The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM and the Nikon 35mm f1.8G for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM is the longer of the two lenses at 108mm. The Nikon 35mm f1.8G with a length of 53mm, is 55mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM also has a larger diameter of 90mm compared to the Nikon 35mm f1.8G's 70mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Nikon 35mm f1.8G weighs 200g, 78% (750g) lighter than the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM's weight of 950g.
Filter Threads
The Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Nikon 35mm f1.8G has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Nikon 35mm f1.8G:
Lens Mounts
The Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM has the Canon RF lens mount whereas the Nikon 35mm f1.8G has the Nikon F (DX) lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon R6 V, Canon R6 III and Canon C50 for the Canon RF Mount and Nikon D3500, Nikon D7500 and Nikon D5600 for the Nikon F (DX) Mount.
Nikon 35mm f1.8G is also available in Nikon F (FX) mount.
Focal Range
Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
80mm.
On the other hand, the Nikon 35mm f1.8G is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 35mm which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of 52.5mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
