Cameraegg Compare logoCameraegg
RF 50mm F1.2L USM

Canon

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

Canon RF Mount

Flagship RF 50mm f/1.2 L prime with Ring USM, 15-element design, and weather-sealed L-series build.

$2,299

Launch price

Released Dec 2018

vs

Sony

FE 40mm F2.5 G

Sony E Mount

FE 40mm F2.5 G — 40mm f/2.5 for Sony E, a popular choice in the sony lineup.

$599

Launch price

Released Apr 2021

FE 40mm F2.5 G is 2.3 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

3categories

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

★ Portrait★ Sports & Action

Wins

4categories

FE 40mm F2.5 G

★ Sports & Action

1 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 50mm F1.2L USM wins 2 categories·FE 40mm F2.5 G wins 3 categories
  • BFE 40mm F2.5 G has lower Weight (173 g vs 950 g)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Wide) (f/1.2 vs f/2.5)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has lower Max aperture (Tele) (f/1.2 vs f/2.5)
  • BFE 40mm F2.5 G has lower Length (74 mm vs 108 mm)
  • BFE 40mm F2.5 G has lower Min focus distance (30 cm vs 40 cm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 50mm F1.2L USMFE 40mm F2.5 G
Focal Length50 mm40 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/2.5
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight950 g173 g
Min Focus40 cm30 cm
Filter Size77 mm77 mm

Size and weight, to scale

RF 50mm F1.2L USM shown to scale

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

⌀90 × 108 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

FE 40mm F2.5 G

⌀81 × 74 mm

173 g (0.38 lb / 6.10 oz)

RF 50mm F1.2L USM is 34mm longer and 9mm wider than FE 40mm F2.5 G.

RF 50mm F1.2L USM is 777 g heavier than FE 40mm F2.5 G.

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 50mm F1.2L USMFE 40mm F2.5 G
Portrait
9.0Excellent
4.5Fair
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
2.0Limited
Landscape
4.0Fair
1.0Limited
Travel
2.0Limited
5.0Fair
Wildlife
3.0Limited
1.0Limited
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

  • ✓

    Max aperture (Wide)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.5 — lower is better

  • ✓

    Max aperture (Tele)

    f/1.2 vs f/2.5 — lower is better

  • ✓

    Weather sealing

    Only RF 50mm F1.2L USM supports it

  • ✓

    Control ring

    Only RF 50mm F1.2L USM supports it

  • ✓

    Max magnification

    0.19 × vs 0.15 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 40mm F2.5 G

  • ✓

    Special elements

    Adds Aspherical

  • ✓

    Weight

    173 g vs 950 g — lower is better

  • ✓

    Length

    74 mm vs 108 mm — lower is better

  • ✓

    Min focus distance

    30 cm vs 40 cm — lower is better

  • ✓

    Diameter

    81 mm vs 89.8 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

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 10 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 40mm F2.5 G

Pros

  • ✓Prime design typically delivers strong sharpness and lighter weight
  • ✓Lightweight design easy to carry all day
  • ✓Native Sony E mount compatibility

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 40mm F2.5 G at major authorized retailers.

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

RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
40 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
40 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2✓+2.1 stops wider
f/2.5
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2✓+2.1 stops wider
f/2.5
Elements
15
14
Groups
9
11
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
Aspherical
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 40mm F2.5 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 40mm F2.5 G
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 40mm F2.5 G
Weight
950 g
173 g✓−777 g less
Length
108 mm
74 mm✓−34 mm less
Diameter
89.8 mm
81 mm✓−9 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
77 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
No
Diaphragm blades
10
9
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 40mm F2.5 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 October 2026.