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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

Sony

FE 20mm F1.8 G

Sony E Mount

FE 20mm F1.8 G — 20mm f/1.8 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$899

Launch price

Released Feb 2020

FE 20mm F1.8 G is 1.2 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

4categories

FE 20mm F1.8 G

LandscapeSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 50mm F1.2L USM wins 3 categories·FE 20mm F1.8 G wins 2 categories
  • BFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Weight (373 g vs 950 g)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/1.8)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/1.8)
  • BFE 20mm F1.8 G has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 40 cm)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has higher Max magnification (0.19 × vs 0.15 ×)

Key specs at a glance

RF 50mm F1.2L USMFE 20mm F1.8 G
Focal Length50 mm20 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/1.8
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight950 g373 g
Min Focus40 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm82 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 50mm F1.2L USMFE 20mm F1.8 G
Portrait
9.0Excellent
6.0Good
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
3.5Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
7.0Good
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
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

  • Control ring

    Only RF 50mm F1.2L USM supports it

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/1.8 — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.19 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 20mm F1.8 G

  • Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • Weight

    373 g vs 950 g — lower is better

  • Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • Length

    102 mm vs 108 mm — lower is better

  • Diameter

    86 mm vs 89 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Weather sealing

Both support weather sealing

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

FE 20mm F1.8 G

Pros

  • Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • Weather-sealed construction for outdoor shooting
  • Lightweight design easy to carry all day

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 FE 20mm F1.8 G at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
20 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
20 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2+1.2 stops wider
f/1.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2+1.2 stops wider
f/1.8
Elements
13
10
Groups
9
8
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
Aspherical
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
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
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Weight
950 g
373 g−577 g less
Length
108 mm
102 mm−6 mm less
Diameter
89 mm
86 mm−3 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 20mm F1.8 G
Lens mount
Canon RF
Sony E
Format coverage
Full Frame
Full Frame

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