Canon Ef 85mm 1.8 Vs 1.4

Not long ago, I reviewed i of my 2 favourite lenses, the Catechism 24mm f/1.4 II (review here). The thought of spending more than the cost of a new full-frame photographic camera on a lens might rightfully scare you lot from even because it. Then, I've got skilful news.

My other favourite lens is one you lot've probably heard more almost. The EF 85mm f/ane.8 USM is all-time known as a portrait lens, but it'due south a keen and versatile lens. It can be used for many other types of photography from product and nutrient to street and event photography.

It's much less expensive, and information technology has paid the original investment back and then many times I can't fifty-fifty calculate. It's also one of those lenses that gives you instant gratification the second yous wait into the viewfinder. And then, read on to notice out whether the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is the right lens for yous, and if not, acquire well-nigh the alternatives.[Annotation: ExpertPhotography is supported past readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you lot use one of these and buy something, we brand a piffling bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here.]

Overview of the Canon EF 85mm f/ane.8 USM

The 85mm f/ane.8 is one of Canon's oldest autofocus lenses nevertheless in production. First introduced in 1993, it has seen many variations, although the name and much of the lens has remained the same in its 27-twelvemonth-long career. You tin can nevertheless go information technology nether the same name, and for a similar price as in 1993.

It'southward famous for providing an first-class cost to functioning ratio. As well the keen fifty, this is the second most pop lens that makes the signature shallow-depth-of-field portrait look bachelor for all photographers.

Its optical functioning is fantastic for the toll, although nothing groundbreaking for a good prime lens.

In the box, you'll observe nothing else than the lens, the forepart and rear caps, and a user manual. A lens hood is available for purchase separately. I recommend getting a third-party one for protection, simply it's non necessary optically.

I accept had several copies throughout the years. If you purchase 2d-hand, make sure that you buy a fairly new 1 (manufactured after 2010) if possible. These copies autofocus much more consistently on modernistic Canon DSLRs.

Who Is the 85mm f/one.eight For?

This lens is extremely versatile, then there are non many limitations in possible utilise cases.

Without completeness, I used information technology for portrait, outcome, concert, street, travel, product, food, and close-up photography. The brusk telephoto focal length of 85mm tin be used for annihilation, actually. Paired with a bright aperture and great epitome quality, this lens is my kickoff option for annihilation that requires this field of view.

This is a lens widely used by professionals and enthusiasts alike. Its quality grants that it can hands exist used in a professional person context, simply its price is available for a much broader audition.

So, I can wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone looking for a special expect and good low-light performance in this focal length range.

I highly recommend using this lens on a total-frame photographic camera, where its field of view is more convenient. The 135mm-equivalent view on ingather-sensor cameras is still corking, but less versatile. If y'all're on a budget and desire the maximum out of a lens like this, you can choice upwardly a 6D or a 5D MkII camera body 2nd-mitt for less than an entry-level camera brand-new.

Key Features

Mount and Compatibility

The Canon EF 85mm f/one.viii USM was originally fabricated for Canon's EF-mountain 35mm film cameras with autofocus. It fits today's full-frame models perfectly. These are the Catechism EOS 6D, EOS 5D, and EOS 1DX/1Ds serial of digital cameras. The lens will work perfectly on ingather-sensor EOS DSLR bodies (such equally the 7D, 10D-90D serial, and all the Rebels).

It can likewise be adapted without loss in autofocus speed to Canon'south full-frame mirrorless R bodies (currently the R, RP, R6, and R5). I don't recommend adapting this lens if you're committed to the R organization. The newly released RF 85mm f/two IS STM Macro lens is an even more than versatile, equivalent choice in that location.

It will work just fine with a slight drop in autofocusing speed on Canon's ingather-sensor mirrorless EF-One thousand-mount cameras.

You tin can too use any EF mount adaptor currently on the marketplace with this lens. These include adaptors to Sony East-mount, Nikon Z-mount, Leica Fifty-mount, and more. For Micro Four Thirds, I recommend using a speed booster do retain some of the low light advantages. Autofocusing speed and reliability on these off-make cameras volition depend on the quality of the adaptor used.

Paradigm Quality

I accept mixed experiences with the optical operation of the 85mm f/1.8. The re-create I currently utilise is from 2009, and I too tested samples from 2013 and 2019, these are fantabulous. Merely I had samples from 2005 and 1994, and they were significantly worse.

So, I assume that newer copies have been slightly redesigned, or peradventure tolerances were reduced former in the late 2000s. This would brand sense, every bit the 5D MkII of 2008 has demanded significantly more resolution than cameras before information technology. In this review, I will write about the image quality of modern samples.

The eyes of the 85mm f/i.8 are first-class. This lens is not equally razor-sharp as some modernistic lenses from Canon and Sigma, but absolutely abrupt enough at all apertures to capture detailed portraits and other subjects.

The image centre is very precipitous right from f/1.8. This is good news, as you lot'll utilise this lens a lot at f/1.viii. The full-frame corners leave more to exist deserved, merely if you don't pixel-peep or crop heavily, they volition besides exist perfectly fine even wide open.

At f/two.8, the entire frame sharpens up consistently. There's a slight improvement at f4 and an even smaller one at f/5.6, simply it'due south only noticeable if you await at the images on your screen 100% zoomed in. That'southward not a real-world scenario for viewers.

There's basically no distortion. Vignetting in the corners is noticeable upward to f/3.v, and disappears beyond that.

The lens shows a visible level of chromatic abnormality, both lateral and longitudinal. This means you'll notice purple and greenish fringing on in-focus and out-of-focus contrasty areas akin. This, withal, is fairly easy to right in software and has never posed a problem for me in practical utilize.

The out-of-focus backgrounds (there's a lot!) are soft and smooth. Unlike many other 85mm lenses, it's hard to get this one to create a swirly blueprint in the bokeh. The pattern adequately neutral at all focusing distances.

The lens responds to direct sunlight pleasingly. At that place is some apparent flaring, simply information technology performs better than the EF 85mm f/one.ii II, for example. It also retains contrast when the sunday is in the frame. The lens hood helps slightly with flaring, but it's mostly in that location for protection.

Focusing

The EF 85mm f/one.8 USM is equipped with quick autofocus and decent manual focusing facilities.

Its ultrasonic autofocus motor ('USM') is amid the quickest I've used, and on modern copies, it'southward as well consistently accurate. As mentioned earlier, I had consistency bug on copies made before the late 2000s. Autofocusing is almost silent.

You might need to micro-adapt your lens to piece of work perfectly with your camera, especially if you utilize a DSLR. Tolerances are so picayune on an f/1.eight telephoto lens that even a slight misalignment will be noticeable.

The manual focus band is mechanically coupled to the focusing elements. When you lot autofocus, the ring doesn't move, but y'all can e'er turn information technology yourself to override the autofocus activity. The band itself is not as well precise. From infinity to close focus, it'southward virtually a 60-caste plow.

At that place is a focusing distance indicator window on the pinnacle of the lens, with depth of field markings for f/1.8 and f/22.

The minimum focusing distance of the 85mm f/one.8 is 0.85m. This is not useful for macro shooting, but with a few extension tubes, everything can become a half-decent macro lens. I don't employ it for this, though. Instead, I use the 40mm pancake lens with tubes or the 100mm f/2.8L macro lens.

Nothing on the outside moves when focusing.

Handling and Build Quality

The EF 85mm f/1.eight USM is congenital of plastic, but it feels sturdy. I dropped it once, and information technology wasn't damaged. The lens mount is metal.

The lens is not atmospheric condition-sealed, but it does withstand moderate pelting in my experiences. Grit, however, tin can easily become into this lens. I haven't seen a re-create without plenty of particles inside with the exception of the brand-new one. This, however, does not impact image quality even the slightest. Even at f/22, grit cannot exist spotted on the final images.

It has a 58mm filter thread fabricated of plastic.

On the side, there is a sole autofocus/manual focus switch.

The lens weighs 400 grams. It'southward 72mm long and measures 75mm in diameter.

The separately bachelor ET-65III hood is made of plastic with a light-absorbent blanket on the inside. Experience costless to go a no-name plastic hood instead, it doesn't brand a departure in flare reduction and protects the lens simply as well.

Alternatives

The EF 85mm f/one.8 USM has a few alternatives, so permit's meet them.

The EF 100mm f/ii USM is basically the same lens with a slightly longer focal length. It controls chromatic aberration a footling amend, but that'due south about the only difference I can think of. It'due south got the same housing equally the 85mm and very similar eyes. Which 1 you lot get depends on your preference on focal length but. I like 85mm more, but this might not be the same for you.

On crop sensors, the closest equivalent of this lens is the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. It'southward very similarly congenital, has the aforementioned price, so if you lot're going for the same field of view on a crop sensor, this is your choice.

On RF-mount Canon cameras, I'd definitely opt for the RF 85mm f/2 IS USM Macro instead, equally information technology'due south more versatile.

If you actually like the 85mm focal length and want a lens with ultimate optical operation, you can get faster and more expensive lenses besides. The 85mm f/1.4L IS USM is Canon'due south newest EF-mount 85mm lens, with excellent optics and stabilisation. The 85mm f/ane.2L II USM is a legendary portrait lens with an ultra-fast discontinuity, only slow autofocus. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art is the heaviest and sharpest 85mm lens I've e'er used.

Our Verdict

The Canon EF 85mm f/i.viii lens is a fantastic lens. Information technology'south cheap, versatile, optically excellent, and fairly modest and low-cal.

Information technology'southward been in my pocketbook constantly for more than four years, and I expect information technology will be in yours also if you choose to get one.

Cheque it out here on Amazon.

Scores

Image Quality (25)	nineteen
Focusing (xx)	{{cavalcade-proper name-2}}: 17
Build and Treatment (twenty)	{{column-name-ii}}: xvi
Value for Money (20)	{{cavalcade-name-ii}}: 20
Miscellaneous (xv)	{{column-proper noun-ii}}: 11
Total (100)	{{column-name-2}}: 83

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