Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM Hands-On Review
Summary Verdict
The Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM is an intriguing new addition to the Canon RF lens line-up. It's aimed at users who want the creative potential of a fast prime without the size, weight or cost of Canon’s professional L-series lenses. With its bright f/1.2 maximum aperture, it opens up low-light and shallow depth-of-field photography in a more compact and approachable package. It's particularly well-suited to portraits, lifestyle photography and creative expression, making it a practical choice for women photographers looking for a lens that doesn’t weigh them down but still encourages imaginative shooting.
Score: TBC
For
Very fast maximum aperture of f/1.2
Lightest f/1.2 RF lens at just 346g
Separate focus and clicked control rings
Against
No weather sealing
Minimum focus distance is not especially close
Optional lens hood costs extra
What is the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM?
The Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM is a standard prime lens designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, including the Canon R6 III announced at the same time. Its focal length means it offers a natural perspective, while it's maximum aperture of f/1.2 means it's capable of capturing very limited depth of field for subject separation and enables fast shutter speeds to be used in low light. It's the first Canon RF lens to combine this bright aperture with a non-L-series designation. The lens is positioned firmly within the enthusiast range, aimed at photographers who want greater creative control without the professional-level price tag.
The Canon RF 45mm F/1.2 STM on the new R6 Mark III.
Read our Canon EOS R6 III Review
Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM Price and Availability
The RF 45mm F1.2 STM is available from 20th November 2025 with a suggested retail price of £479.99 / €549.99. The matching lens hood (ES-73B) is sold separately for £35.99 / €40.99.
Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM Specifications
Lens type: Standard prime
Announced: 6th November 2025
Lens mount: Canon RF
Filter diameter: 67mm
Construction: 9 elements arranged in 7 groups, including 1 PMo (plastic‑moulded) aspherical element
Diaphragm blades: 9
Maximum aperture: f/1.2
Minimum aperture: f/16
Minimum focus distance: 45cm with maximum magnification of 0.13x
Image stabilisation: No optical IS; compatible with IBIS (In‑Body Image Stabilisation)
Coatings: Super Spectra
Weather sealing: No
Included accessories: Front cap: E‑67II, Case: LP1116
Dimensions (D x L): 78 × 75mm
Weight: 346g
The Canon RF 45mm F/1.2 is remarkably compact for an F/1.2 lens.
Key Features
With its f/1.2 aperture, the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM stands out for its ability to create shallow depth of field and handle low-light conditions with ease. This makes it ideal for shooting portraits or capturing subjects with a strong sense of separation from their background.
The optical design features nine elements arranged in seven groups, including a PMo (Plastic-Moulded) aspherical element. These types of elements are created by injecting resin into an aspherical surface mould, allowing more affordable lenses to benefit from complex optical shapes that help reduce aberrations. While not as premium as glass equivalents, PMo elements provide good control over image quality in compact, cost-effective form.
The autofocusing is driven by Canon’s STM (Stepping Motor) technology, known for its smooth and quiet operation, making the RF 45mm F1.2 STM am attractive choice for both stills and video. Although the lens doesn’t include built-in optical stabilisation, it works in harmony with in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) systems found in Canon’s recent mirrorless cameras.
Other notable features include a 9-blade circular diaphragm for attractive bokeh, a minimum aperture of f/16, a 67mm filter thread and a minimum focus distance of 45cm.
It may not be weather-sealed but there’s a metal lens mount.
Build and Handling
The Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM is noticeably compact for a lens with such a fast aperture, measuring just 78mm in diameter and 75mm in length. Weighing only 346g, it’s the lightest f/1.2 lens currently in Canon’s RF line-up. The barrel has a clean, minimal design with a solid feel and a durable metal lens mount.
There are two separate rings on the barrel: a clicked control ring at the front and a focus ring about half-way along the barrel's length. The control ring is customisable and can be set to adjust aperture, ISO or exposure compensation, depending on your preference, but there's no option to 'de-click' its movement. Nevertheless, having these as distinct rings makes it easier to work intuitively, especially in fast-paced or low-light situations.
While the lens isn't weather-sealed, it feels well constructed and balances nicely on Canon’s smaller full-frame mirrorless bodies, such as the EOS R6 Mark III.
A side view of the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM showing the AF/MF switch and lens rings. The narrow knurled ring is the customisable control ring while the ridge ring is for manual focusing.
Performance
I used a pre-production version of the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM ahead of its announcement, and it appears to be very responsive. The autofocusing was quick and generally decisive, with the STM motor delivering the smooth and quiet performance that it's known for, which is helpful when shooting video or working in quiet locations. As we'd hope, the point of focus is sharp and detail-rich, while out of focus backgrounds are soft and attractive.
Although I need to do more testing, I was able to shoot in bright, sunny conditions, which gave me the opportunity to check for chromatic aberrations and issues with flare. So far, the lens shows little in the way of distracting fringing, and Canon’s Super Spectra coating helps suppress flare when shooting towards the light.
Although the minimum focus distance of 45cm is not especially close, it’s enough to fill the frame with a head-and-shoulders portrait or a medium-sized object, and the image remains pleasingly sharp.
For photographers who shoot video or use focus pulls creatively, the lens’s compatibility with Canon’s focus breathing suppression feature is a welcome bonus. This helps to maintain a consistent angle of view when racking focus, giving footage a more polished, professional feel.
Read our Canon EOS R5 II Review
Canon RF 45mm F/1.2 Sample Images
The images below were shot using an early sample of the Canon RG 45mm f/1.2 STM on a pre-production Canon R6 Mark III and image quality may vary from that from the production samples.
This image was shot at close to the lens’ closest focusing distance (45cm).
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson, camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark III, lens: Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM at f/1.2, 1/500 sec and ISO 100.
There’s no signing of coloured fringing along the high contrast edges of this image.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson, camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark III, lens: Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM at f/1.2, 1/1600 sec and ISO 100.
Generally, out of focus areas in images captured using the RF 45mm f/1.2 look good, but small highlights can go rather cats-eye shaped towards the corners.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson, camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark III, lens: Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM at f/1.2, 1/160 sec and ISO 100.
Shooting at the widest aperture ensures a dramatically blurred background that looks great.
Image Credit: Angela Nicholson, camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark III, lens: Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM at f/1.2, 1/500 sec and ISO 100.
Verdict
The Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM makes an exciting entry into the enthusiast end of the fast-prime market. It brings the creative benefits of an f/1.2 aperture – like strong subject separation and excellent low-light capability – into a smaller and more affordable lens than we’re used to seeing.
While it lacks some of the refinements of the L-series lenses, such as weather sealing and a shorter minimum focus distance, it’s an ideal choice for photographers who want to experiment with fast-aperture shooting without stepping into pro-level pricing.
As a female photographer who enjoys working with natural light and often shoots portraits or content on the go, I find the size and performance of this lens particularly appealing. It’s the sort of lens that fits easily into a lightweight kit and delivers creative results with minimal fuss – and that makes it a very welcome addition to Canon’s RF line-up.
