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Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM : Specifications and Opinions

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM is a standard lens for FF and APS-C, manufactured from 2006 to 2024 (discontinued). The focus is done by Ultrasonic AF Motor (Ring-USM), it does not have image stabilization. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 1450 €;

157 users have given it an average vote of 9.4 out of 10.

MOUNT

This lens is available with the following mounts:

Canon EF: this lens is compatible with reflex fullframe and APS-C Canon EF.

Specifications
Focal lenght	50 mm
Angle of view	46.8°
Format	FF, APS-C
Max. aperture	f/1.2
Aperture blades	8
Lenses/Groups	8 elements in 6 groups
Min. focus distance	0.45 meters
Reproduction ratio	0.15x
Features
Stabilization	No
Focus	Ultrasonic AF Motor (Ring-USM)
Internal Focus	Yes
Built and notes
Tripod ring	No
Extenders	No
Filters	72 mm
Lens hood	Yes, supplied
Weather sealing	Yes
Weight	580 g
Dimensions	86 x 66 mm
Buy
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Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

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Rednaxela

sent on August 04, 2015

Pros: Pleasing and soft bokeh (rounded aperture blades), very good contast and colors, solid construction, not too heavy, good and usable image quality even wide open, very good and sharp at f/2. The only 50mm lens with f/1.2 (but that's only 1/3 stop brighter than f/4) ;-)

Cons: Very expensive (compared to other brands), not as sharp as newer constructions form Sigma, visible reddish CAs (but that's part of its typical image look)

Opinion: much better and sharper than I expected since its image quality was criticised in many tests and forums. Of all Canon 50mm lenses this is by far the sharpest lens between open aperture and f2! With its high contrast, vivid colors and its pleasing bokeh (rounded aperture blades) it delivers very harmonic images. My most used lens for indoor available light photography since I purchased it in 2010. AF is fast but a little slower then most other USM L-Lenses. Solid constuction with weather sealing (if used with filter). But a very expensive lens. Today the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens could be the better choice (even sharper and less expensive).

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Gerry888800

sent on November 21, 2024

Pros: f/1.2 aperture for exceptional bokeh and low-light performance. Robust and durable build quality, typical of the L series. Excellent sharpness in the center, especially at small apertures. High-level color rendering and contrast.

Cons: Edge sharpness not great at f/1.2. Autofocus not always fast and accurate. Lack of optical stabilization.

Opinion: The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a great lens for those looking for a tool that excels at creating emotional images. The f/1.2 aperture is its strong point: it allows you to shoot in low light conditions and produces a creamy and enveloping bokeh, ideal for portraits and artistic shots. The build quality is impeccable, with solid materials and resistance to intensive use that make it an ideal companion even in extreme conditions. It's not perfect, though: the sharpness at the edges wide open leaves a little to be desired, and the autofocus, while quiet, isn't always as fast or accurate as you'd expect from a lens in this range. Additionally, the lack of optical stabilization limits its versatility in some situations. Despite its flaws, the 50mm f/1.2 remains a prime choice for photographers looking for emotion and character in their images, qualities that far outweigh minor technical imperfections.

Giant Step

sent on October 25, 2022

Pros: Brightness, bokeh, speed, weight, size, construction, colors, sharpness*

Cons: Sharpness abb good, if you are looking for excellence then RF 50 1.2

Opinion: The lens in question has many advantages including the enviable brightness, a really soft and creamy bokeh reminiscent of the 85 1.2, fast for any moving subject and silent. It has very small weight and dimensions (including hoods), it seems almost pocket-sized even with EF-RF adapter. The construction is L-series, it doesn't rain! It has beautiful colors and in terms of sharpness I must say that I expected worse given the graphs but I can only be satisfied!!!

Riccardo Arena Trazzi

sent on October 24, 2022

Pros: Unique 3D rendering, AF, size, weight, brightness, blur, ergonomics

Cons: Price, minimum focusing distance, sharpness, aberrations, 72mm filters, unstabilized,

Opinion: If you are a pixel peeper maniacs of sharpness and optical perfection stay away from this lens, take a 50mm Sigma Art or Canon RF L and you will live serenely. You can stop reading. One could list many things that are not perfect for this goal: there is not enough sharpness, there are many aberrations for example. Yet when you shoot, the 3D rendering it returns is unique. Yield that also remains at f/2 or f/2.8. It will be that slight red-green aberration in the blur that the brain processes as if they were 3D glasses, I don't know but it works! If you do not go into the detail of the pixel but you just look at the photo as a whole you understand it. Dimensions and weight: it is a cap for SLR and very light. It's not a pancake but almost. You can use it on SLR always without feeling imbalances, weight or wrist pain. Fantastic as the only lens for light outputs. You won't believe it but you can also close it at f/8÷11 to make landscapes. Unfortunately it is not stabilized but on the other hand it is very bright and ergonomic. The AF is strongly dependent on the camera body: on 6D the central was good, on the sides less, on 5DIV TOP, in live view with the DPAF and face recognition is a sniper! It follows the subject and always keeps it in focus even at f/1.2 (so I imagine on R how well it behaves). I would have liked a minimum focusing distance a little shorter to be able to get closer to the subject or take some detail and native 77mm filter diameter to share for example ND and CPL with other lenses without having to put adapter rings 72-77. In backlight it is not perfect, you have to be careful not to drop the ghost images on the face of the subject but if you are good at mastering the defects come out of the crazy images! Seeing is believing.

Settedi

sent on August 30, 2022

Pros: excellent construction, a must

Cons: for the rest it does not excel at anything

Opinion: I am aware of going against the current compared to the other reviews but in my opinion and for my way of photographing this lens is absolutely not worth the money it costs, bought, kept six months and then resold in a race. The sigma 50 art that I tried, despite being more weight and less bright (although I could not make a direct reffont), seemed to me if not at par, superior in sharpness both in the center and at the edges and costs about half. If we then talk about the charm, the aesthetic and constructive quality, this lens is unrivaled.

There are 60 more reviews. Show all »

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The sample photos are selected automatically between all photos posted by JuzaPhoto members, using the camera and the lens selected in the techs. If you find evident errors (e.g. photos taken with cameras and lenses that are not available yet), you can contribute to improve the page by sending a private message to the user that has entered incorrect values in the photo caption.

Reviews » Lenses » Lenses Canon » Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM : Specifications and Opinions

Buy

Offerte Usato RCE

Reviews

What do you think about this lens?

Photos taken with Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM