Canon RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM vs Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM

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RF 20mm F1.4 L VCM compared with RF 50mm F1.2 L USM

	CanonRF 20mm F1.4 L VCM	CanonRF 50mm F1.2 L USM
Overview
Released
Released	April 2025	October 2018
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	20 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.4	f/1.2
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	Fifteen elements in eleven groups	Fifteen elements in nine groups
Special elements
Special elements	One Super UD, two UD, one BR and two glass-moulded aspherical elements; ASC, SWC and Super Spectra coatings; front fluorine coating	One UD element, two ground and polished aspherical elements and one glass-moulded aspherical element; Air Sphere Coating
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Eleven blades with circular aperture	Ten blades with circular aperture
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras; RF extenders not compatible. Iris ring provides movie aperture control; Canon lists EOS R, RP, Ra, R3, R5, R6, R6 Mark II, R7, R8, R10, R50, R100 and R5 C as unable to set still-photo aperture with this ring even with their latest firmware	Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras; not compatible with EOS DSLRs
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.2 m	0.4 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.19×	0.19×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Rear focusing system driven by a VCM motor	Ring-type USM; electronic manual focusing with full-time manual override
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum focus 0.2 m	Minimum focus 0.4 m; focus limiter selects full range or 0.8 m–infinity (Cameralabs)
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.19×	Maximum 0.19×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No optical stabiliser; Canon rates EOS R1 in-body stabilisation at 8 stops centrally and 5 stops in the corners under CIPA-2024 testing	No optical image stabiliser (Cameralabs)
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	Yes	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	67 mm	77 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	76.5 mm	89.8 mm
Length
Length	99.3 mm	108 mm
Weight
Weight	519 g (better)	950 g
Controls
Controls	Electronic manual-focus, customisable control and smooth-action iris rings; iris Auto-position lock; customisable lens function button; AF/MF switch	Electronic manual-focus and customisable control rings; AF/MF and focus-limiter switches
Filter detail
Filter detail	67 mm front thread and rear filter holder; Canon specifies a single rear filter no thicker than 0.2 mm and recommends removing the holder when unused to avoid possible ghosting	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Dust and moisture resistant construction with mount rubber seal	Dust and moisture resistant construction
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 76.5 mm maximum diameter × 99.3 mm length	Approximately 89.8 mm maximum diameter × 108 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 519 g lens	Approximately 950 g lens
Lens hood
Lens hood	EW-73H hood included	ES-83 hood included
In the box
In the box	Lens, E-67 II front cap, RF dust cap, EW-73H hood, LP1219 case, rear filter holder and user manual	Lens, E-77 II front cap, RF dust cap, ES-83 hood, LP1319 case and user manual
Release detail
Release detail	April 2025 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum	October 2018 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum