Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM Review: The 35mm I was waiting for (and many years late!)

The brand new RF 35mm F1.4. Is the days of adapting 35mm F1.4 lenses over? Today review looks at this lens. There will be a follow up in the future but lets take a first review of a production copy of the RF35mm F1.4
00:00 Opening
00:26 Alternative before this
01:40 Rear Filter Holder
02:33 Physical
05:37 Why I use filters
06:54 Handling and AF
09:29 Optical Quality
14:22 Focus Breathing
14:57 Magnification
15:23 Conclusion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me for Collab/Reviews:
Website: zpeaktures.squarespace.com/co...
Email: [e-mail]
Like my content? Support me and my reviews via Kofi!
ko-fi.com/zpeaktures
Instagram: / zpeaktures
Audio Instagram: / zp_reviews
Facebook: / zpeaktures
Headfi: www.head-fi.org/members/tassa...
Video Shot with
Canon C200
Canon CN-E 18-80mm
Sennheiser MKH 8060

[@AnastasTarpanov]

Thanks for this review, looks like a great lens. 35mm is my favorite lens choice.

[@CZOV]

Dont get fooled, the lens is complete junk, everything is software corrected, crappy optics, crappy coating. Not worth 1/4 of the cost.

[@michaelsteingraber9866]

Thanks! Do you recon it’s worth it’s price to save on weight compared to the Sigma 40mm for you? Regards from Germany

[@ZPProductions]

Yes it’s worth the weight savings. I’ll pay the money for just the weight saving. optically it’s very similar to the sigma 40mm but it’s faster, more accurate and lighter

[@michaelsteingraber9866]

@@ZPProductionsThanks for the reply. I haven’t used or even handled the Sigma 40mm but I’m interested because of the high praise it gets everywhere.

[@Bigmystery]

@@michaelsteingraber9866 Hallo Michael, wenn du bei all dem zügellosen Jubel auch einmal einen kritischen Test sehen willst, dann schau doch auf dem Channel von Davision vorbei. Grüße

[@michaelsteingraber9866]

@@Bigmystery Habe ich heute Morgen angesehen! Danke für den Tip!

[@frontstandard1488]

@@michaelsteingraber9866 I use one today on L Mount. Lumix S1R without adapter ie native. Heavy and long but worth it to me. Stunning image quality, I also have the 28mm 1.4 sigma which is also excellent.The 40mm does everything including landscapes, I use a separate lens support when on tripod for stability and the sharpness is blistering but smooth

[@bokehbeauty]

Thank you for the extensive coverage. Is there a reason why you didn’t touch the backlight performance?

[@ZPProductions]

Do you mean flare? Didn’t get to shoot something that will cause it during my testing period

[@bokehbeauty]

@@ZPProductions Yes, this is what I meant. Reason for my question is that I saw images with pretty subpar performance. Even the RF 50mm f1.2 has some issues with it.

[@ZPProductions]

@@bokehbeauty hmm I have tried with a flash direct in frame and I don't see any serious flaring issues. More test is needed but many times the reason why there is bad flare/hazing is cause of either filter there's a smudge in the front element. Filters are th biggest cause and I always remove them if I am doing back litted shots regardless of lens.

[@bokehbeauty]

@@ZPProductions Hi, thank you very much for taking my concern into account!! You may also have a look at the findings of a German KZbin colleague kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZKTcmSIlN2cobc

[@ZPProductions]

I just browse through his videos. There are some things I want to note on the flare test. His actually shining the flare from the worst angle possible and gets those coloured rings. Most lens do have those and I think it’s a matter of preference hmmm. Maybe I’ll try it out one day since I normally don’t place my light in such an angle.

[@Slipsch]

For someone who use multiple systems, what are your thoughts on this lens versus Sony 35mm 1.4?

[@ZPProductions]

I think lens sharpness wise its similar. I remember I compared with the sigma before for the Sony and they are about the same ball park. The Sony has high amount of focus breathing and definitely not great for video. But it is lighter and more affordable. That said this is more of Sony vs Canon, and the system as a like Sony aggressive AF speed vs Canon more accurate eye detection probably matters more

[@Sqeezy3]

As an owner of Sony A7IV and 35mm GM. If I was offered to switch systems for free and had to get this lens, I wouldn't switch. The Sony one is superior i every but one way. The image quality is better, the especially the corners, cost is lower, I can actually use the aperture ring. The one thing Canon has better is focus breathing, which can be corrected in newer Sony cameras, as is my A7IV in video. For photography there is no correction, but it makes no difference. I'm waiting for the Canon fanboys, which fantasize about the bigger Canon RF mount being better than Sony's small E mount. This lens a big middle finger to that statement.

[@ZPProductions]

@@Sqeezy3 Actually it also looses in light transmission. Other than that, if you are looking at extreme corner, the sony 35mm is better. But I won't use sony camera , owning the A1 for a good 2 years with my canon. For me doing portraits, canon is just more reliable eye af wise. Maybe the next gen A1 II ill come back to try again.

[@Slipsch]

@@Sqeezy3 I shoot both systems, so it doesn’t matter to me. Just wanted to know if there’s any drastic difference between them. More for my excitement before I get my hands on the Canon 35 1.4. Either way I would still buy it cause i use the 35mm the most.

[@mike.k]

What filter it is? I mean on the front of the lens You put. Just curious cuz as You said I’m also afraid of wiping for example rf24-70 with random cloth 😱 and there front glass element is huge (82mm) so maybe it’s reasonable to protect it somehow.

[@ZPProductions]

Just use some Hoya or anything you feel reputable enough. The whole purpose of the filter for me is really to use my tshirt to wipe it haha.

[@mike.k]

@@ZPProductions yea

[@mousbleu]

@@mike.k aren't you afraid of degrading the optical quality ? A cloth won't damage the lens.

[@mike.k]

@@mousbleu that’s also good point 👍🏻😎 and make sense, yea spending money for 2000$+ lens and then cover it with cheaper additional piece of glass… so yea maybe I will use it also without any filter hehe , and with filter in extreme situation like sand storm or heavy rain etc

[@notgazo7009]

​@@mike.k I once had the lens cap fall off my EF 24-70 2.8 II during transportation. Rubbing between the lens cap and the front element during transport has left a scratch on the latter. Since then I use high quality clear or UV filters ( B+W, Breakthrough and Polar Pro). I know that a small scratch won't affect the IQ, but the front element coating peeling off with wear is much more worrying to me, as I've already experienced this problem with my own glasses.

[@Sqeezy3]

You said that the canon lens has more premium lens hood. I bought the Sony instead of Sigma for better picure quality, but Sigma is AWESOME for that price, but the main deal breaker was the non petal style lens hood.

[@ZPProductions]

Sigma is pretty nice. I just think it’s too big if I can don’t use haha.

[@EastCoastDigs]

How does it compare to rf 35 1.8 in sharpness and bokeh quality? Obviously better build and faster af and aperture

[@ZPProductions]

It’s definitely sharper wide open. The 1.8 copy I have has some haze to me wide open. Bokeh wise I’m not too sure though

[@EastCoastDigs]

@@ZPProductions thanks, I was stoked for this lens but feel like they made the upgrade a thinking decision

[@sirpetesompra755]

Can you tell us the price of this lens in your currency?

[@ZPProductions]

It’s 2389 SGD

[@Riskbreaker2009]

06:39 I don’t like petal lens hoods and think circular lens hoods are better for putting your camera down with the lens on

[@ZPProductions]

Thats true. But I from practical stand point, of using a R3, I probably don't want to rest it on a small hood like 35mm haha. That said the petal hood in real world will probably block more flare

[@wenjiun88]

"You will never accidentally release the hood" Bro, happened all the time on my RF50mm f1.2 and Rf15-35mm f2.8

[@ZPProductions]

How you do that haha. But in all seriousness, it’s still more secure then friction lock types which over time may get real loose and fall off from pushing

[@wenjiun88]

​@@ZPProductions i think 15-35mm lens hood are the worst. It fell off easily. I holding two cameras for wedding shoot

[@ZPProductions]

@@wenjiun88 Oh no wonder. All the jostling have a good chance of pressing the release button. 15-35 lens hoods are all rather shallow and big. They actually also don't shield the lens much from flare unless it's the extreme sides.

[@ER-gn8io]

You come to completely different conclusions about flames than your German influencer, whose name I won't mention here. I contacted this gentleman several times and expressed my doubts about parts of his findings. I was badly attacked and called a canon fanboy. The reason was that he claimed that he always worked without a lens hood because it was a hindrance with variable ND filters. He does not accept the positive comments and criticizes the authors. Most people follow him without any doubt and don't have their own opinion!

[@ZPProductions]

Hmm well I think everyone is entitled to their comments. But I just want to use the lens normally and view the quality in a way that I will use. The flare I know what you are talking about but i will always use a hood and if anything a ND will also result in flare. But in the end his and mine are just different usage angle and as such different results. I don’t understand about the fanboy thing. After I use every system, I can see why people prefer one over the other, but there’s no reason to be a fanboy since all this are nothing but tools to get good pics.

[@ruslanss]

Берем!

[@CZOV]

Dont LIE to us. CA, flare, vigneting, distortions... everything is wrong with this lens when u are asked to pay 2K for it. Total rubbish.

[@ZPProductions]

Not sure what you are looking. CA, I don’t see any unless in the absolutely worst conditions. Vignetting no worse then other lens of its class. Price $1.5k usd. Canon do charge differently in different places so it maybe a case your region is significantly higher. And why do I need to lie when I bought it myself? You make absolutely no sense.

[@NateSceneTV]

1.5k but sure. It's not that bad but I'll wait for the 24mm 1.4 vcm L which is kinda confirmed to be announced this year soon

[@mosesjeong9205]

I choose EF version

[@ZPProductions]

@@mosesjeong9205 actually if doing video, the EF version maybe better cause you can use the adapters with variable ND. And they are also cheaper