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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 50mm F1.2 GM

Sony E Mount

Exquisite resolution and dreamy bokeh combine in a masterful f/1.2 prime.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Mar 2021

FE 50mm F1.2 GM is 2.3 years newer.

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Wins

1categories

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

PortraitSports & Action

Wins

2categories

FE 50mm F1.2 GM

PortraitSports & Action

5 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

RF 50mm F1.2L USM wins 1 categories·FE 50mm F1.2 GM wins 2 categories
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Weight (778 g vs 950 g)
  • ARF 50mm F1.2L USM has higher Max magnification (0.19 × vs 0.17 ×)
  • BFE 50mm F1.2 GM has lower Diameter (87 mm vs 89 mm)

Key specs at a glance

RF 50mm F1.2L USMFE 50mm F1.2 GM
Focal Length50 mm50 mm
Max Aperturef/1.2f/1.2
MountCanon RFSony E
CoverageFull FrameFull Frame
StabilizationNoNo
Weight950 g778 g
Min Focus40 cm40 cm
Filter Size77 mm72 mm

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseRF 50mm F1.2L USMFE 50mm F1.2 GM
Portrait
9.0Excellent
9.0Excellent
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
4.5Fair
4.5Fair
Landscape
4.0Fair
3.0Limited
Travel
2.0Limited
2.0Limited
Wildlife
3.0Limited
3.0Limited
Macro & Close-up
0.0Limited
0.0Limited

The verdict

While both lenses offer an ultra-fast f/1.2 aperture, the $300 price gap and the significant 172g weight disparity represent the primary trade-off between these two professional full-frame prime optics.

Choose the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM if you require superior close-up capabilities for detailed subjects, as it offers a higher 0.19x maximum magnification and utilizes a Ring USM focus motor.

Choose the Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM if you prioritize a lighter 778g build and more refined out-of-focus highlights, supported by its 11-blade aperture, 3 XA extreme aspherical elements, and advanced XD Linear focus motors.

Why pick one over the other

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

  • Special elements

    Adds 1 UD, 1 Aspherical

  • Max magnification

    0.19 × vs 0.17 × — higher is better

Reasons to choose the FE 50mm F1.2 GM

  • Special elements

    Adds 3 XA (extreme aspherical)

  • Custom function button

    Only FE 50mm F1.2 GM supports it

  • Weight

    778 g vs 950 g — lower is better

  • Diameter

    87 mm vs 89 mm — lower is better

Shared specifications

Max aperture (Wide)

Both f/1.2

Max aperture (Tele)

Both f/1.2

Min focus distance

Both 40 cm

Internal focus

Both support internal focus

Length

Both 108 mm

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 50mm F1.2 GM

Pros

  • Outstanding sharpness wide open at f/1.2
  • Stunningly smooth, circular bokeh with 11 aperture blades
  • Extremely quiet and fast autofocus tracking
  • Manageable size and weight for an f/1.2 lens

Cons

  • Expensive investment for a single focal length
  • Heavy compared to standard f/1.8 options
  • Some visible vignetting wide open

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the RF 50mm F1.2L USM and FE 50mm F1.2 GM at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Focal length (Min)
50 mm
50 mm
Focal length (Max)
50 mm
50 mm
Max aperture (Wide)
f/1.2
f/1.2
Max aperture (Tele)
f/1.2
f/1.2
Elements
13
14
Groups
9
10
Special elements
1 UD, 1 Aspherical
3 XA (extreme aspherical)
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Min focus distance
40 cm
40 cm
Max magnification
0.19 ×+12%
0.17 ×
Autofocus motor
Ring USM
XD Linear Motors
Internal focus
Yes
Yes
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Optical stabilization
No
No
OIS effectiveness
0 stops
0 stops
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
Weight
950 g
778 g−172 g less
Length
108 mm
108 mm
Diameter
89 mm
87 mm−2 mm less
Filter thread size
77 mm
72 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes
Diaphragm blades
9
11
RF 50mm F1.2L USM
FE 50mm F1.2 GM
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.