UPC
13803064056
$1,999.00

Key Features

  • EF-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.2 to f/16
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Super Spectra Coating
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You're reviewing:Canon EF 85mm 1.2L II USM
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Top customer reviews

  1. Spectacular images - worth every dollar
    Quality

    I've been shooting with L zoom lenses for several years -- primarily wedding work -- and always considered the long end of the 24-70 or the short end of the 70-200 as suitable for portaits (using a full-frame 5D sensor), but nothing prepared me for the superior clarity and gorgeous bokeh of this lens. The lens is heavy, and is slow to focus, as most reviewers note, but this is a small trade-off for the superior performance. The razor-sharp DoF can work against you if you're tempted to shoot 1.2 all the time, but it definitely adds extreme drama when you've focused correctly. This is the best lens you can have for portrait or low-light photography.
  2. very fast but at a cost.
    Quality

    I love this lens, the DOF is extremely low as one would expect. I can shoot in near total darkness as long as I have a light for focus assist. Ambient light looks true and beautiful! With that said however this lens is the worst of all I own for backlit subjects. The chromatic aberration is awful, and it is nearly impossible to focus. Keeping in mind manual focus only works to around 4.0 I find myself constantly using auto, which is fast and fine most of the time, but very time consuming and annoying with an even slightly backlit subject. I wouldn't trade this lens for anything, but for variable light situations, I would always carry a backup.
  3. One of the best lenses out there!!!
    Quality

    If you want a great portrait lens with a fast aperture and razor sharp images, LOOK NO FURTHER. Although this lens hits your wallet HARD, I would say this is the best lens I own. (this includes 35mm f/1.4L, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, 400mm f/2.8L, 24-105mm f/4L, etc.) I have used it on my 30D, 5D Mark II and 1D Mark III and it is stellar across the board. And even though I like it the most on my full-frame sensor body, the cropping factor of a 30D, etc. did not bother me. 90% of my favorite images have come from this lens.
  4. Background Control
    Quality

    With the 5D II and this lens, I've gotten more referrals for outdoor portrait gigs than I ever got using previous glass. Senior portrait season is here, and I've had fun with my clients shooting multiple shots with different levels of background softening to give them an idea of the choices they have.
  5. Amazing Lens
    Quality

    I read the reviews on this lens and the 1.8 and thought a long hard about making the extra expenditure. Many people wrote about the 1.8 that they could not see any reason to buy the 1.2, to them I say then you should not. This lens was meant to shoot at 1.2 and when you do it is a marvel to behold. I also read that the focus was slow and not accurate. Yes it is a bit slow but plenty fast for portraits, I also use it when photographing musicians during concerts. It also is almost a requirement for weddings. As for the inaccurate focus that really is not true but you really must know and pay attention to what you are doing when shooting at 1.2 and close to your subject because the depth of field is so very narrow, but that is why you buy a lens like this. Learn to use it right and it will reward you with amazing photographs. People just look better with this lens. As for the complaints about it being heavy I don't find it bad at all, the weight feels good and I am reminded of the words of Joyous in the 13th warrior when Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan complains that the sword they gave him is too heavy...grow stronger. Okay I am just joking here a bit. Sure it is a bit heavy but that is a lot of glass. The price, well you get what you pay for it seems a lot when you fork over the cash but after you shoot with this lens you forget all about the money. This is a specialty lens and when used within that specialty it truly shines.

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