Separating Fact from Flaw: Canon RF 35mm f1.4L VCM Review 

I HIGHLY recommend people to try out this lens and not base their opinions on other reviewers. I was completely put off by a few reviewers who butchered this lens because of the distortion and rattle issue, BUT, I decided to rent the lens myself and let me tell you, It's phenomenal. The colors, sharpness, contrast, all pair perfectly well with the L 1.2's (50,85). The distortion is minimal and can be corrected automatically, and I gotta say, sometimes the distortion gives the image some character so it's good to have that option. The rattle issue is so overblown on youtube, I barely noticed it, you forget about it when you start shooting. With that said, people need to stop whining about these small details and understand the beautiful images you get with this lens. Rent the lens, go out and shoot, then decide.

I made the switch from canon to Sony just over a year ago and have to say I didn’t care for it at first but I got quite used to using the aperture ring on the GM’s for photo. It’s a little disappointing that the RF 35 ring only works for video and only “new bodies” will support the ring for photo. Sounds like the lens is more after competing for a compact 35 like the GM and trying to mimic what it has. I think a lot of people were really banking and hoping it would have been a 1.2, but at the same time the 1.4’s offer something compact

Own this lens and it's phenomenal. The lens correction or slight rattle don't bother me in the slightest. The image quality and weight savings compared to the otrher RF L primes makes it all worth it.

Gosh, without a doubt, there is no surprise that this was going to be a controversial lens! Hence, my apprehension when I pre-ordered it a few weeks ago. I’ve now had the pleasure to have own it for a week, and thanks to my prolonged 4th of July “staycation,” I’ve been able to use it daily and it has not left my R5 since. I can honestly say that this is a beautiful lens that renders super sharp images with character (not clinical!) and gorgeous colors and micro contrast to boot! Despite the purported “flaws”, of which I have not noticed /experienced, this 35mm surpasses the EF version and definitely the RF 1.8 version, both of which I own! And about that rattle?! Such an overblown “issue”! I noticed it once on day one and completely forgot about it! This is not the first lens to do this - my EF 85mm 1.4 IS rattles more than this! I’m quite happy with this lens!

How can somebody design a prime lens like this with such massive distortion? I would expect something like this out of a affordable inexpensive 24-85 mm Zoom lens for full frame but not from a very expensive prime lens with a fixed focal length of 35 mm. Even Nikon does have better lenses in the less expensive f/1.8 range for Z-Mount.

Funny I think a lot of this applies to Nikon's new non-S 35 1.4 too, which is on my wishlist replacing the 35 1.8 S. I love that it has a proper control ring, unlike the 1.8 S models (would love to see some v2 updates for the 1.8 line!)

mine comes in tomorrow. couldn't be more excited. bought my last 35mm in 2018 and it was the Sigma EF 35 1.4 art, sold it a few weeks back and have been anticipating this purchase since.

I think there's a number of reasons why the new RF 35 f1.4 is getting heavily criticized. First, the plastic built took some time to get used to, now the L lenses are going to rattle? The build quality could've been better. Secondly, Canon shooters were waiting almost 5 years for a 35mm L series lens. Canon is arguably the leading company in imaging. 5 years for this, is a little anticlimactic, especially since Sigma just released a 28-45 f1.8. Lastly, the camera community is very passionate and opinionated, anything less than a perfect Canon RF 35mm f1.2, they would've probably hated it. This is probably a fine lens, and I'm sure creators will give it a chance. Canon has not opened the mount up for full frame yet, what choice do they have? Great video!

Interesting routes Canon and Nikon both took here. You talked a lot about not having a lens that is too sharp for video and I think of the Nikkor 35 1.4 Z lens for less than half the price of the Canon version.

Thank you for your honest review, you really can't get on RU-vid to see an honest review from anything Canon anymore, except for a few. The ones that are being honest get commenters that are trying to bring down the honesty with negative comments. All cameras and lens have their quirks. Anything Canon all they need is to find one thing and they blow it out of proportion. I really don't get it... Anyways, stay honest with all gears no matter the brand. Thank you for your hard work on these reviews

I just wish they had the same RF lens that was just for photography. I want to get the R5 Mark II with a 35mm f1.4 lens and now I’m wondering if I should get the EF version and use that with the adapter on the R5 Mark II. I’m not liking this VCM version but I guess it’s just me. I’ll admit that I absolutely love the photos you took with this lens (you really are talented) but the whole VCM thing has turned me off from buying this lens when it’s exactly the lens I want were it not for the VCM. Another RU-vid review pointed out the heavy clunking sound as being that of the VCM motor and said ‘don’t worry about it’ but why do I need a lens with video features forced on me? I just wanted a 35mm f1.4 for photography. I currently have the Nikon Z9 with the Z85 1.2 and the Plena but wanted to buy a different brand’s high megapixel camera with a 35mm f1.4 for a completely different reason. The ‘solution’ of getting the EF version for the RF5 Mark II via the adapter makes the already physically long EF35mm f1.4 even longer. The perplexing thing is that Canon seems to make so many erroneous assumptions about their customer base and then come out with gear that make their loyal base run for the (Nikon and Sony) hills. A good example is the 24mp R1 and their proprietary attitude with their technology. I could have bought their RF lenses for use on other manufacturer’s camera bodies because I don’t like the low megapixel sensor of the R1 and R3 even though I would otherwise have bought either of those cameras because I want a pro gripped body. And now here is a VCM Z35mm f1.4 as being the only 1.4 option. Hey maybe I didn’t check B&H’s website properly, maybe there really is an RF35mm f1.4 without the VCM. samhurdphotography.com/canon-35-1-4-vcm-lens-review-its-really-not-for-photographers/

It is a great video as always. It would be even greater if it can be shot side by side to the canon ef 35mm usm ii and also the canon rf 28-70mm f2 to compare the image quality from them. Thank you.

I am very happy with my EF 35mm f1.4 L ii (with BSRO, also on the RF 85mm f1.2 L) on my R5, plus if I want ND I have a Breakthough drop-in variable ND (1.5-11 stops) that I can use.

Even the Sigma 35 DG DN Art has a de-clickable aperture ring. Why not this one?

The human eye doesn't see straight lines. We see all lines bended in fact. So a certain degree of barrel distortion looks natural to me. I don't know why everybody is so freaked out by it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this lens!

subbed my man! Good video!

I had the Ef 35mm F/1.4 L for years. I loved that lens. Unfortunately it was stolen from me.

appreciate the concise vid here 👌 for photos looks great, but the omission of IS esp for video is a dealbreaker. all the test vids I've watched on it shows it to be very prone to the already-bad IBIS wobble. Bobby with your handheld tests, have any mitigation points to offer? i think it's easy to talk yourself into buying a lens like this, but at the end of the day when i look at the photos I've gotten with 15-35 at 1/2 sec+ handheld, it just makes me sad this lens doesn't have stab on it. Canon IS is tremendous, and makes this lens a bit meh

I noted you said you can put a rear ND filter on the back. How is this possible?

I've been eyeing the Canon as my first camera, but I'm so tired with Canon RF lens selections. I hated Sony for not making a FF camera with CFexpress Type-B. So I'm going to wait for the Nikon Z9 Mark II and use the Megadap ETZ21 Pro. Nikon Z9 II + Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM + CFexpress Type-B = Perfect for Real Estate or Interior Video. If the Sony a7s IV or Sony FX4 beat Nikon Z9 II sensor I might consider choosing them over Nikon because of their light weight for traveling. So I'll wait for Bob's review in the future.

Please, review versus Voigtlender 50mm f1 RF vs Canon Rf 50mm f1.2

Very interesting, as always, and nice shots of Chinatown (Singapore). I like to photograph the old men (not a fetish !) playing Chinese chess.

Lots of criticism on this one , wondering if it’s worth the upgrade from the 1.8 for 4x cost. I was hoping this would smoke the other brands 35 out of the water and be a no brained :/

For this price this lens is an insult. Not just does canon force consumers to buy their extremely expensive lenses now their L lenses are even subpar 🤦‍♂️

How do you put ND filters on the rear of the lens?

This lens should be ignored if you have the EF version because it performs poorly regarding chromatic aberration and longitudinal chromatic aberration compared to the EF version. Inexplicably, Canon omitted the BR Optics element. Just use the 35mm f/1.4L II with an adapter.

I'd say it's sharp enough from what I've seen, but you don't want distortion when you shoot raw video, and you don't want LOCA either...

Sounds like you're making lots of excuses for an expensive flawed lens. RU-vid shilling has to stop.

There's a very strange smear campaign going on against this lens lol, any positive reviews on B&H are being downvoted. Never seen anything like it. It's just a lens people.

It’s not a good lense at all, the sharpness sucks

The enthusiasm for this overpriced average lens feels like betrayal. Heavily distorted, heavy vignetting, high colour fringing, lots of CA. What exactly is this lens good for, for the price? Focus motors? Ludicrous.

Thank you. For the review. Will avoid this lens. Thx