Canon’s RF 14mm F1.4L VCM is exceptionally lightweight, fast and wide — it’s the dream lens for astrophotographers | Daily Reports Online
Canon continues to lock out third parties from its RF-mount for full-frame cameras (but not APS-C), but that decision feels somewhat justified given how active it’s been in filling out its range of lenses.
Take the latest pair of lenses for mirrorless – the Canon RF 14mm F1.4L VCM and Canon RF 7-14mm F2.8-3.5 Fisheye STM. They’re two niche, ultra-wide lenses that nicely fill gaps in Canon’s range, in particular for astrophotographers and extreme sports respectively.
I got to try both lenses at Canon’s HQ in the UK ahead of their announcement, albeit not in the kind of scenarios where they would truly shine. But my short hands-on experience with the 14mm f/1.4 left me super-impressed – here’s how I got on.
Canon RF 14mm F1.4L VCM – first impressions
The new 14mm F1.4L VCM is the sixth prime in a range of hybrid lenses, which also includes two zooms. It’s easily the widest of the lot, and its 14mm full-frame coverage is popular, especially among astrophotographers, and it’s also great for landscape and interior architecture photography, plus weddings and video work.
What immediately impressed me is the size and weight of the 14mm f/1.4 lens – it’s just 20.4oz / 578g, which is pretty much half the weight of the Sigma 14mm F1.4 DG Art and around 10% lighter than the Canon EF 14mm F2.8L II USM for DSLR cameras, which has a smaller f/2.8 maximum aperture.
It’s a fraction larger than other VCM lenses (you can see the six primes together in the image below), but it’s a similar weight, and is the only one to feature a built-in petal lens hood – that’s because of its bulbous front lens element (which also means there’s no filter thread to attach screw-on lens filters, you’ll need an optional adapter).
These lenses are built for photo and video work, with a supremely effective Voice Coil Motor (VCM) for autofocus, which is both fast and near-silent. An aperture ring features, with an iris control which be set to clicked or smooth. Photographers will want the clicked feedback for aperture changes, while the smooth option is ideal for subtle transitions during video recording.
The ring closest to the front of the lens can be customized, as can the control button on the side of the barrel. And, this being a professional ‘L’ series lens, build quality is top drawer, and it’s weather-sealed.
I paired the RF 14mm F1/.4L VCM with a Canon EOS R5 Mark II (some of the product photos below are with the EOS R6 Mark III), and the combination was a perfectly balanced match.
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Optically, there are 18 elements 13 groups, and these include Canon’s ‘BR’, ‘UD’ and Fluorite elements. Eagle-eyed Canon fans will note the inclusion of pricey Fluorite elements, which are usually reserved for Canon’s professional super-telephoto optics.
There are also ‘GMo’ aspheric lenses, which Canon says suppress sagittal coma flare – a distortion that is the bane of astrophotographers. Given all of the above – the super-wide focal length, extremely bright maximum aperture, sagittal coma flare suppression and lightweight weather-resistant build – the RF 14mm F1.4L VCM sounds perfect for astrophotography.
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Sadly, my short hands-on time with the lens was limited to a stroll outside of Canon’s HQ during daylight hours, so I haven’t pushed the lens to anywhere near its limits yet. Still, my sample images (see the galleries above and below, with notes in the captions) demonstrates that it has an impressive handle on lens flare with sun in the shot, and corner distortion with the lens aperture wide open at f/1.4, plus impressive sharpness.
Canon’s in-camera lens corrections are working hard to correct the ultra-wide-angle image, and for the most part the impact is hardly visible. I see a little corner softness, but not much. One unavoidable drawback, however, is the 0.24m close-focusing distance, which limits the maximum magnification to 0.11x – this is no macro lens.
As optically excellent and lightweight as it might be, the RF 14mm F1.4L VCM costs £2,399.99 (US and Australia pricing TBC), which means bragging rights go to the Sigma 14mm f/1.4 for value* – which costs around 35% less. Canon’s lens is set to go on sale on Feb 26.
*The Sigma lens isn’t currently available in the Canon RF mount.
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Canon RF 7-14mm F2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM – what you need to know
During my visit to Canon, my focus was on the 14mm F1.4L VCM lens, but Canon also unveiled its first fisheye zoom lens for mirrorless, the RF 7-14mm F2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM. It’s wider than the RF 10-20mm F4L USM (which we awarded five stars in our review), and a different type of fisheye lens to the RF 5.2mm F2.8L Dual Fisheye Lens which is designed for 3D VR imaging.
Canon says its new fisheye lens is wider, faster and better optically than its EF 8-15mm F/4 L Fisheye USM for DSLR cameras, from 2012. At 16.8oz / 476g, it’s also lighter (the 8-15mm weighs 190z/540g), plus there’s a drop-in filter slot near the rear of the barrel (a feature I would love to have seen on the 14mm F1.4L VCM). The lens comes with a clear filter, while Canon will sell a circular polarizer and variable ND separately).
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At its wide end, the 190-degree angle of view is true fisheye (with circular image inside a visible black frame), but zoom in to 14mm and you have a ‘regular’ ultra-wide-angle lens, with the image filling the frame. The fisheye image can be converted to 2D VR 180-degree, but not 3D like the 5.2mm alternative optic.
As a ‘L’ series professional lens, the 7-14mm fisheye is weather sealed. Its close focusing distance is just 15cm, which delivers a decent 0.35x max magnification. Canon says focus breathing is suppressed.
The RF 7-14mm F2.8-3.5L Fisheye STM is due to hit stores on February 26, and will cost £1719.99 / AU$3,899 (US pricing TBC).
What do you make of Canon’s two new ultra-wide-angle lenses? Let me know in the comments below.
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