CANON 85L 1.2 LENS REVIEW - PAGE 1 - PAGE 2


This review is one I knew I had to do. For years, this lens has had a reputation for being seriously magical, and it has achieved legendary status with portrait and wedding photographers world wide. Last year, Canon updated the lens to the new MKII version which is pretty much the same, but featured faster focusing as one of the improvements. This write up will be based on both lenses and will include samples from both the old and new 85’s.


I will state my conclusion right now just in case you want to skip the rest of this review. This is, in my opinion, the best portrait lens for a 35MM format digital SLR made today.


Do you work professionally as a portrait photographer? If so, then BUY THIS LENS now! Do you shoot weddings? You would be insane not to have this one one of your full frame bodies. Your clients will thank you for it if you do.


Most review sites study lenses from every technical angle. Not me. Instead of sitting in a room shooting resolution and color charts, I get out there and shoot with the lens. REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE is what this site is all about, so hopefully you did not come here looking for fancy schmancy techno talk.


Most of you know (or maybe you don’t) that my main camera is a Leica M8. For my M8 portraits, I use a Leica 50 Summilux ASPH which is regarded by many as the best 50mm lens in the world. Leica is known for their lenses, and yes they do deliver. How does this 85mm stack up against my Leica? Pretty damn good if you ask me. (see my summilux review here) In many of my reviews you will see me comparing whatever I am reviewing to my M8 or a Leica lens. This is only because I own the M8, and its what I shoot with daily. Also, when comparing lenses, why not compare to the best in the world?



CANON 5D MKI - iso 1000 - 85LMKI - F1.2 - STRAIGHT FROM CAMERA W/B&W CONVERSION


See, my Leica 50 Summilux is a $3000 lens. The Canon 85L MKII is about $1800. The 85L is even faster at 1.2 compared to the Leica 1.4! With the 85L being $1200+ cheaper than the Leica, this means the 85L MKI or II must be soft at 1.2, right? NO! It is pretty sharp, even wide open! I remember the first time I tried the 85L MKI on a 5DMKI. It was MAGIC. I never saw anything like it.


The creamy BOKEH was insanely crazy delicious. It’s funny because I remember showing my wife a picture because I was amazed with the out of focus rendering. When she looked at it on my laptop screen she said “But that picture looks all blurry, what is so special about that. You paid $1800 for a lens that takes pictures like that?” Ha ha...


The picture she saw is this one:


CRAZY CREAMY DREAMY BOKEH! - 5DMKI AND 85L MKI WIDE OPEN AT 1.2


Needles to say, she didn’t understand, but I knew i had something special in my hands and I swore to myself right then and there I would never sell it! Remember that. I said I WOULD NEVER SELL IT! Yes, I was in love. With a lens. If you are reading this, drooling over that BOKEH above, then I know you understand. You are like me. Someone who can really LOVE a freaking lens.


I do not want to turn this write up into a technical one, but I know there are many reading this who CRAVE 100% crops and details. Well, I have one for you that will show you that this lens is sharp at 1.2, wide open.




100% CROP OF THE ABOVE IMAGE. CANON 5DMKII WITH 85LMKII AT 1.2



So in reality, no one needs a sharper lens than this when shooting at 1.2. To me, this is plenty sharp and when shooting the 85L wide open, you can be comfy knowing it will deliver results. BUT wait, there is more! What happens when you stop down to F1.4? Well, even more detail and sharpness oozes into your files.





100% CROP OF ABOVE IMAGE - 85L MKII AT 1.4



Yes my friends, the Canon 85L MKI or MKII can give you some wonderfully sharp shots. So if sharp is your thing, no worries. To see more, go to page 2 of my 85L review.



GO TO PAGE TWO OF THE REVIEW >

 

THE 85L. A MYSTICAL, MAGICAL, WONDERFUL BIG HUNK O’ FAST GLASS.  - PAGE 1