5. FOR THE PRICE, IT’S AN INCREDIBLE DEAL!
When this lens first came out, the original RRP was $2499. With the introduction of the new RF line of lenses, the price of L series lenses has gone down quite a bit. This is great news because $1399 is actually an amazing price for this lens. While the new RF lenses are supposed to be incredible, the RF 50mm 1.2L is substantially more expensive at $2299 (almost $1000 more)! Not to mention, if you are shooting with a Canon camera with an EF mount (like the 5d Mark IV), then you’ll have to buy an adapter for the RF lens, which is another $129. Plus, there are so many options out there for buying used gear. For expensive gear, I nearly always buy used to save a few hundred dollars. However, if you have the money to invest in a new lens, it’s always worth it. You can go into it knowing that you’ll have years of shooting with it without a problem. And if someone dropped it or got it wet without telling you before you bought it, you wouldn’t have to pay the consequences when suddenly the autofocus or other mechanisms within the lens stop working and you end up spending $500 for Canon to repair it.
SO, IS THE CANON 50MM F1.2L WORTH THE PRICE?!
I’ll always have to say yes on this one. Especially because there are options out there to buy it a little bit cheaper if you’re on a budget. I would honestly die for this lens because the photos it takes are so dang gorgeous. Is that going a bit too far? Maybe! But it’s hard to put into words just how magical this lens is! My sister-in-law pretty much shoots exclusively with the 50mm 1.2L and her work just always looks so beautiful. It’s a great lens for creativity too, as the focal length adds a bit of surreality to your images. While 35mm is technically what your eye actually sees, 50mm is a tiny bit more zoomed in, adding a level of intimacy that we aren’t used to seeing with the naked eye. But it’s not so zoomed in that it’s difficult to work with, like the 85mm f/1.2L lens. It’s a perfect lens for a beginning professional because it automatically takes your photos to a new level. I’ve included a ton of sample photos below so you can decide if this lens is for you!
WHERE TO BUY
If you do decide to take the plunge, here are some options for where to pick one up:
CANON 50mm 1.2L USM Lens
Amazon
KEH Camera (for used options)
eBay (for used options)
CANON 50mm 1.4L USM Lens
(the budget option that is also a great lens)
Amazon
CANON RF 50mm 1.2L USM Lens
(if you want to splurge and/or prefer an RF Mount Lens)
Amazon
CANON EF-EOS R Mount Adapter
(I use this to attach my 50mm 1.2L to my Canon EOS R)
Amazon
Hope that helps! Feel free to leave any questions/comments below. Best of luck in your photography journey! Thanks so much for stopping by! And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)
<3 Myles Katherine