Canon's EF 85mm f/1.2L II lens is one of the most popular portrait lenses of all time, and it was surely a given that it would be coming for the RF mirrorless line. Today, Canon has announced the RF version, which features an entirely new optical design that should give it increased performance over its predecessor.
The new RF 85mm f/1.2L USM seems to be quite the lens. The lens is the first in Canon's RF line to feature its Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics, which help to reduce chromatic aberrations and color fringing, a feature that was quite effective in our review of the EF 35mm f/1.4L II. In addition to that, it has the following features:
- One ultra-low dispersion element and one aspherical element for control of aberrations and distortion
- Air Sphere coating to control flare and ghosting and increase contrast
- Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor with full-time manual override
- RF control ring
- Rounded 9-blade diaphragm
- Minimum focus distance: 2.8 feet (85 cm)
- Maximum magnification: 0.12x
- Front thread: 82mm
- Weight: 2.6 lbs (1,195 g)
For Canon mirrorless shooters looking for a top-notch portrait lens, this seems to be it. You can preorder the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM lens for $2,699 here.
These new RF lenses are incredible. Canon in typical fashion making ok cameras but the absolute best lenses. They have me hooked lol
More expensive than Fuji GF's 110mm!
Holy crap you're right. What if it's a better lens?
Yes, we are waiting how this both lenses will work on GFX50 ;)
good call. But how big of a difference would it be considering the 110mm is an amazing lens already. Speaking as a GFX user, the RF 85L would be way too much for me to want to even consider adapting. ha!
That is one hell of a sexy lens!
If the RF 50 1.2 L is any indication, this might be worth the money (and the 50 is already on sale occasionally).
I’m curious to see how fast it’ll focus. Previous Canon 1.2s AF was slow, and generally had to be stopped down to 1.4 to yield a usable shot.
Yea same here! Hated the original because of those downsides too.
It’ll be fast, there’s previews on YouTube where it’s tracking subjects walking quickly towards the camera and in servo it’s hitting at 1.2. Wouldn’t dream of that with my 85L II but my RF 50 is peppy despite the heavy glass, wayyyy faster than the EF 50 L
Is it me or are two of those sample images soft? The guitar followed by the singer at 2:27. The guitar is almost certain motion blur but the singer's eye seems out of focus. An odd choice.