Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L
Introduction:
This is a very well specified lens at a good price and does what it does spectacularly. This is very much a portrait / event lens and excels at anything asked of it. This is big for a 50mm but not oversize at all, it also is significantly lighter and faster than the 85mm. There are some compromises with the 85mm but with this lens, there don't appear to be any, other than the price of course.
For it's size it is reassuringly heavy, you want something solid holding all that glass, it exudes quality and everything about it tells you this is a high-end, high performance product. Of course it has enough glass to achieve f/1.2 with extraordinary sharpness, the materials are not compromised so it feels every bit as good as it is.​
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There are similarities between this 50mm & the 85mm f/1.2, but these are limited to applications and focus technique only. Below is a hands-on explanation of what's good and what is less so, what we use it for and what we don't. Flying the Canon "L" series flag means the special performances you're getting are the reasons you have it.
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Though discontinued in 2023, it represents a performance bargain, with it's RF mount replacement costing £1,800 / $2,000 for very similar performance the EF manages to be a little smaller than the RF This lens is 50Mp capable so meets the needs of any FF sensor produced to date.
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If you like lots of specifications, click this link - Canon 50mm f/1.2L II Full Specifications.
Where can it deliver unique results:
There are only two big reasons you would use an f/1.2 lens. The most obvious attribute and primary reason is to achieve a very shallow depth of field, leaving the subject clearly separated from a smooth, creamy, uncluttered background. This separation and background quality ensures this objective maintains a legendary status as one of the world's best portrait lenses. It's amazing.
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The image here was taken in a relatively small space, so slightly too close for an 85mm, the background and foreground very complimentary and flattering.
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The choice of 50mm on full frame Full Frame gives a natural perspective and flattering proportions for full length or group portraits; with an aps-c sensor such as with the Canon R7 it is the favourite portrait lens at 80mm.
Also when mounted on a Canon mirrorless system you benefit from in-body image stabilisation.​​​​
The second reason is low light capability, often you have to shoot in very low ambient light situations. The best way to deal with this and still get good quality information to the sensor is with a large aperture; f/1.2 is a good working maximum, as depth of field will almost disappear any wider, yet here you have the full benefits.
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The near optimum balance of DOF vs background separation can be seen in the images here. Most people, most of the time would be using at least fill-in flash, this would absolutely spoil the shot. Even using a studio lamp setup to re-create the lighting would potentially be too bright for f/1.2 and would take so long you just couldn't hope to get these candid expressions.
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A less obvious benefit is it's stability. Though not to the same extent as the 85mm, it still has a high mass close to the camera body for this FOV, this absorbs vibration and has sufficient inertia to handhold comfortably at 1/30 sec, on the demanding 50Mp 5Ds without IS, with the stabilisation of the 'R' series bodies it's incredible what can be done in very low light.​​
Lens Optical Quality:
As a high end prime lens the optical quality is astounding, very few lenses are sharper and at f/1.2 the only competition is really only Canon's EF 85mm f/1.2 and Canon's RF 50mm f/1.2. Stopped down to f/2.8 there are zero issues anywhere in the frame, though of course for this sort of lens' applications, normally the subject is filling the centre. None the less corner to corner sharpness is never an issue. The image here of the Flugelhorn is at f/1.2, it's razor sharp and the near background smoothly disappears - you have to see it to believe it. 50.6Mp sensor needed to see the limits!
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Barrel distortion is absent, when correction is applied in LR you don't see anything change. There is minimal colour fringing, chromatic aberration wide open with high contrast, anything found is zero issue with LR anyway.
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Vignette is visible at f/1.2 through to f/1.8 but is easily removeable, by f/2 there is no vignette, in the applications for this lens, you will not notice it at all.
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Bokeh is better than anything else I have used bar the 85mm and it has never produced any artifacts to detract. "Bokeh" is not the amount of blur but the quality of the out of focus highlights, no halos, no diffraction rings, no problems, this is top.
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Flare is very well handled, apparently none it can be forced when backlighting is extreme but is pleasant. The lens hood can be recommended for mechanical protection.
Heavily cropped image of the flugelhorn valves shows incredible detail, sharpness and colour control.​ 50.6Mp 5Ds body.
1/125 sec, f/1.2, iso100 in poor lighting.
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Note: here only exported jpg.
Handling, Carrying:
There is a lot of glass packed into a very solid body, even with the lighter R7 bodies this does not feel heavy or bulky. The weight and size is not at all imposing unless you compare to a "nifty fifty", but that's not in the same game at all. The bottom line is the extra weight and bulk will not be an influence in the decision to buy it, if you're in the market for this type of lens, you'll appreciate the advantages.
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To facilitate holding this lens, the shape is sculpted a little with extra clearance for bigger hands on the camera grip. Also plenty of space to have your second hand on the barrel without touching the large focus ring.
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This lens has some movement of the complete optical assembly when focussing, there is very little air pump effect to the camera and none to inside the lens, so internally it will remain dust free for years, overall length does not change.
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The autofocus of this lens is very fast, not startlingly fast like some lenses as the depth of field can be so thin it must accommodate it, yet it is absolutely fast enough for anything you'll use it for, unlike the 85mm which is a little slow. For portraits it is easily fast enough, for moving subjects using 50mm FOV I'm sure photojournalists will not have issues, with Servo on it easily keeps up, but it's not for novices. ​
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Manual focus feels good in all ways with a large grip, very precise and as needed for an f/1.2 depth of field.
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This is capable of being your go-to general lens, you'll only be limited by wanting to protect your investment. You'll want a top quality filter and the hood fitted to protect the front objective.
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Decision Options:
There are several options all with real pros and cons, here are alternatives with comments which have at least enough overlap to be considered as options either to have or justify your decision. I have personally used all except the Sigma.
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a) Canon EF50mm f/1.8:
Pros:
• f/1.8 - general useability.
• Lower image quality.
• Price very low.
• Small and lightweight.
Cons:
• Not in the class of others.
• Plasticky feel.
• Small manual focus ring.
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c) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4:
Pros:
• f/1.4 is bright for low light use.
• Image sharpness better than the 1.8.
• Unique image qty. liked by many.
Cons:
• Not super tough construction.
• Good but not best sharpness.
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c) Sigma EF50mm f/1.4 Art:
Pros:
• f/1.4 advantages.
• Very sharp image quality.
• High build quality.
• Autofocus fast & quiet.
• Near no flare or fringing.
Cons:
• Hi cost.
• Big for 50mm.
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d) Canon EF50mm 1.2 L:
Pros:
• f/1.2 advantages.
• Canon 'L' build quality.
• Size and weight vs spec'n.
• Very high image quality.
• Not most expensive here.
Cons:
• Bigger than most 50mm lenses.
• Expensive.
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Final Decision
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If you're thinking about the need for a lens in the category, a summary of points written here will help with your decision. As a "standard lens" there are real contenders all with good justifications, here are just the four main alternatives at the moment. The RF lens is not included here as price and flexibility make it another discussion for now.
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Focal Length / Aperture:
As focal lengths are all the same, the simple optical difference is the aperture available. The 1.8 is much cheaper and here really for illustration only. The Canon 1.4 is not as sharp as the others but has a unique (soft) quality admired by many and is a step up from 1.8.
The big deal is the bigger two. The Canon f/1.2 has extraordinary light gathering capability without losing optical performance, flare is well controlled though present. The Sigma, is also built like a tank. f/1.4 is not as wide but image quality is very high. The Sigma is the biggest and heaviest here.​
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Image quality:
In the real world there are very few lenses with better image quality than the 1.2 or the Sigma here, both being a significant improvement over alternatives.
There is really no better way to compare than to hold them in your own hands and use them. The Canon has f/1.2 and is probably the best lens ever above f/1.4. The Sigma f/1.4 is also pro level sharp. The Sigma is still available new, the Canon not. Both achieve optimum razor sharpness at around f/2.8 - crazy statistic but true. Both bokeh amazing.
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Design and Build Quality:
This is absolutely top end, top quality, no shortcomings with the 50mm f/1.2, The Sigma is also equally good but is larger and heavier.
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Handling:
Neither of the big lenses here will be going up mountains, they are too heavy. The 50 f/1.8 is clearly the smallest and at its price is almost disposable so can go where you wouldn't want to take the others. In almost every way the EF50mm f/1.2 & Sigma handle perfectly, manual anytime focus override, perfectly balanced and adequately fast autofocus.
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Conclusion:
Unlike many comparisons this is a tight field with not as many options as you may think. In the end though we opted for the Canon f/1.2 purely because of it's 1.2 and the fact that in the real world it doesn't have any issues at all.
You have a lens like this for sharpness, bokeh, pure image quality and to have fast apertures. If you don't need this, the others are real alternatives in their own right, accepting their different strengths.
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The big decision is between the Big Canon and the Sigma. All in all not much separates them so f/1.2 wins for us, the Sigma could win for you.
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This lens will mount and run happily on Canon R series bodies with an adaptor. There is an RF85mm f/1.2 but it is heavier and larger still so the EF50 is a great alternative and now several $000's cheaper.
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The rare and older EF 50mm f/1.0 is excluded from this comparison.
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Footnote:
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This will be expanded upon from time to time, there is a lot more practical information we'd like to share and guides for more general use.
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