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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 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

Sony E Mount

The ultimate standard zoom — incredibly sharp, exceptionally compact, and built for professionals.

$2,299

Launch price

Released Apr 2022

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II is 3.3 years newer.

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Wins

3categories

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

4categories

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

LandscapeSports & Action

1 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 50mm F1.2L USM wins 2 categories·FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II wins 3 categories
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/2.8)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/2.8)
  • BFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has lower Min focus distance (21 cm vs 40 cm)
  • BFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has higher Max magnification (0.32 × vs 0.19 ×)
  • BFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II has lower Weight (695 g vs 950 g)

Key specs at a glance

RF 50mm F1.2L USMFE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Focal Length50 mm24-70 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/2.8
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight950 g695 g
Min Focus40 cm21 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 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Portrait
9.0Excellent
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
5.0Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
7.0Good
Travel
2.0Limited
5.5Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
3.5Limited

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 UD, 1 Aspherical

  • Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.8 — lower is better

  • Length

    108 mm vs 120 mm — lower is better

Reasons to choose the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

  • Special elements

    Adds 2 XA (extreme aspherical), 3 Aspherical, 2 ED…

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II supports it

  • Min focus distance

    21 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • Weight

    695 g vs 950 g — lower is better

  • Max magnification

    0.32 × vs 0.19 × — higher is better

  • Diameter

    88 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

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness across the entire zoom range
  • Remarkably small and lightweight for an f/2.8 zoom
  • Four XD Linear focus motors provide blazing-fast AF tracking
  • Excellent close-up magnification
  • De-clickable aperture ring and customized function buttons

Cons

  • No built-in optical image stabilization (relies on body IBIS)
  • High launch price
  • Aperture ring can be easily bumped if not locked

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 50mm F1.2L USM and FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
24 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
70 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2+2.4 stops wider
f/2.8
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2+2.4 stops wider
f/2.8
Elements
13
20
Groups
9
15
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
2 XA (extreme aspherical), 3 Aspherical, 2 ED, 2 Super ED
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Min focus distance
40 cm
21 cm−19 cm less
Max magnification
0.19 ×
0.32 ×+68%
Autofocus motor
Ring USM
4 XD Linear Motors
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
Weight
950 g
695 g−255 g less
Length
108 mm−12 mm less
120 mm
Diameter
89 mm
88 mm−1 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
82 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
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.