TDP reviews the 85 f/1.4L IS USM

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

A pretty illustrative side by side video comparison between the 85LII, 85 f1.4 and Sigma 85 ART:

https://youtu.be/ofR2qRcE6aw

The 85 F1.4 compares well with the Sigma ART in real world images.

Real world is key. The Sigma charts brilliantly, but in any kind of harder (real world) light, I found the amount of CA killed edges and made it practically less sharp than other options (Milvus, Otus, but even the Tamron 85 in some settings). It's a killer studio lens, but not a great general purpose 85mm (in my opinion) for many reasons.

For whatever reason my review copy of the 85L IS hasn't arrived yet, which is okay, since I don't have time at the moment to do the review until I wrap up my coverage of several other lenses.

 

[Viggo]

Full review seems to be out

https://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=22739

 

[Larsskv]

A pretty illustrative side by side video comparison between the 85LII, 85 f1.4 and Sigma 85 ART:

https://youtu.be/ofR2qRcE6aw

The 85 F1.4 compares well with the Sigma ART in real world images.

Real world is key. The Sigma charts brilliantly, but in any kind of harder (real world) light, I found the amount of CA killed edges and made it practically less sharp than other options (Milvus, Otus, but even the Tamron 85 in some settings). It's a killer studio lens, but not a great general purpose 85mm (in my opinion) for many reasons.

For whatever reason my review copy of the 85L IS hasn't arrived yet, which is okay, since I don't have time at the moment to do the review until I wrap up my coverage of several other lenses.

The more lenses I try, the more I realize that real world experience is more important than test charts, and especially mystical DXO scores. Even more of us should take note of Dustins excellent (real world) reviews.

 

[bereninga]

A pretty illustrative side by side video comparison between the 85LII, 85 f1.4 and Sigma 85 ART:

https://youtu.be/ofR2qRcE6aw

The 85 F1.4 compares well with the Sigma ART in real world images.

Real world is key. The Sigma charts brilliantly, but in any kind of harder (real world) light, I found the amount of CA killed edges and made it practically less sharp than other options (Milvus, Otus, but even the Tamron 85 in some settings). It's a killer studio lens, but not a great general purpose 85mm (in my opinion) for many reasons.

For whatever reason my review copy of the 85L IS hasn't arrived yet, which is okay, since I don't have time at the moment to do the review until I wrap up my coverage of several other lenses.

Can't wait to see your review, Dustin!

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

A pretty illustrative side by side video comparison between the 85LII, 85 f1.4 and Sigma 85 ART:

https://youtu.be/ofR2qRcE6aw

The 85 F1.4 compares well with the Sigma ART in real world images.

Real world is key. The Sigma charts brilliantly, but in any kind of harder (real world) light, I found the amount of CA killed edges and made it practically less sharp than other options (Milvus, Otus, but even the Tamron 85 in some settings). It's a killer studio lens, but not a great general purpose 85mm (in my opinion) for many reasons.

For whatever reason my review copy of the 85L IS hasn't arrived yet, which is okay, since I don't have time at the moment to do the review until I wrap up my coverage of several other lenses.

Can't wait to see your review, Dustin!

My first video segment is up: http://bit.ly/85LISfl and I've got an image gallery going: http://bit.ly/canon85LISig

Here's a one light portrait, wide open at f/1.4 (processed to taste - mostly a little skin work and some tweaks to the tone curve)

Waiting for Christmas by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

 

[Ah-Keong]

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (1)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-1

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (2)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-2

 

[arthurbikemad]

Still waiting for the fecking thing to be released in the UK! COME ON CANON, GET A SHIFT ON!

 

[hne]

Still waiting for the fecking thing to be released in the UK! COME ON CANON, GET A SHIFT ON!

I had the same feeling, then I got a message that mine was in transit. Apparently Canon is supplying them to resellers in small numbers which indicates that the initial batch was too small for the preorders and that they are selling faster than they can be produced.

...and I can fully understand why. The thing is brilliant! Can have something to do with "more than half of the glass elements in this lens are made of glass materials that were not yet put into practical application when the EF85mm f/1.2L II USM was developed (released in March 2006)"

 

[Larsskv]

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (1)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-1

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (2)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-2

Thank you for sharing. Interesting read!

 

[Viggo]

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (1)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-1

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (2)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-2

Thank you for sharing. Interesting read!

Absolutely +1! I haven’t read it befand it’s very interesting read indeed. I knew about the shock absorber on my 35 L II, but didn’t know the 85 also had it, nice!

 

[kaihp]

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (1)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-1

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (2)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-2

Thank you for sharing. Interesting read!

Absolutely +1! I haven’t read it befand it’s very interesting read indeed. I knew about the shock absorber on my 35 L II, but didn’t know the 85 also had it, nice!

Awesome reads indeed.
There was one thing that struck me as odd in the 2nd part though: they write that:

For your reference, the EF85mm f/1.2L II USM uses the large diameter USM found in lenses such as the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lens.

Shouldn't that be refering to the new f/1.4L IS USM? The f/1.2L seems quite out of context there.

 

[neuroanatomist]

There was one thing that struck me as odd in the 2nd part though: they write that:

For your reference, the EF85mm f/1.2L II USM uses the large diameter USM found in lenses such as the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lens.

Shouldn't that be refering to the new f/1.4L IS USM? The f/1.2L seems quite out of context there.

I’m sure it properly refers to the 85/1.2L II using the larger USM variant. The 85/1.4L IS is internally focusing, using a (relatively) small focusing group like typical lenses. The 85/1.2L II is front focusing, meaning that massive front element moves to achieve focus, which requires a more robust focusing motor (the front element of the 85/1.2 is probably similar in size to the focusing groups in the supertele lenses).

 

[Larsskv]

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (1)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-1

EF85mm f/1.4L IS USM: Developer Interviews (2)

https://snapshot.canon-asia.com/article/en/ef85mm-f14l-is-usm-developer-interviews-2

Thank you for sharing. Interesting read!

Absolutely +1! I haven’t read it befand it’s very interesting read indeed. I knew about the shock absorber on my 35 L II, but didn’t know the 85 also had it, nice!

I noticed that particular detail as well. Nice to see that my new (Used) 11-24L has it to. Surprising to see that it is in the 24-70 L f4...

 

[hne]

There was one thing that struck me as odd in the 2nd part though: they write that:

For your reference, the EF85mm f/1.2L II USM uses the large diameter USM found in lenses such as the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lens.

Shouldn't that be refering to the new f/1.4L IS USM? The f/1.2L seems quite out of context there.

I’m sure it properly refers to the 85/1.2L II using the larger USM variant. The 85/1.4L IS is internally focusing, using a (relatively) small focusing group like typical lenses. The 85/1.2L II is front focusing, meaning that massive front element moves to achieve focus, which requires a more robust focusing motor (the front element of the 85/1.2 is probably similar in size to the focusing groups in the supertele lenses).

It also states that the f/1.4 lens uses the USM from the f/1.8

 

[Ah-Keong]

hope Canon comes up with a mechanical MF "85mm f/1,2L mark III" like the 50mm f/1,2L !!
and faster AF too!

 

[hne]

There was one thing that struck me as odd in the 2nd part though: they write that:

For your reference, the EF85mm f/1.2L II USM uses the large diameter USM found in lenses such as the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lens.

Shouldn't that be refering to the new f/1.4L IS USM? The f/1.2L seems quite out of context there.

I’m sure it properly refers to the 85/1.2L II using the larger USM variant. The 85/1.4L IS is internally focusing, using a (relatively) small focusing group like typical lenses. The 85/1.2L II is front focusing, meaning that massive front element moves to achieve focus, which requires a more robust focusing motor (the front element of the 85/1.2 is probably similar in size to the focusing groups in the supertele lenses).

Part two shows this lens diagram of the 85/1.2L II:

I read that as almost the entire optical system moving.

And describing the new 85/1.4L IS lens a bit further down: "To keep the outer diameter small enough for extended handheld shooting, we decided to use a relatively small type of USM, which is used in many other EF lenses including the EF35mm f/2 IS USM and EF85mm f/1.8 USM" and "For your reference, the EF85mm f/1.2L II USM uses the large diameter USM found in lenses such as the EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lens."

 

[Sharlin]

Part two shows this lens diagram of the 85/1.2L II:

I read that as almost the entire optical system moving.

Yeah. No wonder the AF is slow, that's a lot of glass to move.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I read that as almost the entire optical system moving.

Indeed, looks like everything but the rear element is in the moving inner barrel. Thanks!

 

[kaihp]

I read that as almost the entire optical system moving.

Indeed, looks like everything but the rear element is in the moving inner barrel. Thanks!

Thanks to both of you for clearing up my confusion.

 

[YuengLinger]

I read that as almost the entire optical system moving.

Indeed, looks like everything but the rear element is in the moving inner barrel. Thanks!

This helps me appreciate its accuracy and understand its lack of speed. I'm lucky with my copy--pinpoint even at 1.2.