Review: Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM

Posted this review on 19th Oct.

Anyone else feel like this lens is destined to become the sleeper hit of the RF mount so far? For the price, the features and quality are terrific.

All we need now is a 40mm or 50mm extension tube to get it to 1:1.

Comparison with Tamron 85/1.8 VC

After shooting with it for the better part of 5 days, I can say that it is well worth the 600$ price tag and recommend people to pick one up.

Instant classic like EF 85mm f1.8 USM. Canon will produce this for the next 20 years

ozturert said:

Instant classic like EF 85mm f1.8 USM. Canon will produce this for the next 20 years

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I just wish this one were 1.8 as well. Of course that's probably what we lost in exchange for macro. My EF lens is probably my favorite prime (after the 100mm non-L macro).

And I suppose they had to do something "different" just to differentiate it from the EF version, so people would have a reason to buy it. It being an RF version alone wouldn't do it for a significant number of people.

SteveC said:

I just wish this one were 1.8 as well. Of course that's probably what we lost in exchange for macro. My EF lens is probably my favorite prime (after the 100mm non-L macro).

And I suppose they had to do something "different" just to differentiate it from the EF version, so people would have a reason to buy it. It being an RF version alone wouldn't do it for a significant number of people.

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It’s better in almost every way compared to my copy of the EF version, except for AF speed and f/1.8 vs f/2.
The AF does feel more certain of itself, but slightly slower.

I haven’t formed an opinion on the difference in bokeh yet, that will need a lot more test pictures

koenkooi said:

It’s better in almost every way compared to my copy of the EF version, except for AF speed and f/1.8 vs f/2.
The AF does feel more certain of itself, but slightly slower.

I haven’t formed an opinion on the difference in bokeh yet, that will need a lot more test pictures

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Thanks for that perspective.

I have other reasons for wanting to keep my EF lens (the fact that it can be adapted to my M cameras as well as my Rs being among them) even if this one is a tad better, but I *know* my circumstances (and tastes) are different from everyone else's. I'm not "anti" this lens.

I have shot with my EF 85 for several years now. When I upgraded to a 5D4 the additional resolution made me re-evaluate the balance between bokeh and sharpness, so I ended up getting more reliable results shooting portraits at f/2 instead of f/1.8. Switching to the EOS R (with the firmware upgrade) made eye-focus more reliable, but on balance, my lens still gave better results at f/2.

With that in mind, switching to the RF 85 has essentially no downside for my use case. The improved sharpness edge-to-edge and IS are very much appreciated. The 0.5 macro functionality doesn't make me forget what I used to enjoy with my EF 100mm macro, but it is better and more useful than any of the other lenses in my current quiver.

Gordon's review is directly reflective of my own experience with both lenses. Very much looking forward to my next portrait shoot!

koenkooi said:

It’s better in almost every way compared to my copy of the EF version, except for AF speed and f/1.8 vs f/2.

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The T number of the EF 85mm/1.8 is 2.0. The T numbers of the latest EF 24, 28 and 35mm lenses are very close to their stated f numbers. My RF 24-105/4L is a good one-third stop brighter than my EF 24-105/4L. It could well be that the RF 85mm/2 is actually as bright as the EF lens.

Frodo said:

It could well be that the RF 85mm/2 is actually as bright as the EF lens.

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If you watch Gordon Laings review though, you'll see that the RF 85 mm 2.0 definitively has a lesser blur to its backgrounds, which is more relevant when talking about aperture, than such minute differences in light gathering capability usually.

Joules said:

If you watch Gordon Laings review though, you'll see that the RF 85 mm 2.0 definitively has a lesser blur to its backgrounds, which is more relevant when talking about aperture, than such minute differences in light gathering capability usually.

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I agree about the limited difference in light gathering. I wonder though if the less than clinical correction of the EF lens (e.g. longitidinal chromatic aberration) also produces softer bokeh, and that this has a greater impact on boken than f/1.8 vs f/2.0. I'm reasonably happy with the EF lens, apart from purple fringing, but it would nice to have one lens to replace my 85/1.8, 100/2.8 macro and 50/2.5 macro. The 85/1.8 produces much softer backgrounds than the 100/2.8.

Joules said:

If you watch Gordon Laings review though, you'll see that the RF 85 mm 2.0 definitively has a lesser blur to its backgrounds, which is more relevant when talking about aperture, than such minute differences in light gathering capability usually.

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Yes as Frodo said, that difference probably isn’t to do with the aperture difference, more likely the optical design. To day, lenses that make sharp charts are king.