Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM vs Canon RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM

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RF 45mm F1.2 STM compared with RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM

	CanonRF 45mm F1.2 STM	CanonRF 50mm F1.4 L VCM
Overview
Released
Released	November 2025	December 2024
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	45 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.2	f/1.4
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	Nine elements in seven groups	Fourteen elements in eleven groups
Special elements
Special elements	One plastic-moulded aspherical element (Canon USA)	One UD and two aspherical elements, including one glass-moulded aspherical element; ASC and Super Spectra coatings; front fluorine coating
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra coating	–
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	f/1.2–16	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Nine aperture blades	Eleven blades with circular aperture
Angle of view
Angle of view	43°35′ horizontal, 29°50′ vertical and 51°20′ diagonal on full frame	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon RF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame image circle	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
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	Canon RF extenders not compatible	–
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.45 m	0.4 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.13×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Gear-type STM autofocus with magnetic focus-position detection; full-time electronic manual focus	Electronic floating focus control combines VCM and Nano USM motors
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum focusing distance 0.45 m; Canon does not separately specify AF/MF distances	Minimum focus 0.4 m
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Maximum 0.15×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No optical image stabilisation (Canon USA)	No optical stabiliser; relies on in-body stabilisation where provided (Dustin Abbott)
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	Yes
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	67 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	78 mm	76.5 mm
Length
Length	75 mm	99.3 mm
Weight
Weight	346 g (better)	580 g
Controls
Controls	Separate focus and clickable control rings; AF/MF switch; no iris ring or lens function button (Canon USA)	Electronic manual-focus, customisable control and smooth-action iris rings; customisable lens function button; AF/MF switch
Filter detail
Filter detail	67 mm front screw-in filter thread	–
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	No dust or weather resistant construction (Canon USA)	Dust and moisture resistant construction with mount rubber seal
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 78 mm maximum diameter × 75 mm length	Approximately 76.5 mm maximum diameter × 99.3 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 346 g lens	Approximately 580 g lens
Lens hood
Lens hood	Optional ES-73B hood and LP1116 case; E-67 II front cap and Lens Dust Cap RF listed by Canon	ES-73 hood included
In the box
In the box	Front and rear lens caps (Amateur Photographer); hood not included	Lens, E-67 II front cap, RF dust cap, ES-73 hood, LP1219 case and user manual
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Japan's 14 November 2025 notice confirms first sale on 28 November 2025; Photography Blog instead reports availability from 20 November without a matching regional maker day, so no UK date is inferred	December 2024 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum