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Canon RF 24mm and RF 50mm f/1.4 Review

The latest additions to Canon’s mirrorless lens lineup include the RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM and RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM, promise to add new creative options for stills and video creators. These primes are part of Canon’s trio of hybrid lenses, which encompasses the existing RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, and all offer a high-quality, fast aperture designed for versatile stills and movie shooting.

With a price of £1,819.00 each, these lenses are positioned for serious enthusiasts and professionals who demand exceptional image quality, fast autofocus, and hybrid capabilities. Canon RF 24mm and RF 50mm f/1.4 review dives into the specs, features, and why these two lenses, along with the 35mm, might make the ideal set for your creative toolkit.

What is Canon’s VCM lineup?

Both the RF 24mm f/1.4L and RF 50mm f/1.4L share several features, combining the Voice Coil Motor (VCM) with Canon’s Nano USM, ensuring fast and near-silent autofocus, which benefits hybrid creators working in stills and video. The VCM system excels at controlling large lens elements for precise focusing and does it in near silence.

In terms of build quality, these follow Canon’s L-series standards, with a rugged weather-sealed body and fluorine coatings to protect the front element from dirt. These mirrorless RF lenses are designed to handle any environment, from shooting outdoors during inclement weather to studio sets, and landscapes, day or night.

Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM & RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM | Hands-on Review

Shared features

As a trio of hybrid primes with a unified design, users can expect the same results from each, which feature:

• A bright /1.4 maximum aperture, which is deal for low-light and creating shallow depth of field
• L-series build-quality with dust and moisture-sealing for outdoor shooting in tough conditions
• Nano USM and VCM for silent and precise AF, which is perfect for video and stills photography
• Sharp results from aspheric and UD elements
• A control ring, which is customisable to enhance your workflow
• An Iris Ring allows for smooth aperture changes, which is especially useful in video production
• Fluorine coating helps to protect the front element and reduce cleaning

Sample image 01 with R6 Mark II With RF 50mm f/1.4 VCM. Camera settings: 1/250 sec. f/8. ISO 800

How do the Canon RF 24mm and RF 50mm f/1.4 fit in the range?

Canon’s trio of primes fill the gap between the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L zoom and faster f/1.2L primes. While the f/1.2L lenses offer shallower depth of field, the f/1.4L versions are designed for hybrid creators who need fast, accurate autofocus with the ability to smoothly transition between stills and video. They’re also more affordable and compact than the f/1.2 versions.

All three VCM lenses are priced at over £1,500.00, positioning them as high-quality options. While some will opt for the premium RF 50mm f/1.2L USM (£2,449.00), the addition of VCM makes the f/1.4 version even better suited to hybrid creators looking to balance stills and video functionality.

At the other end users can choose the RF 24mm F/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens, which is a more budget-friendly option for close-ups, while the RF 50mm F/1.8 STM is even more budget-oriented and better suited for creators who don’t need weather sealing or other key features from their prime.

Sample image 01 with R6 Mark II With RF 24mm f/1.4 VCM. Camera settings: 1/160 sec. f/8. ISO 100

Could you have all three in your kit?

Canon has designed this trio of fast prime lenses to complement each other perfectly. By covering three classic focal lengths, this set provides versatile options for almost any creative requirement, allowing photographers and videographers to move between wide, slightly wide and standard shots while retaining a uniform approach.

Although there’s overlap in the subjects each model handles, particularly in terms of video, each covers a unique range which we explore next.

Sample image 02 with R6 Mark II With RF 24mm f/1.4 VCM. Camera settings: 1/160 sec. f/5.6. ISO 800

Canon RF 24mm f/1.4L – to tell the broader story

The RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM is a wide angle lens designed for creators who need to capture more expansive scenes such as landscapes, architectural photography, or creative street shots. The 24mm focal length offers a wide field of view, while the f/1.4 aperture ensures sharp subjects with beautiful background blur.

The lens incorporates aspheric and UD elements, along with Canon’s SWC and ASC coatings, which reduce flare and ghosting even in bright conditions. An 11-blade aperture produces creamy bokeh, and its STM + VCM autofocus system keeps your subject sharp and in focus, whether you shoot stills or video.

Sample image 02 with R5 Mark II With RF 50mm f/1.4 VCM. Camera settings: 1/250 sec. f/1.4. ISO 500

Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L – the ideal standard prime

The RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM lens offers a traditional 50mm focal length with pro-level optics. Often described as a ‘nifty fifty’, this lens is ideal for portrait photography, product shots, and street photography, where subject separation and shallow depth of field are beneficial.

It also features aspheric and UD glass to eliminate chromatic aberrations and deliver edge-to-edge sharpness, even when shot wide open at f/1.4. Like the 24mm, it has an 11-blade aperture, which provides smooth, rounded bokeh in defocused areas. The dual VCM + Nano USM motor provides quick and silent focus, which is particularly useful for capturing moving subjects.

Sample image 03 with R5 Mark II With RF 50mm f/1.4 VCM. Camera settings: 1/1000 sec. f/1.4. ISO 10000

VCM and Nano USM AF made for hybrid creators

Both lenses utilise Canon’s VCM technology combined with Nano USM motors to deliver fast, precise, and virtually silent autofocus. This system is perfect for creators who need stable AF performance for both stills and video, particularly in fast moving situations or low light conditions.

The optical system also reduces focus breathing, which is highly beneficial for filmmakers who need consistent framing when pulling focus.

Who are these lenses for?

The Canon RF 24mm and 50mm f/1.4L lenses are perfect for photographers, videographers and hybrid creators who need fast, quiet autofocus, robust build quality, and excellent optical performance. Whichever subjects you capture these lenses are capable of professional-level results from a compact, weather sealed and uniform design.

These two lenses, along with the 35mm f/1.4 VCM, make an excellent trio for working professionals and enthusiast creators who shoot on location and in the studio. Upgrading from an f/1.8 prime lens will offer a noticeable improvement in depth of field control, image quality, and autofocus speed. If you already own the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, adding these two will round out a versatile trio, covering everything from wide-angle subjects to portraiture, with a kit ready for every assignment.

Sample image 04 with R5 Mark II With RF 50mm f/1.4 VCM. Camera settings: 1/1000 sec. f/5.6. ISO 10000

Explore more and order the Canon RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM and Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM lenses today, and don’t forget to complete the trio with the RF 35mm F/1.4L VCM Lens, for the ultimate hybrid toolkit.

If you are upgrading why not grab a free trade-in quote and find out how much you can save off the price of these, while selling your unwanted gear completely hassle-free.

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By Nick Dautlich on 30/10/2024