Canon RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonRF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM | CanonRF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | January 2023 | June 2026 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Prime | Zoom |
| Focal length | 135 mm | 20–50 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8 | f/4 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Optical construction | Seventeen elements in twelve groups | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Special elements | Three UD elements | Two glass-moulded aspherical and three UD elements |
| Coatings | ASC and Super Spectra coatings; front-element fluorine coating | ASC and Super Spectra; fluorine coating on the front element |
| Aperture detail | – | Constant maximum f/4, minimum f/22 throughout the range |
| Diaphragm | Nine blades with circular aperture | Nine aperture blades |
| Angle of view | Approximately 18° diagonal | Horizontal 84°–40°, vertical 62°–27° and diagonal 94°–46° on full frame |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon RF | Canon RF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras | Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle; power-zoom control from camera body or remote devices depends on compatible model and firmware |
| Teleconverter support | Canon RF 1.4× and 2× extenders not compatible | Canon RF extenders not compatible |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.7 m | 0.24 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.26× | 0.33× |
| Optical stabilisation | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Nano USM; full-time manual focusing supported in One Shot AF and Servo AF on compatible EOS R-series cameras | Nano USM autofocus; full-time manual focus; maker rear-focus design retains length during focusing |
| Focus distance detail | Minimum focus 0.70 m; no distance limiter switch | – |
| Magnification detail | Maximum 0.26×; approximately 135 × 91 mm field of view at minimum focus | Maker maximum magnification 0.14× at 20 mm or 0.33× at 50 mm; no AF/MF mode specified in the table |
| Stabilisation detail | Up to 5.5 stops optical IS with EOS R; up to 8 stops coordinated with EOS R3 IBIS, under CIPA yaw/pitch testing | Maker six-stop optical IS or combined camera/lens eight stops at centre and corners under CIPA-2024, at maximum focal length with its specified camera; not guaranteed in every shooting setup |
| Video features | Focus breathing correction available on compatible cameras | Internal multi-speed power zoom and optically suppressed focus breathing; zoom ring switches between powered and conventional manual operation |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 82 mm | 67 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 89.2 mm | 79.9 mm |
| Length | 130.3 mm | 98.4 mm |
| Weight | 935 g | 420 g (better) |
| Controls | Separate electronic manual-focus and customisable control rings; two customisable lens function buttons default to AF stop; AF/MF and stabiliser switches | Customisable control ring, focus ring and zoom ring; PZ/MZ selector, custom button, AF/MF and stabiliser switches (Digital Camera World; ePHOTOzine) |
| Zoom design | – | Internal zoom/focus keeps barrel length fixed; ePHOTOzine describes conventional mechanical manual zoom, while Digital Camera World's prose calls it fly-by-wire; no silent choice between those reviewer descriptions |
| Filter detail | – | 67 mm front screw-in filter thread |
| Weather resistance | Dust and moisture resistant construction with rubber mount seal; front-element fluorine coating | Dust and moisture resistant with mount gasket; maker warns camera attachment is required and protection cannot prevent all dust or water ingress; no waterproof/IP rating inferred |
| Dimensions detail | Approximately 89.2 mm maximum diameter × 130.3 mm length | Approximately 79.9 mm maximum diameter × 98.4 mm length |
| Weight detail | Approximately 935 g lens | Approximately 420 g lens |
| Lens hood | ET-88B hood included (Canon UK store) | ES-73B; maker lists E-67 II cap, Lens Dust Cap RF and LP1219 pouch as accessories |
| In the box | Lens, ET-88B hood, LP1319 lens case, E-82 II front cap and RF dust cap (Canon UK store) | – |
| Release detail | January 2023 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum | Canon Japan's 11 June 2026 notice confirms first sale from 26 June 2026, resolving the earlier late-June launch wording |
More comparisons
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 L IS USM Z
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Z
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 24–50mm F4.5–6.3 IS STM
- Canon RF 14–35mm F4 L IS USM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 28–70mm F2.8 IS STM
- Canon RF 14mm F1.4L VCM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 7-14mm F2.8-3.5L FISHEYE STM
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 85mm F1.4L VCM
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 75–300mm F4–5.6
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF-S 14–30mm F4–6.3 IS STM PZ
- Canon RF 16–28mm F2.8 IS STM vs Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 24mm F1.4 L VCM
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM
- Canon RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ vs Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM