Canon RF 14mm F/1.4 – Is it the Astrophography Dream Lens for RF?

[AlanF]

It is a special kind of astrophotography, without spellchecker.

It's for studying the stars in phoggy nights.

 

[P-visie]

It's for studying the stars in phoggy nights.

Yes, it is remarkably like typing in complete darkness.

 

[Ian K]

I looked into masks some time ago but the problem I have is that it makes the process more complicated rather than less. Focus on Stars has an option for 14mm that might work but some sort of adapter would be required.

More complicated compared with what? There is no simpler method, it takes about 30 seconds. You don’t even have to attach the mask to the camera. You are using it for so little time you can just hold it in place.

Don’t trust a fixed position switch that promises infinity focus. Don’t trust buttons that claim to go to infinity focus. They cannot possibly work correctly. The infinity focus point on any lens is temperature dependant. That’s why lenses use a “drunken L” symbol at infinity. It is also why they can go past the supposed infinity point. Because it moves as the temperature changes. Manual focus by eye, using a zoomed in view finder, is a start. However, that last little part is very difficult to spot with stars. A mask will get you there, quickly, easily and very simply, it's what professionals use with telescopes. Try it and you won't go back.

Focus on Stars is a Bahtinov Mask, altered in some fashion. They even say so in their description. If you look at their video / gif of it in action, that is almost exactly what you would see with a Bahtinov Mask.

 

[benperrin]

More complicated compared with what? There is no simpler method, it takes about 30 seconds. You don’t even have to attach the mask to the camera. You are using it for so little time you can just hold it in place.

Don’t trust a fixed position switch that promises infinity focus. Don’t trust buttons that claim to go to infinity focus. They cannot possibly work correctly. The infinity focus point on any lens is temperature dependant. That’s why lenses use a “drunken L” symbol at infinity. It is also why they can go past the supposed infinity point. Because it moves as the temperature changes. Manual focus by eye, using a zoomed in view finder, is a start. However, that last little part is very difficult to spot with stars. A mask will get you there, quickly, easily and very simply, it's what professionals use with telescopes. Try it and you won't go back.

Focus on Stars is a Bahtinov Mask, altered in some fashion. They even say so in their description. If you look at their video / gif of it in action, that is almost exactly what you would see with a Bahtinov Mask.

Yeah it's just another thing to take around however it's probably worth it for perfect focus. Do you have a filter/plate system that will work with both the canon rf 14mm vcm and the 15-35mm? The guy who created focus on stars is an astrophotographer and he seemed to suggest that many bahtinov masks don't work properly at wide angles like 14mm.

 

[Ian K]

Yeah it's just another thing to take around however it's probably worth it for perfect focus. Do you have a filter/plate system that will work with both the canon rf 14mm vcm and the 15-35mm? The guy who created focus on stars is an astrophotographer and he seemed to suggest that many bahtinov masks don't work properly at wide angles like 14mm.

I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Obviously I haven’t tried with the RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM but I used it with the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM and it worked a treat.

Rather than try and mount it to the lens you could just hold the 100mm square version in front of the lens.

 

[mimbu]

It is a special kind of astrophotography, without spellchecker.

Perhaps, related to penwings?

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[RDGood]

Does anyone have any update on first shipment. Feb 24th was the rumored ship date that BH and others suggested, now it is TBD?

 

[neuroanatomist]

Does anyone have any update on first shipment. Feb 24th was the rumored ship date that BH and others suggested, now it is TBD?

Looks like B&H and Canon USA removed the ship date (previously Feb 24 as you say) from the product page for the 14/1.4. I placed my order with B&H within minutes of preorders opening, and my order page for the lens shows "Est. Delivery: Mar 11, 2026."

 

[LarsCS]

Ordered from Midwest Photo and it shipped via UPS Ground. ETA is Monday.

 

[neuroanatomist]

My B&H order for the 14/1.4 just changed to In Progress, and they charged my card. Based on past experience, that means the lens will ship out tonight.

 

[ProDeal]

I ordered mine from B+H two hours the evening it was released. Originally my shipping date was March 11, but it shipped today early.

 

[kirbic]

Mine was originally showing an estimate of March 11, but it shipped Thursday and was delivered yesterday, 02/28
I placed my order mid-day the day after the announcement, so roughly 12 hours in.

 

[benperrin]

Mine was originally showing an estimate of March 11, but it shipped Thursday and was delivered yesterday, 02/28
I placed my order mid-day the day after the announcement, so roughly 12 hours in.

Nice. Are you going to take some photos for us to drool over?

 

[docsmith]

Like others, I received mine on Friday. A few pics:

 

[Ian K]

My RF 14mm f/1.4mm VCM is now in stock and should be with me tomorrow. Ordered from WexPhotoVideo in the UK. I was 5th in the queue so they got at least that many assigned to Wex.

 

[LarsCS]

Got mine on Monday. Took very few test shots on Tuesday. Here is a single 15-second long exposure.

 

[benperrin]

Still waiting for mine. Looks like Australia is behind the US and UK. Called the store and they have no idea when it'll be in.

 

[RDGood]

Got mine on Tuesday March 3