Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens

CAMERA NOT INCLUDED

Canon 50mm f1.2
Good condition
Glass is flawless
Comes with felt-lined Canon hood and original box

This takes amazing portraits. Artsy and unique.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a premium standard prime lens designed for Canon's full-frame and APS-C DSLR cameras. Known for its exceptional optical performance and robust build quality, this lens is a favorite among professional photographers, particularly for portrait, wedding, and low-light photography.

Design and Build

The Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM features a solid and durable construction, characteristic of Canon's L-series lenses. The lens barrel is made from high-quality materials, including metal and polycarbonate, ensuring both strength and a relatively lightweight design. The lens has a sleek, black finish with a distinctive red ring near the front element, signifying its L-series status. It measures approximately 3.4 inches in diameter and 2.6 inches in length, and it weighs around 580 grams, making it compact and portable for a lens with such a large maximum aperture.

Optical Construction

The optical design of the 50mm f/1.2L USM includes 8 elements in 6 groups. This configuration incorporates high-precision aspherical elements that help to minimize spherical aberrations and distortion, ensuring sharp and high-contrast images across the entire frame. The lens also features Canon's Super Spectra Coating, which reduces flare and ghosting, enhancing color fidelity and contrast.

Aperture and Depth of Field

One of the standout features of this lens is its extremely wide maximum aperture of f/1.2. This allows for excellent low-light performance and the ability to create a very shallow depth of field, producing beautiful bokeh with smooth, out-of-focus areas. The aperture is controlled by an 8-blade diaphragm, which contributes to the lens's pleasing bokeh characteristics. The wide aperture also enables photographers to achieve a high degree of subject isolation, making it ideal for portrait photography.

Focusing

The Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM is equipped with a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for fast, accurate, and near-silent autofocus. The focus ring is smooth and well-damped, providing a tactile and precise manual focusing experience. The lens can focus as close as 0.45 meters (17.7 inches), allowing for detailed close-up shots with a standard focal length perspective.

Image Quality

The image quality produced by the 50mm f/1.2L USM is outstanding. It delivers sharp, high-resolution images with excellent contrast and color fidelity. The lens performs exceptionally well even at its widest aperture, with minimal chromatic aberration and distortion. The aspherical elements and advanced optical design ensure that images remain sharp and detailed from the center to the edges of the frame.

Versatility

This lens is highly versatile, suitable for a wide range of photographic applications. Its standard 50mm focal length provides a natural perspective, making it a go-to lens for many photographers. The wide aperture and exceptional image quality make it particularly well-suited for portrait, wedding, and low-light photography, but it can also be used effectively for street, landscape, and general-purpose photography.

Build Quality and Durability

The Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM is built to withstand the rigors of professional use. Its robust construction and high-quality materials ensure longevity and reliability. The lens is designed to perform well in various environmental conditions, making it a dependable tool for professional photographers. It also features weather-sealing to protect against dust and moisture, further enhancing its durability.

Conclusion

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a lens that combines exceptional optical performance with a solid and durable design. Its wide aperture, fast and accurate autofocus, and outstanding image quality make it a favorite among professional photographers. Whether you're capturing stunning portraits, shooting in low light, or simply enjoying the tactile experience of using a finely crafted lens, the 50mm f/1.2L USM is a superb choice.

New or Used: Used