Canon Canon L Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens (Canon RF) Review

The Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM is a specialist. It's a 24mm prime that scores a 95.1 out of 100 for portraits, which is frankly wild for a wide-angle lens. That score is driven by its 94th percentile bokeh and 88th percentile max aperture. This isn't your typical landscape lens. It's a creative tool built for low-light environmental portraits and dramatic, shallow-depth-of-field shots where you want the background to melt away.

With a total score of 89.3, it's excellent at what it's designed for. But the trade-offs are clear from the numbers. It scores a 55.3 for travel, and its versatility sits in the 39th percentile. At 499g and without stabilization, it's a lens you bring for a specific job, not an all-day walkaround companion.

Let's talk about the optics, because that's where this lens earns its L-series badge. Optical performance is in the 87th percentile, and that f/1.4 aperture is in the 88th. In practice, that means you get exceptional sharpness and the ability to shoot in very dim light. The 11-blade diaphragm helps create that 94th percentile bokeh, giving you smooth, rounded out-of-focus highlights that are rare for a wide-angle lens.

The autofocus, however, is a mixed bag. It lands in the 47th percentile. Canon uses a dual-motor system with a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) and Nano USM, which promises speed and quiet operation. For still portraits, it's perfectly fine. But if you're planning to track fast-moving subjects in video, you might find it a step behind some competitors. The 1:5.88 max magnification (69th percentile) means it's not a macro lens, but you can get decently close at 239mm.

At $1549, the value proposition is narrow. You're paying a premium for that L-series optical quality and the unique combination of a wide 24mm focal length with pro-level f/1.4 bokeh. If your work lives in that niche—think atmospheric portraits, event photography in tight spaces, or artistic street work—the performance justifies the cost. But if you need a more versatile walkaround lens or prioritize lightning-fast AF, that price tag feels harder to swallow when you look at the competition.

Compared to the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 or the Meike 55mm f/1.8, the Canon is in a different league optically and in build, but you pay for it. Those third-party lenses cost a fraction of the price and offer similar or faster apertures, but they won't match the bokeh quality or extreme corner sharpness. The Canon also gives you a much wider field of view. Against something like the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.8 for Sony, the Canon's AF percentile (47th) might be similar or even lower, but its optical performance (87th percentile) is decisively better. It's a classic trade-off: spend less for good overall performance, or spend significantly more for exceptional performance in specific areas.

This is a recommendation with a big asterisk. The Canon RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM is an outstanding lens if you need a 24mm prime with beautiful, creamy bokeh and superb optics. Its 95.1 portrait score and 94th percentile bokeh don't lie. But its low versatility score (39th) and average autofocus (47th) mean it's a tool for a specific job. Buy it if you're a portrait or event shooter who craves that wide-angle look with shallow depth of field. For everyone else, especially travelers or hybrid shooters, the high price and specialized nature make it a tough sell.