Canon’s New RF 14mm f/1.4L Ultra-Wide Lens

credits: Canon

Canon has added two new ultra-wide lenses to its RF lineup. Alongside the RF 7–14mm f/2.8–3.5L Fisheye STM (which we will take a closer look at in this week’s Sunday magazine issue), Canon has officially unveiled the RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM, making it the sixth lens in its hybrid-focused f/1.4L VCM prime series. This line started in mid-2024 with the RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM and has since expanded quickly, covering focal lengths from 20mm all the way to 85mm.

From a design standpoint, the RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM largely sticks to the established VCM formula. It shares the same general barrel diameter, control ring placement, and overall balance as the other f/1.4L VCM lenses. The main visual difference is the built-in petal hood, which is necessary due to the bulbous front element. That front design also means there is no standard filter thread, instead, the lens supports rear gelatine or polyester filters.

Technically, this is one of Canon’s most ambitious wide-angle primes. The optical design uses 18 elements in 13 groups, including a fluorite element, a BR optic, an ultra-low dispersion element, and three molded aspherical elements. Canon says this combination is meant to control chromatic aberration and maintain sharpness at f/1.4. The lens uses an 11-blade aperture and a VCM autofocus system for fast, quiet focusing, with a minimum focus distance of 0.24 meters and a maximum magnification of 0.11×. The RF 14mm f/1.4L VCM is scheduled to go on sale later this month with a price tag of $2,599.