Canon RF 14mm F1.4 L VCM

Tests find the centre outstanding from f/1.4 and the corners good even wide open, which is impressive for the class. The catch is that the design leans heavily on software: raw files show roughly 8% barrel distortion, and the correction stretch limits corner resolution more than the optics do. Lateral colour is low, and the bokeh is unusually smooth for an ultra-wide. Sunstars with 22 sharp rays look best at f/11 to f/16.

Vignetting is the other compromise. Even with correction the corners are clearly dark at f/1.4, though much better by f/2 and gone by f/2.8. Autofocus is close to instant and silent. Some flare artefacts appear with the sun just outside the frame. Reviewers credit the small, light body, half the weight of Sigma's 14mm f/1.4, but note the price and the fiddly rear-filter system.

Owner reports so far are few. One astrophotographer who has used it for a month reports no visible coma in the corners even at high magnification and says they are thrilled with it. Other early buyers in the same discussion planned to use it mainly for Milky Way work.

The things buyers most often wish it had are a manual-focus lock switch and a way to hold a dew heater, since the lens has neither.