Quick answer
The original L-series 35mm f/1.4 prime from Canon (1998), still used by photojournalists and street shooters. Weather-resistant build.
Pros
- f/1.4 aperture
- Rugged L build
- Ring USM focusing
Cons
- Soft wide open
- Purple fringing in high-contrast scenes
- No stabilization
Verdict
Capable, though the II is noticeably cleaner at f/1.4.
About this lens
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM: a fast wide-angle prime lens with a 35mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, made for Canon EF mount cameras, from the Canon L series with ultrasonic-motor autofocus. A professional wide-angle prime with a bright f/1.4 aperture, popular for reportage and environmental portraits.
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 35mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/35.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1998
- Optical construction
- 11 elements in 9 groups
- Aperture blades
- 8
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.3 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.18x
- Filter thread
- 72 mm
- Weight
- 580 g
- Length
- 86 mm
- Diameter
- 72 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM?
- Street and documentary
- Environmental portraits
- Low-light events
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 35mm | 54.4° | 63.4° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 56mm | 35.6° | 42.2° |
Frequently asked questions
Is the first EF 35mm f/1.4L still worth buying?
It is still capable, with softness and fringing wide open. The II improves on both.
Does the EF 35mm f/1.4L USM work well on APS-C cameras?
Yes, though the view is about 56mm in full-frame terms, so it feels like a normal lens rather than a wide one.
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM vs the II: which one?
The II is sharper wide open with less fringing and uses a newer optical design. The original is older but still well built.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
Tamron
AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
28-300mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF
28-105mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro
28-75mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Macro
24-135mm · f/24.0 · Canon EF
