85mm f/1.2L II or 85mm f/1.4L IS?

[JRPhotos]

I'm late to the thread but am really happy with my lens, 85 1.4 ISL. It's much sharper then my 85 1.2II and much faster. I haven't had too much opportunities yet to use it for portraits, mostly just playing around with it right now. I could never get this much detail out of my 1.2II in a photograph such as this:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4660/39053423814_b0e3c9f12a_k.jpg
Shot @ 1.4, I used Canon's DPP Lens tool to sharpen.

 

[mariuspavel]

Hi. All I can say... this is a superb lens. Leave aside super comparation between this one and Sigma or Zeiss. This is the best one for me at least.
You can see some pictures here with my daughter and Canon 85 1.4 L IS + 5D4.
https://www.mariuspavel.ro/sedinta-foto-bebe-craciun-brasov/

 

[jeffa4444]

I know this is an old story. I purchased the EF 85mm f1.4L IS USM and shot with in on Saturday along with the EF 85mm f1.2L II.
Its so much better at focusing and that image stabiliser really improves the keeper rate when shooting with models. The bokeh is different to the f1.2L but still a really nice look. Add in the lighter weight (although it is not a light lens) and its hard to think about using the f1.2L over the 1.4L.
It really is a prefect portrait lens.

 

[wockawocka]

1.4 to 1.2 is only 33% brighter and at 85mm there's not much difference in bokeh.

Considering how poor the old 85L mkii was and considering how heavy the RF85 is I'm sticking with my 1.4 IS.

 

[stevelee]

1.4 to 1.2 is only 33% brighter and at 85mm there's not much difference in bokeh.

If T stops are proportional, I guess.

 

[Hector1970]

I still love my 85mm 1.2 II. Yes its tricky on the focusing on 1.2 but results are great when it hits the mark.
I think it makes you more careful about taking the photograph.
With care and attention its sharp. I've found it extremely sharp with flash.
For reliability and accuracy the 70-200mm 2.8 II is a great lens for portraits. I use it when it has to work.
When I have a little more flexibility and need to be creative I choose the 85MM 1.2 II.