Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

Canon · EF

EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

Released December 1998

An EF wide-angle L-series prime with an f/1.4 aperture, a ground and polished aspherical element, ring USM autofocus and a floating optical system.

Mount
Canon EF
Focal length
35 mm
Max aperture
f/1.4
Stabilisation
–
Weight
580 g

What reviewers say

Both reviews praise the build and fast, quiet autofocus, while finding wide-aperture shading and improved sharpness when stopped down. The Digital Picture calls f/1.4 slightly soft but usable. Photozone finds excellent central resolution there but soft full-frame corners, nervous foreground blur and coloured out-of-focus fringing; it finds strong performance across the frame by f/5.6.

From the-digital-picture.com, photozone.de and photozone.de

Optics

Lens type
Prime
Focal length
35 mm
Maximum aperture
f/1.4
Minimum aperture
f/22
Optical construction
Eleven elements in nine groups, with a floating system for close and medium distances
Special elements
One ground and polished aspherical glass element according to Canon Camera Museum
Diaphragm
Eight blades according to Canon Camera Museum
Angle of view
63° diagonal, 54° horizontal and 38° vertical according to Canon's exact manual

Mount and compatibility

Mounts
Canon EF
Image circle
Full frame
Compatibility
Canon EF full-frame and APS-C cameras

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.3 m
Maximum magnification
0.18×
Autofocus detail
Rear focusing with ring USM; full-time manual focus after One Shot AF while holding the shutter button halfway, according to Canon's manual
Focus distance detail
Non-rotating filter frame according to Canon; constant external length according to Photozone

Design

Dust and moisture resistant
No
Filter diameter
72 mm
Maximum diameter
79 mm
Length
86 mm
Weight
580 g
Controls
Focus ring, AF/MF switch, distance scale and infrared index
Weather resistance
No weather sealing according to Photozone's exact-model test
Dimensions detail
Canon's manual specifies 79 × 86 mm; its Museum table gives 72 × 86 mm; the manual dimensions are used here
Weight detail
580 g for the lens only according to Canon's manual; caps add 21.5 mm to the listed length
Lens hood
EW-78C reversible hood and LP1214 pouch identified by Canon's manual; The Digital Picture confirms both supplied in its reviewed box
Release detail
Canon Camera Museum records December 1998 marketing

Pros and cons

Pros

  • f/1.4 maximum aperture
  • Full-time manual focus
  • Non-rotating filter thread

Cons

  • No weather sealing

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Canon EF24 mmf/1.4No550 gDec 1997
Canon EF28 mmf/1.8–310 gSept 1995
Canon EF35 mmf/2No210 gOct 1990

Sources

  1. global.canon/en/c-museum/product/ef346.html
  2. media.the-digital-picture.com/Owners-Manuals/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-USM-Lens.pdf
  3. the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx
  4. photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/516-canon35f14ff
  5. photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/516-canon35f14ff

Photo: global.canon

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