Canon 85mm f/1.2L: The Ultimate Portrait Lens – Review, Guide, and More

The Canon 85mm f/1.2L lens is a legendary piece of glass, revered by portrait photographers for its exceptional image quality, beautiful bokeh, and shallow depth of field. It’s a lens that has earned its place in the bags of professionals and serious enthusiasts alike. But is it the right lens for you? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about the Canon 85mm f/1.2L, exploring its features, performance, pros, cons, and alternatives.

What Makes the Canon 85mm f/1.2L So Special?

Several factors contribute to the Canon 85mm f/1.2L’s iconic status:

• The Ultra-Wide Aperture: An f/1.2 aperture is incredibly fast, allowing for stunningly shallow depth of field. This isolates your subject beautifully, blurring the background into a smooth, creamy bokeh. It also excels in low-light situations, allowing you to shoot with faster shutter speeds and lower ISOs.
• Exceptional Image Quality: The lens is renowned for its sharpness, clarity, and contrast. It renders images with incredible detail and a pleasing aesthetic.
• Beautiful Bokeh: The bokeh, or out-of-focus areas, is a key characteristic of this lens. It’s smooth, creamy, and pleasing to the eye, adding a touch of magic to your portraits.
• Build Quality: As a member of Canon’s L-series (Luxury), the 85mm f/1.2L is built to professional standards. It’s robust, weather-sealed, and designed to withstand the rigors of daily use.

A Closer Look at the Features

Optical Design

The Canon 85mm f/1.2L features a complex optical design with multiple elements, including:

• Aspherical Elements: These elements help to correct aberrations and distortions, resulting in sharper and more accurate images.
• Super Spectra Coating: Canon’s Super Spectra coating minimizes ghosting and flare, ensuring optimal image quality even in challenging lighting conditions.

Autofocus Performance

Autofocus speed has been a point of contention with older versions of the 85mm f/1.2L. The original and Mark II versions were known for their slower autofocus compared to more modern lenses. However, the latest version, the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM, boasts a significantly improved autofocus system thanks to its Ring USM (Ultrasonic Motor) technology. While not the fastest on the market, it’s now much more responsive and accurate, especially when paired with a modern Canon mirrorless body.

Build Quality and Handling

The 85mm f/1.2L lenses are built to last. They feature a robust construction with weather sealing, protecting them from dust and moisture. The lens feels solid and well-balanced in hand. However, it’s also a relatively large and heavy lens, which can be a consideration for some photographers.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM vs. Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: What’s the Difference?

It’s crucial to differentiate between the EF and RF versions of this lens:

• Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM: This version is designed for Canon’s DSLR cameras. It requires an EF mount and can be adapted to Canon’s mirrorless bodies using an EF-RF adapter.
• Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM: This version is designed specifically for Canon’s mirrorless cameras with the RF mount. It offers improved autofocus performance and image quality compared to the EF version. It also takes advantage of the RF mount’s advanced communication capabilities.

If you’re shooting with a Canon mirrorless camera, the RF version is the clear choice. The improved autofocus and image quality make it a worthwhile upgrade.

Image Quality: Sharpness, Bokeh, and More

Sharpness

The Canon 85mm f/1.2L is renowned for its sharpness, even wide open at f/1.2. While you might see a slight softness at the extreme corners of the frame at f/1.2, the center sharpness is excellent. Stopping down to f/2 or f/2.8 further improves sharpness across the entire frame.

Bokeh

The bokeh is arguably the most defining characteristic of this lens. It’s incredibly smooth, creamy, and pleasing to the eye. The shallow depth of field allows you to isolate your subject beautifully, creating a dreamy and ethereal look. The 85mm focal length is also ideal for flattering portraits, minimizing distortion and providing a natural perspective.

Chromatic Aberration

Like most fast aperture lenses, the 85mm f/1.2L can exhibit some chromatic aberration, especially when shooting wide open in high-contrast situations. However, it’s generally well-controlled and can be easily corrected in post-processing.

Vignetting

Vignetting, or darkening of the corners of the frame, is noticeable at f/1.2. However, it’s less pronounced at smaller apertures and can also be easily corrected in post-processing.

Who is the Canon 85mm f/1.2L For?

The Canon 85mm f/1.2L is primarily designed for:

• Portrait Photographers: This is the lens’s bread and butter. The combination of the 85mm focal length, f/1.2 aperture, and beautiful bokeh makes it ideal for capturing stunning portraits.
• Wedding Photographers: The lens excels at capturing candid moments, portraits, and details at weddings, even in challenging lighting conditions.
• Fashion Photographers: The shallow depth of field and flattering perspective make it a great choice for fashion photography.
• Anyone Who Wants Exceptional Image Quality: If you’re looking for a lens that delivers exceptional sharpness, clarity, and bokeh, the 85mm f/1.2L is a top contender.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Incredible image quality
• Beautiful bokeh
• Ultra-wide f/1.2 aperture
• Solid build quality
• Weather-sealed

Cons:

• Expensive
• Large and heavy
• Autofocus can be slow (especially on older versions)
• Can exhibit chromatic aberration and vignetting at f/1.2

Alternatives to the Canon 85mm f/1.2L

If the Canon 85mm f/1.2L is out of your budget or doesn’t quite fit your needs, here are some alternative options:

• Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS USM: This lens offers a slightly narrower aperture but includes image stabilization (IS), which can be helpful for shooting handheld in low light. It’s also generally less expensive than the f/1.2L.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art: This is a popular third-party option that offers excellent image quality at a more affordable price point. It’s known for its sharpness and beautiful bokeh.
• Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM: If you’re shooting with a Sony camera, this is a fantastic option. It delivers exceptional image quality and features fast and accurate autofocus.
• Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S: For Nikon Z mount users, this offers similar ultra-fast aperture performance to the Canon version.

Tips for Shooting with the Canon 85mm f/1.2L

• Master the Focus: With such a shallow depth of field, precise focusing is crucial. Use the focus peaking feature on your camera to ensure your subject is sharp.
• Shoot in Manual Mode: Taking control of your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO will allow you to get the most out of this lens.
• Watch Your Backgrounds: The shallow depth of field will blur the background, but it’s still important to choose backgrounds that are pleasing and don’t distract from your subject.
• Experiment with Different Lighting Conditions: The f/1.2 aperture excels in low light, but it can also be used creatively in brighter conditions to create a dreamy and ethereal look.
• Post-Process Your Images: Use software like Adobe Lightroom or Capture One to fine-tune your images, correct any chromatic aberration or vignetting, and enhance the overall look.

Conclusion: Is the Canon 85mm f/1.2L Worth It?

The Canon 85mm f/1.2L is a truly exceptional lens that delivers stunning image quality and beautiful bokeh. It’s a favorite among portrait photographers for a reason. However, it’s also a large, heavy, and expensive lens. Whether it’s the right lens for you depends on your budget, your shooting style, and your needs. If you’re a serious portrait photographer who demands the best possible image quality and doesn’t mind the price tag, the Canon 85mm f/1.2L is definitely worth considering. If you’re on a tighter budget or prefer a lighter and more versatile lens, there are other excellent options available.