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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 price

Released Dec 2018

vs

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4

Nikon Z Mount

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 — 35mm f/1.4 for Nikon Z, a popular choice in the nikon lineup.

$1,799

Launch price

Released Jan 2025

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 is 6.1 years newer.

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Wins

4categories

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

3categories

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4

PortraitSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 50mm F1.2L USM wins 2 categories·NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 wins 3 categories
  • BNIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 has lower Weight (580 g vs 950 g)
  • BNIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 40 cm)
  • BNIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 has lower Diameter (70 mm vs 89 mm)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has higher Max magnification (0.19 × vs 0.15 ×)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Length (108 mm vs 131 mm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 50mm F1.2L USMNIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Focal Length50 mm35 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/1.4
MountCanon RFNikon Z
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight950 g580 g
Min Focus40 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm67 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 50mm F1.2L USMNIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Portrait
9.0Excellent
6.5Good
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
4.5Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
4.0Fair
Travel
2.0Limited
3.5Limited
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
1.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose the RF 50mm F1.2L USM

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 UD, 1 Aspherical

  • Length

    108 mm vs 131 mm — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.4 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.4 — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.19 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical, ED

  • Custom function button

    Only NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 supports it

  • Weight

    580 g vs 950 g — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    70 mm vs 89 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 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

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4

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 50mm F1.2L USM and NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4 at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 50mm F1.2L USM
NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
35 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
35 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2+0.4 stops wider
f/1.4
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2+0.4 stops wider
f/1.4
Elements
13
10
Groups
9
8
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
Aspherical, ED
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Min focus distance
40 cm
30 cm−10 cm less
Max magnification
0.19 ×+27%
0.15 ×
Autofocus motor
Ring USM
Linear / Stepping Motor
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Weight
950 g
580 g−370 g less
Length
108 mm−23 mm less
131 mm
Diameter
89 mm
70 mm−19 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
67 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4
Lens mount
Canon RF
Nikon Z
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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