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Canon

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM

Canon RF Mount

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM — 35mm f/1.2 for Canon RF, a popular choice in the canon lineup.

$2,999

Launch price

Released Dec 2018

vs

Canon

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Canon RF Mount

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM — 10–18mm f/4.5-6.3 for Canon RF, a popular choice in the canon lineup.

$329

Launch price

Released Oct 2023

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM is 4.8 years newer.

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Wins

2categories

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM

★ Portrait★ Sports & Action

Wins

5categories

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

★ Landscape

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM wins 2 categories·RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM wins 3 categories
  • BRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM has higher OIS effectiveness (4 stops vs 0 stops)
  • BRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM has lower Weight (165 g vs 950 g)
  • ARF 35mm F1.2 L USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/6.3)
  • ARF 35mm F1.2 L USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/4.5)
  • BRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM has lower Min focus distance (14 cm vs 50 cm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 35mm F1.2 L USMRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Focal Length35 mm10-18 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/4.5-6.3
MountCanon RFCanon RF
CoverageFull FrameAPS-C
StabilizationNo4 stops
Weight950 g165 g
Min Focus50 cm14 cm
Filter Size82 mm55 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM

⌀89 × 112 mm

950 g (2.09 lb / 33.51 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-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

⌀69 × 45 mm

165 g (0.36 lb / 5.82 oz)

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM is 67mm longer and 20mm wider than RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM.

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM is 785 g heavier than RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM.

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 35mm F1.2 L USMRF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Portrait
7.0Good
1.0Limited
Sports & Action
6.5Good
4.0Fair
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
5.0Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
6.0Good
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
2.5Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
4.0Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 35mm F1.2 L USM

  • ✓

    Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/6.3 — lower is better

  • ✓

    Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/4.5 — lower is better

  • ✓

    Special elements

    Adds 3 Aspherical

  • ✓

    Weather sealing

    Only RF 35mm F1.2 L USM supports it

  • ✓

    Control ring

    Only RF 35mm F1.2 L USM supports it

  • ✓

    Custom function button

    Only RF 35mm F1.2 L USM supports it

Reasons to choose the RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

  • ✓

    OIS effectiveness

    4 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better

  • ✓

    Weight

    165 g vs 950 g — lower is better

  • ✓

    Min focus distance

    14 cm vs 50 cm — lower is better

  • ✓

    Length

    44.5 mm vs 111.5 mm — lower is better

  • ✓

    Special elements

    Adds 1 Aspherical

  • ✓

    Optical stabilization

    Only RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM supports it

  • ✓

    Diameter

    69 mm vs 89 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Max magnification

Both 0.17 ×

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM

Pros

  • ✓Bright f/1.2 aperture for low light and subject separation
  • ✓Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • ✓Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting

Cons

  • –Premium price point
  • –Relatively heavy for extended handheld use

RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

Pros

  • ✓Versatile zoom range covers multiple focal lengths in one lens
  • ✓Built-in optical image stabilization
  • ✓Lightweight design easy to carry all day

Cons

  • –Slower maximum aperture limits low-light performance
  • –Third-party or older alternatives may offer better value

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 35mm F1.2 L USM and RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM at major authorized retailers.

Canon RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM

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Full specifications

✓ = category winner

RF 35mm F1.2 L USM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Focal length (Min)
35 mm
10 mm
Focal length (Max)
35 mm
18 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2✓+3.8 stops wider
f/4.5
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2✓+4.8 stops wider
f/6.3
Elements
13
12
Groups
9
9
Special elements
3 Aspherical, 1 UD
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
RF 35mm F1.2 L USM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Min focus distance
50 cm
14 cm✓−36 cm less
Max magnification
0.17 ×
0.17 ×
Autofocus motor
Dual Nano USM
STM
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 35mm F1.2 L USM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Optical stabilization
No
Yes
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
4 stops✓
RF 35mm F1.2 L USM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Weight
950 g
165 g✓−785 g less
Length
111.5 mm
44.5 mm✓−67 mm less
Diameter
89 mm
69 mm✓−20 mm less
Filter thread size
82 mm
55 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
9
7
RF 35mm F1.2 L USM
RF-S 10-18mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Lens mount
Canon RF
Canon RF
Format coverage
Full Frame
APS-C

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