Lightweight and compact with a fast f/1.4 maximum aperture, the RF24mm f/1.4L VCM isn’t just perfect for video and hybrid shooters, it’s also very handy for nature and landscape photographers shooting in low light. Jiro Tateno took it on a trip to Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region in search of red autumn leaves. Here are his impressions.

 

A hybrid f/1.4 prime lens that’s great for landscape photography, too

When the RF35mm f/1.4L VCM was first released, Canon also teased the public with an image that showed the silhouettes of 5 lenses with the same concept. The suggestion of more lenses in the same series piqued my interest. Two of those silhouettes have now been revealed to be the RF24mm f/1.4L VCM and RF50mm f/1.4L VCM, which share the RF35mm f/1.4L VCM’s compact body size.

The video-centric features of these lenses have much been emphasised, but the portability, mobility, and easy handling of these lenses are also huge benefits to still photography.

 

I had a pleasant experience taking the RF24mm f/1.4L VCM to the Tohoku region of Japan on an autumn leaf hunt. 24mm is a classic wide-angle focal length that I often use for landscape photography, so I took to it like a fish to water. The lens was so small and light, I didn’t feel the strain despite spending a long time walking around with the camera in hand. It was also easier to hold the camera when shooting from unconventional angles.

EOS R5 Mark II/ RF24mm f/1.4L VCM/ FL: 24mm/ Manual exposure (f/8, 1/160 sec)/ ISO 640/ WB: Auto

The vibrant autumn leaves by the lakeside and the shadow of the bare tree below it make an interesting juxtaposition. These two subjects were far apart, but shooting vertically at 24mm, I managed to capture them both in a well-balanced composition.

EOS R5 Mark II/ RF24mm f/1.4L VCM/ FL: 24mm/ Manual exposure (f/8, 1/320 sec)/ ISO 160/ WB: Auto/ PL filter

The RF24mm f/1.4L VCM was so light that it made shooting a breeze. I could immerse myself in the process without my limbs protesting. For this shot, I used a PL filter to reduce the glare reflecting off the water that originally made these leaves hard to see.

 

Excellent corner-to-corner resolution

I shot many images using different aperture settings ranging from wide open to narrow. All were well-resolved. The excellent performance reminded me of when I tried the RF35mm f/1.4L VCM. 

EOS R5 Mark II/ RF24mm f/1.4L VCM/ FL: 24mm/ Manual exposure (f/8, 1/800 sec)/ ISO 250/ WB: Auto

I narrowed the aperture to f/8 to ensure that the colourful trees on the opposite bank were properly in focus. Even the tiny leaves on the trees further away were sharply rendered, reflecting the lens’ excellent resolving capability.

EOS R5 Mark II/ RF24mm f/1.4L VCM/ FL: 24mm/ Manual exposure (f/5.6, 13 sec)/ ISO 2000/ WB: Auto

After sunset, the flowing river seems to drift on top of the terrain like dreamy blue and white silk. Despite the high ISO speed, the EOS R5 Mark II and RF24mm f/2.4L VCM combination achieved a beautifully clean image with little visible noise.

 

 

Excellent for astrophotography

I was curious about how the lens would do for astrophotography, as its f/1.4 maximum aperture and wide 24mm focal length are ideal for this genre. I particularly wanted to see how well the lens could reproduce point light sources as coma aberration, which gives them “tails”, is a common issue on similar lenses. There was no sign of it: rendering was sharp and free of distortion all the way to the corners, even at the f/1.4 maximum aperture.

EOS R5 Mark II/ RF24mm f/1.4L VCM/ FL: 24mm/ Manual exposure (f/1.4, 4 sec)/ ISO 2000/ WB: Auto

Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS (C/2023 A3) and the Milky Way, captured in the western sky.  The comet passed close to Earth during the time I had the lens for testing, so I decided to try photographing it. The lens was bright enough to capture the comet’s core clearly. I was most impressed by how it renders point light sources like stars as distortion-free dots, even at the corners.

 

 

In summary: A lens that lives up to expectations

There are probably many people out there who were eagerly anticipating a 24mm f/1.4 RF mount lens. This one not only delivers beautiful, finely resolved images of scenes like landscapes and starry skies, it does so in a compact, portable size that is usually unheard of for its specifications. It’s a must-buy for anyone who’s been waiting for it.

Mounted on the EOS R5 Mark II

RF24mm f/1.4L VCM: Key specifications