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Questions & Answers

Shopper : Am I able to finance this lens through the Canon Leasing program since you are an authorized dealer?ANDREW R : Responses on this Q&A system are from other customers, NOT Adorama employees (unless indicated by email or otherwise as "staff"). For best response regarding specific purchase inquiries please call 800-223-2500.
DAVID R : What is the best lens for action photography of bands with lights and much movement?BRENDA P : While this is a great lens, it's fairly slow focus so wouldn't be great for the environment you describe.WILLIAM R : I wouldn't recommend this lens. It is too slow to focus. The 50mm F1.2L would be preferable if you really need the F1.2, but I would probably opt for the 70-200mm f2.8 ISLMARTIN K : The 85 f/1.2 would not be my first choice. My preference for a live band, if either in the press area in front of the stage or if on the stage, is always a zoom, usually one body with a 24-70 and a second with 70-200 - sometimes with a 1.4x extender. My favorite aperture is 2.8, but that's often not enough for being close to the performers, even 5.6 can be too shallow. But, with f/8 I have to watch the background, shutter speed & iso closely. I rarely use the 85 f/1.2 at f/1.2 because the focus depth requires methodical interaction between the camera position and the subject to achieve exactly the effect I'm looking for. The dynamics of a live performance makes the zooms a more effective choice IMO. Good Luck!RICHARD B : Sorry, probably not a good source of info, as I use the lens for close up and portraiture, etc...............I normally us my 24-105mm for its zoom capabilities, as opposed to fixed lens characteristics.IAN P : This lens would be great for action photos of bands. The autofocus can be a little slow. Another great Canon lens would be the 70-200 2.8L II The 300mm 2.8 L is also a wonderful lens, but more pricy and not a zoom.
Shopper : Is it suitable for Rebel T3i?LARS L : Agree with other comments. Lens is one of my favorite when used on a full frame camera like 1D or 5D - unless you have money to burn...JON S : No. This is a very expensive specialty lens. It will work on your camera but would act as a 125mm f1.2 on it. Great for full frame. Not so much your camera. KHA H : It is to heavy to put on T3iCHERYL C : I would say this would be too big and heavy for a rebel - the camera wouldn't be "balanced" in your hand....it would still be usable, but I would maybe go for the f/1.8 instead

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2020-08-31T11:17:44

Rated 5 out of 5

Best Bokeh

This lens renders exceptional Bokeh. The best portrait lens on the market for a DSLR.

TITUS W.

2020-08-31T10:53:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Best Deal on the Internet

Best bundle deal on the internet. The tripod was top quality and the lens is by far the best portrait lens money can buy.

TITUS W.

2020-08-02T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent portrait lens, tack sharp wide even wide

What to say about this lens! Excellent, outstanding bokeh and tack sharp even at wide open. It's even better with R system with excellent eye tracking. It produces excellent portraits no matter what your subject and what the background is. Simply set it to eye AF and set f1.2 or 1.4 and the lens do the magic for you. Highly recommend.

Souvik

2020-07-16T08:06:47

Rated 4 out of 5

Canon 85mm is a must have

Other than the barrel being super slow during focusing, the lens is a must-have in any portrait photographer's kit. Distortion is almost non-existent, and images are super sharp even at wide open apertures.

SANDRA A.

2020-07-13T08:59:12

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent!

Excellent lens! I received it well within the timeline provided. I was so happy it came in so quickly and I put it to use right away.

MARIAN V.

2020-07-04T16:56:05

Rated 5 out of 5

Purchase

Excellent purchase.

MARIAN V.

2020-06-19T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

The best 85 in the game!

This is an excellent lens with a beautiful bokeh. Great for headshots and product photography!

Siraj H.

2020-03-14T21:30:43

Rated 5 out of 5

Incredible look this lens gives.

Incredible lens that gives a unique result. When you nail the focus the images it yields is incomparable. It may take longer to focus than other 85mm but the wait is well worth it. Expensive but stays on my camera the majority of portrait photo sessions.

Faye L.

2020-02-27T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Heavy but astonishing

I bought this lens for portraiture and the quality is astonishing. The lens itself is fairly heavy but there’s quite a bit of glass involved. I see a lot of chromatic aberration when shooting high contrast subjects. Although editing software usually does a decent job of removing it, it can sometimes be an issue when a subject is in business attire with a white shirt. Regardless, the depth of field is razor sharp and I recommend taking at least a few shots per pose to ensure that you get the eyes in focus. Speaking of focus, it’s slow. This is not a lens for fast-paced action. It wants you to take your time.

AndrewPDX

2020-02-05T11:47:13

Rated 5 out of 5

An awesome lens and an awesome tripod

Such an amazing lens and I’ll always use Manfrotto tripods and ligjtstands, which are the best in my opinion.

Reg H.

2019-09-27T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Best one in my hand

Perfect lens for portrait. Had a lot of fun with my kids now.

Leonardhan

2019-02-07T08:24:48

Rated 5 out of 5

Perfect walk around lens

Great quality photos, this is the perfect walk around lens.

LYNN D.

2019-02-05T13:32:56

Rated 5 out of 5

Beauuutiful results!!!

I use and love my Canon 200mm 2.0L, in some places it's not feasible to carry such a beautiful monster, that's where my Canon 85mm 1.2L II comes in, It doesn't miss a beat! Yes, it's slow focusing, the glass on the mount is scary, but I love love love the results!!!

AL M.

2018-12-20T14:54:19

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent Lens

Excellent Lens .. It was my dream to get this lens. Finally i decided to purchased ( before that I have compared with Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS) Both lens are great but f1/2 is much better. Choice is yours .. Thank you

Ruslan M.

2018-12-20T14:47:06

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent Lens

Let me tell you 2 things 1. I have purchased prior from Adorama , shipping ( ussually comes early ) and product described as expected. 2. The lens it self .. as perfect as i expected. I was doing my research and trying decide which one I want ( Canon EF 85mm F1/2 II and Canon EF 85mm F1/4 ) after that I choose Canon 85 mm f1/2 . sharpness and quality - outstanding

Ruslan M.

2018-12-11T14:04:59

Rated 5 out of 5

Portrait photographers dream

If you are looking for a portrait lens look not further! This is a MUST have!

Connie E.

2018-12-11T14:04:15

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic

if you are looking for a portrait lens this is the BEST! You must have it!

Connie E.

2018-12-05T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Canon did it again!

I just upgraded ti the EF85MM lens.. What an amazing lens. I shoot with a Canon 80D and i use this lens mainly for portraits/ engagements. Best decision we ever made to purchase.

Mike79

2018-06-26T14:27:08

Rated 5 out of 5

Boom!

This lens pops! I have use this lens primarily for portrait and weddings and have yet to have a bad shot separate from my own hurried composition. Clear, sharp and fast are the three up front words I would apply to this lens.

CARLTON M.

2018-05-01T13:47:07

Rated 3 out of 5

Great Lens, slow focus

This was one of my favorite lenses. I just had to replace it and now the new one seems to have a slower focus. So that's disappointing.

SARAH M.

2018-04-23T06:33:07

Rated 5 out of 5

Nothing like it

I've shot many a prime lens including the 50 mm f1.2 (which I also love), but this lens is on another plane. From the creamy bokeh when fully open to the sharp detail and color, it's just hard to beat. In fact, I use this as a walk-around lens and stop it down to ensure a broader DOF. It still performs as expected. The images produced tell the story. Expensive yes, but worth every penny, er... dollar. I've got two lenses that I keep on my bodies at all times, the Canon 24-70 f2.8 II and this one. The cons - it's heavy. Interestingly, I adapted this to a Sony A7III and the size and weight dwarfs the Sony body. But it works!

Daniel M.

2018-03-29T05:59:52

Rated 5 out of 5

One of Canon's best lenses

Most brilliant lens for portraits, even landscapes. Astonishing must create with lens.

John S.

2017-12-18T11:53:19

Rated 5 out of 5

Great 85mm lens! Very sharp at 1.2.

Really nice Canon 85mm lens and tripod

Jon

2017-11-27T08:02:42

Rated 5 out of 5

Awesome smooth super bright

Awesome smooth super bright lens!! my favorite, just a little heavy and expensive, but´s totally worth it!

Diego E.

2017-10-19T11:48:37

Rated 5 out of 5

Very pleased

This is THE Canon portrait lens. Sharp details, focus can be slow, but not too slow. Chromatic aberration is evident at full size, but only with high contrast subjects. That price though...

Kerry T.

2017-07-06T12:02:25

Rated 5 out of 5

New favorite lens!

I LOVE this lens. I'd been wanting to buy it for awhile and read about every review I could find about it before I bought. Very versatile, weighs a bit more than I expected but still really manageable for all day use. I use this lens for everything, portraits, weddings, fashion, nightlife. My favorite prime. Video with this lens is great, super sharp, can get a lot of artistic shots with this lens. I recommend this lens to everyone!

Alicia W.

2017-07-05T16:05:10

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Lens for Portraits

Recently purchased this lens. Specifically wanted a prime lens for bridal portraits. Despite the heaviness, love using it! Sharp, beautiful depth.

Sidney K.

2017-06-08T15:51:25

Rated 5 out of 5

Beautiful Lens

I really enjoy this lens. You may want to look into the Sigma 85mm as well. In hind sight what I've read is that in some ways its a better lens and significantly cheaper. I still do not regret my purchase which is why i give this 5 stars. I probably paid for the Canon name...but oh well

MIKE Z.

2017-04-30T06:19:50

Rated 5 out of 5

85mm 1.2 Canon L Lens

Great Lens. I am enjoying using this Lens. I did a photo shoot with my 5 yr. old grand-daughter and loved the results !!

Roberto C.

2017-04-20T08:50:24

Rated 4 out of 5

A great lens.

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 II is a great lens. Not only for portraits but in general. The lens is sharp and the focusing is pretty fast. At 1.2 you will get a little chromatic aberration but you can correct in post. I'm loving the additional goodies that Adorama offers with this lens!

ALEXANDER A.

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Canon 85mm F/1.2L Specifications

General

General

Jump to...
  • Brand

    Canon

  • MPN

    1056B002

  • Lens Series

    Canon EF

  • Color

    Black

  • Lens Type

    Telephoto

  • Lens Mount

    Canon EOS

  • Format Compatibility

    Full Frame

  • Focus Type

    Auto Focus

  • Focusing Technology

    N/A

  • Closest Focus Distance

    37.2" / 95cm

  • Distance Information

    N/A

  • Built-In Motor

    N/A

  • Focal Length

    85mm

  • Angle Of View

    28 deg.

  • 35mm Equivalent Focal Length

    Not Applicable

  • Coverage

    N/A

  • Minimum Aperture

    f/16

  • Maximum Aperture

    f/1.2

  • Maximum Magnification

    0.13x

  • Lens Coating

    N/A

  • Aspherical Elements

    Yes

  • ED Glass Elements

    N/A

  • Filter Size

    72mm

Construction

Jump to...
  • Lens Elements / Groups

    8 Elements / 7 Groups

  • Diaphragm Blades

    N/A

  • Dimensions

    3.6 x 3.3" (91.5 x 84.0mm)

  • Weight

    36.5oz / 1025g

Features

Jump to...
  • Image Stabilization Type

    None

  • Tripod Collar

    Yes

  • Waterproof / Water Resistant

    N/A

  • Dust Resistant

    N/A

  • UPC Code

    013803064056

11 Accessories for Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Lens

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About Canon 85mm F/1.2L

PRO REVIEW by Emily Soto, Fashion Photographer

"This has been my favorite lens since early on in my career as I love the depth of field and shooting at a low aperture. The lens gives such a beautiful, soft feel to the images."

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is a medium telephoto prime lens that is considered the ultimate professional portrait photography lens because of its extremely wide aperture, which results in a narrow depth of field and dramatic focus fall-off. Its superb floating optical system and aspherical lens element produce outstanding quality images with minimal reflections, glare and ghosting. As a Canon L-series lens, it is weather-sealed against moisture and dust, and image quality rivals prime lenses.

What you should know about this lens:
f/1.2 aperture: It's the largest-aperture 85mm lens available, and is ideal for general low-light photography indoors without flash, as well as specifically for portraits. Many pros consider this the ultimate portrait lens.
Excellent elements: The floating optical system includes an aspherical lens element, and Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping to eliminate flare and ghosting. Resulting images show outstanding contrast, vividness, and accurate color balance.
Great bokeh: The aperture blades are circular, creating a creamy blurred background and round specular highlights, enhancing the image.
Fine focus: With such a large aperture, focus is critical. Autofocus is smooth and fast, and full-time manual focus override lets you fine-tune focus even in AF mode.
Durably built: This L-series lens is weather sealed to protect it against moisture and dust damage.

Canon 85mm F/1.2L Features

  • Medium telephoto lens - 85mm focal length, fast f/1.2 aperture
  • Large diameter precision-ground aspherical element effectively corrects spherical aberration
  • Floating lens elements to minimize aberration during focus, ensuring high image quality over entire image area
  • Large maximum aperture for available light shooting and attractive background defocus
  • 37.4" / 95cm minimum focus distance
  • Ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for fast and virtually silent operation
  • Manual focusing enabled even during AF mode (full time mechanical focusing)
  • 72mm Filter Size.

Key Features

  • Fast f/1.2 aperture
  • Precision-ground aspherical element
  • Floating lens elements to minimize aberration during focus
  • 37.4" / 95cm minimum focus distance
  • 72mm Filter Size

What's in the box:

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Lens
  • Front Lens Cap E-72
  • Rear Lens Cap E
  • ES-79 II Lens Hood
  • LP-1219 Soft Lens Case
  • Canon 1 Year Warranty