Patent: Canon RF 85mm f/1.4L USM (IS?)

[drhuffman87]

Ha! I guess I should say "compared to my RF 70-200mm 2.8" -- the F2 isn't a clear enough upgrade. The 1.2 is definitely sharper but...

Now that I know you have the 70-200mm 2.8 I fully understand where you're coming from!

 

[H. Jones]

Honestly though, if Canon pulls off 8 stops of IBIS with the unstabilized RF 85mm F/1.2, why even bother with IS? We know from Canon that the larger aperture lenses (28-70, 85mm 1.2, 50mm 1.2) give IBIS more room to work, which gives better stabilization.

Consider that the EF 85mm F/1.4L IS had to literally have the IS unit from the *400mm F/2.8* just to have IS with such a wide aperture. I'm sure the IS unit is one of the most, if not the most, expensive parts of the EF 85mm F/1.4L IS.

If Canon has the 85mm F/2 IS for $600, and the RF 85mm F/1.2L for ~$2500, I think they could easily make a $1100-1300 RF 85mm F/1.4L. If someone really wanted mechanical IS in the lens, they could always use the EF version. If this was the case, I could see the RF version being released for cheaper, than the EF version, since it wouldn't have IS built in.

 

[koenkooi]

Honestly though, if Canon pulls off 8 stops of IBIS with the unstabilized RF 85mm F/1.2, why even bother with IS? We know from Canon that the larger aperture lenses (28-70, 85mm 1.2, 50mm 1.2) give IBIS more room to work, which gives better stabilization.[..]

When comparing video clips shot with the RF28-70@70mm and the RF85 F/2 on an R5, the footage from the 85 looks a lot smoother. I haven't noticed a difference with still images, I haven't needed slow shutter speeds in a while now.

 

[dirtyvu]

I own the ef 85mm 1.4 and it's my favorite lens of all my lenses. The first lens I got that made people go wow was my EF 85mm 1.8. I had the 50mm 1.8 and no one thought my images were special. I also had a EF 15-30 Tamron 2.8. Same thing. After using the 85 1.8, I was itching to upgrade it because it wasn't the sharpest lens, didn't have IS, etc. I tried the 70-200 2.8. Didn't really like it. I borrowed my friend's EF 85 1.2 and thought I would like it because of how expensive it was and how people raved about it. But I hated it. It was so hard for me to get sharp images. I thought the focusing was way too slow. It didn't have IS. And it was so friggin expensive.

And then the EF 85 1.4 came out and it was affordable. It was tack sharp. It focused quickly. It had image stabilization. And it's still my go-to lens for my Canon EOS R5.

I sooooo want the RF 85 1.2 but its atmospheric pricing makes me think I would love the RF 85 1.4. We'll see. I don't want slight improvements in going from EF 1.4 to RF 1.4. I know there would be quicker focusing, not needing an adapter, etc. But I guess I can just save up for the 85 1.2...

 

[Pixel]

I'm good with my EF version for now.

 

[bbeatty]

Same as a lot of the others on here, the 85mm f/1.4 is one of my favorites. I don't think I would change even if an RF version came out because it's so good.

 

[LeeBabySimms]

We have two EF 85L 1.4's and one RF 85 Macro. Independent of image quality, I would add an RF 85 1.4 if ...

1. it weighs under 1,000 grams (ideally closer to 750)
2. the barrel width is 90mm or under (not the odd handling and wrong-sized 100+mm fat barrels Canon's been releasing that pinch your finger room)

 

[LeeBabySimms]

My problem with Canon's 85 lenses was always the minimum focus distance.
10 centimeters (four inches) too long for me.

The RF 85 Macro is miracle on this score. Lovely images - perfect for travel and life journaling

 

[EverydayPhotographer]

Oh thank goodness! There’s only 17 lenses in the RF Lens lineup right now, 8 primes, and 3 of them are 85mm primes. More 85s is definitely the gap that needs to be filled right now.

 

[drhuffman87]

Oh thank goodness! There’s only 17 lenses in the RF Lens lineup right now, 8 primes, and 3 of them are 85mm primes. More 85s is definitely the gap that needs to be filled right now.

Hopefully they release a 1.6 as well so we can make more YouTube videos arguing about which lens takes the best pictures of test charts.

 

[SteveC]

Hopefully they release a 1.6 as well so we can make more YouTube videos arguing about which lens takes the best pictures of test charts.

Don't forget the urgent need for an f/1.8.

 

[jeffa4444]

My favourite portrait lenses in the EF mount are the EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM II and the EF 85mm F1.4L IS USM. The quality of the images from the 85mm F1.4L on my Canon 5DS are amazing so without question I would buy a RF version with my R6 and EOS R I’m not interested in the 1.2 both size and cost are too much for me.