Canon
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
Canon RF Mount
Canon's flagship 50mm f/1.2 prime — extraordinary resolution and creamy bokeh for portraits and low light.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Dec 2018
Canon
RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
Canon RF Mount
An affordable portrait and macro hybrid — f/2 aperture, 0.5x magnification, and 5-stop IS in a compact package.
$599
Launch priceReleased Jul 2020
RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is 1.6 years newer.
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.
Wins
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
Wins
RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
TL;DR — Key differences
- BRF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM has higher OIS effectiveness (5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BRF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM has higher Max magnification (0.5 × vs 0.19 ×)
- BRF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM has lower Weight (500 g vs 950 g)
- ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/2)
- ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/2)
Key specs at a glance
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose the RF 50mm F1.2L USM
- ✓
Special elements
Adds 1 Aspherical
- ✓
Weather sealing
Only RF 50mm F1.2L USM supports it
- ✓
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2 vs f/2 — lower is better
- ✓
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2 vs f/2 — lower is better
Reasons to choose the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
- ✓
OIS effectiveness
5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
- ✓
Optical stabilization
Only RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM supports it
- ✓
Weight
500 g vs 950 g — lower is better
- ✓
Max magnification
0.5 × vs 0.19 × — higher is better
- ✓
Length
78 mm vs 108 mm — lower is better
- ✓
Min focus distance
35 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better
- ✓
Diameter
79 mm vs 89 mm — lower is better
Shared specifications
Internal focus
Both support internal focus
Control ring
Both support control ring
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
Pros
- ✓Stunning sharpness even wide open at f/1.2
- ✓Beautiful, smooth bokeh with 9 rounded aperture blades
- ✓Fast and accurate Dual Pixel AF with Ring USM
- ✓Weather-sealed L-series construction
Cons
- –Heavy for a 50mm prime (950g)
- –Premium price for a single focal length
- –No optical image stabilization
RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
Pros
- ✓Excellent value for portrait and close-up work
- ✓0.5x macro magnification built in
- ✓5-stop optical image stabilization
- ✓Compact and lightweight (500g)
Cons
- –f/2 not as shallow as f/1.2 L lenses
- –Plastic construction, not L-series
- –AF slightly slower than USM lenses
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the RF 50mm F1.2L USM and RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM at major authorized retailers.
Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM
Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
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
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.