, it would be a no brainer for me.

 

[mxwphoto]

Slightly disappointing, i wasn't expecting RF 50 1.2 performance but was hoping for a little surprise in image quality.

Image quality is indeed a surprise no matter how you dice it. For me it is pleasantly surprised. To get an EF 50mm 1.2 equivalent in a lighter modern mirrorless package, awesome. Add to that the low price...omg! The EF 50L was a legendary performer for $1599 msrp back in 2006, equivalent to $2500 in today's dollars. That makes this value of the decade.

Given this precedent, if you can wait for it, Canon may introduce a RF 50 1.2 equivalent lens in 2037 weighing 1lb for $700.

 

[Del Paso]

What about other news (24-70 II, 28-70 II, 14 TSE)?

 

[DhlcadR6]

Pre-ordered... Its MSRP is 420USD equivalent in HK with no tax. I can put my EF 50mm f1.4 to rest now.

 

[Tom R5R7]

Digital Picture already has the RF 45mm 1.2 STM in their catalogue

I saw that - looked it over. I put it at a point somewhere between the EF 50/1.4 (a good copy) and EF 50/1.2L (though the Digital Picture site has a screwed up copy of the 50/1.2L as mine doesn't have that excessive purple fringing issue). I think the MTF is fairly accurate.

I'm taking a chance and getting one. It'll serve for those rare occasions when I actually use a wide aperture 50, and will also make a reasonably nice portrait lens on the R7.

One thing I'm noticing on my 50/1.2L (EF version) is that the DOF is so razor thin that you just about need to use a tripod to nail focus just where you want it. I took a picture of 3 darts in my dartboard, and it focused on the edge of the double-cork ring, throwing the dart's point shaft (1/4 inch behind the focus plane) out of focus. I hadn't pulled that lens out in a while, so I'm sure I could improve my technique. But 1/4 inch of movement makes a huge difference at reasonably close objects and f/1.2.

 

[Tom R5R7]

This is ridiculous, You can't even log in into B &H website, I've been trying for twenty minutes... Common B&H you don't make enough money o have decent servers??? Pathetic.

I woke up at 4 AM, grabbed my laptop, placed my order at B&H, and then went back to sleep for a couple more hours.