Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM review: a classic Canon lens, reinvented for mirrorless

The Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM has a tough act to follow, in the shape of many photographers’ favorite EF prime lens. I reckon the new one is even better

5 Star Rating
Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM
(Image: © Matthew Richards)

Digital Camera World Verdict

For me, the Canon RF 35mm F1.4L VCM was love at first sight. The older Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM was ‘the’ go-to lens for many a professional photographer but the new RF edition is smaller, lighter, less expensive to buy and, most importantly, even better. It’s also equally adept at stills and video, making it a dream lens for hybrid shooters.

Pros

  • +

    Spectacular image quality

  • +

    Click-step control ring up front

  • +

    Stepless aperture ring at the rear

  • +

    Great for both stills and video

Cons

  • -

    Limited aperture ring compatibility for stills

  • -

    Relies on in-camera distortion correction

  • -

    Pricey to buy

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Let’s jump back in time to 2015. Canon launched the EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM for DSLRs and it became a firm favorite with pro photographers all over the world. There are doubtless many who still use this lens via a mount adapter, after swapping to an EOS R system camera, simply because it’s still so superb. But now there’s a good reason to trade it in, and that reason is the new RF 35mm F1.4L VCM. It brings a feast of new features and handling exotica while, somewhat remarkably in this day and age, being less expensive to buy in the current market. The new RF lens is also designed for hybrid shooters, so with the current vogue for pro photographers to be able to turn their hand to video as well as stills, it’s got a lot going for it and is destined to be one of the best Canon EOS RF lenses. Let’s take a closer look.

The RF lens is smaller and lighter than its EF forebear, shown here mounted on an EOS R5 Mark II camera body. (Image credit: Matthew Richards)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Mount optionsCanon RF
Lens construction14 elements in 11 groups
Angle of view63 degrees
Diaphragm blades11
Minimum aperturef/16
Minimum focus distance0.28m
Maximum magnification0.18x
Filter size67mm plus gel holder
Dimensions77x99mm
Weight555g
Swipe to scroll horizontally
FeaturesTop-end features include a customizable control ring and function button, plus a dedicated stepless aperture ring.★★★★★
DesignThe design incorporates an excellent dual autofocus system and a particularly well-rounded 11-blade aperture diaphragm.★★★★★
PerformanceImage quality and all-round performance are superb although, like many recent lenses, it relies on in-camera correction for distortion.★★★★★
ValueIt’s certainly an expensive lens to buy but still undercuts the older EF lens for purchase price.★★★★
Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS Macro STM

The Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS Macro STM is a fine lens that’s comparatively affordable and works really well for all sorts of photography, including extreme close-ups with 0.5x macro magnification at its shortest focus distance.

Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art

The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art has long been one of my favorite 35mm primes. It’s well engineered and delivers superb image quality. Sure, it’s designed for DSLRs but works well on mirrorless cameras via a mount adapter.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1