
The lens doesn’t feature stabilization, but it plays nice with the IBIS in the Canon EOS R5. Overall, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM handles well despite its size, and it should last a long time thanks to its solid build. I took the lens out and got caught in a heavy shower and the lens didn’t bat an eye. The RF 50mm f/1.2 also has a generous amount of weather sealing.

There’s a slight texture to the barrel which feels pleasant. Canon uses tough composite plastics that have a premium feel to them. In terms of build quality, there’s nothing to complain about. What surprised me is that the front element is a reasonable size in fact, it takes a 77mm filter. The control ring, which you can program to control one of many functions sits just behind the front element, In front of that is the famous red ring that signifies that this is one of Canon’s premium L series lenses. The manual focus ring, which sits in the middle of the barrel is a nice size.

The switches control minimum and maximum focusing distances and manual and autofocus control. There’s little in the way of branding, and there are just two switches on the left side of the barrel. The lens has a fairly simple design overall. However, the size (3.54-by-4.25 inches) and weight (2.09lbs/950g) are worth it. It’s about as far away from the promise of smaller mirrorless lenses that you can get. Th e Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM is a chonk of a lens.

ProsĬanon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Technical specifications

The fast aperture lends itself to low-light photography, and razor-thin depths of field allow you to obliterate any background. Usually snapped up by portrait, event and wedding photographers, this lens, when paired with Canon’s mirrorless cameras, can now be used for so much more. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 is a marquee lens for Canon. Optically perfect, fast to focus and easy to use. A signature L series lens with the famous red ring, the not so nifty fifty (it costs just under $2300) claims to be everything its EF mount relative wasn’t. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM was one of the first lenses to launch alongside Canon’s mirrorless cameras.
