Canon RF EF 50mm f/1.2L USM 50mm

Canon RF EF 50mm f/1.2L USM 50mm

Canon
51 Overall Score
vs
Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Panasonic
89 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Canon RF EF 50mm f/1.2L USM 50mm

78 out of 100 high confidence 193 reviews

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a lens that divides opinion. Many users adore its dreamy, characterful rendering, creamy bokeh, and beautiful color, especially for portraits and low-light work. However, a significant number report issues with slow and unreliable autofocus, softness wide open, and a high price tag that doesn't always match the optical performance. It's a lens that rewards skill and patience but can frustrate those seeking clinical sharpness and fast, consistent AF.

Pros
  • Beautiful creamy bokeh
  • Dreamy, characterful rendering
  • Excellent color and contrast
  • Solid build quality
  • Great for portraits and low light
Cons
  • Slow and unreliable autofocus
  • Soft wide open at f/1.2
  • Very expensive
  • Heavy and bulky
  • Noticeable chromatic aberration
👍 Image quality 35
👎 Autofocus performance 28
👍 Bokeh 25
👍 Build quality 20
👎 Value for money 18
🤔 Sharpness 22

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

88 out of 100 medium confidence 18 reviews

The Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 lens is highly praised for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and build. Users appreciate its compact size, light weight, and the ability to use screw-on filters, which is a key advantage over some competitors. While a few users noted it is pricey and one had sharpness issues on an Olympus body, the overwhelming majority recommend it for landscapes, interiors, and travel photography.

Pros
  • Excellent image quality
  • Sharp and crisp
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Accepts screw-on filters
  • Weather-sealed
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Variable aperture
  • No OIS
  • Sharpness issues on some Olympus bodies
  • Slight distortion at 8mm
👍 Image quality 12
👍 Build quality 8
🤔 Value for money 6
👍 Portability 5
👍 Filter compatibility 4
👍 Autofocus performance 3

Scores

Portrait
Canon
52
Panasonic
89
Video Cinema
Canon
54
Panasonic
85
Street
Canon
52
Panasonic
84
Landscape
Canon
45
Panasonic
83
Budget
Canon
57
Panasonic
82
Travel
Canon
42
Panasonic
82
Professional
Canon
56
Panasonic
82
Wildlife Sports
Canon
51
Panasonic
75
Macro
Canon
41
Panasonic
69

Specifications

Canon RF EF 50mm f/1.2L USM 50mmPanasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4
Optics
Typeprimezoom
Focal Length Min50 mm8 mm
Focal Length Max50 mm18 mm
Elements815
Groups610
Aspherical Elements14★
ED Elements13★
CoatingSuper Spectra CoatingNano Surface Coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/16f/2.8
Min Aperturef/1.22.8-4
Constant✓★✗
Diaphragm Blades8★7
Build
MountCanon EFMicro Four Thirds
Formatfull-frame★micro-four-thirds
Weather Sealed✓✓
Weight0.95 kg0.31 kg★
Filter Thread72 mm67 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeUSM★240-fps autofocus drive
Stabilization✗✓★
Focus
Min Focus Distance450 mm230 mm★
Max Magnification0.19x★0.12x

Pros & Cons

Canon RF EF 50mm f/1.2L USM 50mm

  • Strong af (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
  • Below average user sentiment (32nd percentile)
  • Below average macro (33rd percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

  • Strong optical (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile
  • Strong build (84th percentile)84th %ile

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4

Scores 89 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 21 specs.

Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8-18mm f/2.8-4 Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports