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Canon

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Canon RF Mount

A compact, lightweight ultra-wide zoom with 5.5-stop IS — ideal for vloggers, travelers, and landscape photographers.

$1,699

Launch price

Released Aug 2022

vs
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Canon

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Canon RF Mount

Hybrid L-series 85mm with VCM autofocus, manual iris ring, and weather sealing.

$1,649

Launch price

Released Feb 2025

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is 2.4 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Video & HybridLandscape

Wins

4categories

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Portrait

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM wins 3 categories·RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM wins 2 categories
  • ARF 14-35mm F4L IS USM has higher OIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 0 stops)
  • ARF 14-35mm F4L IS USM has lower Min focus distance (20 cm vs 75 cm)
  • ARF 14-35mm F4L IS USM has higher Max magnification (0.38 × vs 0.12 ×)
  • BRF 85mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.4 vs f/4)
  • BRF 85mm F1.4 L VCM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.4 vs f/4)

Key specs at a glance

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USMRF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Focal Length14-35 mm85 mm
Max Aperturef/4f/1.4
MountCanon RFCanon RF
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
Stabilization5.5 stopsNo
Weight540 g636 g
Min Focus20 cm75 cm
Filter Size77 mm67 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

84 × 112 mm

540 g (1.19 lb / 19.05 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM shown to scale

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

77 × 99 mm

636 g (1.40 lb / 22.43 oz)

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM is 13mm longer and 8mm wider than RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM.

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM is 96 g lighter than RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM.

Diameter (⌀) is the maximum barrel width; length is measured from the mount to the front of the lens.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 14-35mm F4L IS USMRF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Portrait
2.5Limited
9.5Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
4.5Fair
Video & Hybrid
9.0Excellent
4.5Fair
Landscape
8.0Excellent
4.0Fair
Travel
3.5Limited
3.5Limited
Wildlife
5.5Fair
2.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
6.0Good
0.0Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

  • Special elements

    Adds 4 Aspherical, 2 UD

  • OIS effectiveness

    5.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • Min focus distance

    20 cm vs 75 cm — lower is better

  • Optical stabilization

    Only RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM supports it

  • Max magnification

    0.38 × vs 0.12 × — higher is better

  • Weight

    540 g vs 636 g — lower is better

Reasons to choose the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 UD, 1 Aspherical

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.4 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.4 vs f/4 — lower is better

  • Custom function button

    Only RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM supports it

  • Length

    99.3 mm vs 112 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    76.5 mm vs 84 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

Control ring

Both support control ring

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Pros

  • Extremely compact for an ultra-wide zoom (540g)
  • 14mm ultra-wide perspective for dramatic scenes
  • 5.5-stop optical image stabilization
  • Center sharpness excellent across range

Cons

  • f/4 maximum aperture limits low-light use
  • More expensive than EF 16-35mm f/4 IS
  • Corner sharpness falls off at 14mm

RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM

Pros

  • Bright f/1.4 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM and RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM at major authorized retailers.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.

Full specifications

= category winner

RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Focal length (Min)
14 mm
85 mm
Focal length (Max)
35 mm
85 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/4
f/1.4+3 stops wider
Max aperture (Tele)
f/4
f/1.4+3 stops wider
Elements
16
14
Groups
12
10
Special elements
4 Aspherical, 2 UD
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Min focus distance
20 cm−55 cm less
75 cm
Max magnification
0.38 ×3.2× more
0.12 ×
Autofocus motor
Nano USM
VCM (Voice Coil Motor)
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Optical stabilization
Yes
No
OIS effectiveness
5.5 stops
0 stops
RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Weight
540 g−96 g less
636 g
Length
112 mm
99.3 mm−13 mm less
Diameter
84 mm
76.5 mm−8 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
Lens mount
Canon RF
Canon RF
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.