Compare lenses

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM if you want a brighter f/1.2 (0.4 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. On these specs the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
SpecCanon EF 50mm f/1.2L USMCanon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
MakerCanonCanon
Focal length50mm (prime)50mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent50mm50mm
Maximum aperturef/1.2brighterf/1.4
Made forFull frameFull frame
MountsCanon EFCanon EF
Stabilisednono
Autofocusyesyes
Weightnot listed290 g
Cameras it fits22 in this guide22 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

142435508513520040080050mm equiv.EF 50mm f/1.2L
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM: 50mm.
142435508513520040080050mm equiv.EF 50mm f/1.4
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM: 50mm.

Aperture

f/1.2
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM: f/1.2 wide open.
f/1.4
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM: f/1.4 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

EF 50mm f/1.2L · 40°EF 50mm f/1.4 · 40°
How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

and 12 more

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

and 12 more

On their own pages