u/Least-Size-8807

Made an unexpected purchase this week adding the 14mm VCM to my lineup. It was on sale here in Canada and a price match + in stock availability was enough to put another dent onto my credit card statement. I sold my Sigma 14 f/1.8 about 2 years ago in anticipation of Canon releasing such a lens so this purchase was coming...

I didn't find there to be many reviews online and this being a niche lens, the best way I could test it was to buy it and return it if needed. It drove me nuts watching reviews where the lens was used during the day and around subjects not designed for a fast 14mm. Anyways, I went for a brief stroll tonight around a train station to test it in scenes it was designed for. Photos are handheld shot mostly at f/1.4, ISO 400/500 with some basic adjustments, standard lens profile corrections and denoise. I added screenshots of closeups across different pics as well.

Pros: Super sharp optics across the frame including at f/1.4. Center sharpness is the best with very satisfactory corner sharpness. Excellent flare control against lights. The ability to shoot handheld f/1.4 at 14mm without any adapters. Unmatched compact design, lightweight, weather sealed 14mm lens. Easy to travel with and consider bringing. No visible or concerning chromatic aberration. Colors and contrast are typical quality "L" series. Highlight/shadow recovery in CR3 files is decent. Stars look clean if you can see them past the light pollution. Distortion is great after corrections.

Cons: Expensive, but reasonable if on sale and you consider its compact size, lightweight and quality performance. The Sigma alternative is significantly heavier and larger including the adapter. Loved that lens on my 5D4 but on my R5 adapted it was a big let down. Digital corrections/stretched corners have a slight blur or softness to them at extreme edges particularly at f/1.4. Results are totally useable and shouldn't be a concern. Depth of field also plays a role in this illusion or "defect" however you see it. Vignetting is more severe at f/1.4 but a non issue after profile correction. Lack of image stabilization (IBIS works fine). Lens cap is prone to scratching lens hood (same defect as RF 10-20mm). I put electrical tape on the lens barrel for protection.

Overall rating: 9/10. Only a few photos in with the 14mm VCM, but I can confirm this one is staying to complement my 24mm VCM. I personally have a specific use for a fast 14mm so I'm very pleased with Canon's offering. For normal landscapes, day shots or tripod work, I use an RF 14-35mm which I adore.

Beautiful sunset last night from my local marina here in Canada. My M4P is getting used a ton with the better weather slowly arriving...

Aylmer marina is goated for sunsets. Last night was a beauty and gives me so much excitement for summer vibes!

Testing out long exposures from my drone last night. Thought this angle of the parkway would be worth sharing. Sadly traffic was too quiet to fill all the roads with car lights streaks.

Such a beautiful day we had today until the clouds rolled in. Windy but nothing my drone couldn't handle today.

Since joining this sub, it seems like most of you enjoy seeing photos of the city. I took some photos of the city from the air back in 2020 but an airplane got in the way... Kidding aside, a friend of mine who owns a small airplane agreed to do a formation flight with me when I pitched him the idea of doing a golden hour photoshoot over downtown Ottawa and its outskirts. I was in a similar looking airplane (PA-28) with my friend at the controls while I took the photos and we co-ordinated flying together around the restricted areas. Can't wait for summer again if anyone has a plane they need photos of haha!

Finally got certified to legally operate my drone in the city and I've had a ton of footage in mind of our beautiful city. For my first outing I wanted to get that panoramic city view featuring the Chief William Commanda Bridge and our expanding city in the background. Sorry for the compression, I'm still learning the world of video. Hope you like it!