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

[benperrin]

Do you also own the 24-70 F2.8 by chance? I suppose the 24mm end of it should give similar results for astro, so it could be my learning ground.

Unfortunately I only own the EF version. The 14mm 1.4 VCM will only be my 3rd RF lens. I haven't tried the EF version for astro.

 

[Klendothir]

This is where focal-dedicated rear lens-caps would make sense!

Workarounds exist

 

[Malm]

...
FWIW - for those looking to shoot astro at 14 mm f/1.4 there is another option. I use a 35/1.4 and stitch. In theory, a 2x2 grid shot at 35 mm has the same FOV as a 14 mm lens. In practice, you want overlap and the ability to crop uneven edges, so a 3x3 grid does the trick.
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The downsides are more acquisition and processing effort, and parallax issues with foreground subjects. Also, if used for auroras, they can move fast so stitching is not ideal (but it can be and has been done).

Yes and no: For slow-moving and wide images that is my usual solution: the much larger opening of a 35mm lens is gathering MUCH more light compared to a 14mm lens which will give you a much better s/n ratio for the post-processing (nebula etc.). Potential parallax errors are usually no problem as you have a dark and 'natural' foreground without critical straight structures. But that method isn't practical any more when you have fast moving objects like an aurora.
Canon is relatively late with this 14mm lens and there are alternatives as I wrote before. And it is well known that the 'old' Canon EF UWA primes were a 'pain in the but' concerning the image quality, especially for 'astro'.