We said we wouldn't mention the RF 35mm L again, until we had more solid information and what we deem to be solid confirmation. We are comfortable enough with what we have seen to say the wait looks to be coming to an end.

We have been told that Canon will announce the RF 35mm f/1.4L USM next month alongside the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1. This is the second source to have said that it will be an f/1.4 and not an f/1.2. In practice, we don't think that makes much difference.

One interesting bit about the RF 35mm f/1.4L USM is that it will have “video features”, though the source didn't know exactly what that meant. With it being a prime lens, it doesn't really fit the PowerZoom line of lenses that will be expanding in 2024.

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195 comments

  1. My guess would be reduced focus breathing, either through a better optical design or through software correction.
    Wouldn’t software correction be an in-body feature that can apply to many lenses?
  2. in any case, the lens not being brighter seems disappointing and will invite more comparisons with the Sigma 35mm f/1.2, but maybe Canon will pull a rabbit out of its hat some other way.
  3. Not enough differentiation with the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro. Think about all of the "pairs". They really should go with f/1.2 to keep with their own pattern:
    50mm f/1.8 STM - 50mm f/1.2L USM
    85mm f/2 IS STM Macro - 85mm f/1.2L USM
    600mm f/11 IS STM - 600mm f/4L IS USM
    800mm f/11 IS STM - 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

    => 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro - 35mm f/1.2L USM
  4. Ah I see, I don’t own a camera body from that list so I didn’t know. That said, I feel like having that enabled on a new lens is table stakes at this point and not headline worthy.
    I agree, but you can’t really say something new about L lenses: good IQ, build quality and AF. And weight is only mentioned if its predecessor was too heavy :)

    I suspect that the focus breathing correction takes no extra effort to implement, it’s a side effect from having the lens correction profile stored in the lens.
  5. This sounds good. We need F1.4 lenses. The gap in price and size between F1.2 and F1.8 is huge.
    The price gap between a non-L f/1.8 and an L variant with a wider aperture will alway be huge, no matter if it's f/1.4L or f/1.2L.
  6. I thought that 2024 will be expensive year for me. Was going to buy R5 Mark II 62 mp and RF 35mm f 1.2 L but it seems that they offer R5 Mark II (45mp) and 35mm f 1.4 lens.

    No deal. No big enough upgrade from R5 and 35mm f 1.8. Sorry.
  7. I thought that 2024 will be expensive year for me. Was going to buy R5 Mark II 62 mp and RF 35mm f 1.2 L but it seems that they offer R5 Mark II (45mp) and 35mm f 1.4 lens.

    No deal. No big enough upgrade from R5 and 35mm f 1.8. Sorry.
    Quality wise, I expect a huge mechanical and optical upgrade from the f 1,8.
    And the R5 II could have a bit more to offer than just the same 45 MP...
  8. Not enough differentiation with the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro. Think about all of the "pairs". They really should go with f/1.2 to keep with their own pattern:
    50mm f/1.8 STM - 50mm f/1.2L USM
    85mm f/2 IS STM Macro - 85mm f/1.2L USM
    600mm f/11 IS STM - 600mm f/4L IS USM
    800mm f/11 IS STM - 800mm f/5.6L IS USM

    => 35mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro - 35mm f/1.2L USM
    Why is that we have to accept F6.3 and F7.1 RF lenses (compared to F5.6) because of better high ISO performance of modern sensors but 35mm 1.4 is not enough and we want F1.2? This is not a portrait lens, i rather have something more portable.
  9. A worthy competitor to Sony 35mm GM, hopefully equally light and with less lens breathing. And has IS over the Sony. Probably cost sub-2kUSD is the only downside.

    And once this is out. The community can start shifting to moan/bitxh about the lack to f1.2L....And a new cycle continues (sips coffee

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