Canon 85mm F1.8 EF lens review in 2022. Thoughts from a professional photographer after 17 years use
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ม.ค. 2022
- In this video I share my thoughts and experiences of using the Canon 85mm F1.8 lens on my full frame Canon DSLR cameras. I have been using this lens since 2005 and talk through my way of working, why this lighter lens suits my style better than the more expensive 85mm L lens, I discuss whats good and bad about the lens in 2022.
- แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
The 85mm f1.8 was one of the first lenses I bought to use with my Canon 10D. I was recently visiting an old friend who's daughter just got engaged. I was taking a few informal portraits, when it occurred to me that I'd used the very same lens 16 years before to photograph her daughter as a toddler. Neat.
Nice story Bryan. I am very fond of nostalgic moments like this. The days might be long but the years fly by. All the best to you all. R
17 years!? Whoah! In an age where everyone around seems to only focus on the latest-and-greatest super expensive lenses, this is a nice breath of fresh air. It's also one of the lenses I always remember that Zack Arias recommended for EVERY single beginner and pro photographer for years. Great to see a professional use it successfully for such a long time!
Cheers! The time has flown so fast! Feels like just yesterday I was unpacking this lens.. along with my shiny new 1Ds mark 2 white ch arrived at roughly the same time. Thanks for your comment. RR
I'm still using a 50mm 1.8 that I bought new back in 1993
@@palouuk still got my too! Bought second hand in 95. Still works well!
@@palouuk I shoot some lenses from the 1980s and one from the late 1950s now, used to have a lens that has actually seen WWII service, it's great when people keep the old gear alive! :)
@@RoyRiley -What size filter do you use on your 85mm? (BTW - great channel & content!)
I went on a vacation to Mexico, and the only two lenses I took were the 50mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.8, and I don't feel like I needed anything else. They both are freakishly sharp, and they are HIGHLY underrated lenses! I rarely shoot wide open....I feel the depth of field is too shallow for anything I like to shoot, so anything wider than f1.8 would be wasted money. I remember the first image I took with my 85 1.8 was of one of my dogs, and when I pulled it up on the computer, I was astonished at how sharp it really was. Thanks for posting!
Nice set up! Bung in a 28 1.8 and your pretty much set.. that was my favourite set of primes too
@@RoyRiley I sometimes use my 135 F2 also.
My travel photography is actually vacations with my family, so I don't like to waste too much time while they are waiting on me to change lenses. So these days, when traveling, I just take my 90D with the 18-135 zoom. It doesn't have a wide aperture, so I have to deal with that, and at 32 megapixels, I have a lot of wiggle room to crop if needed.
If I were traveling alone, I would definitely shoot all primes and full frame, but I have to think about the other people.....they are on vacation, not a photography expedition like I am! :-)
@@robertmccutchan5450 haha! Yes making the family wait for three hours while fiddling with apertures and progressive composition can really play havoc with domestic stability
I was a photographer in 90´s and I am back to business.. I got a 90D, 50, 85, 100 macro I just love prime lenses and love this 85. I agree 100% with you. Happy New Year!!!
I just love watching your reviews….You are just so real!
Well I’m happy to be of service to you! Glad you enjoy the content and best wishes for the coming year. RR
Mine is also 17 years now and it's still kicking butt. What a lens! I got 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 almost at the same time and it turned out I was using the 85/1.8 more!
Same! I got those two lenses at the same time.. been through about 3 or 4 of the 50mms.. still on the original 85.. I got the 28mm f1.8 at the same time but sold it a few years later to free up some funds and have regretted it ever since.
I love both these lenses. Had mine about 15 - 20 years. Used them on my 20D.
I tend to shoot in Jazz Clubs and stage lighting is poor at best. I shoot at nearly wide open, and get great. Sharp photos.
I actually just picked one of these up for indoors sports. Purple fringing is definitely a characteristic of this lens that's for sure haha. But it has been working quite well for me. I love these older lenses.
Great video!
A couple of the issues you mention (nailing focus because of depth of focus & no image stabilization) I think will be a non issue for me as I plan to use one of these adapted to my Nikon Zf. I have the 50mm f1.4 and use it with an adapter and it works beautifully. The Zf's IBIS and eye-detect auto focus virtually eliminate those issues. The reason why I am using this approach (EF on Nikon mirrorless) is for the same reasons you mention, size and cost. Nikon does not have a good selection of Z mount primes that fit this description (aside for the 40mm f2 which is great). Surely the S line lenses are fantastic, but the size, weight and cost have been sacrificed on the altar of image sharpness, and I guess this just does not fit my use case. Appreciate you pointing out the weaknesses as something to adapt to and work around as opposed to reasons to reject good glass. Well done.
An excellent review. You explain things clearly and it is easy to understand.
Thanks Chris. Glad you enjoyed the content. All the best. RR
Fantastic video man. I’ve watched a few of your videos over the last month, and they’ve absolutely influenced my purchase decisions. I can’t believe you don’t have more subscribers; your videos are exceptionally well-produced. Thank you!
Cheers Teedubs! Appreciate your support. RR
Listening to you talk about this 85mm f/1.8 I had to pick one up for portraits too. I agonized over an L version but it's simply too big and heavy its weight over the course of a long day can be oppressive. Thanks for yet another informative/ educational video :)
Super helpful, thank you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this lens. I've always thought of getting one but been put off by others thinking cheaper must be rubbish, but with your professional thoughts and experience, I've decided to order one and I'm sure I will not be disappointed. Thank you.
So long as you are aware of it’s limitations you should be fine
Thanks for your time. Gratefull for your insights. Very, very, very honest reviews. Greetings from Puerto Rico.
Hello Puerto Rico! Glad you enjoyed the video. I try to keep these things straight down the line and speak from experience rather than specs.
Really honest review. Having the experience using it for so long gives a real review. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I have just stumbled upon your channel and am finding them very interesting viewing.
This lens was on my list to get when I first changed from the FD system to the EOS system. However, before I did, I got the opportunity to buy its lesser known sibling the 100mm f2. That was my first EF lens. It was a great lens and once purchased I never again felt any need to get an 85.
Over the years I could never understand why the 100 f2 was always so overlooked.
Thanks Robert. It’s strange how the 100mm f2 is not often talked about. Honestly I did not even know it existed until a few of my viewers have talked about it in the comments. I might try to get hold of one to do a review if the opportunity presents.
Great video review, I've got one of these underrated lens and have recently started using it with the 5D mkiii great even for detail within the shot and definitely not just for portraiture.
Cheers! Amazing lens. Glad you are getting some use. RR
I’ve just recently bought this lens and used it on a portrait shoot the other day and the images it produced we’re beautiful. They did have done colour fringing but that was easily handled in lightroom. I’m very happy with it so far. The only other experience I’ve had of an 85mm was my Jupiter 9 but as nice as that was I couldn’t rely on the manual focus for paid work.
Nice! I agree about manual focus lenses. I have a few for my 5d4 but focus is rather hit and miss.. especially with my ageing eyes! To be honest it’s probably only because we don’t manually focus very often.. There was a time I used to manually focus all my football pictures and still got most mostly sharp!
Amazing video Roy! I’ve always wanted to pick up this lens. I have an RF 85 f2 that I use on my EOS RP and I really enjoy. But lately my favorite is an EF 28mm f1.8 that I adapt to my RP and I find it glued to the camera! I think it’s similar vintage to the EF 85 f1.8 and it suffers from similar fringing, vignetting and also soft focus wide open. But the Dual Pixel autofocus just does so much leg work. There is something about the 28mm focal length that is magical and would use any lens of this focal length after I learn how to use it!
Thanks for your videos! They are so inspirational and please keep them coming! Cheers, from snowy Brooklyn!
Cheers Matt! Really good to hear this feedback! I have not tried the 85 1.8 on an R body but would imagine the better AF might make it rather good. Interesting what you say about the 28 1.8.. always was a good lens. Hope you are enjoying g the snow. Here in the UK we often get your weather a week or so later. We will see! All the best. RR
Interesting that you mention the EF 28mm F1.8. I also have that lens, and I loove it as a fantastic landscape lens for my 5D classic, and also as a video / vlogging lens for the M50 mark II. I have made videos with several lenses with the M50, and the EF 28mm F1.8 was the only one that got me comments on how good the video looks like. (BTW I have an audio channel, and the audio folks noticed the big improvement that the EF 28mm brought over the EF-M lenses.) Sadly, for portraits it has been absolutely rubbish, I might have a defective unit as it always misses focus on the 1m-3m range - seems like the focal plane is very far from flat, but it's wonderful in short distance or long range. I have a vintage MC Beroflex M42 F2.8 manual lens that has fabulous colors, and the EF 28mm has the exact same rendering as the Beroflex - with the added bonus of AF and added speed. Provided one uses it for landscapes or vlogging - it is a fantastic find, of the same series as the 85mm shown in this video. BTW I am really really tempted to get the 85mm as well... :)
Hello, thanks for the excellent review. I just picked up one today 2nd or 3rd hand from eBay in excellent shape. Will use on my Canon 90d but I won’t shoot it wide open. More like f/2.8 and sometimes these older lenses just have their own character. Different is ok sometimes.
Thanks again
Another great video! I'm on a work photo trip to Shanghai right now and I just have the same 85 and the thrifty fifty, and dong fine. Two great lenses. Cheers mate
Thanks Jay! Is Shanghai out of lockdown these days or still problems. Interesting times to document!
I appreciate your insight. I am thinking about buying one.
What do you currently have that covers this focal length?
@@RoyRiley a 70-200 2.8 L III. I shoot a lot of portraits, and that lens is too cumbersome to use on a portrait shoot. I don't mind it for sports or landscape.
@@Twobarpsi I find myself using a 70-200 2.8 more often than the 85mm. For sure it’s big and heavy and cumbersome but it’s very flexible, reliably sharp and just gets the job done.. I will often use the zoom to create a variety of looks as opposed to the 85 where it’s a one look wonder! Probably worth trying one out and seeing how you find it..
@@RoyRiley ok, that's great advice! I will rethink my use of the 70-200. I really like that lens. A big purchase, but extremely worth it.
Roy, it would be good to see a vid about your location lighting kit as well some non gear videos like those of the "superhero swimmer", "blue hour travel photos", etc or talking us through some portfolio highlights
Thanks for these suggestions! I have lots of plans for more videos and will try to wind some more non gear stuff in. Hope you have a great weekend. RR
Thanks for the nice video! I love shooting with the 85, and, maybe it's very personal and subjective, but as much as I love the 85 I dislike the 100mm focal length, which I find strange, as these lengths are quite close together (not like 24 vs 35 or so). Anyway... Yes, I have an idea for a video: you said many times that you calibrate all your lenses, and I also do it, but with varying succes, so I would love to see an in-depth video with your calibration process, tips and tricks!
Cheers! Yes it’s interesting how certain focal lengths are sweet spots for us.. we each have to find our own way and listen to our instincts. There is no wrong way! I will plan to make a video about calibration. My methods as always are more “battle tested” than “technical perfection”but I will do my best! Thanks for your comment. All the best. Roy
Very interested to hear your thoughts on this particular lens as I've been thinking about buying one to add to my work kit, for which I have the 24-105mm f4 RF as the general purpose & portrait lens. That's tack sharp at 85mm (and at every length!), but I've always had a prime 85mm in my kit, both work and personal, as I just think it's an 'essential' lens, with the 50mm. The discipline and yet freedom from zooming shooting portraits, or feature shots, with a prime 85mm just really suits me.
I even like that the Canon 85mm is a 20 year old design, as in my own Nikon kit, my 85mm is the venerable 85mm f1.8D which I really like because it's sharp yet 'forgiving'. There's a lot to be said for the best 'classic' lenses over the super sharp latest and greatest.
I have yet to try the 85mm with an R series camera. It would be interesting to see how it performs with the AF. I imagine it might be rather good. Some cameras like the 5d4 have in built correction that help a little with the fringing. Agree with you about these being great lenses for features etc. It’s a lens that can turn a shoot around in 500th of a second. Just watch out for the slightly lazy af wide open and the purple fringing!
I almost exclusively shoot with this lens and a 6D. What you said about eye focus in such a narrow focus window is so true! I also use back button focus and especially with focus and recompose I can convince myself i've nailed the shot, then come to see its soft as hell on review. When you do nail the shot though it almost feels better. I love this lens.
Cheers.. ever tried the 135mm f2?
@@RoyRiley no, but I would like to. I rarely need anymore distance than the 85mm provides but I’d like to give it a go.
I bought that lens for my 6D in 2017. Every time I take outdoor portraits I'm Stunned at what this lens can do, the images are Stunning. I Absolutely Love this lens.
Haha, ditto to all. My experiences are absolutely the same. This lens is sharp and fast enough to do the job without a doubt and autofocus speed is also fast enough, (unlike the 1.2). The fact you can put it in your pocket means its pretty much always with me and so gets a lot of use for indoor portraits and anything with ambient light. The downside is as you point out we use it in a difficult application otherwise we'd always be at 5.6, its by no means an easy field; if that's not enough I bump that up a bit as I've normally got it on my 5DS. Stunningly easy to handhold weightwise it can be easy to forget the ideal of a tripod with 50Mp shaking about. On the plus side speed is not usually the concern when this lens is out and switching on all silent shutter etc. functions helps a lot and in this respect the 5DS claws back some dissadvantage with is amazingly smooth shutter.
I find your real world reviews always very accurate and exactly as per my experience so thankyou for taking the time to put this up. I take on board all you say at face value as your focus in speaking is really spot on. Thanks again.
Cheers Andrew! Much appreciate your words of support.
Great review. I really liked the ef 100 2.8, I used to own both the 85 1.8 and the 100 2.8. The 100 is an amazing lens. Ironically, I just purchased this lens again, the 85 1.8. I’m waiting for it to be delivered. I didn’t want to pay the extra money for the 100, and I agree with you, it’s a great lens. You have me a bit freaked, because I don’t remember the fringing, but I’m prepared now and have my Lightroom ready :) thanks for the review.
Good luck with it! May the fringe not be with you! R
@@RoyRiley it’s been okay 👍 so far. Overall, I like the lens. Odd thing though, with my canon adapter on my Sony cameras 📷 it only allows me to opens up to 2.0 and not 1.8 but on my canon camera it opens to 1.8. Going to keep it anyway.
The 100 2.8 is a beauty. Rarity have I missed focus. The 85 1.8 stepped down the F2.8 still struggles for both sharpness and contrast. It’s a fair lens but no way near the quality results of the 100 f2.8
I've had one for a few years and I don't use it enough.
Thanks for the reminder.
Yes Lee! Crack it out and get out there!
Thanks for the great video! I've been looking between this and the much newer Tamron 85mm 1.8 VC. Latter is better in image quality and has IS but significantly bigger and heavier, I can quite resonate with the weight factor. In addition to the weight, I find myself shooting candid and event more which could require a higher shutter speed to freeze motion, thus making IS not as important. Would you have any thoughts or plans for a video for wider canon primes e.g. 28mm 1.8 or 35mm f2?
Cheers! Yes when shooting anything with movement it can render IS a little redundant.. having said that it’s always nice to have. Shot with the 28.18 for several years. Really liked it but always ended up using the 16-35mm zoom instead.
Excellent lens... I have one, plus the 28mm and the 50mm all Canon and f/1.8 EF Mount for my DSLRs. I think that camera's autofocus is better these days. All are great lenses.
- May need a 105mm (or similar) macro lens if I get into doing weddings... plus possibly a long zoomie: 70-200mm or so. We'll see.
I have this lens once and I plan on buying it again to use with my newly acquired 5D Classic. I found some older shots I've taken with it when I owned a 5Diii and 1DXii and really missed shooting with it. For me, hands down much more of a bargain than the 1.2 and produces similar results. I shoot mainly FUJI now with an XT3 but picked up a used 5D classic as sort of a bang around travel FF camera and I LOVE IT. Only have the 50mm 1.8 and am happy with the results.
I love how you put out reviews of things you have owned and used for 10/15+ years. I was close to going with a 1Dsii but I wanted the compact size of the 5d.
I like the "Feel" I get from the 5D and older lenses. I'm not looking for that razor sharp, sort of overly sharp image that some of these new bodies produce. I like more of an organic look and I think these combos archive that.
Nice one! It’s a great combination with an older 5d. Nice set up.. throw in a wide prime and your good to go! Live the older cameras, they have a great look.. Having said that, ahead of a big commercial shoot next week.. a big shiny box has just arrived at my studio..
@@RoyRiley Yeah I'm thinking of scooping up just a 35mm F2, or 24mm. We'll see.
@@RoyRiley What was in the box Roy? R camera?
@@L7pusher R5.. still consolidating my thoughts.. watch this space for an R5 video coming soon. All the best. RR
Hi Roy, thx for the great content! Always good when you post up your experience!
I quite like the look of this lens for my 5D classic but I came across the Sigma 85mm f1.4 Ex DG hsm, this lens goes back to around 2011 and I was wondering how it would compare with the canon f1.8 and if you have used the Sigma in the past?
Cheers Chris.
Hi Chris. Afraid I have no experience with the sigma so can’t really comment. It’s the kind of thing you need to get hold of and shoot some test frames to really have any idea if it’s right for you. My personal past experience with Sigma in general has been mixed. I have destroyed / hated every sigma lens I ever bought until the 50mm Art lens which I love for it’s sharpness but hate the weight
@@RoyRiley thx for getting back to me, it's appreciated!
I would like to try it and the canon 85mm 1.8 USM.
There are some good reviews on the Sigma but like you say it's best to test it First.
Keep up the great channel Roy!
Nice lens, wouldn't mind having one in my collection. None of my full frame lenses that I keep in my bag have IS, except for my super zoom, a Tamron 70-300mm. The big lenses are the only ones I feel that I really need it for. I know what you mean about the fringing. I recently took a picture of the sun shining through an overcast sky, through the branches of a leafless tree and where the sun is, the branches have a purple fringing. Took it out but ended up putting it back because I liked how it looked.
Good to know I’m not the only one who sometimes likes the imperfection and flaws in lenses. Surgical precision does have its place but sometimes I just like character and feel
Just getting into photography and really enjoying your reviews and insights! I have a 6D with a 24-105 F4 L and contemplating this prime - am I being silly? Should I just use what I have?
In my opinion it’s always good to just use what you have and learn to get the most from it. That said an 85 1.8 or maybe a nifty fifty 50mm 1.8. Could be a nice addition
Definitely among the best values for lenses. I have been thinking of getting something with IS for field work but maybe I need to practice a little more with shutter priority. This lens has been great, it has more reach than the 28mm 2.8 iS I carry with it, and when I wander out of the sun into forest or canyon the 1.8 really comes in handy.
Love having that 1.8 when the light gets tricky.. got me out of loads of difficult situations over the years. How do you find the 28is?
Currently it is on my "house" body. Simple, low light, IS, and the 28mm width is great for the usual family/friend/pet photos. I like it better than the 24mm I had before. Keep in mind, I am an advanced amateur so handheld shots with IS are fine for me. I don't need fine art or to satisfy a customer.
I took my 85mm out for field botany work yesterday and came back with mixed fealings. Small and sharp, but doesn't handle glare well, no IS, minimum focus distance inconvenient, and auto focus searches too much. Its staying home from now on. My 18-135 IS usm nano remains tops for field work.
One good point is that the 85's poor performance on auto focus led me to switch over to manual focus for the first time in years. It was a joy on manual focus! I had forgotten the feel of a sharp lens on manual focus.
@@RoyRiley
Really great video. Thank you sir. I do have the 85 prime 1.8. I love this prime lens it's great for portraits I know a couple people who have used this for weddings. It is definitely part of my portrait kit along with the 50 mm and the 24 - 105 mm. I'm having great success with all of them. I'd like to put a 35 mm and a 100 mm in there too. Your thoughts? Again great video thank you!
Cheers Jeffery! Nice set up.. Honestly I would stick with what you have if it’s doing the job.
Very interesting Roy, thank you, I am considering buying that lens. I own a 7D Mark II and of course crop factor is an issue here, so I researched that. The interesting point is, I found an article that claimed that the cop factor relates to focal length, however it does not affect the aperture. Meaning 1.8 will remain 1.8 on a crop sensor camera. I often heard that you will have to bare the crop factor in mind as far as aperture is concerned. But if you think it over, the amount of light entering the camera, considering the camera mount is the same, remains the same. I am looking forward to owning one of these. Must be fun on a 7D Mark II, Kind regards Roland
Thanks Roland. Primes like this are great on crop sensor bodies. obviously its a bit different to full frame. There is loads of technical talk on " how crop sensor effect DOF or some such" some people become a little too obsessed with it! my advice - Get hold of one and stick it on your camera.. shoot with it and if you like the pictures then its all good.. Let the pictures do the talking.. Good luck with your photography. RR
@@RoyRiley Hey thanks for commenting this. You are exactly right and this will be what I do. Actually it is the fun of the howl story, else I take a point and shoot, which has nothing to do with true photography. The 7D II delivers stunning results and I will develope it further down this line. It's going to be a 5D IV or, if ths money is there a 1 DX III.
It's a great pleasure to be part of your story. Thanks
New video! Agree with you, the natural vignette is all fine! Would be nice to see some of your shots taken with this lens) That's my lovely range from 70 to 100mm, both on 35mm cameras or 6cm rollfilm it gives a beautiful perspective and scale relations between front and back objects
Ran out of time to sift through my old files I’m afraid! Never know if people value seeing my pictures or not!
@@RoyRileyI see) I'm always qurious about what people are shooting) if I remember right, Lightroom is able to sort pictures by lens
@@kunstfuhrer indeed! My problem is multiple Lightroom catalogues and many many hard drives. Huge archive that can eat days when I climb inside!
@@RoyRiley that's a curse of us all =] I bought a 8tb hard drive last time, hoping it will last some long, what can I say - it's almost full now)
@@kunstfuhrer they fill up pretty quick these days! I just bought this big metal box with 4 trays. Each tray takes a 16tb drive. Fast thunderbolt connection. I’m planning to move all my smaller drives across to one “cluster” when I’m confident it works reliably ( after a few months of heavy use) I will make a video
thanks for the very honest opinion of this lens. i've had mine (same model as yours) for years now. i've shot the L 85mm 1.2 (not the 1.4), and it has it's own unique character, but has--in my opinion--even more drawbacks than the 1.8. the 1.8 is really more versatile. again, in my opinion.
in the end, i can see that you do love this lens, as do i. some of the cons (is, etc) are not a concern for me. as you touched on, if you aren't sound in the mechanics of focal length to optimal shutter speeds, then you're relying too much on technology, over experience.
i shoot some vintage 85s with adapters on my 5d mk iv, so i'm used to being patient for a good shot. in relation to them, this lens holds its own. the af at that point, is a big bonus. as long as it locks on, haha.
good review.
thanks GK! Always good to hear others opinions. All the best. RR
Just trying to catch up with all your videos, when I should be working :D
Anyway, I think it's worth mentioning for anyone wondering why the focal length/iso rule seems to have broken, but it's because cameras have such high resolution sensors, the slightest movement is amplified. Where 1/60th sec might have been fine for an 85mm with a static subject and steady hands on a 5D MKI, it's more like 1/160th sec for the same on a 5D MKIII or IV. It's one reason manufacturers started putting stabilisation into lenses and camera bodies, but I love this lens too. I still occasionally use it on my EOS 1N, which suffers no fringing at all 😉
Vignetting brings a touch of soul and vintage, oldschool vibe, especially in not so constrasty frames.
I agree.. for me a bit of vignette brings a touch of class to most situations.. like a nice cop of a Earl Gray
@@RoyRiley For those who see the class, for as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Could you maybe add some examples? The lazy focus into the light, vignetting and all that? Just some examples of when and where it happens
A sold mine on a couple of years ago because I didn't use it a huge amount, but I find myself wanting that 'Look' every so often when photographing journalistic and wildlife work. Might need to track down another one
Pretty excellent for how cheap it is
Not perfect but does the job reasonably well when required!
Such a fantastic info .. I can’t afford a full frame camera , I have a Canon 80D and I love that lens .. thanks!
I have a 24-105 L
85 1.8
50 1.4
24 Pancake 24 2.8
80d brilliant camera!
I have this lens and the 100 f2. They are very close in quality but I think the 100 is a little sharper wide open. I like them for portraits especially for outdoors shots. They don’t have the sterile look of some of the higher priced 85 and 100. For the money these are great. I have 5 canon lenses that shoot 100 but this is second only to the macro. Different tools for different looks.
Great to have an open-minded review here - I just bought this used to use on my M6 Mark II - we‘ll see how that works out.
What IS that Doohikey on the back of your body?
Nevermind about the Doohikey… you mentioned it just after I hit enter… ;-)
Thanks Nick! I would imagine it will be rather good on the M6II. Let me k is how it goes
Great video I’ve been looking at a portrait lens for the R6 I have the 24-105 f4L love that lens and a 200mm f2.8L but I’m looking for something a little shorter snd wider so I’m thinking either this 85mm 1.8 or another option was it’s bigger brother the 100mm f2 which on Chris frosts comparison shows the 100 mm to be a bit better with the colour fringing with the same crazy good sharpness have you had the 100mm version and if so what’s your thoughts between them both cheers 👍👍
No experience with the 100mm I’m afraid. Honestly though I think both would do the job OK 👍🏻
@@RoyRiley cheers 👍👍👍
@@RoyRiley finally bit the bullet snd just ordered the 100mm f2.8L macro the image stabilisation was a big bonus to it at a price but it’ll serve me years 👍👍👍
@@tintin69rr good luck with it man! Let me k ow how you get on. RR
@@RoyRiley will do no probs was nearly going to px the 200mm 2.8 in for a 70-200mm 2.8mk2 but I’d loose the macro ability which is a part I’d like so that’s why I went with the 100 I had the sigma 70-200 years ago with the 1st dslr a eos 20d snd loved that in a way regret px that for the 100-400 mk2 but needed more reach but I’m slowly building my lenses up and there all L apart from a nifty 50 stm lol now just need to get out snd shoot 👍👍
I agree about the range.. it’s the most annoying thing but like you said, take a step back and you’ll get that shot. Just takes more work
I was recently going through some of my old photos. I shoot Canon and Sony A7RIII and Canon RP and R6. I have some awesome lenses. RF28-70 F2, Sigma 40, 85 and 105 1.4's But every time I came across an old photo I took with the Canon 85 1.8 I thought wow! There is just something that I really like about the look of that lens. So I went on ebay last night and bought one. I sold mine a few years ago.
Great set up you have. How do you find the RP stacks up against the R6 with specific interest in accuracy of AF and out of the camera colour?
@@RoyRiley the RP is a fun camera. But the auto focus is slow and struggles in low light. When it hits it hits. And it will face track and eye detect. I find myself using touch screen focus a lot. It has a hard time finding faces unless the lighting is perfect. So you have to work it a little. But I am extremely happy with the results. Colors and sharpness are awesome. It takes beautiful photos.
@@rgreeneish thanks for this. Good to get feedback from someone who knows what they are talking about! Cheers! RR
I would love to use this lens around the goal mouth area when shooting football. At 1.8 the shallow depth of field must be brilliant.
Would look great but a fixed prime like an 85 wide open is a high risk way to shoot football. There would be lots of losers and a few belting winners!
This EF85 1.8 seems like the ideal choice (along with the 50 f1.8) to pair with my newly arrived 1DS mk.3 😊 ps video idea: I’d like to see you review a 1DX mk.1 and compare its sensor output & colour palette with the 5D3 from a portrait shooter’s perspective.
I’ve been thinking about the 1dx lately. I will keep my eyes open for a high miler! I agree about the 85. Beware all the things I mention though. They can all be a pain in the backside.
These are my two most favorite prime lenses on full frame, with the 135 f2 coming in the third spot. I don't do much wide angle stuff, or else I'd get a 28mm to add to the line up.
@@RoyRiley If you would compare the sensor characters of 1dx and 1ds mk3 that'd be sweet. The 1dx is coming down to the same price and is possibly more durable (400k shutter estimate compared to 200k?)
I love the EF 85 1.8. :)
Love mine :-) Bought it around the same time as the first full-frame (5DMk11) I bought. Had so many compliments on portraits I have taken with it... Like you say using software ( de fringe etc ) is relatively easy to fix. BTW I love that screen viewer... any chance of a link to it for more information? Cheers Roy.
Cheers Richard! Yup it’s certainly one of those lenses that can bring out the best in a portrait! I am planning a video about the viewfinder thing.. coming soon. Hope life is treating you well. RR
@@RoyRiley Am fine thanks, trust you are likewise :-) Look forward to the Digital Zoom and the Display attachment vid. Been looking online for types and prices. Cheers Take care...
@@richardtierney7724 mine is a Zacuto Z Finder. Originally designed for video. Pricey though. I believe Calumet might do a similar thing or I’m sure there are plenty of other options out there. All OK here. Wishing for a nice big juicy assignment to get my teeth into. Somewhere hot and exotic would be perfect!
@@RoyRiley Great thanks! If you want someone to carry your gear.. I'm your man :-)
@@richardtierney7724 cheers man! Your on! Hope you have a good weekend. RR
Yay, I think I was the 5000th sub 😁
Hurray! Nice one Terence! I was looking at the numbers and hoping the 5000th place would go to someone who knew that it mattered.. really appreciate your subscription and support man! all the very best.. Roy
It gives me magical results even with my 5d classic.
Awesome! It’s a lens that can really bring out the magic in the right hands
Problems like the fringing are fixed by other manufacturers (Panasonic, Fujifilm) with in-camera processing. Does Canon do this for jpegs, or are you only shooting raw? I love vignetting as a way of concentrating the viewer's attention on the subject. If it isn't there I add it! Minimum handheld shutter speeds do vary with camera I find. It's the weight and the ergonomics, the way it fits your hand, the way you find yourself holding it, where the shutter button is and how much pressure it takes to trip the shutter.
Some Canon cameras do have in built fixing for some of these issues. I have tried it and it works OK but for some reason I am not keen on that kind of thing! I am some kind of dinosaur! Un messed with raws for this old dinosaur. Lately though I have started to think about shooting jpeg more so maybe I should switch all the in built corrections on too. We will see!
That 85mm 1.8 is a bad boy.... Especially shooting black & white. Wooooooeeeeee! Just love mine to bits!… ✊🏿
Sounds like you have it dialled in with the 85! It’s a beast in the right hands
Interesting you use a prime in this day and age, as things swung firmly to zooms in the 90's...in the old days (again..sorry!!) the Domke was full of primes, usually 24mm, 35mm, 85mm & 180mm... The Nikon zooms of the era were slow and awful to use...Even the first AF zooms we got with the F4 were, like the camera, ergonomically terrible.. So I stuck with primes... Then enter Canon EOS... and their wonderful zooms... (I still have and use the 70-200). They were game changers for us and I had not used a prime lens until I got the Xpro2.. I now have 2 bodies with a 23mm & 50mm fixed permanently.
I think for press work primes were of limited use, as we didn't really need very wide apertures and shallow depth of field.. what was the maxim? "F8 and be there!!" I didn't really miss the primes as zooms gave better framing.. less recropping of the neg. For me an 85 without counting the extra wight to lug around was not of any real use.. I guess it's down to personal preferences, but also the gear we were issued...
Roy Vignettus, this should be your stage name.
Nice! I will certainly consider it!
Please do a real world review of the 1.4
If you buy me one then I would be happy to!
@@RoyRiley 😆😆😆😆
Thanks for the review. However for me this lens has been hell to use with my mirrorless R6 camera. It works as you say on my dslr. Autofocus and depth of field has been brutal for me. I am an event shoot. Speed build confidence. I have no confidence with this adapted
Sorry to hear you are having troubles. What adapter are you using? I have used my version of the 85mm 1.8 with the R5 and the standard canon adapter and it functions fine. the same if not better than with a DSLR. Everyone has different versions and experiences though so I feel for you having troubles
I have this and have no complains about it, especially for what it costs.. one of the things I like is that it shares the same size filter with 50 1.4 and the 28 1.8 for a nice trio of primes. I had the 100mm f2 before, actually traded with someone for the 85 and between the 2, I found this to be more useful even if the 100 seemed a fraction sharper
Nice! I have not used the 100mm but am drawn to giving it a throw. 28 1.8 is a great lens!
@@RoyRiley the 28 is reasonably good for it’s price, size and age. Sharp in the center but not so much towards the corners. I like it’s character and also enjoy playing with the crazy flares it gives. Works nice for party lights at weddings
@@VicenteSchmitt totally agree. Always loved shooting inside environment portraits wide open and letting the corners go to mush
@@RoyRiley I use the 28 f1.8 for videos. It’s my go to
I use this lens for basketball. It's very fast, and works well at f2.8 1/1000th in the gym on my 1dx.
nice set up John. Basketball is very tricky to shoot! fast fast fast.
I have a question regarding the focus distance. I have a 5d classic and a 50 mm 1.8 lens. Sometimes, when I try to shoot something so close, the focus can't keep up or the auto focus can't get it correctly. Regarding that, is 85 mm better for it? I wanted to photograph closer pictures and portraits so I'm thinking a "zoomer" prime lens would do the trick without having that difficulty in auto focus as I get closer to the subject.
My work around for it is to step back, get the auto focus locked, then come in closer again. Then do crops in the post process, assuming I got the correct focus point in the image :D
But I'm thinking the problem would be lessen for 85 mm, is it going to be? thanks mate, I'll appreciate any feedback.
I personally have not had huge problems gaining accurate focus on things close up with either lens mentioned so long as its withing the focus range capability of the lens. Things do get more difficult when you get close because focus is much more critical and the camera, lens and photographer have to work harder! its worth trying to find a point of high contrast to focus on and making sure the scene is well lit because both these things will help massively. the 85mm 1.8 does not have a great minimum focus distance though so can be a bit (very) annoying for close up work. it is certainly worth remembering that this is not a macro lens.
Are there any in-camera corrections for color fringing and vignetting when shooting jpeg if I wanted to adapt this to an R5?
Honestly I am not sure. I do use this lens on the R5 but as with all things R5 it can be a little difficult to know what’s going on “under the hood”. I will investigate…
Hey brother, I just got a really old canon eos 1200D that my brother gave me, i really like the 85mm focal length, i use a camera from a friend with an 85mm lens and i really like it for woodland scape and for everything else lol.
Do you think that that 85mm is good for my canon eos 1200D
I don’t have a 1200D so cannot speak from experience but I would imagine the 85mM EF lens would work with the 1200d but be aware that this lens works as an 85mm but in a full frame body. Your camera is a crop sensor which means ( multiply 85 x 1.6 which is your crop factor) it will feel like a 136mm lens on your camera. Which could be good or bad depending on your purposes… and f it’s the specific 85mm ( short telephoto, portrait ) look that you wish for then May I suggest a 50mm F1.8. Which with the crop factor becomes more like a 80mm… confusing I know but I hope this make some sense to you? Best wishes. R
I love my 85mm 1.8, but just ordered a 1.4 to replace it. (shooting video, looking for IS)
I can totally understand why. Good luck with it.
85mm 1.8 has alot of back/front focus issues, sometime really hard for autofocus in high contrast scene. I'm using on 5d mark 1, so the culprit might be with the body than the lenses. It renders quite saturated and sweet color in my opinion, comparing to another 85 zeiss 85 1.4 that i have used
Agree on n the focus issue. I have found it a bit lazy on all my cameras in tricky light. Using it with care does help but it can be a huge pain. I wonder what it’s like on an R camera with adaptor.
I use this lens on a crop sensor 80D (about 135 full frame eq.) and I love it when I have enough light to run high shutter speeds and enough distance to frame my subject. It's great for outdoor events because you can be a bit more incognito vs. shorter focal lengths and get nice candids. The purple and green fringing when wide open is pretty gnarly, but not too bad to pull out in post. A small price to pay for the subject separation and bokeh that results. Also the AF has been fast and accurate for me, especially compared to my 50 mm f/1.8. Really love this lens under the right conditions.
Nice! It’s a beast on a crop sensor!
I have a canon 50mm 1.8 prime. Its a great lens. Would like an 85mm prime but not the L lens too costly so may look at that or 1.4 or a sigma.
Cant justfy £2000
For a lens.
I started with 35mm film and still use it. Use a canon 50 e. With that.
is that lens fits to family pics (group of people), or only portraits?
You could shoot pretty much anything with this lens. Family groups would be OK but you would need to stop down enough to ensure sharpness across the group. It would not be ideal to shoot a family group wide open because only certain areas would be in focus.. however this can look really cool if it’s the effect you are seeking! Personally I would rather shoot a family group on something like a standard zoom
I just picked one up used for $249, I feel like people are dumping dslr and you can really build your kit with used at a decent price.
I think you are right! May the fringe be with you! R
I use a Canon M50 with the nifty fifty 1.8 and I’m wondering if anyone knows the comparison between image quality between this lens and the 50?
The 50mm is about 89mm on the crop sensor and I really like that length but I want to get a little more light and bokeh out of that length with a speed booster and this lens has caught my eye. Thoughts?
I am no expert with smaller sensor cameras and hopefully others will jump in but but I would make an educated guess that IQ would be similar with both lenses you mention. With the obvious caveat that Fringing might be a problem wide open with the 85. Also wide open gaining critical focus can be an issue. Honestly your question is quite specific and so you might have to get your hands on an 85 a give it a try, see how you get on and report back.. the One bit of advice I will leave you with us just stick with what you already have.. work with it and get the very absolute best from it.. save your money and spend it more wisely on wine, women and song or whatever takes your fancy! All the very best. RR
@@RoyRiley haha thank you, fringing is already a problem with the 50mm, I have found a couple good deals on the 85 so I might just give it a shot and see if it’s any better
@@chingymofo1 good luck whichever way you go! The thing I have learnt after 30 years in the game is that not really anyone cares about what you shoot with. Ultimately If it’s a good picture then that’s all that matters!
has someone use this lens for video, i would like to put it on R6ii, because Canon RF 85mm f2 is not that good with autofocus. Are there some opinions about that?
Cant knock it for the price, when you compare to it to its 85mm F1.8 L Brother pricing. Picked mine up new for £300 many moons ago and used on the same day on another classic of the 5DMKIII (was in a very dark club where I use to watch some tribute bands and had to bump up the ISO to a ridiculous 12000 and above on some) but the photos I got from the two together still blows me away when I see them
Nice one Gary - yes almost “see in the dark” superpower quality
I'm new to this, I have 50mm STM and I'm struggling to find a good reason to buy the 85mm
Don’t buy one until you absolutely find a good reason to have one. Or just don’t ever get one and stick with your 50. Happy days!
@@RoyRiley is there something I wouldn't able to do with the 50mm that is possible with the 85mm?
@@500MTH honestly. Stick with your 50. We each have to find our own way with gear and just because it’s out there does not mean you have to have it. Let necessity be the mother of your kit bag rather than filling it with equipment that is unnecessary for your purposes. Only my opinion. Hope this helps! Good luck with your photography. RR
The 85mm is more like a quick zoom, for long-range close-ups. For me, I like to use it for street photography and in my APSC (auto cropping) for moon shots.
Hi this or canon 100mm f2.8 non L? Thanks :-)
Afraid I do not know.. you will have to try both and make your own decision. Happy Easter! RR
I have both. The 100 f2.8 non L is a beast of a lens, definitely one of my go to portrait lens.
Would you say this is a good lens for shooting concerts on an 800D?? What would you recommend for a inexpensive zoom lens for shooting concerts in low light??
Would work well. Great bright lens for dark situations. Not as flexible as a zoom for cropping and framing though
@@RoyRiley thank you so much for your fast response! Do you have any suggestions for an inexpensive zoom lens for concert photography??
@@amirssittu3943 I would got for a 70-200 F2.8 or F4. But really it depends on how well lit the venues you shoot at are. If they tend to be darker then primes will be the way to go and use your feet!
@@RoyRiley thank you so very much! Loved the video for the 85mm, picking it up on ebay. Can't wait to watch more of your videos!!!
Hello, can you use this lens on canon 1300d?
Will I need an additional lens adapter?
I believe it will fit but you will have the 1.6 crop factor because of the crop sensor on your camera
@@RoyRiley what does that mean?
@@waterestore6877 I’m afraid I’m rather busy today so without being rude I do t have time to answer questions that have a rather long answer. You need to do some research online to understand the nature of your camera, it’s sensor and how it all works. Without that knowledge owning a lens like the 85mm prime might be a frustrating experience. Hope this helps and good luck with your photography. RR
I skipped this one and bought the 135mm f2 L the King of the Red Rings ;) (according to Kai Wong)
Wonderful lens. How do you get on with it?
What happened to trhe examples?
Apologies VB! Time got the better of me. Never know if people care about seeing my pictures or not!
@@RoyRiley. Don't get me wrong, lovely to see your beautiful face, but...
@@villageblunder4787 haha! Honestly I have such high level of self doubt these day.. I struggle to believe anyone would want to see my ugly mush or my wonky pictures!
I'd love to see some of your photos with the 85mm Roy as I've only shot with a 50mm f/1.8 .
Is 5.6 the sweet spot of this lens?🤫
Probably technically yes but it’s also a bit “plain boring” in contrast to the madness of 1.8
Tell us about yourself...