{"id":20257,"date":"2025-11-27T19:04:42","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T19:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/?p=20257"},"modified":"2025-11-27T19:04:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T19:04:42","slug":"canon-rf-45mm-f-1-2-stm-review-affordable-and-usable-wide-aperture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/?p=20257","title":{"rendered":"Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 STM Review: Affordable and Usable Wide Aperture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"fluid-iframe\" style=\"max-width: 800px;\">\n<p><iframe title=\"We Need MORE Lenses Like This!\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dsfan8V2Yw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In a photo industry of ever-increasing prices, it\u2019s refreshing to see optics that supply exceptional value for the dollar. The new Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 STM made the entire industry double-take upon seeing an f\/1.2 optic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1930513-REG\/canon_7198c002_rf_45mm_f_1_2_stm.htmlBI\/19083\/KBID\/10687\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener\">for only $479<\/a>. Surely, there must be a catch, so I took the handy little 45mm to a local Christmas market to explore the myriad lights using an extremely shallow depth of field lens.<\/p>\n<p>  <center\/> <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827998\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827998\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM camera lens stands upright on a black grid surface with a blurred metallic background. The Canon logo and lens details are visible on the front.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827998\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This new 45mm lens sets a new standard for Canon affordability.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 STM: How It Feels<\/h2>\n<p>The 45mm lens appears bulky at first glance, largely owing to its very wide aperture. The front of the lens is cut for 67mm filters, which is rather large for a normal focal length lens. However, the lens is very lightweight and will only add about 12.2 ounces (346 grams) to your camera. There is a customizable control ring right at the front of the lens, which can be set for many handy uses, but it does have a permanent click-stop action. The manual focus ring is well-damped and quite large, so it is easy to find without looking. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827975\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827975\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-In-Hand-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a dark winter jacket and red beanie is taking a photo with a camera outdoors in a snowy landscape, with leafless trees in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-In-Hand-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-In-Hand-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-In-Hand-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-In-Hand-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827975\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Canon RF 45mm is compact and lightweight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827984\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827984\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4743-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"Two glittery Christmas ornaments, one silver and one red, hang from black chains with colorful, out-of-focus holiday lights creating a festive background.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827984\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4743-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4743-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4743-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4743.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827984\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The local Christmas market is a great place to shoot shallow depth of field pictures.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827996\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827996\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a camera lens lying on its side on a black grid surface, with a metallic, textured background behind it. The lens glass reflects warm tones and the aperture blades are visible inside.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7855.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827996\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The large front element makes that ultra-bright f\/1.2 aperture possible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There is a simple switch for AF\/MF focus control, and little else. This is a simple lens with very little in the way of accoutrements. The 45mm has a basic STM autofocusing motor design, which I found to be perfectly acceptable at focusing quickly, even if it makes a bit of a humming sound while operating. <\/p>\n<p>Canon does not supply this lens with a hood, so consider that an extra expense. Also, due to the affordable cost of the lens, there is no weather-sealing or dust resistance to speak of, so treat this lens with some care. <\/p>\n<p> <center\/> <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827995\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827995\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up side view of a Canon RF 85mm camera lens, showing the lens body, focus ring, and autofocus\/manual focus switch against a blurred metallic background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7854.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827995\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The controls are pretty simple on this lens. I like the customizable ring, though.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827997\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827997\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a camera lens placed on its side, with the metal mounting ring and electronic contacts visible, next to a lens cap on a dark, textured surface with a metallic background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7861.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827997\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There is no weather sealing on this lens, so be careful with it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 STM: How It Shoots<\/h2>\n<p>Canon have managed to keep flaring to a minimum with this lens, as it shows only a mild propensity for ghosting at wider apertures, and still manageable amounts when stopped down. Contrast is good, and internal reflections seem fairly well controlled. I would still consider getting the additional lens hood, which should have been included in the first place. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827988\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827988\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A weathered building corner displays the number 1613 as sunlight creates a lens flare, with a hazy sky and bare trees visible in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4801.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827988\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Flare is fairly well corrected, but you will see some ghosting present.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A snow-covered path lined with bare trees and evergreens, two people walking in the distance, under a cloudy winter sky.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4807.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4793-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"Snow-covered riverbank with leafless trees and shrubs lining the shore. A group of ducks swim and rest along the edge of the clear, calm river under a cloudy sky. The winter landscape appears serene and peaceful.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4793-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4793-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4793-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4793.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>LoCA, or longitudinal chromatic aberration, causes color casts in the out-of-focus areas of an image, which proves to be a subsequent pain to remove afterward. Unfortunately, this lens has a fair amount of LoCA, especially when shot at wider apertures. Considering how often this lens will also have large out-of-focus areas, LoCA can be a serious problem to manage. Stopping the aperture down will certainly help the situation, but the main intention of a lens like this is to shoot at the wider apertures. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827989\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827989\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4806-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A bare tree covered in snow stands by a calm river under a cloudy, sunlit sky. The sun is partially hidden behind clouds, and snow sparkles on the tree branches and along the riverbank.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4806-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4806-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4806-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4806.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827989\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The branches against the sky clearly show heavy LoCA present.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4810-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A person walks two dogs on a snow-covered pedestrian bridge, surrounded by leafless trees on a winter day. The image is in black and white, capturing a peaceful, cold atmosphere.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4810-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4810-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4810-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4810.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4712-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A large Christmas tree decorated with colorful lights stands beside glowing white tents at dusk. People gather around, some sitting and others walking, enjoying the festive outdoor scene.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4712-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4712-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4712-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4712.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>I was seriously expecting to find that this affordable lens would have middling bokeh performance. However, the results are pleasantly surprising. Specular highlights take on a beautiful cat\u2019s eye effect at wider apertures that work well for portraits. As you stop the aperture down, the highlights take on a more rounded look, but always have a slightly polygonal shape to them. I was shocked to find no onion rings within the highlights, but there is a strong and distinct halo around each one. This means that backgrounds can look a little harsh at times, but overall, the bokeh is beautiful on this incredibly wide-apertured lens.  <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827982\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827982\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A young girl in a fur-lined hooded coat stands outdoors at night, surrounded by blurred festive lights. She looks directly at the camera with a calm expression. The image is in black and white.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4703.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827982\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shooting at f\/1.2 provides lovely bokeh and soft backgrounds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A young girl with red hair and blue eyes smiles at the camera, wearing a colorful scarf. Bright, blurred multicolored lights create a festive background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827977\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4621.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4760-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A child in a light blue winter coat stands among bright, colorful holiday lights with a blue and purple glow, surrounded by blurred decorations and illuminated trees in the background.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827986\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4760-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4760-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4760-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4760.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Surely, this lens must be soft because of the relatively low price involved, right? Most affordable primes on the market that advertise such a bright f\/1.2 aperture tend to have almost unusable performance at said aperture. <\/p>\n<p>However, Canon has found a way to provide decent levels of detail at the widest aperture range. There is a fair amount of contrast and sharpness at f\/1.2, which gets even better as you stop the lens down. Still, I would happily use this lens at f\/1.2 and not feel like I was making a major compromise to image quality. Corners are a different story, and here is where the lens probably makes a few shortcuts. The corners always look mushy at wider apertures, and even stopping down the lens to f\/2.8 only marginally improves the situation. This choice makes sense given that most users will be shooting with out-of-focus corners anyway, or with subject matter where the corners don\u2019t matter much. If you want center-to-edge performance, though, expect to shoot well into the midrange of apertures. <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827971\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827971\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-12-vs-18-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Side-by-side resolution test charts labeled f\/1.2 and f\/1.8, featuring concentric circles, grayscale bars, colored blocks, and portions of a banknote with a portrait, used to compare image sharpness and color accuracy.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-12-vs-18-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-12-vs-18-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-12-vs-18-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-12-vs-18-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827971\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Even at F\/1.2, the image quality is decent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827972\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827972\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-18-vs-28-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Two identical test charts side by side display color swatches, grayscale bars, circular focus patterns, sharpness indicators, and sections of Canadian currency, used for evaluating camera image quality at f\/1.8 and f\/2.8 apertures.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827972\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-18-vs-28-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-18-vs-28-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-18-vs-28-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Center-18-vs-28-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827972\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stopping down the lens to f\/2.8 will bring some added contrast, but sharpness is already pretty good.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827973\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827973\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Corner-12-vs-18-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Side-by-side comparison of two test charts with a Canadian one-dollar bill and lens aperture settings labeled f\/1.2 on the left and f\/1.8 on the right, showing differences in image sharpness and brightness.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Corner-12-vs-18-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Corner-12-vs-18-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Corner-12-vs-18-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Canon-45mm-Corner-12-vs-18-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827973\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The real weakness with sharpness is apparent in the corners.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 STM: No Competition\u2026 By Design<\/h2>\n<p>If this were any other brand of lens, I would reference the veritable cornucopia of third-party lenses available as competition. Long have the Chinese lens houses specialized in ultra-fast aperture optics at a low price but you won\u2019t find many of these options available with compatible autofocus and full-frame coverage for the Canon RF mount. This makes the new $479 Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 a very smart play, both on the part of Canon and as a good decision for the consumer. I hope Canon make many more of these fast-apertured options for the consumer at an affordable price. Especially if the optical performance holds true in the future. Consider this 45mm lens for general-purpose photography and as a shallow depth of field portrait option.  <\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_827978\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-827978\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A young girl with red hair and a colorful scarf smiles in front of festive, glowing holiday lights outdoors. She is wearing a green coat with a fur-lined hood. The background is blurred with lights and trees.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"size-large wp-image-827978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4631.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-827978\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stopping the lens down is still very nice, and the highlights take on a more rounded appearance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A festive snow globe scene inside a trailer, featuring two snowmen in hats and scarves, a Christmas tree, and a teddy bear, with snow falling around them and a blurred foreground.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4692.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A young girl with long red hair and freckles is smiling, surrounded by colorful, glowing holiday lights and decorations, creating a festive and joyful atmosphere.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827980\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683-120x80.jpg 120w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4683.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4759-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A young girl kneels and smiles beside a glowing fox-shaped light sculpture outdoors at night, with more illuminated animal figures visible in the background.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-827985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4759-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4759-213x320.jpg 213w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4759-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/166A4759.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\"\/><\/p>\n<h3>Are There Alternatives?<\/h3>\n<p>Yongnuo does make some f\/1.8 primes on the market with <a href=\"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/2024\/01\/06\/reviewing-the-forbidden-lenses-that-canon-doesnt-want-you-to-have\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">dubious autofocus compatibility<\/a> with Canon bodies. These are optically decent, but they are cheaply built and not nearly as bright. <\/p>\n<h3>Should You Buy It?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. You get performance and price without too many optical compromises. Canon is delivering excellent value for the dollar.  <\/p>\n<p> <center\/>      <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a photo industry of ever-increasing prices, it\u2019s refreshing to see optics that supply exceptional value for the dollar. The new Canon RF 45mm f\/1.2 STM made the entire industry double-take upon seeing an f\/1.2 optic for only $479. Surely, there must be a catch, so I took the handy little 45mm to a local [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/petapixel.com\/assets\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC_7865-800x533.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-20257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blogs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20257"},{"taxonomy":"offerexpiration","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/creatorkitdepot.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fofferexpiration&post=20257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}