I appreciate this review’s honesty. It doesn’t feel like you are trying to suck up to Canon and sell it to me nor does it feel like you are trying to bash Canon and deter me from buying it. It was thorough and felt refreshingly honest. Bravo.
Thanks for the great summary (as always) as an EOS-R owner, in practical terms, this is the only native lens you could consider a “walk-around”. The 24-105 is outstanding, but too heavy for casual usage. The 35 RF is a favourite due to the size and weight, which more than compensate for any weak points of the lens, which are few to begin with. Also, if those are pics of the Fairmont Montebello, what a great resort. Loved it. Cheers.
@rick miller: I do not own the other lenses but only the RF35 and while it does not excel in any discipline - the combination of qualities and specs makes it an excellent lens. I like that Canon gives its low end lenses good close-up features like this one and the EF-M 32 which increases the versatility for me dramatically: No need to lug a macro lens around and change lenses.
I can absolutely relate to what you said about this lens. I own it since it came out and it pretty much has replaced my Sigma 35 Art!! The Sigma is clearly the better lens and has a better built quality but (!!!) the fact that this lens is small, lightweight, has IS, does macro to a certain degree, and the aperture is fairly close to 1.4 makes it very travel friendly. I really hope Canon will come out with yet another prime like this. Btw I agree that weather sealing (at least a little bit of it) and a lens hood should come with the lens. Canon needs to realize that.
I've been working with this lens in weddings for almost all 2019 (until I bought the 28-70 f2L in september). And I still loving this little one, may be not as much for working as before (this new lens does a great job) but yes for travel and carry almost no weight, but having a lot of resources to shot in different conditions. Having his flaws in mind, is a must have lens if you own an R camera.
@@DustinAbbottTWI totally! But for work, no matter if I have to carry more weight, if this means to have better quality and results at the hour of take photos of a wedding 😊 I've been using prime lenses for years and this brick of glass is a game changer, in my opinion :D but the 35 stills in my bag, funny and lightweight as no other lens.
I absolutely agree. There's very little theatrics, animations, or annoying sound effects in Dustin's reviews. Just useful information and opinions from a working professional.
I’m waiting for a affordable RP body with the image quality of the R. I have the 6D Mark II and the limitations in shadow recovery are very obvious like in the RP.
@@godofhopeYeah, the RP has inherited the dynamic range of the 5D mk2 sensor generation. Still love mine but I edit very little and it's more on par with other sensors at higher ISOs than base. I'll grab an R5 or something for landscape once it's cheap enough. I prioritized getting in viewfinder exposure and in sensor focus, which matters a lot for me more than base iso dynamic range. I go for the good light instead of editing the hell out of bad light.
Thank you Dustin for the comprehensive review - as always. I just changed camera bodies and moved from an EF to an RF mount. Do you think there is any good reason to replace my ‚old’ Canon EF 35mm f2.0 IS by this more up-to-date gear? I still like my old lens using the adapter ring but I do, of course, not have the comparison to the new guy.
Unfortunately, AFTER I bought this lens it occurred to me to look for reviews on RUclips. My wife does Zoom and Teams meetings every day for work, so I set her up with an RP, and I just threw an EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens on, and then I ordered this lens for her since I didn't want to permanently deploy a Canon first-party EF "L-level" lens for this purpose. As it turns out, after a day of using this native RF lens, she wanted to go back to the EF 35mm, because she didn't think the RF 35mm made her feed look as good. She's not a photography person, so I was rather surprised that she noticed any difference at all, and in particular, for that *relatively* lower resolution use case. I realize that an L-level lens will look better than the consumer-grade version, but I was not expecting that there would be any significant difference for Zoom meeting type usage. If I had to do it again I would have ordered the Sigma EF 35mm Art version for a couple hundred bucks more and just used it with an adaptor. I happened to have a Sigma EF mount 50mm Art lens which she has been using subsequently and approves of, so it may be I'll never see that one again.
I have the 35mm Art F1.4. Its the sharpest lens I've owned, sharper than both my 70-200L F4 IS, and a *superb* copy of a 1976 FD50/1.4. But it's a literal pain in the neck to have it hanging off my RP all day with an adapter, which is why I've bought the RF 35/1.8 and will sell the Sigma. The Art lens is *fantastic* for studio, repro, commercial, weddings, serious street etc. but far too heavy for travel and casual photography.
Id suggest looking at the Fuji xt-3 instead. Aps-c with focus that rivals the Sony a9 (Best sports camera out there in the mirrorless lineup, even beats the legendary 1dx mk2 in some areas). I AM biased tho since i myself shoot fuji. Have worked with Canon and Sony as well thou.
im using a $55 3rd party amazon battery grip for the rp, not for the vertical shutter release but mainly to fit 2 batteries on there. It works and I love it.
I really enjoy how informative this video was, only one I've seen of yours so far, clearly you're very well versed. Appreciate the huge amount of info you drop.
Fantastic in depth reviews as usual. Looking to getting one of these to have as a small street/travel type lens for my R5. Won’t be a small enough setup like an actual compact camera but will be way better than how I usually take it out with massive heavy Canon L (& sigma art and tamron g2) lenses.
Speaking of uninspiring packaging, I've sold a couple of RP kits with the 24-105mm EF 3.5-5.6 lens, and the dang thing is just a white box with a sticker slapped onto it. Both times the warehouse guys thought it was a box in a box (and opened it) but, nope, it was the actual thing.
Glad you got it sorted out and thanks for the video. I think you will see as time goes on, and you acquire higher quality glass, the results you get with your R6 will be even more satisfying. Enjoy.
Better? I'm not sure about that. They are probably fairly equal in sharpness, though the Sony is a little faster focusing, some weather sealing, and has slightly nicer bokeh. The Canon has much higher magnification.
How is this lens compared to the Tamron SP 35mm f1.8? I’m currently using the Tamron on R6M2 and I’m happy with overall results except sometimes the photos are out of focus(slightly) and the weight combined with an adapter is quite a lot. I’ll travel to Japan next month and I already own an RF 50mm f1.8 and 24-105mm f4L and thinking about bringing the 35mm with me but the weight is holding me back.
Realy good review yet again! Im a bit confused still if its tis one or the F2 IS, as I also would like to use it for video, this one is 5 stop is, and the old one is 4 step, is it a big difference?
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you! One selling point for the 1.8 is the macro, and that could be usefull for food photography/ video I do sometiems. I allready have the Ef 35mm L :-)
Hi Dustin, thanks for your review (all of them). Did you try this lens on the Canon R5? I’ve the R5 but I’m not sure how well this llens will manage the 45mp. Thanks again
Just watched. Still don't like the idea of having to repair photos with a setup over a thousand dollars. Does the EOS R pre-process those issues out? That is, is the real problem the RP?
Dustin, do you still like the old EF 50L or have you moved to the new RF 50? I'm trying to decide on that at the moment. I like the new 35 for what it is and bought it with my EOS R.
That's a tough question. If you have both EF and RF bodies, go with the Tamron. If you have just an RF body, buy this lens. You might as well go native!
RF 35 f1.8 includes 5 stops IS, a macro capability, a control ring, very good sharpness(center to corner), extremely affordable and BTW lighter than most of its competition. I’d happily give up the lens hood and fancy packing 😭! Now compare the RF 35 f1.8 to.....say the Nikkor Z 35 f1.8; which has no IS, no macro capability, no control ring, it’s $347($847) more expensive, longer MFD of 3.15 inches and it’s 65 grams heavier versus the RF.
That's a valid point compared to the Nikon (they've got serious problems!). My greatest critique of the lens is that I don't think it is exceptional optically, and I didn't like it even as well as the EF 35mm F2 IS.
I'm debating buying this due to it being native to the RP. I also have my eye on the 35 mm f2 USM. If I'm not mistaken, you thought that was a better lens correct? I also have my eye on the Tamron 35 mm 1.8 and it's down to mostly that and the Canon f2 USM. Edit: I hadn't even thought of the Tamron 45 1.8 for a general purposes lens. I remember you saying you bought that lens.
Ok, bit late question maybe, but as a mostly amateur photographer but with an R6 and not really afraid to still buy EF lenses....would you advise the Sigma 35mm ART over this RF35mm!? I mean over 1000 I would never be comfortable spending on it anyway....
Three other lenses to consider as well: Canon's own 35mm F2 IS (some similar strengths to this lens, but nicer rendering), the Tamron 35mm F1.8 VC (has very high magnification, weather sealing, and a nicer build), or the Tamron SP 35mm F1.4. It's larger than the Sigma, but is a more special lens optically, has thorough weather sealing, and more reliable autofocus.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks for your quick response! isn't the Canon F2 pretty pricey too? a bit weather sealing is nice, although I am not super mega confident on the EF/RF ring sealing capabilities...
I have a Tamron 35mm 1.8 lens which I exclusively use with my 6D M II and I love it for its contrast IQ and Close Focus ability. Is the Canon RF 35mm 1.8 good enough to make the switch to Canon RP to be used exclusively with the 35 1.8?
This lens vs the ef 50mm f1.8 stm. Night shooting (low light, street photography). Everything cleaned up in lr after shooting. I'm considering this 35mm, because of the is.
I am getting the R6 this year. I am heavyly debatting which lenses to get with it, since I am on a tight budget. I already have a Canon M50 with three primes (16, 32 and 56 1.4) and therefore thought that I would get the 35 1.8 for video (talking head) and the 70-200 2.8 for photos. Do you think, this could be a good combo?
Hi Dustin thanks for this in depth review. I'm considering trading in my Tamron 35mm 1.8 (currently using with an adapter) for this lense. I really like the image the Tamron produces, its features are very similar to the RF and the build quality is awesome. But I'm hoping I'd see slightly better autofocus performance in the RF lense and that its much smaller and lighter on my setup. In your experience do you think it's worth it? I'm in two minds.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you, yeah this seems like a tough decision. When you said you would like the pictures but not love them, I felt myself leaning towards the Tamron. So it really comes down to what's more important, macro capability or weather sealing. I do love that the Tamron can hold its own next to the Sigma art. I'm not sure if we can say the same about the Canon rf 35?
Hello and thank you for this video. in your opinion, on a Canon RP, I would have the best image rendering with the RF 35 mm f1.8 or with the EF 35 mm f2 IS USM (taking the same aperture: f2. f4, f5.6, f8. ..) ??? Thank you in advance for your answers. (I only do Photo: Street photo, Portraits, landscapes. Regards, Philgood ...
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you very much for your answer. What exactly did you prefer in the rendering of the 35 f2 is usm compared to the RF 35 f1.8 ? I'm really having a hard time figuring out if there is one better than the other and at what level ?
@@DustinAbbottTWI Helle (from France) Mr Abbot. I've the same question but about vidéo. I have a R6II, and I shoot on stage fin a class of theatre (monolog, scene, répétitions etc..). I take sound with à mic externaly (far away). I already have the canon mont adapt, ef 135mm F2. Tamron 45mm 1.8 is not very good to keep focus. I need to keep my focus sharp on the eye of the actor. I think ef 35mm usm is better than RF 35mm STM for that matter or I'm wrong? Thank in advance (excuse my french...)
Thanks for the review! I have an unrelated comment. The Moire on your shirt is quite annoying . Is it caused by your filming camera or by something else in the workflow?
I’m between this one or the Tamron 35mm f1.4 SP or th Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART (I know, those lenses are extremely different options lol)... Have you tested the Sigma or Tamron lenses? How good does this RF renders in image quality and bokeh against those?
Well after a few months using the lens I would say it's not as clinical as the Art 1.4 , and not as high performing as the Canon ef 1.4 , BUT , it has character, it's just as sharp atleast at normal use if you dont pixel peep as the other two at f1.8 . Sure its not going to win awards but its 95% there of its competitors and by f2.8 they all the same I feel . What makes it a big draw card for street photography specifically is how small it is . Although bokeh is a bit let down if not picking and price is about 20% over priced but dropping every year
@@DustinAbbottTWI agreed , although the appreciation of the quality of bokeh is equivalent to a wine expert knowing the softness of a good red wine compared to the general public just gulping it down . Most people wont take notice when looking at a photo .
@@DustinAbbottTWII might agree with sloppy reviews but is this really a big drawback of the lens? I use manual mode mosty for close focus and af for normal distances, where the noice is much lower and there is no hunting. This hunting in macro mode is quite common for marco lenses. I only miss focus limit switch but lets be honest. It is the cheapest lens among ef and art lenses.
Dustin, since EOS R doesn’t have IBS do you find the IS in RF lenses coupled with the electronica image stabilization in the camera are as good as IBIS in cameras like Panasonic and Olympus?
wow... they package/ship it like THAT? lol wow. no pouch, no weather sealing, no hood, and zero packaging minus a bubble wrap lol. thanks for the review.
I thought one of the benefits of these new mirrorless wider mounts and shallower flange distance would be a reduction in issues like vignette? So why is this lens affected by such a severe vignette when wide open? Surely the wider rear element size would make apertures of f1.8 essentially vignette free. No hood or protective pouch is criminal even at this price point.
Big thanks for your honest and knowledgeable opinion/video very much appreciated. I’m in the process of purchasing a camera and lens for the first time since the mid-eighties. There are copious RUclips videos out there and the more you watch the more your heads spins :) But, I think it’s gonna be a Canon R8 with this 35mm lens….kff
What's the autofocus noise in video mode like? It appears to be quite noisy in photo mode, so I'm concerned it might be picked up even by an external mic.
The packaging? I boget the lens months ago. I use it and love the versatility. I do not remember anything abut the packaging. BTW: You can reuse this padded bag for whatever you want & it is more environmental friendly the some other packaging options.
What are your thoughts on mounting this on an EOS T7? I just purchased the camera and shooting macro is my focus, and i don't think I'm ready for a $1,000+ lens considering I'm completely new to photography...
None of those lenses are native RF lenses. I'm assuming you already had another camera that you initially purchased those lenses for. New RP owners who have no lenses and are purchasing a camera that can often be had for under a thousand dollars now might not want to spend (or have the budget) to purchase lenses that cost 2-3x as much.
Dustin Abbott actually, I bought the f2.8 RF trinity and the EOS RP for my work. I appreciate the traditional analog dials, lack of the dastardly Touch Bar and much lighter and smaller body of the RP over the R.
Hi Dustin, Your videos have been very helpful to me over the past few years. Thanks for making this one. I have one request, if you can make a review on Canon RF 24-70 F 2.8 lens I would highly appreciate it. As always, I am very thankful for your professional advice. Cheers!
As I work out what I want to purchase to replace the "nifty-fifty" I never reach for (I think due to no IS and can't really use wide open.), I think you just reviewed me out of this one as much as I'd like to have an RF lens on my R. Thanks for nothin', Dustin! (Oo! That's good! Trade mark!) Actually, I very much appreciate your thorough reviews.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I'm about to pull the trigger on the Tamron 45mm f/1.8 given its current price, but then it occurred to me that it would be nice to have an affordable RF lens. First stop - Dustin review. Never mind. Forty-five with adaptor it is! :-)
@@matt79hz I have yet to purchase an RF lens since the ones I want are too rich for my blood. I still enjoy the Tamron 45mm and my EF lenses, including the 16-35mm. I'm sure I don't know what I'm missing, but I'm doing fine. :-)
@@speecher1959 to me the older EF glass looks much nicer. The massive glass in the 35 2, 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 in the "prosumer" range, without extending lens barrels, is just really nice. Oh well, end of an era.
I own the eos r , it's been 4 months now since switching from Nikon . All my lenses are Ef or third party Ef . Rf mount prices are unrealistic and this lens is not worth the money compared to a second hand 35mm f2 or a new Tamron 35mm f1.8 that's weather sealed and much cheaper
Hello.... How are the third party EF mount lenses performing in terms of autofocus with the RF adapter? Did you face any difficulties? I am planning to get an EOS RP with a tamron 24-70 g2. Do you think this will perform well with the RF adapter?
@@thekingofhearts8687 I have nothing else to compare it to but it works flawlessly. No issues at all . That makes it even harder to recommend the over priced RF lenses since the ef lenses works "native "
Could you get away using this lens for some tighter astrophotography shots at f2 or more? Also just to add I have the RP with the new 24-105 L and really like the feel and light weight and look forward to the future battery grip.
Thanks you Dustin, I really hope Cabon will come up with a 50mm version of this lens FAST ! (35mm is definitely too wide for my style). Another good review :)
Anybody have experience with this lens next to the Tamron 35 1.8? I’m using the Tamron (on both R and RP) now and I’m pretty happy with it, but the idea of going a little smaller (without adapter) is intriguing. I guess my biggest concern is focus noise during video. If anyone could confirm that the focus performance is at least as quiet as the Tamron (which is by no means silent, but is quieter than nifty fifty) I’d appreciate it greatly. Thank you!!
Thanks for the tips Dustin. I just got an eos r and this lens myself, and I had no idea about the control ring. I'm coming from a t4i. What a world of differences. Great video!
I hope to at some point. It costs me quite a bit to import Canon lenses for review. I have to pay duties, and I get some of that back...but not until my business tax return in a year!
Its kind like a punishment to the buyer by severely undercut the presentation of this lens. It is a really useful versatile lens nonEtheless, I got this as my first RF mount lens
@@DustinAbbottTWI Oh, means that Canon not willing to "waste" too much money on this lens by cutting cost on packaging and weather sealing etc. as it is super cheap relative to the spec and quality of this lens. I got it new around $300
I've just ordered my first fullformat (Canon R8) und this is the lens I've chosen as my "starter" lens. So i've ordered it too. Excited. This video gets me hyped up even more.
I was really unimpressed with this lens. I sent it back to Amazon after 3 weeks of usage. I found the IQ to be very middle of the road, but that could be because I was comparing it to the 35mm 1.4 Mk II, which is the best lens Canon has ever made.
I got an ef 85 1.8 mm and it was packeage the same way 😂. frankly I don’t mind it that much. However RF mount lens strategy is still not very inspiring imo. Unless you can go for all L lenses.
This lens is actually pretty dam good. Don’t knock it until you try it. I have the RF50 1.2L and RF70-200. I bought this as it’s the only prime 35MM available. It surprised me.
@@Thomasjcolbert82 HI Tom, I'm sure you've tested this lens good and proper by now. I'm considering getting this lens as a 'fun' lightweight lens for when I'm just out an about, not sure whether I want to use it for any paid jobs. But if I were to have it equipped when doing a portrait shoot, would it be able to hold up? Edge sharpness wouldn't be a major concern as I usually shoot at faster apertures, making the edges somewhat redundant. But have there been any noticeable shortcomings ? Vignetting maybe to much to fix in post ?
I bought this lens on impulse and will be returning it tomorrow. It’s dark for its speed. The focus is slow and noisy. It suffers from lens flare rather badly. The lens extends when focusing. The EF 35mm IS USM is far superior. Brighter despite being 1/3 stop slower, doesn’t extend and has the FAR faster and superior ring type USM with mechanical linkage for manual focus. No contest.
That was unfortunately pretty much my takeaway as well. I was prepared to love this lens because I loved the 35mm F2 IS, but that just wasn’t the case.
Agree and after this time and years that Canon can’t provide this 35 mm 1.8 STM RF lense with weather protection at least. Really bad. I’m a Fuji and Canon user and for as one example why not give us with a R6 a possibility to have a “small” street lens that are weather sealed??? @Canon
You've put your finger on one of my great frustrations with Canon. They have this very rigid tier system with their lenses that I think is very antiquated.
No weather sealing on this lens and any lens is a deal breaker for me. I shot Nikons for over 20 years and made a big leap to the Canon R5 and purchased 3 RF L lenses. Those are nice lenses. The trouble is and it is my fault for not checking out the price and availability of RF glass. I may take another bath and just go back to a Nikon DSLR system. I cannot afford additional L lenses and will not buy cheaply made STM glass with no weather sealing. I may keep what I have with Canon and use the one Nikon DSLR I have and purchase good prime , fast, F mount, Nikon lenses that are time tested and 1/2 the price.
How it performs in comparison with EF 35 F/2 IS? Don't know what to buy for R. For sure I don't like, that RF 35 extending when focusing. Sorry for my English. And thanks for a great reviews.
Another excellent review Dustin! Have to say I'm not convinced to get rid of my EF 35mm f2 IS USM in favour of the RF one. I recall you rather liked the EF one too back in the day...
Let's be honest, 4K with an EOS RP is garbage in most situations anyway, no matter what kind of lens are you using. Luckily it doesn't bother me, I'm perfectly fine with 1080p 🙂
Wow, even my cheap as shit Fuji xc 16-50 comes with a lens hood and proper packing. Its not optical perfection but its fking good for what you pay for!
Yes and no. Camera tech has radically improved in the last generation. I wouldn't want to go back to shooting a camera body without Eye AF, for example.
I appreciate this review’s honesty. It doesn’t feel like you are trying to suck up to Canon and sell it to me nor does it feel like you are trying to bash Canon and deter me from buying it. It was thorough and felt refreshingly honest. Bravo.
Thank you. I do strive for objectivity and try to equip people to make their own decision
I hope that Canon takes your criticisms to heart Dustin. Thanks for the excellent review.
So far from what I've seen, I consider this lens to be an outlier. Other lenses I've reviewed have been excellent.
Thanks for the great summary (as always) as an EOS-R owner, in practical terms, this is the only native lens you could consider a “walk-around”. The 24-105 is outstanding, but too heavy for casual usage. The 35 RF is a favourite due to the size and weight, which more than compensate for any weak points of the lens, which are few to begin with. Also, if those are pics of the Fairmont Montebello, what a great resort. Loved it. Cheers.
There are some Montebello shots in there. A personal favorite of my wife and I's.
@rick miller: I do not own the other lenses but only the RF35 and while it does not excel in any discipline - the combination of qualities and specs makes it an excellent lens.
I like that Canon gives its low end lenses good close-up features like this one and the EF-M 32 which increases the versatility for me dramatically: No need to lug a macro lens around and change lenses.
Mine arrived today. So far very impressed with it considering the price and the IS works a charm with my R5.
Enjoy!
@@DustinAbbottTWI I've only tried some f1.8 macros so far but some landscapes planned for tomorrow. Cheers for the reviews and channel.
I can absolutely relate to what you said about this lens. I own it since it came out and it pretty much has replaced my Sigma 35 Art!! The Sigma is clearly the better lens and has a better built quality but (!!!) the fact that this lens is small, lightweight, has IS, does macro to a certain degree, and the aperture is fairly close to 1.4 makes it very travel friendly. I really hope Canon will come out with yet another prime like this. Btw I agree that weather sealing (at least a little bit of it) and a lens hood should come with the lens. Canon needs to realize that.
I think we will see similar lenses.
I've been working with this lens in weddings for almost all 2019 (until I bought the 28-70 f2L in september). And I still loving this little one, may be not as much for working as before (this new lens does a great job) but yes for travel and carry almost no weight, but having a lot of resources to shot in different conditions. Having his flaws in mind, is a must have lens if you own an R camera.
Quite a size difference between the 35 and 28-70!
@@DustinAbbottTWI totally! But for work, no matter if I have to carry more weight, if this means to have better quality and results at the hour of take photos of a wedding 😊 I've been using prime lenses for years and this brick of glass is a game changer, in my opinion :D but the 35 stills in my bag, funny and lightweight as no other lens.
I love how classy your reviews are.
Thank you
I absolutely agree. There's very little theatrics, animations, or annoying sound effects in Dustin's reviews. Just useful information and opinions from a working professional.
@@keaixiaomeinv A lot of opinion though and that does not carry weight for myself. Great pictures are from the user not hardware all the time.
still waiting patiently for RF Nifty Fifty :(
I'm sure it will be coming.
I’m waiting for a affordable RP body with the image quality of the R. I have the 6D Mark II and the limitations in shadow recovery are very obvious like in the RP.
It's finally arrived!
@@godofhopeYeah, the RP has inherited the dynamic range of the 5D mk2 sensor generation. Still love mine but I edit very little and it's more on par with other sensors at higher ISOs than base. I'll grab an R5 or something for landscape once it's cheap enough. I prioritized getting in viewfinder exposure and in sensor focus, which matters a lot for me more than base iso dynamic range. I go for the good light instead of editing the hell out of bad light.
Thank you Dustin for the comprehensive review - as always. I just changed camera bodies and moved from an EF to an RF mount. Do you think there is any good reason to replace my ‚old’ Canon EF 35mm f2.0 IS by this more up-to-date gear? I still like my old lens using the adapter ring but I do, of course, not have the comparison to the new guy.
I think I would hang on to what you have. I liked it better optically
well done man - straight to the point reviews
Thanks for the nice feedback.
Unfortunately, AFTER I bought this lens it occurred to me to look for reviews on RUclips. My wife does Zoom and Teams meetings every day for work, so I set her up with an RP, and I just threw an EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens on, and then I ordered this lens for her since I didn't want to permanently deploy a Canon first-party EF "L-level" lens for this purpose. As it turns out, after a day of using this native RF lens, she wanted to go back to the EF 35mm, because she didn't think the RF 35mm made her feed look as good. She's not a photography person, so I was rather surprised that she noticed any difference at all, and in particular, for that *relatively* lower resolution use case. I realize that an L-level lens will look better than the consumer-grade version, but I was not expecting that there would be any significant difference for Zoom meeting type usage. If I had to do it again I would have ordered the Sigma EF 35mm Art version for a couple hundred bucks more and just used it with an adaptor. I happened to have a Sigma EF mount 50mm Art lens which she has been using subsequently and approves of, so it may be I'll never see that one again.
It's weird, as some people really like this lens, but I just wasn't impressed with its rendering.
I have the 35mm Art F1.4. Its the sharpest lens I've owned, sharper than both my 70-200L F4 IS, and a *superb* copy of a 1976 FD50/1.4. But it's a literal pain in the neck to have it hanging off my RP all day with an adapter, which is why I've bought the RF 35/1.8 and will sell the Sigma. The Art lens is *fantastic* for studio, repro, commercial, weddings, serious street etc. but far too heavy for travel and casual photography.
If Canon released a battery grip for the EOS RP I'd move to mirrorless in a blink
buy eos r instead :)
I'm not sure if it is designed to support a battery grip. I don't really see evidence that it is.
Id suggest looking at the Fuji xt-3 instead. Aps-c with focus that rivals the Sony a9 (Best sports camera out there in the mirrorless lineup, even beats the legendary 1dx mk2 in some areas).
I AM biased tho since i myself shoot fuji. Have worked with Canon and Sony as well thou.
Zipp4Everyone Hyperbole at its finest
im using a $55 3rd party amazon battery grip for the rp, not for the vertical shutter release but mainly to fit 2 batteries on there. It works and I love it.
I really enjoy how informative this video was, only one I've seen of yours so far, clearly you're very well versed. Appreciate the huge amount of info you drop.
I appreciate that!
Fantastic in depth reviews as usual. Looking to getting one of these to have as a small street/travel type lens for my R5. Won’t be a small enough setup like an actual compact camera but will be way better than how I usually take it out with massive heavy Canon L (& sigma art and tamron g2) lenses.
Enjoy!
Speaking of uninspiring packaging, I've sold a couple of RP kits with the 24-105mm EF 3.5-5.6 lens, and the dang thing is just a white box with a sticker slapped onto it. Both times the warehouse guys thought it was a box in a box (and opened it) but, nope, it was the actual thing.
Oh my!
If I purchase 24-70 f2.8 ,do I need to buy this lens
Glad you got it sorted out and thanks for the video. I think you will see as time goes on, and you acquire higher quality glass, the results you get with your R6 will be even more satisfying. Enjoy.
Great vedio .. do think this lens better than the Sony Zeiss 55mm ? For photos not video
Better? I'm not sure about that. They are probably fairly equal in sharpness, though the Sony is a little faster focusing, some weather sealing, and has slightly nicer bokeh. The Canon has much higher magnification.
How is this lens compared to the Tamron SP 35mm f1.8? I’m currently using the Tamron on R6M2 and I’m happy with overall results except sometimes the photos are out of focus(slightly) and the weight combined with an adapter is quite a lot. I’ll travel to Japan next month and I already own an RF 50mm f1.8 and 24-105mm f4L and thinking about bringing the 35mm with me but the weight is holding me back.
As always an excellent and complete review.
Thanks for the feedback.
Oh, love the control ring. Use it for aperture control.
Very well done. Appreciate your honesty without being too politically correct. Thanks
Thanks for the feedback.
Video shows some moire' in your sweater, what did you video with?
Sony a7RIII
@@DustinAbbottTWI Ah, no wonder it looked like crap ;) Sony should have put an AA filter in front of that sensor.
Realy good review yet again! Im a bit confused still if its tis one or the F2 IS, as I also would like to use it for video, this one is 5 stop is, and the old one is 4 step, is it a big difference?
I haven't compared them side by side, but I always found the IS on the F2 lens really strong.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you! One selling point for the 1.8 is the macro, and that could be usefull for food photography/ video I do sometiems. I allready have the Ef 35mm L :-)
Hi Dustin, thanks for your review (all of them). Did you try this lens on the Canon R5? I’ve the R5 but I’m not sure how well this llens will manage the 45mp. Thanks again
I haven't. I had the 35mm only as a loaner, so I've never had the two pieces of gear at the same time.
Great content. Thanks for creating and sharing. I'm gonna get this lens. What is whith that moire effect on your sweatshirt? Very distracting.
You're welcome.
That vignetting or peripheral shading blows the whole deal for me. At what aperture is it gone or is it always there?
Watch the IQ episode and you get the details.
Just watched. Still don't like the idea of having to repair photos with a setup over a thousand dollars. Does the EOS R pre-process those issues out? That is, is the real problem the RP?
Never mind, just watched a video confirming correction is not on R or Rp. On to Nikon Z research.
@@RoyLouden JPEGs are corrected. RAW files are not.
Dustin, do you still like the old EF 50L or have you moved to the new RF 50? I'm trying to decide on that at the moment. I like the new 35 for what it is and bought it with my EOS R.
I haven’t reviewed the RF 50 yet. I don’t own an EOS R body, so my reviews of the platform have been limited.
Great review as always. What is your personal opinion if you had to choose between this lens and the Tamron SP 35mm f/1.8? Thank you so much!
That's a tough question. If you have both EF and RF bodies, go with the Tamron. If you have just an RF body, buy this lens. You might as well go native!
I only have the R body but I was thinking about weather-sealing and image quality whether or not those things give the Tamron an edge. Not sure.
You'll have to determine how important the weather sealing is, as that is probably the single biggest differing factor.
Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate your channel, your style and professionalism. God bless!
RF 35 f1.8 includes 5 stops IS, a macro capability, a control ring, very good sharpness(center to corner), extremely affordable and BTW lighter than most of its competition. I’d happily give up the lens hood and fancy packing 😭! Now compare the RF 35 f1.8 to.....say the Nikkor Z 35 f1.8; which has no IS, no macro capability, no control ring, it’s $347($847) more expensive, longer MFD of 3.15 inches and it’s 65 grams heavier versus the RF.
That's a valid point compared to the Nikon (they've got serious problems!). My greatest critique of the lens is that I don't think it is exceptional optically, and I didn't like it even as well as the EF 35mm F2 IS.
Really stuck between buying this or the sigma 35 Art. Whats you’re thoughts for imagine quality & Contrast? Thanks
The Sigma is a bit stronger optically.
Dustin Abbott thank you for the quick reply much appreciated
I'm debating buying this due to it being native to the RP. I also have my eye on the 35 mm f2 USM. If I'm not mistaken, you thought that was a better lens correct? I also have my eye on the Tamron 35 mm 1.8 and it's down to mostly that and the Canon f2 USM.
Edit: I hadn't even thought of the Tamron 45 1.8 for a general purposes lens. I remember you saying you bought that lens.
Some people really like this RF lens, and it is the most tempting due to its flexibility as a native, macro lens. I just didn't love its rendering.
Ok, bit late question maybe, but as a mostly amateur photographer but with an R6 and not really afraid to still buy EF lenses....would you advise the Sigma 35mm ART over this RF35mm!? I mean over 1000 I would never be comfortable spending on it anyway....
Three other lenses to consider as well: Canon's own 35mm F2 IS (some similar strengths to this lens, but nicer rendering), the Tamron 35mm F1.8 VC (has very high magnification, weather sealing, and a nicer build), or the Tamron SP 35mm F1.4. It's larger than the Sigma, but is a more special lens optically, has thorough weather sealing, and more reliable autofocus.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks for your quick response! isn't the Canon F2 pretty pricey too? a bit weather sealing is nice, although I am not super mega confident on the EF/RF ring sealing capabilities...
I have a Tamron 35mm 1.8 lens which I exclusively use with my 6D M II and I love it for its contrast IQ and Close Focus ability. Is the Canon RF 35mm 1.8 good enough to make the switch to Canon RP to be used exclusively with the 35 1.8?
I don't think so.
Thank you dustin!
You're welcome.
This lens vs the ef 50mm f1.8 stm. Night shooting (low light, street photography). Everything cleaned up in lr after shooting. I'm considering this 35mm, because of the is.
The IS is useful, for sure. It's probably a safe bet as it is a native lens and gives you the macro option.
Do you find the Tamron 45mm is superior to this lens for image quality, especially with a focus of mostly video? Thanks!
I would definitely say I prefer the rendering from the Tamron
Dustin, what camera/lens are you filming on for this video? The forest and skin colors are beautiful. Thanks!
Sony a7RIII and Tamron 28-75mm (it's shot at F2.8). P.S. I always include this information at the very end of my videos.
I am getting the R6 this year. I am heavyly debatting which lenses to get with it, since I am on a tight budget. I already have a Canon M50 with three primes (16, 32 and 56 1.4) and therefore thought that I would get the 35 1.8 for video (talking head) and the 70-200 2.8 for photos. Do you think, this could be a good combo?
That's not a bad plan, for sure.
Hi Dustin thanks for this in depth review. I'm considering trading in my Tamron 35mm 1.8 (currently using with an adapter) for this lense. I really like the image the Tamron produces, its features are very similar to the RF and the build quality is awesome. But I'm hoping I'd see slightly better autofocus performance in the RF lense and that its much smaller and lighter on my setup. In your experience do you think it's worth it? I'm in two minds.
Autofocus will be better, yes, but I don't think image quality will be.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks
Amazing review as always, would you recommend this or the Tamron 45mm 1.8 on the Eos R for video and photography? Thank you.
I do like the IQ a little better on the Tamron, but it would hard to argue against the convenience of this lens along with the macro capabilities.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you, yeah this seems like a tough decision. When you said you would like the pictures but not love them, I felt myself leaning towards the Tamron. So it really comes down to what's more important, macro capability or weather sealing. I do love that the Tamron can hold its own next to the Sigma art. I'm not sure if we can say the same about the Canon rf 35?
Hello and thank you for this video. in your opinion, on a Canon RP, I would have the best image rendering with the RF 35 mm f1.8 or with the EF 35 mm f2 IS USM (taking the same aperture: f2. f4, f5.6, f8. ..) ??? Thank you in advance for your answers. (I only do Photo: Street photo, Portraits, landscapes. Regards,
Philgood ...
Personally I preferred the rendering from the 35mm F2 IS.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thank you very much for your answer. What exactly did you prefer in the rendering of the 35 f2 is usm compared to the RF 35 f1.8 ? I'm really having a hard time figuring out if there is one better than the other and at what level ?
@@DustinAbbottTWI Helle (from France) Mr Abbot. I've the same question but about vidéo. I have a R6II, and I shoot on stage fin a class of theatre (monolog, scene, répétitions etc..). I take sound with à mic externaly (far away). I already have the canon mont adapt, ef 135mm F2. Tamron 45mm 1.8 is not very good to keep focus. I need to keep my focus sharp on the eye of the actor. I think ef 35mm usm is better than RF 35mm STM for that matter or I'm wrong? Thank in advance (excuse my french...)
the best review of this lens.. 👍🏻👍🏻.. real world use cases.. pros and cons.. I subscribed!!
Thanks for the feedback!
Thanks for the review! I have an unrelated comment. The Moire on your shirt is quite annoying . Is it caused by your filming camera or by something else in the workflow?
It's actually most likely caused by a combination of your playback device and RUclips compression. The original (in 4K) is moire free.
Dustin Abbott it’s not. First time see it on 1080 since ages :)
I’m between this one or the Tamron 35mm f1.4 SP or th Sigma 35mm f1.4 ART (I know, those lenses are extremely different options lol)...
Have you tested the Sigma or Tamron lenses? How good does this RF renders in image quality and bokeh against those?
I've tested all of those lenses. The Tamron is easily my favorite of the group
Dustin Abbott yeah, from RUclips videos I can easily say that too...
But could the RF give like professional work IQ?
Once again, nice review. Thank you Dustin.
You're welcome.
And 3 years on Canon persists with its L policies. I bought this lens a week ago. It works well with the R6. Cost $750 AUD.
Awesome review! Thank you for the insight
You're welcome.
Well after a few months using the lens I would say it's not as clinical as the Art 1.4 , and not as high performing as the Canon ef 1.4 , BUT , it has character, it's just as sharp atleast at normal use if you dont pixel peep as the other two at f1.8 . Sure its not going to win awards but its 95% there of its competitors and by f2.8 they all the same I feel . What makes it a big draw card for street photography specifically is how small it is . Although bokeh is a bit let down if not picking and price is about 20% over priced but dropping every year
The bokeh is probably the most disappointing thing
@@DustinAbbottTWI agreed , although the appreciation of the quality of bokeh is equivalent to a wine expert knowing the softness of a good red wine compared to the general public just gulping it down . Most people wont take notice when looking at a photo .
thanks for the article. good read
My pleasure!
Bought this lens today before watching your review. Am surprised why no one else mentioned the focus hunting in macro mode. Very good insights there.
I'm frankly disappointed by the rather sloppy coverage of many lenses by many that just gloss over their shortcomings.
@@DustinAbbottTWII might agree with sloppy reviews but is this really a big drawback of the lens? I use manual mode mosty for close focus and af for normal distances, where the noice is much lower and there is no hunting. This hunting in macro mode is quite common for marco lenses. I only miss focus limit switch but lets be honest. It is the cheapest lens among ef and art lenses.
Dustin, since EOS R doesn’t have IBS do you find the IS in RF lenses coupled with the electronica image stabilization in the camera are as good as IBIS in cameras like Panasonic and Olympus?
I don't really mess with the electronic IS, but typically a dedicated IS system in a lens is as good as IBIS (some argue better).
Looking forward to the review of the RF 24 to 70 mm F2. especially your thoughts on the video side.
28-70*
Yes, I'm not sure when I'll get to the 28-70 F2. Hopefully at some point.
wow... they package/ship it like THAT? lol wow. no pouch, no weather sealing, no hood, and zero packaging minus a bubble wrap lol. thanks for the review.
Yeah, presentation is rather pathetic.
It's a consumer grade lens, what do you expect?
I thought one of the benefits of these new mirrorless wider mounts and shallower flange distance would be a reduction in issues like vignette? So why is this lens affected by such a severe vignette when wide open? Surely the wider rear element size would make apertures of f1.8 essentially vignette free. No hood or protective pouch is criminal even at this price point.
I think that there has been some misunderstanding about the potential of mirrorless mounts. Still, it is a little disappointing.
Big thanks for your honest and knowledgeable opinion/video very much appreciated. I’m in the process of purchasing a camera and lens for the first time since the mid-eighties. There are copious RUclips videos out there and the more you watch the more your heads spins :) But, I think it’s gonna be a Canon R8 with this 35mm lens….kff
Enjoy!
Thanks for the thorough review.
You're welcome.
What's the autofocus noise in video mode like? It appears to be quite noisy in photo mode, so I'm concerned it might be picked up even by an external mic.
It's not incredibly loud, but neither is it silent.
Thank you for the review👍 I agree that packaging is somewhat questionable... even hilarious.
Thanks for the feedback.
yes its disgusting for what you pay them and a lens hood is just a plastic thing.. canon is so pathetic and im a canon shooter..
The packaging?
I boget the lens months ago.
I use it and love the versatility.
I do not remember anything abut the packaging.
BTW: You can reuse this padded bag for whatever you want & it is more environmental friendly the some other packaging options.
What are your thoughts on mounting this on an EOS T7? I just purchased the camera and shooting macro is my focus, and i don't think I'm ready for a $1,000+ lens considering I'm completely new to photography...
This lens will not fit on your T7. It is only for mirrorless cameras.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I bought it, and it did fit. Getting it to focus is a little tricky though.
@@PROUDPAPA30 Yeah sorry but you didn't.
@@frostybe3r the one I bought was for ef mount, not RF.....
@@PROUDPAPA30 Yeah, this video is about RF.
Works the lens for scanning 35mm analog film?
Hi Thomas, I don't feel like I can give you an informed opinion on that. I've never done anything like that before.
I don't get your remark on 1:15 . I've got 24-70 ii 70-200 ii and 85 f1.2 ii from canon and I still bought the eos rp for photo work
None of those lenses are native RF lenses. I'm assuming you already had another camera that you initially purchased those lenses for. New RP owners who have no lenses and are purchasing a camera that can often be had for under a thousand dollars now might not want to spend (or have the budget) to purchase lenses that cost 2-3x as much.
Dustin Abbott actually, I bought the f2.8 RF trinity and the EOS RP for my work. I appreciate the traditional analog dials, lack of the dastardly Touch Bar and much lighter and smaller body of the RP over the R.
Nice Video Dustin, thank you for that 🙂 Best regards from Germany
My pleasure.
this is my nifty fifty for my r7. my first lens.
That's fair.
Hi Dustin,
Your videos have been very helpful to me over the past few years. Thanks for making this one. I have one request, if you can make a review on Canon RF 24-70 F 2.8 lens I would highly appreciate it. As always, I am very thankful for your professional advice. Cheers!
It is certainly my hope that cover that at some point this year.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thank you! Appreciate it. 😀
Good review. Waiting eagerly for your review of the RF 50/1.2 and RF 85/1.2
These RF reviews are tough because I don't own a EOS R body. I have to borrow both a camera and the lens...which gets expensive.
@@DustinAbbottTWI hope you get them soon so that everyone can benefit from your insight.
@@quagmire321able Right now there isn't an EOS R body that interests me enough for me to spend the money on it.
Dustin Abbott how about now?
Dustin will you be reviewing the 24-105 RF lense?
I already did. Check out my channel or website for the review
As I work out what I want to purchase to replace the "nifty-fifty" I never reach for (I think due to no IS and can't really use wide open.), I think you just reviewed me out of this one as much as I'd like to have an RF lens on my R. Thanks for nothin', Dustin! (Oo! That's good! Trade mark!) Actually, I very much appreciate your thorough reviews.
I was actually surprised by this one, as I expected to find it a great lens based on what I had seen from other RF lenses.
@@DustinAbbottTWI I'm about to pull the trigger on the Tamron 45mm f/1.8 given its current price, but then it occurred to me that it would be nice to have an affordable RF lens. First stop - Dustin review. Never mind. Forty-five with adaptor it is! :-)
I'm finding it extremely hard to buy an RF lens also. Just returned the 14-35 as the barrell distortion is uncontrollable in CameraRaw.
@@matt79hz I have yet to purchase an RF lens since the ones I want are too rich for my blood. I still enjoy the Tamron 45mm and my EF lenses, including the 16-35mm. I'm sure I don't know what I'm missing, but I'm doing fine. :-)
@@speecher1959 to me the older EF glass looks much nicer. The massive glass in the 35 2, 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 in the "prosumer" range, without extending lens barrels, is just really nice.
Oh well, end of an era.
I love your reviews. 😎
Thank you!
I own the eos r , it's been 4 months now since switching from Nikon . All my lenses are Ef or third party Ef . Rf mount prices are unrealistic and this lens is not worth the money compared to a second hand 35mm f2 or a new Tamron 35mm f1.8 that's weather sealed and much cheaper
Hello.... How are the third party EF mount lenses performing in terms of autofocus with the RF adapter? Did you face any difficulties? I am planning to get an EOS RP with a tamron 24-70 g2. Do you think this will perform well with the RF adapter?
I think I would strongly consider the Tamron 35mm F1.8 as an alternative because it has a nearly-as-high 0.40x magnfication.
@@thekingofhearts8687 I have nothing else to compare it to but it works flawlessly. No issues at all . That makes it even harder to recommend the over priced RF lenses since the ef lenses works "native "
@@picturef8 thanks a lot!
@@thekingofhearts8687 if you buy second hand make sure to update firmware
Very good review!
Thank you
Does anybody have an idea about lens hood for this lens? The EW-52 looks very strange at pictures. Is it useful?
Canon does occasionally do odd things with their non-L series lens hood. Maybe they assume no one is going to buy them anyway ;)
Thank you
You're welcome.
Could you get away using this lens for some tighter astrophotography shots at f2 or more? Also just to add I have the RP with the new 24-105 L and really like the feel and light weight and look forward to the future battery grip.
Thomas, there is a nice affordable lens out from Samyang, and with the RF mount it is weather sealed
I didn't get the right kind of weather to test astro, though I personally typically favor wide focal lengths for astro personally.
@@johnft8746 Thanks for the info.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Thanks for the suggestion.
@@DustinAbbottTWI thanks
Why not make a seal on the housing at the lens mount!?
That's a question for Canon. In times past they have only put weather sealing on their L series lenses (and not even all of them).
Thanks you Dustin, I really hope Cabon will come up with a 50mm version of this lens FAST ! (35mm is definitely too wide for my style). Another good review :)
I think a lot of people are hoping for something similar
@@DustinAbbottTWI well, they catered go the very high end first, now time to provide for us mere mortals 😉
I have the RF 50mm but carving the 35mm for its wider FOV.
Great review
Thank you.
Anybody have experience with this lens next to the Tamron 35 1.8? I’m using the Tamron (on both R and RP) now and I’m pretty happy with it, but the idea of going a little smaller (without adapter) is intriguing. I guess my biggest concern is focus noise during video. If anyone could confirm that the focus performance is at least as quiet as the Tamron (which is by no means silent, but is quieter than nifty fifty) I’d appreciate it greatly. Thank you!!
This would somewhat quieter for video work than the Tamron, though I'm not sure it's an optical upgrade.
144p squad! Ouch! Last time I was that early, I waited for the big bang to happen!
Video resolution? That's strange. It's a 4K upload
@@DustinAbbottTWI RUclips was just still processing it - after watching it, I revisited, and then it showed all the options up to 4K.
Thanks for the tips Dustin. I just got an eos r and this lens myself, and I had no idea about the control ring.
I'm coming from a t4i. What a world of differences.
Great video!
The control ring is a great innovation. I switch between using it as an aperture ring and as exposure compensation.
Thanks for your review. Are you planning to review the RF 50 1.2? Have this 35 1.8 and would be interested in your thoughts on the 50 to pair with it.
I hope to at some point. It costs me quite a bit to import Canon lenses for review. I have to pay duties, and I get some of that back...but not until my business tax return in a year!
Its kind like a punishment to the buyer by severely undercut the presentation of this lens. It is a really useful versatile lens nonEtheless, I got this as my first RF mount lens
Hmmm, not quite sure what point you are making here.
@@DustinAbbottTWI Oh, means that Canon not willing to "waste" too much money on this lens by cutting cost on packaging and weather sealing etc. as it is super cheap relative to the spec and quality of this lens. I got it new around $300
I see.
Please review more rf glass
I’m working on that. I’ve had some serious logistical challenges to overcome.
I've just ordered my first fullformat (Canon R8) und this is the lens I've chosen as my "starter" lens. So i've ordered it too. Excited. This video gets me hyped up even more.
Enjoy!
I was really unimpressed with this lens. I sent it back to Amazon after 3 weeks of usage. I found the IQ to be very middle of the road, but that could be because I was comparing it to the 35mm 1.4 Mk II, which is the best lens Canon has ever made.
That's the problem. The 35LII represents some of the best work Canon has ever done, and this lens isn't in the same class.
@@DustinAbbottTWI It's also VASTLY less expensive...
I got an ef 85 1.8 mm and it was packeage the same way 😂. frankly I don’t mind it that much. However RF mount lens strategy is still not very inspiring imo. Unless you can go for all L lenses.
I really hope they start to get some traction on lens development, as that used to really be a Canon strength.
@@DustinAbbottTWI maybe I has to harsh, I see if you and 🗻💵 and want mainly full frame there are some nice options, even relatively light weight.
Stm lenses for apsc are "good, for the money". For eos r, this lens will never be part of my stuff
This lens is actually pretty dam good. Don’t knock it until you try it. I have the RF50 1.2L and RF70-200. I bought this as it’s the only prime 35MM available. It surprised me.
@@Thomasjcolbert82 HI Tom, I'm sure you've tested this lens good and proper by now. I'm considering getting this lens as a 'fun' lightweight lens for when I'm just out an about, not sure whether I want to use it for any paid jobs. But if I were to have it equipped when doing a portrait shoot, would it be able to hold up? Edge sharpness wouldn't be a major concern as I usually shoot at faster apertures, making the edges somewhat redundant. But have there been any noticeable shortcomings ? Vignetting maybe to much to fix in post ?
I bought this lens on impulse and will be returning it tomorrow.
It’s dark for its speed.
The focus is slow and noisy.
It suffers from lens flare rather badly.
The lens extends when focusing.
The EF 35mm IS USM is far superior. Brighter despite being 1/3 stop slower, doesn’t extend and has the FAR faster and superior ring type USM with mechanical linkage for manual focus. No contest.
That was unfortunately pretty much my takeaway as well. I was prepared to love this lens because I loved the 35mm F2 IS, but that just wasn’t the case.
Agree and after this time and years that Canon can’t provide this 35 mm 1.8 STM RF lense with weather protection at least. Really bad. I’m a Fuji and Canon user and for as one example why not give us with a R6 a possibility to have a “small” street lens that are weather sealed??? @Canon
You've put your finger on one of my great frustrations with Canon. They have this very rigid tier system with their lenses that I think is very antiquated.
No weather sealing on this lens and any lens is a deal breaker for me. I shot Nikons for over 20 years and made a big leap to the Canon R5 and purchased 3 RF L lenses. Those are nice lenses. The trouble is and it is my fault for not checking out the price and availability of RF glass. I may take another bath and just go back to a Nikon DSLR system. I cannot afford additional L lenses and will not buy cheaply made STM glass with no weather sealing. I may keep what I have with Canon and use the one Nikon DSLR I have and purchase good prime , fast, F mount, Nikon lenses that are time tested and 1/2 the price.
It is tough, because the Canon R5 is an awesome camera, but Canon is stuck in a very rigid system for differentiating their lines of lenses.
How it performs in comparison with EF 35 F/2 IS? Don't know what to buy for R. For sure I don't like, that RF 35 extending when focusing. Sorry for my English. And thanks for a great reviews.
I didn't directly compare them, though I liked the EF lens better when I reviewed and owned it.
Kind of sounds like I’m better off getting the Sigma EF f/1.4
Yes and no. I personally do not enjoy using lenses via adapter; it gets old.
Another excellent review Dustin! Have to say I'm not convinced to get rid of my EF 35mm f2 IS USM in favour of the RF one. I recall you rather liked the EF one too back in the day...
Agreed. I think the EF lens has nicer rendering.
which would you suggest to owner of eos r: rf 35mm 1.8 or ef 35mm 1.4 ii ? :)
blazeboy777 I have both... It depends what you want to do.... the L is really huge.... but has better IQ and bokeh...
@@johnft8746 I am buying ef 35mm 1.4 ii as well, found a good deal on a used one. How is the AF?
If you can afford the 35LII, I will always recommend it. I think it Canon's best non-super-tele lens.
Thanks Dustin. Appreciate your videos.
You're welcome.
Let's be honest, 4K with an EOS RP is garbage in most situations anyway, no matter what kind of lens are you using. Luckily it doesn't bother me, I'm perfectly fine with 1080p 🙂
There's definitely some truth to this.
Wow, even my cheap as shit Fuji xc 16-50 comes with a lens hood and proper packing. Its not optical perfection but its fking good for what you pay for!
Conner light fall off with 3 stops? I will pass ! Sorry
It is a lot, for sure.
its good for the price until something better comes along
That's fair.
Always choose glass over bodies. I am waiting for a pancake for a few ounces off.
Yes and no. Camera tech has radically improved in the last generation. I wouldn't want to go back to shooting a camera body without Eye AF, for example.