Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L II - Review / Test Report - Sample Images & Verdict
Lens Reviews - Canon EOS (Full Format)
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Sample Images & Verdict

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Sample Images

Sorry for the low quality images but the weather wasn't overly nice to us at the time of the review.

Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples (=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.

Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/9.0
Exposure 1/125s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/60s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/640s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/8.0
Exposure 1/125s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/10.0
Exposure 1/200s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure 1/320s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/1250s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/400s
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 5DS R
ISO Speed 200
Focal Length 35.0mm
Aperture: f/1.4
Exposure 1/2500s

Verdict

The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L II is certainly an improvement over its predecessor but it's not a new world wonder either. Resolution-wise it is tack sharp in the image center. At f/2-f/2.8 it is pushing the 50mp sensor of Canon EOS 5Ds R to its limits. However, the borders aren't quite so hot especially at large apertures. To be fair though - at large aperture you don't tend to require sharp corners anyway and unless you super-size your posters, it's not that significant. Most users are also using full format cameras with a much lesser resolution. Still, we are seeing the limits of what's possible today. Lateral as well as axial CAs are very low and this certainly helps to push the subjective quality perception. Image distortions are pretty much absent. While it is typical in this lens class, we have to mention that there's some heavy vignetting at f/1.4. The quality of the bokeh is quite good. The image background could be a bit smoother. Out-of-focus highlights are generally nicely rendered except in the outer image regions. A real differentiator is the reduced amount of bokeh fringing which is pretty much better than anything in this class in this respect.

The build quality of the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 USM L II is pretty much perfect. Top-notch materials, weather sealing, a smooth control rings - it doesn't really get any better than this. The USM AF is silent and fast but the competition is pretty much on the same level nowadays. Speaking of the competition we are primarily talking about the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art. Now we haven't tested this lens on the EOS 5Ds R yet but at least in terms of resolution we are having some strong doubts that it is inferior to this new Canon lens. The Canon is somewhat better in terms of bokeh though. Whether the latter is really worth the double price tag ... well, for some it surely is.

Optical Quality: To be determined once we have a broader base of tests at 50mp    
Mechanical Quality:
Price/Performance:
      
   What does this mean ?

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