Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L Review - 50 Examples

This is my non-technical review of the RF50mm f/1.2 USM. Rather than show you pictures of sharpness charts and pixel peeping on corners, this is a review of my professional work using the RF50mm f/1.2L USM over almost two years. I have provided over 50 image examples that show you the performance of this lens for general portraiture, weddings, fashion, beauty, editorials and many more genres. I even throw in a small segment about video performance.
Special thank to Meredith Thomas for assisting on this episode!
/ meredith.thomas
Special thanks to Poorbaby Fashion!
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My review comparing the RF50mm f/1.2 L USM to the RF28-70 f/2 L USM.
• Does The Canon RF28-70...
My full review of the RF85mm f/1.2 L USM
• Canon RF85mm f/1.2 L R...
My full review of the RF28-70mm f/2 L USM
• Canon RF28-70 Review -...
My Business
www.kevindealphotography.com/
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/ kevindealphoto
My Equipment:
Canon RF50mm f/1.2
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/11...
Canon EOS R5
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/11...
This Episode Was Filmed On:
Canon EOS R
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/29...
Canon RF14-35 f/4
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/11...
Wireless Lav
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/29...
Studio Mic
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/11...
Audio Interface
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/11...
Studio Lighting
adorama.rfvk.net/c/3544090/11...
Freewell 77mm Threaded Hard Stop Variable ND Filter Standard Day 2 to 5 Stops
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[@KevinDeal]

How are you enjoying your RF50m f/1.2L USM lens? Do you want one? Tell me in the description below.

[@davidkouris2832]

Happy Holidays! Thanks for your honesty and integrity. 8 months ago I made the switch to The Canon R6 with the RF 24-105 f4. What an eye opener. I had to start all over again (Practically) I reluctantly gave my 5D mkIV to my son who is well deserving of it. I added the RF 70-200 f4 later on So Black Friday came along and I took advantage of some Super Deals and I purchased the RF 50 f1.2 My schedule turned Chaotic and there sat the lens in my home office. Last weekend I had an opportunity for some landscape, street and automotive photography at a local Car Show at an Outlet Mall near the Ocean in San Clemente, CA! Big Mistake! It wasn't the right time to learn a new lens. Epic Fail! LOL! Too many kids, babies, dogs, moving cars and stressed out shoppers "Photo Bombing" me! Totally My Bad! My next opportunity will be on Christmas Day at my Brother's House in a more normal and controlled environment with my family! Also wanted to add that I had watched one of your other Videos and thanks to you, I purchased the Freewell 2-5 stop ND Filter. The results with my RF 24-105 f4 were Damn Good even for an old guy like me. Thanks again. I will reply again after Christmas. Regards, DK

[@KevinDeal]

@@davidkouris2832 thank you for the kind words. My way of combating photo bombers is to shoot at f1.2. Then they just melt into the blurry background! Lol. Keep at it with the 50mm. It's a special lens. I'm glad you're enjoying that Freewell filter. I've enjoyed mine quite a bit. I hope you and your family have the best holiday season!

[@ZDShah]

Great video! Appreciate all your examples and nice addition of the behind of the scenes shoot with the RF 50mm 1.2. I am amazed your strobe held up in the wind. Beautiful shots!

[@KevinDeal]

Funny you mention that. It fell over. AD600BM strobe was fine. I know better. Should have brought sand bags, but didn't have an assistant. Thank you for the kind words!

[@scottabergermd]

terrific photography...you make me actually want to buy the 50 1.2!

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks! I bought the 28-70 first and when I got the 50, I was concerned it might be redundant. But the more I use the 50, the more I love it. They don’t look exactly the same. I tend to use them in different scenarios. Both have their places.

[@rebekaperales694]

Great video!! I am still saving for the 50! I love it.

[@KevinDeal]

Thank you. It’s a lovely lens. And thanks for the watch!

[@NiniRockX]

Your photos and edits are just beautiful.

[@KevinDeal]

Thank you Nina. I really do appreciate it.

[@gianni-gf4nq]

Not a lot of lens can deliver technical perfection,autofocus, and technical perfection at the same time 🔥🔥🔥

[@KevinDeal]

Very true. Thanks for watching!

[@RWAquariumPages]

Great review!! I went with the 85 for now similar to tou but 50mm is way better for my everyday photos. I'll be grabbing this and the 135mm shortly for my set up. Thanks for the great video and until next one

[@KevinDeal]

I just started to record my RF135 review today. Took delivery of it a week ago and have only gotten around to playing around with it. Hope to have my review up in the next few weeks. Thank you for the kind words!

[@mvp_kryptonite]

Some dope shots right here. Enjoyed the video and surprised I missed them as I’ve been following a while. KZbin needs to improve their notifications. Anyway, I have the nifty fifty and used it like 3 times so not my go to. I’m interested in the 24 and 35 though since I’m APSC. Off to watch your 85 review. Cheers

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@itaylorm]

I got the 50mm for the great options it gives me in outdoor portraits as well as in low light. Weight is very easy to deal with.

[@KevinDeal]

It's certainly more easy to manage than the 85 or 28-70. Thanks for the watch!

[@fsi2210]

Stunning images.

[@KevinDeal]

Thank you

[@TheBlackice38]

Hello Kevin, Great video!!! I just can't get my photos to look so sharp and crisp... I have the RF50mm f/1.2 but I'm having a rough time taking keepers

[@KevinDeal]

Interesting. Without seeing the images it’s tough to know. Are your focus points hitting? If you use Canon’s DPP software it can tell you exactly where the focus was when you took the picture. That can let you pinpoint the issue.

[@kenschwarz8057]

Great review, full of practical advice and helpful and inspiring examples. The contrast of this lens is just extraordinary and is the reason I finally upgraded to mirrorless Canon. I actually adored the EF 50/1.4 but only from f2.2-4. You are right about it being soft wide open and even at 1.8 it’s not great. But the RF 50/1.2 is stunning even wide open and just gets better from there. Your examples all look like they are medium format, so really, it’s a bargain from that perspective. Sorry to see you struggling with tennis elbow. Did the 28-70 do that to you?

[@KevinDeal]

Yeah. I tried to shoot video on it for my review and paid the price with tennis elbow. But my heavy Mamiya RB67 probably had some say in my tennis elbow as well. Thank you for the kind words! The 50 is incredible

[@whosyourbrad]

Great video!

[@KevinDeal]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mystikmeg]

What a beautiful video 👍

[@KevinDeal]

Thank you very much!

[@MrPanthers23]

Great practical review. Love my 50mm rf 1.2. Can't wait for the L 35mm lens. The 35mm rf 1.8 is ok, but I'd love a 1.4 or 1.2 if it isn't too big.

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks for the kind words! Yes, my next video is likely a deep dive into the 35mm 1.8. I will definitely be sharing my opinion about my hopes for a better 35. Although I will say that, for the money, the current 35 is good.

[@MrPanthers23]

@@KevinDeal agree about the value. I bought mine used if KEH, so even better value. Doubt I'll ever part with it, esp since it's a nice small walk around lens. I mostly take pics of my family. Going to sporting events, bag rules have really tightened, and the days of bringing camera bags to a game are gone forever I fear. So a nice small 35mm is great for those events.

[@KevinDeal]

@@MrPanthers23 I would say that the RF35 is good enough for commercial work in a pinch, but not a serious lens for commercial work. For vacation though, man that lens is perfect. It's also a gem on video.

[@sjyap0525]

hi ,may i know the focusing speed compare to RF 85 1.2 ,which one focus faster ?

[@KevinDeal]

Thanks for the question. I would need to go do a test, but I can tell you that they are both so fast I don't ever think about which one is faster. The USM motors on the RF lenses are instantaneous.

[@martinekwall4671]

Stunning shots man!! It’s a joy to see a series of shot that are really professionally performed 🤗 I still use a number of EF glass on R5, first RF I got was 24-105 f4 because of reportage style commercial photo and video jobs. Couple of questions how good is the follow AF on the RF 50 f1.2 compared to your RF 24-70? I think of both video and person walking towards the camera situations. I have sigma 50mm f1.4 and often it works out very well with bokeh when shooting persons but when an object is about 20-30 feet away at large aperture openings the background bokeh becomes double and “worrisome” type of look. It’s a flaw in that lens and it’s counterpart 35mm Art lens. How is the RF 50 1.2 behaving in that type situation? What I noticed from a few reviews on this RF 50 is the gradual fall off of sharpness from sharp object to unsharp background resembling more a cine lens, I love that. 85mm in this respect can get a bit drastically flat in this respect at times, a very pop 3D effect. Another thing with 85mm is with people that have a square or round shape face ad a few extra pounds/kilos to their bodies the impression can do them a bit unjust. 85mm is perfect for slim models and athletic body type. I’m need to test the 50mm cropped forcing me to back out a bit and that resembles 60mm to combat square and round faces to a more flattering look. 🤪

[@KevinDeal]

Thank you for the kind compliments and the watch! I don’t own the 24-70. I do own the 28-70. When I shoot both lenses in SERVO with back button focus I am happy to report that both lenses perform flawlessly and lock onto the subject as long as I hold down the AF button. The R5 AF is incredible like that. I used to own the Sigma 50 and know what you mean about “nervous” or “worrisome” bokeh. I don’t have that issue with the RF50. It’s very three dimensional. I don’t notice any issues with weight unless the subject is on the edge of the frame. But that’s an issue with most lenses.

[@martinekwall4671]

@@KevinDeal Thanks for your complete answer. It’s a lot a value to get answer to deep nerdy questions. I’m glad to hear these fast lenses work so well with the AF.

[@KevinDeal]

@@martinekwall4671 yes. The AF on these new cameras are basically a cheat code. I love them. And while my reviews aren't overly technical, I absolutely still love to nerd out on things. Thanks for the watch and feedback!

[@albertma5467]

I’m glad you are going through all the RF lenses in great detail! Keep it up! 50 1.2 is my first and only RF lens for a year and it made me a believer and switched over from Sony. Since then I have added the 28-70 and 85 1.2. You are right the 50 is getting less use.

[@KevinDeal]

Interestingly enough, I am finding a sweet spot for the 50 that is making me use it a bit more. It has its place, for sure. Thanks for the kind words. I think I will dive into the RF35 1.8 next. Doing a review of a couple Fuji lenses at the moment, but will pick back up on the RF stuff after that.

[@bermondseyboy88]

Out of interest, what light did you use when shooting on location outdoors? Kindest Regards

[@KevinDeal]

Flashpoint ad600BM. The non-TTL version.

[@nealpatel6052]

Kevin, everything was going great. Until I saw the Spurs shirt!! Kidding! Good stuff.

[@KevinDeal]

Lol. COYS. Just happy to have beaten Man City twice, had a draw against Liverpool twice, knocked Arsenal out on the last day and will be playing in the Champions League in the coming months, despite our cheap owner. I appreciate the watch!

[@nealpatel6052]

@@KevinDeal the only thing that could ruin this whole thing is…. A Cowboy fan too? When is the RF 70-200 2.8 review coming? Great images by the way.

[@KevinDeal]

@@nealpatel6052 Guess where I grew up?..........Dallas. LOL!!!

[@KevinDeal]

@@nealpatel6052 I have the 70-200 on my radar. I need to borrow one, as I don't actually own one. Yes, I am a portrait photographer who doesn't own a 70-200. Sounds like a great topic for an episode.

[@nealpatel6052]

@@KevinDeal haha. Born in North London, Arsenal fan. Now in Philly… Eagles fan!! Funny the the rf 70-200 was the first rf lens I bought out outside the 24-105 kit lens. However it’s the least used and funny enough the last one I’d part with!!

[@omranmohammed8134]

I never saw a lenses sharper than this oh man 😍😍😍😍😍

[@KevinDeal]

It’s a sharp one for sure.

[@omranmohammed8134]

@@KevinDeal will we get the 35 mm1.2 soon😍😍?

[@CurioPhotography]

May I ask which lighting kit did you use in that outdoor session, please? Thanks

[@KevinDeal]

In this video I am using a Godox / Flashpoint AD600BM, a Glow 22in Beauty Dish and Neweer metal stand.

[@CurioPhotography]

@@KevinDeal thanks :)

[@KevinDeal]

@@CurioPhotography you're welcome!

[@amtiikay8393]

Enemy of Gunners!! Anyway great review.

[@KevinDeal]

Guilty. Tottenham supporter. Thank you for the kind words!

[@Aaron31IU]

Great video. But I think even better is your hat. LV!

[@KevinDeal]

Alright, Alright, Alright. Austin FC! Thanks for the watch!

[@Aaron31IU]

@@KevinDeal right on! I have this same lens. Love the RF system. Have R6 and R. The 50mm 1.2 - just love the images it takes. I’m very much an amateur who does some occasional concert photography for local bands (at least pre-pandemic). See yah around Q2 one day! Dale!

[@KevinDeal]

@@Aaron31IU the 50 1.2 lens will take great care of you attached to an R6. I need to do a You Tube episode at Q2 with the RF100-500.

[@JesusGodHolySpirit3]

I still love my sigma is there ANY way for me to use it on the EOS R canon ? The Sigma lens has e mount

[@KevinDeal]

I'm assuming you mean the Sigma is an EF mount. If so, yes, it will work, you just need to purchase an EF-RF adapter, which are between $100-$200 usually.

[@JesusGodHolySpirit3]

@@KevinDeal It is Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Sony E (402965) that I am asing if it will work with EOS R canon body?

[@KevinDeal]

@@JesusGodHolySpirit3 thank you for clarifying. No, it will not work on an R body. The contacts are made for Sony. They are unable to communicate.

[@JesusGodHolySpirit3]

@@KevinDeal Sigma and canon mount will never unite together? I just dropped some serious dough for RF 50mm 1.2 - due to main objective is for videography I think it's a medium [versatile] enough lens. 85mm is limited in the end - although my 1st choice would of been 85mm canon hands down, but for video it doesn't make as much sense as 50 mm or 35mm.

[@KevinDeal]

@@JesusGodHolySpirit3 the only way to get a Sigma lens to mount to a Canon mirrorless body is if the Sigma lens has the EF mount on it. For Sony, there's no way to make it happen. Flange distances aren't compatible. For video, 35 and 50 definitely sound more practical than 85 if you are going to use a prime.

[@Kingofgibraltar]

Which is better 50mm or the 85?

[@KevinDeal]

Depends on how much environment you want I prefer the 85.

[@Burritosarebetterthantacos]

Ill just keep my $150 nifty. Half my subjects get the photos printed on Shutterfly which destroys them either way😂

[@KevinDeal]

Seems like that makes sense for you.

[@AlexValtchev]

You keep saying about Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM has 87mm filter, which is totally wrong. It has 82mm filter.

[@KevinDeal]

I was wrong. And you are correct

[@hariantosuhendro1428]

I Prefer SOOC

[@KevinDeal]

Whatever works for you.

[@angusamongus7566]

Dude…. Great video! Thanks a lot. I’m thinking on pulling the trigger on a canon r5 and getting the 50mm 1.2 as my first camera and first lens . Expensive but ide rather buy duality over quantity

[@KevinDeal]

Glad I could help! The 50 1.2 is an amazing lens. On an R5 it's a juggernaut.