Canon Lens News

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: The developers answer 10 questions

Canon Rumors
Posted onJun 3, 2019 at 12:21 PM
Updated onUpdated on Jun 3, 2019 at 12:21 PM

Canon Europe has posted an interview with the developers of the recently announced Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, a lens that is likely to become another classic.

Some questions and answers from the interview:

How is the bokeh different from that of its EF-mount cousin?

Kaishi: “In terms of bokeh, a key point is that the minimum focusing distance is closer than that of the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM. The strong bokeh created by f/1.2 can be used to create new types of imaging expressions such as close-ups of areas decorated with jewels.”

How sharp is the lens, really?

Kaishi: “When we were developing this lens, many performance tests were carried out repeatedly on a prototype. When shooting at the widest aperture setting using Eye Detection AF in portrait photography, our test photographers spontaneously let out cries of excitement when they saw how sharp the photos were.

Read the full interview at Canon Europe | Preorder: Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM $2699

Canon Rumors

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P

padam

EOS 7D MK II
Aug 26, 2015
581
208
Great lens, although it will be ruthlessly sharp for portraits.
But, at least, it will probably find focus with confidence.
 
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PGSanta

EOS 80D
Sep 5, 2018
140
105
San Diego, CA
navastronia said:
Why would the autofocus be noisy? None of the other L grade lenses with ring-type USM are noisy.

Also, great, now I’m drooling.
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You've never touched an RF lens, have you.

All of them are noisy. The 50 1.2, and the 28-70 are basically unusable for video unless you plan to use an external mic away from the camera... they are that loud.
 
CanonFanBoy

CanonFanBoy

EOS 5D SR
Jan 28, 2015
3,948
1,517
Irving, Texas
PGSanta said:
You've never touched an RF lens, have you.

All of them are noisy. The 50 1.2, and the 28-70 are basically unusable for video unless you plan to use an external mic away from the camera... they are that loud.
Click to expand...
The reason lapel mics and booms are used. Also why STM lenses are so nice when noise from the lens is a concern. After all, these are not cinema lenses . I've not met a USM lens yet that was suitable for noise free AF during video on a DSLR or MILC. I've no idea what the noise from a Sony or Nikon lens is like. I would imagine they are about the same.
 
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PGSanta

EOS 80D
Sep 5, 2018
140
105
San Diego, CA
CanonFanBoy said:
The reason lapel mics and booms are used. Also why STM lenses are so nice when noise from the lens is a concern. After all, these are not cinema lenses . I've not met a USM lens yet that was suitable for noise free AF during video on a DSLR or MILC. I've no idea what the noise from a Sony or Nikon lens is like. I would imagine they are about the same.
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Sony's run muuuuuuch quieter (the decent to good lenses). I've got no experience with Nikons.

The only RF I don't have much experience with is the 24-105, I hear that one is significantly quieter than the rest, but it seems to me that Canon doesn't really give a shit about making quiet lenses for the RF yet.

I'm a stills guy, luckily. If I were a video guy... I wouldn't touch any RF stuff yet.
 
CanonFanBoy

CanonFanBoy

EOS 5D SR
Jan 28, 2015
3,948
1,517
Irving, Texas
PGSanta said:
Sony's run muuuuuuch quieter (the decent to good lenses). I've got no experience with Nikons.

The only RF I don't have much experience with is the 24-105, I hear that one is significantly quieter than the rest, but it seems to me that Canon doesn't really give a shit about making quiet lenses for the RF yet.

I'm a stills guy, luckily. If I were a video guy... I wouldn't touch any RF stuff yet.
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:ROFLMAO: How did I know this was gonna be about Sony? (Rhetorical question.) But seriously, were I a video guy spending that much money on lenses, I think I'd also be using wireless external mics or something else that gets the mic away from the body, making the lens noise not an issue. It's likely that is why Canon doesn't seem to care. They know their market. Heck, I'm a stills guy too, but I have external mics in the event I do any video. I would never consider the camera mic or a mic mounted on camera for my audio. Off camera microphones are very inexpensive. If a shotgun mic must be used (on camera), then something like this: https://www.rode.com/microphones/videomicpro

I could be wrong, but it seems that many of the complaints I read are much ado about nothing, many times by people who are unaffected by what they are complaining about... so they don't really understand that what they perceive as a problem isn't really a problem. The right tools for the job make all the difference.
 
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6degrees

6degrees

RF 85mm F1.2
Sep 6, 2018
87
61
PGSanta said:
Sony's run muuuuuuch quieter (the decent to good lenses). I've got no experience with Nikons.

The only RF I don't have much experience with is the 24-105, I hear that one is significantly quieter than the rest, but it seems to me that Canon doesn't really give a shit about making quiet lenses for the RF yet.

I'm a stills guy, luckily. If I were a video guy... I wouldn't touch any RF stuff yet.
Click to expand...
I assume you have not tried Sony 85 F1.4 GM.
 
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S

SecureGSM

2 x 5D IV
Feb 26, 2017
1,232
258
padam said:
Great lens, although it will be ruthlessly sharp for portraits.
But, at least, it will probably find focus with confidence.
Click to expand...
Remains to be seen. Let me explain.
A lens may be razor sharp at an infinity. And that’s how sites like LensRentals tend to evaluate lenses.
However, portraiture work is done at a much closer distance to your subject. A few meters for a head and shoulders with a 85mm lens.
Now here is something to be aware off.
e.g. Sigma 105/1.4 Art was confirmed to be a very sharp lens at an infinity by LensRentals.
Well, yup.. it sure is at around 2100 points
But, the same lens evaluated at MFD (1meter) to subject truly sucks in sharpness department with nearly scratching 1600 points mark. A massive difference.
Same is true for Sigma 85/1.4 Art and 135/1.8 Art.

The takeaway from this exercise is: the lens in question is unlikely to be a ruthlessly Sharp for portraits. Unless shot at a around 4 meters and longer distance to subject.
 
P

PGSanta

EOS 80D
Sep 5, 2018
140
105
San Diego, CA
6degrees said:
I assume you have not tried Sony 85 F1.4 GM.
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I owned one for a while. Still way quieter than my RF lenses.

I’m not trying to make this a Sony vs. Canon thing, I pretty much left Sony for the RF system, but you’re delusional if you think the offerings currently available offer the same sort of video abilities that Sony is offering.

The high end lenses are HORRIBLE for hybrid shooters right now; kick ass for stills though.
 
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syder

syder

EOS RP
Apr 29, 2012
200
59
Viggo said:
Get over yourself, any “video guy” who’s serious doesn’t use any onboard mic anyway. That’s just reaching and trying to twist anything into “Sony is better”.
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Agreed.

I guess the 6 C200s we have aren't really video cameras cos they don't even have onboard mics.
 
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P

PGSanta

EOS 80D
Sep 5, 2018
140
105
San Diego, CA
Viggo said:
Get over yourself, any “video guy” who’s serious doesn’t use any onboard mic anyway. That’s just reaching and trying to twist anything into “Sony is better”.
Click to expand...
I am a Canon shooter. I happen to formerly be in the other camp. Heavy video users are going to use dedicated gear, but there's a whole lot of hybrid shooters who are using hybrid set ups to create a ton of very professional stuff. FOR NOW, the stuff Canon has released for the RF IS NOT GOOD for these uses, and YES, SONY (THAT EVIL NAME) offers WAYYYYYYYY more for those people RIGHT NOW.

I don't think Sony is a "better" company, AGAIN I SWITCHED TO AN EOS R, but arguing that Canon is offering hybrid shooters equivalency right now is stupid.
 
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CanonFanBoy

CanonFanBoy

EOS 5D SR
Jan 28, 2015
3,948
1,517
Irving, Texas
PGSanta said:
I am a Canon shooter. I happen to formerly be in the other camp. Heavy video users are going to use dedicated gear, but there's a whole lot of hybrid shooters who are using hybrid set ups to create a ton of very professional stuff. FOR NOW, the stuff Canon has released for the RF IS NOT GOOD for these uses, and YES, SONY (THAT EVIL NAME) offers WAYYYYYYYY more for those people RIGHT NOW.

I don't think Sony is a "better" company, AGAIN I SWITCHED TO AN EOS R, but arguing that Canon is offering hybrid shooters equivalency right now is stupid.
Click to expand...
Who argued that? Funny. You say Sony is better, yet switched to Canon (I know, not for video). Now you're complaining about something that isn't even an issue for you as a stills guy. :LOL::rolleyes: I wish I could get some of that high grade legal California weed here in Texas.

I did video when I had a 70D. Very amateur. But even I knew the best way to get clean audio was through external mics. Had over 1.5 million page views (In 1 year on Google Plus of all places LogicalPrepper) before I shut down my account and quit doing videos. The mics are dirt cheap. Especially for guys rocking an R and a 28-70.
 
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