The Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM is a super fast full-frame lens at an ultra low price, and it almost seems too good to be true. It's the most affordable f/1.2 lens Canon has ever made, so I took it on a portrait photo shoot in Sydney with the Canon R6 III to see whether it deserves a spot in your kit.
In this Canon 45mm f1.2 review I cover image quality, bokeh, autofocus, build, flare and chromatic aberration, with lots of real portrait samples, unedited and edited. You can see the 100% crops, the autofocus tests and the video footage in my full review below.
Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM specs and price
| Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM | |
|---|---|
| Mount | Canon RF, full frame |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.2 |
| Optics | 9 elements in 7 groups |
| Aperture blades | 9, rounded |
| Autofocus | STM stepping motor |
| Minimum focus distance | 45cm |
| Filter thread | 67mm |
| Weight | 346g |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Controls | Focus ring, clicking control ring, AF/MF switch |
| Price (October 2026) | US$469 RRP, currently around US$429 at B&H. A$699.95 RRP in Australia, from around A$563 at CameraPro |
All the edited photos in this post were edited with my New York Lightroom preset, and I've labelled the unedited files straight from the camera so you can compare.
Image quality and sharpness
The 45mm f/1.2 is capable of taking great pictures, and the images it produces are mostly sharp. On the photos with critical focus there's plenty of clarity, so you can see all that nice skin texture and detail in the hair, which is great to have in a budget-friendly lens. It's not at the same level as high-end RF glass, but considering the price, the results really stand out. See the 100% crops in the video.
Unedited
Edited with New York
Canon RF 45mm f/1.2: unedited (left) and edited with my New York preset (right).
Edited with my New York preset.
The colours are fairly neutral, leaning a little warm, and they were easy to work with in post. You'll notice strong vignetting and a little distortion, especially around straight lines. Lens correction in Lightroom fixes that nicely, but it's something to keep in mind if you plan to use this lens for video.
Edited with my New York preset.
Bokeh at f/1.2
One big reason to pick up this lens is the fast f/1.2 aperture, for dreamy images with lots of background blur, and in that regard it definitely delivers. The 45mm produces soft, creamy backgrounds where your subject stands out easily, and the transition from in focus to out of focus is smooth and flattering for close-ups. Budget lenses can have nervous, distracting bokeh, but I think this one avoids that.
Creamy bokeh, edited with my New York preset.
There are 9 rounded aperture blades, and the bokeh is nice and clean with no onion rings. You'll see some cat's-eye bokeh wide open, but it becomes really round once you stop down a little. The video shows how it changes as you stop down.
Edited with my New York preset.
Autofocus performance
The 45mm f/1.2 uses a stepping motor. For portraits and slower subjects, autofocus is reasonably quick and holds well when your subject is still, but it starts to slip once things speed up. During my portrait session I had more missed shots the faster we moved, though I still ended up with a nice selection of sharp images, and when it's in focus I'm genuinely impressed. Watch the autofocus tests to see how it tracks in video.
Unedited
Edited with New York
Unedited (left) and edited with my New York preset (right).
Edited with my New York preset.
If you're shooting with the R6 III too, my Canon R6III Camera Setup File has the exact settings I use.
Build and handling
Even with an f/1.2 aperture, this lens is small and weighs only 346g. It has a focus ring, a control ring that clicks, an AF/MF switch and a 67mm filter thread, and it focuses as close as 45cm. Just note that it isn't dust or moisture resistant.
Edited with my New York preset.
Lens flare and chromatic aberration
This lens produces quite a few different flares. Some are soft with no hard edges, which I love for the dreamy style I shoot, and others are strong and defined. There's even an interesting linear-looking flare. See all the different flares in the video.
Edited with my New York preset.
The 45mm also has some heavy chromatic aberration. Lightroom can remove it easily, but when there's a lot of it you can end up with a black or white outline that looks distracting, especially around blurred objects in the background. I show an example in the video.
Edited with my New York preset.
Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 for video
I also filmed some creative b-roll with the 45mm to see how it looks for video in a real-world setting. The lens has a lot of character and I found it really fun to use. Watch the b-roll at the end of the video.
Edited with my New York preset.
Who is the Canon 45mm f1.2 for?
As the most affordable f/1.2 lens Canon has ever made, it's perfect for hobbyists and beginners who want bokeh and shallow depth of field on a budget and don't mind a few optical quirks in exchange for the lower price. When I first started photography, I used Canon's 50mm f/1.4 for an entire year before I added more lenses to my kit, and I think this 45mm f/1.2 is its replacement. I'm calling it now: this is the new nifty fifty.
Edited with my New York preset.
There aren't many similar options yet. The Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM (around US$539 / A$989) is a bit wider and adds macro, but costs more, and the RF 50mm F1.8 STM (around US$199 / A$389) is much cheaper. I haven't used those two yet, so I can't speak to their quality from experience. For more budget Canon glass, see my post on the Canon 50mm f1.8 nifty fifty.
Edited with my New York preset.
Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 review FAQ
Is the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 sharp?
It's mostly sharp, with plenty of clarity in skin and hair when you nail focus. It isn't at the level of Canon's high-end L lenses, but it's very impressive for the price.
How much does the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 STM cost?
Its RRP is US$469 in the US and A$699.95 in Australia, and in October 2026 it was selling for around US$429 and from around A$563. That makes it the most affordable f/1.2 lens Canon has made.
Is the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 autofocus fast?
It uses a stepping motor that's reasonably quick for portraits and slower subjects, but it can slip with fast movement.
Is the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2 weather sealed?
No, it isn't dust or moisture resistant.
How heavy is the Canon RF 45mm f/1.2?
It weighs 346g and has a 67mm filter thread and a 45cm minimum focus distance.
What preset did you use on the Canon 45mm photos?
All the photos in this review were edited with my New York Lightroom preset.
Every photo in this review was edited with New York. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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