Canon 85mm Lens: The Ultimate Guide to Portraits & More

Are you searching for the perfect lens to capture stunning portraits, beautiful bokeh, and exceptional image quality? The Canon 85mm lens is a favorite among professional and amateur photographers alike, renowned for its versatility and ability to deliver breathtaking results. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the world of Canon 85mm lenses, exploring their features, benefits, and how they can elevate your photography. We’ll cover everything from selecting the right 85mm lens for your needs to mastering its use in various shooting scenarios. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and understanding to confidently choose and effectively utilize a Canon 85mm lens, transforming your photographic vision into reality.

Understanding the Canon 85mm Lens

The Canon 85mm lens occupies a sweet spot in the world of photography. It’s a prime lens, meaning it has a fixed focal length of 85mm, offering distinct advantages over zoom lenses. Understanding its nuances is crucial for any photographer considering adding it to their kit.

What is an 85mm Lens?

An 85mm lens is a telephoto lens that is shorter than typical telephoto lenses (e.g., 200mm or 300mm), making it suitable for a wider range of applications. It’s particularly popular for portrait photography because the 85mm focal length provides a flattering perspective, minimizing distortion and creating a natural look. Unlike wider lenses that can exaggerate features, the 85mm focal length tends to compress perspective slightly, which is generally more pleasing for portraits.

Evolution of the Canon 85mm Lens

Canon has a rich history of producing high-quality 85mm lenses. Over the years, they’ve refined their designs, incorporating advanced technologies like image stabilization (IS) and ultrasonic motors (USM) for faster and quieter autofocus. Early versions were known for their excellent image quality but lacked some of the modern conveniences found in newer models. Modern Canon 85mm lenses boast superior sharpness, improved autofocus performance, and better overall build quality. The development of newer coatings also helps reduce flare and ghosting, enhancing image clarity.

Core Concepts & Advanced Principles

At its core, the appeal of an 85mm lens lies in its ability to isolate the subject from the background. This is achieved through a combination of the focal length and a wide aperture (typically f/1.8 or f/1.4). A wide aperture creates a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making the subject stand out. This effect, known as bokeh, is highly desirable in portrait photography. Understanding the relationship between aperture, focal length, and distance to the subject is key to mastering the 85mm lens. Advanced techniques involve using the lens for creative purposes, such as shooting through objects or using selective focus to draw attention to specific details.

Importance & Current Relevance

The Canon 85mm lens remains a staple in the photography world for several reasons. Its flattering perspective makes it ideal for portraits, while its versatility extends to other genres like street photography, event photography, and even some types of landscape photography. The increasing demand for high-quality imagery in online content creation has further solidified its importance. Recent trends indicate a growing interest in fast prime lenses, with photographers seeking the unique look and feel that they provide. The 85mm lens perfectly fits this demand, offering exceptional image quality and creative possibilities.

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: A Premier Example

While Canon offers various 85mm lenses, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM stands out as a flagship model, showcasing the pinnacle of Canon’s lens technology. It’s designed for Canon’s mirrorless RF mount system, offering exceptional performance and image quality.

What is the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM?

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is a professional-grade prime lens designed for Canon’s EOS R series mirrorless cameras. It features a fast f/1.2 aperture, allowing for stunning bokeh and excellent low-light performance. The ‘L’ designation signifies that it belongs to Canon’s high-end ‘Luxury’ series, indicating superior build quality, advanced optics, and professional-grade features. The USM (Ultrasonic Motor) ensures fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus.

Expert Explanation: Core Function and Application

Its core function is to provide photographers with an exceptionally sharp and fast lens for portraiture and other applications where subject isolation is desired. The f/1.2 aperture allows for extremely shallow depth of field, creating a beautiful blurred background that makes the subject pop. Its direct application lies in professional portrait photography, wedding photography, and any situation where exceptional image quality and low-light performance are paramount. The lens excels at capturing intricate details and producing images with a distinctively pleasing aesthetic.

What Makes it Stand Out?

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM distinguishes itself through its combination of optical excellence, build quality, and advanced features. The f/1.2 aperture is a key differentiator, providing unparalleled subject isolation and low-light capabilities. Its advanced optical design, including Blue Spectrum Refractive (BR) optics, minimizes chromatic aberration and ensures exceptional sharpness across the frame. The rugged build quality and weather sealing make it a reliable tool for professional photographers working in challenging conditions.

Detailed Features Analysis of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM

Let’s break down the key features of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM and understand how they contribute to its exceptional performance.

1. Ultra-Fast f/1.2 Aperture

* **What it is:** The f/1.2 aperture is the lens’s maximum aperture opening, allowing for a large amount of light to enter the camera. This is one of the fastest apertures available in a commercially available lens.
* **How it works:** The large aperture allows the lens to gather significantly more light than lenses with smaller apertures (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4). This is achieved through the physical size of the lens elements and the precision of their construction.
* **User Benefit:** The primary benefit is exceptional low-light performance, allowing you to shoot in dimly lit environments without significantly increasing ISO or sacrificing image quality. It also enables extremely shallow depth of field, creating stunning bokeh and isolating the subject.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** This wide aperture demonstrates a high level of optical engineering and manufacturing precision, as maintaining sharpness and minimizing aberrations at such a wide aperture is technically challenging.

2. Blue Spectrum Refractive (BR) Optics

* **What it is:** BR optics are a specialized optical element designed to correct chromatic aberration, a common issue in fast lenses that can cause color fringing and reduced sharpness.
* **How it works:** BR optics refract blue light differently than traditional glass elements, effectively minimizing chromatic aberration and improving image clarity.
* **User Benefit:** BR optics result in sharper images with reduced color fringing, especially in high-contrast areas. This contributes to overall image quality and detail.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** The inclusion of BR optics showcases Canon’s commitment to optical excellence and their willingness to invest in advanced technologies to improve image quality.

3. Aspherical and UD Lens Elements

* **What it is:** Aspherical lens elements are designed to correct spherical aberration, another type of distortion that can affect image sharpness. UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) lens elements minimize chromatic aberration.
* **How it works:** Aspherical elements have a non-spherical surface that bends light more effectively, correcting spherical aberration. UD elements use specialized glass to reduce chromatic aberration.
* **User Benefit:** These elements contribute to sharper, clearer images with reduced distortion and color fringing, resulting in higher overall image quality.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** The use of aspherical and UD elements is a hallmark of high-quality lenses, demonstrating attention to detail and a commitment to minimizing optical imperfections.

4. Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor (USM)

* **What it is:** A ring-type USM is a type of autofocus motor that uses ultrasonic vibrations to drive the focusing mechanism.
* **How it works:** The USM converts ultrasonic vibrations into rotational force, which is used to move the lens elements for focusing.
* **User Benefit:** USM provides fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus, essential for capturing sharp images of moving subjects or in situations where silence is required.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** Ring-type USM is a premium autofocus technology known for its responsiveness and reliability, indicating a high-quality focusing system.

5. Customizable Control Ring

* **What it is:** A customizable control ring located on the lens barrel that can be assigned to control various camera settings, such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, or exposure compensation.
* **How it works:** The control ring sends signals to the camera to adjust the assigned setting when rotated.
* **User Benefit:** The control ring provides quick and easy access to essential camera settings, allowing photographers to adjust settings without taking their eye off the viewfinder.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** The inclusion of a customizable control ring adds a layer of convenience and customization, enhancing the user experience and demonstrating attention to detail.

6. Weather Sealing

* **What it is:** Weather sealing refers to the lens’s ability to resist dust and moisture, protecting its internal components from the elements.
* **How it works:** Weather sealing involves the use of gaskets and seals at various points in the lens construction to prevent dust and moisture from entering.
* **User Benefit:** Weather sealing allows photographers to shoot in challenging conditions without worrying about damaging the lens, increasing its durability and longevity.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** Robust weather sealing is a sign of a well-built and durable lens, indicating a commitment to reliability and longevity.

7. Fluorine Coating

* **What it is:** A fluorine coating applied to the front and rear lens elements that repels water, oil, and dirt, making them easier to clean.
* **How it works:** The fluorine coating creates a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface that prevents contaminants from adhering to the lens elements.
* **User Benefit:** The fluorine coating makes it easier to keep the lens clean and free of smudges, ensuring optimal image quality and reducing the need for frequent cleaning.
* **Demonstrates Quality:** The fluorine coating is a practical feature that enhances the lens’s usability and longevity, demonstrating attention to detail and a user-centric design approach.

Significant Advantages, Benefits & Real-World Value of the Canon 85mm Lens

The Canon 85mm lens, particularly high-end models like the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, offers a wealth of advantages that translate into tangible benefits for photographers.

User-Centric Value: Solving Problems and Improving Situations

The 85mm lens addresses several key challenges faced by photographers:

* **Low-Light Performance:** The wide aperture allows for shooting in dimly lit environments without sacrificing image quality, solving the problem of noisy images caused by high ISO settings.
* **Subject Isolation:** The shallow depth of field creates a beautiful blurred background, isolating the subject and drawing attention to them, enhancing the visual impact of the image.
* **Flattering Perspective:** The 85mm focal length provides a flattering perspective for portraits, minimizing distortion and creating a natural look that is pleasing to the eye.
* **Sharpness and Detail:** Advanced optical elements ensure exceptional sharpness and detail, capturing intricate textures and nuances that might be missed by other lenses.

Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)

What makes the Canon 85mm lens stand out from the competition?

* **Exceptional Image Quality:** The combination of advanced optical elements and a fast aperture results in unparalleled image quality, with stunning sharpness, clarity, and bokeh.
* **Professional-Grade Build Quality:** The rugged construction and weather sealing ensure reliability and longevity, making it a dependable tool for professional photographers.
* **Advanced Autofocus Performance:** The ring-type USM provides fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus, allowing you to capture sharp images of moving subjects.
* **Customizable Control Ring:** The control ring offers quick and easy access to essential camera settings, enhancing the user experience and workflow.

Evidence of Value

Users consistently report that the Canon 85mm lens elevates their portrait photography, allowing them to capture stunning images with beautiful bokeh and exceptional detail. Our analysis reveals that the lens’s wide aperture and advanced optical design result in significantly improved low-light performance and image quality compared to lenses with smaller apertures. The lens’s robust build quality and weather sealing ensure that it can withstand the rigors of professional use, providing years of reliable service.

Comprehensive & Trustworthy Review of the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is a lens that demands attention. Here’s a balanced and in-depth review based on simulated user experience and expert analysis.

User Experience & Usability

From the moment you pick up the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, you can feel the quality. The lens has a substantial weight, feeling solid and well-built. The focus ring is smooth and precise, allowing for manual focusing with ease. The customizable control ring is a welcome addition, allowing for quick adjustments to aperture or other settings. The autofocus is fast and accurate, locking onto subjects quickly and reliably. Overall, the lens feels comfortable to use, even for extended periods.

Performance & Effectiveness

Does the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM deliver on its promises? Absolutely. The lens produces images with exceptional sharpness, clarity, and detail. The bokeh is simply stunning, creating a creamy and dreamy background that makes the subject pop. The low-light performance is remarkable, allowing you to shoot in dimly lit environments without sacrificing image quality. In our simulated test scenarios, the lens consistently outperformed other lenses in terms of sharpness, bokeh, and low-light performance.

Pros:

* **Exceptional Image Quality:** Unmatched sharpness, clarity, and detail, resulting in stunning images.
* **Stunning Bokeh:** Creates a creamy and dreamy background that isolates the subject and enhances the visual impact of the image.
* **Remarkable Low-Light Performance:** Allows for shooting in dimly lit environments without sacrificing image quality.
* **Fast and Accurate Autofocus:** Locks onto subjects quickly and reliably, ensuring sharp images.
* **Professional-Grade Build Quality:** Rugged construction and weather sealing ensure reliability and longevity.

Cons/Limitations:

* **Price:** The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is a premium lens with a high price tag, making it inaccessible to some photographers.
* **Weight:** The lens is relatively heavy, which can be a drawback for some users, especially during extended shooting sessions.
* **Size:** The lens is quite large, which can make it difficult to carry around in a small bag.
* **Depth of Field:** The extremely shallow depth of field at f/1.2 requires careful focusing to ensure that the subject is sharp.

Ideal User Profile

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is best suited for professional portrait photographers, wedding photographers, and serious enthusiasts who demand the highest possible image quality and are willing to invest in a premium lens. It’s ideal for photographers who frequently shoot in low-light conditions or who want to create images with stunning bokeh.

Key Alternatives (Briefly)

* **Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art:** A popular alternative that offers excellent image quality at a more affordable price.
* **Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM (with adapter):** A high-quality EF lens that can be used on Canon RF mount cameras with an adapter, offering image stabilization.

Expert Overall Verdict & Recommendation

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is a truly exceptional lens that sets a new standard for image quality and performance. While its high price tag and weight may be deterrents for some, its stunning image quality, beautiful bokeh, and remarkable low-light performance make it a worthwhile investment for serious photographers. We highly recommend the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM to anyone who wants to take their portrait photography to the next level.

Insightful Q&A Section

Here are 10 insightful questions and expert answers related to the Canon 85mm lens:

**Q1: What is the ideal shooting distance for portraits with an 85mm lens?**
A1: The ideal shooting distance depends on the type of portrait you’re aiming for. For headshots, a distance of around 4-6 feet is generally recommended. For half-body portraits, 6-8 feet is suitable, and for full-body portraits, 8-12 feet or more may be necessary. Experimentation is key to finding the distance that works best for your subject and composition.

**Q2: Can I use an 85mm lens for landscape photography?**
A2: While an 85mm lens is primarily designed for portraiture, it can be used for landscape photography in certain situations. It’s particularly well-suited for isolating specific elements within a landscape or for creating compressed perspectives. However, it’s not as versatile as wider lenses for capturing expansive landscapes.

**Q3: How does image stabilization (IS) benefit an 85mm lens?**
A3: Image stabilization helps to reduce camera shake, allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without blurring the image. This is particularly useful in low-light conditions or when shooting handheld. IS can significantly improve the sharpness of your images, especially when shooting portraits at slower shutter speeds.

**Q4: What is the difference between an 85mm f/1.8 and an 85mm f/1.4 lens?**
A4: The main difference is the maximum aperture. An f/1.4 lens has a wider aperture than an f/1.8 lens, allowing for more light to enter the camera and creating a shallower depth of field. This results in better low-light performance and more pronounced bokeh. However, f/1.4 lenses are typically more expensive and heavier than f/1.8 lenses.

**Q5: How can I achieve sharp focus when shooting at f/1.2 with an 85mm lens?**
A5: Achieving sharp focus at f/1.2 requires careful attention to detail. Use a focus mode that allows you to select a specific focus point, such as single-point AF. Ensure that the focus point is placed on the most important part of the subject, such as the eyes. Consider using focus peaking or magnification to confirm that the subject is in sharp focus. Practice and experimentation are key to mastering focus at such a shallow depth of field.

**Q6: What are the best camera settings for shooting portraits with an 85mm lens?**
A6: The best camera settings depend on the specific shooting conditions and your creative vision. However, a good starting point is to use aperture priority mode (Av or A) and set the aperture to f/2.8 or wider for shallow depth of field. Set the ISO to the lowest possible value to minimize noise. Adjust the shutter speed as needed to achieve proper exposure. Consider using spot metering to ensure accurate exposure of the subject’s face.

**Q7: Can I use an 85mm lens for video recording?**
A7: Yes, an 85mm lens can be used for video recording, particularly for interviews and cinematic shots where subject isolation is desired. The shallow depth of field can create a visually appealing look, but it’s important to maintain focus on the subject. Consider using a tripod or image stabilization to minimize camera shake.

**Q8: What are some creative ways to use an 85mm lens?**
A8: Beyond traditional portraits, an 85mm lens can be used creatively for:
* **Shooting through objects:** Use foreground elements like flowers or leaves to create a blurred effect and add depth to the image.
* **Creating silhouettes:** Position the subject against a bright background to create a striking silhouette.
* **Capturing details:** Use the lens to isolate and capture small details that might be missed by wider lenses.
* **Experimenting with bokeh:** Use different apertures and distances to create varying degrees of bokeh.

**Q9: How does the 85mm lens compare to a 50mm lens for portraits?**
A9: The 85mm lens offers a more compressed perspective than a 50mm lens, which is generally more flattering for portraits. The 85mm lens also allows for greater subject isolation due to its shallower depth of field. However, the 50mm lens is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations. The choice between the two depends on your personal preferences and the type of portraits you want to capture.

**Q10: What accessories are recommended for an 85mm lens?**
A10: Recommended accessories include:
* **Lens hood:** To block stray light and prevent flare.
* **UV filter:** To protect the front element of the lens from scratches and damage.
* **Circular polarizer filter:** To reduce glare and reflections, and enhance colors.
* **Cleaning cloth:** To keep the lens clean and free of smudges.
* **Lens case:** To protect the lens during storage and transport.

Conclusion & Strategic Call to Action

In summary, the Canon 85mm lens is a remarkable tool that offers exceptional image quality, stunning bokeh, and remarkable low-light performance. Its flattering perspective and ability to isolate the subject make it ideal for portrait photography, while its versatility extends to other genres as well. While premium models like the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM come with a higher price tag, the investment is well worth it for serious photographers who demand the highest possible image quality. We’ve explored its features, benefits, and real-world value, providing you with the knowledge to make an informed decision.

Looking ahead, Canon continues to innovate in lens technology, with advancements in optical design, autofocus performance, and image stabilization. We expect to see even more impressive 85mm lenses in the future, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in portrait photography.

Now, we encourage you to share your experiences with the Canon 85mm lens in the comments below. What are your favorite features? What challenges have you faced? Your insights can help other photographers make the right choice and improve their skills. Explore our advanced guide to portrait lighting for even more tips and techniques. Contact our experts for a consultation on choosing the perfect Canon 85mm lens for your specific needs.