ProOptic 85mm f/1.4 Telephoto Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS Mount SLR Cameras

2016-02-07T13:06:49

I was hesitant to buy this when I saw that it was an all manual lens - but have no fear! It's amazing! I can't put my camera down! It's still very easy to use, and it creates beautiful images and beautiful bokeh.

Sarah M.

2013-03-06T19:00:00

I wanted it specifically for portraits and low light photography in exteriors. Can't be beat for the price

phil

2013-02-14T19:00:00

This lens is hard to beat for the price. Very wide and excellent optics are obtained by not spending any production dollars or volume in the lens body on Image Stabilization or Auto-Focus. It's a purely manual lens, however, semi-automatic function is still available. It will not read its aperture in the camera as there is no electrical connection between the camera and the lens. Manual function users will simply set the aperture via the ring on the lens rather than the aperture wheel on their camera, and the speed as they normally do, consulting their light meter, histograms or experience. For semi-automatic operation, set the camera to Aperture Priority, choose the desired aperture on the lens aperture ring and the camera will set the shutter speed automatically. Of course, you focus it yourself just like photographers have been doing for the majority of years in which cameras have been available. Your camera focus 'beeper' might give you assistance in some lighting situations. All in all, with f/1.4 capability, there is nothing close to its price/performance ratio. Are there any negatives? Perhaps a bit more flair then lenses that are many times its cost when at an acute angle to the sun.... Then again, facing directly into the sun is not a generally recommended photographic technique....

LAURENCE G.

2013-02-05T19:00:00

The lens is fine when using high contrast photos. However the chip for peaking indicator is missing and not present. Its a totally manual Focus lens which does have focus problems in formal portraits.

Ravi

2013-01-06T19:00:00

Great lens for the money, if you like Zeiss, manual focus high quality but don't want to pay a lot, then get this lens. For $230 more I could've got the Nikon 1.8G which has better iq imo, AF, body controlled aperture, durable plastic and not be a third party lens. However I am completely satisfied as 85 is not my main lens but do enjoy having a quality prime. BTW this lens is metal, stout, well built and will probably last several lifetimes. Sharpness at 1.4 is stunning if focused correctly I use the >0< indicators on the D600 works almost as fast with practice, plus you get that extra "link" to your camera.

JOHN M.

2012-12-24T19:00:00

This is a manual lens. Manual aperture, manual focus. Operated by you the photographer. This is why a large piece of glass with this large of an aperture is this cheap. The camera will do almost nothing (outside of a focus conformation light sometimes) for your shot. Its up to you, hence the word "Manual". On a tripod, shooting a portrait or filming a vid this lens is a blast to use. I found it far easier to find focus with live view at first but with practice and some fiddling with the Dioptic dial on the camera the view finder is just fine now. I bought this one to replace the Canon FD lens I have that needs an adapter to EOS. Sports? Kids on the run? Not the lens you need. Portraits? Cool movie effects pulling focus and fade outs? Perfect for the money. When I hit the big time I will buy the Canon L 1.2, but for now... this lens does a great job. The only reason not a five star rating for me is that the Canon focus conformation light inside the camera through the lens is hit and miss. I just use the live view on the 7D or shoot connected to my Mac mostly.

9one3five

2012-09-16T21:00:00

Saw it advertised in a photo magazine and found it here. Delivered totally as advertised on time. Sharp focus and good Bokeh.

ROBERT L.

2012-08-25T21:00:00

Unless I got a lemon, besides the focus being manual, everything else is below manual. I cannot adjust the aperture through any dial on my Canon 40D. The only way to adjust the aperture is on the lens itself. I called customer service and said I understood that the lens is manual focus, but that I can't change or even view the aperture setting from my camera. He said that he is aware that the lens does not have aperture priority. This is very misleading in the information provided on the website about the lens. The lens does not have shutter priority either. I can change the shutter speed through my camera, but it does not alter the aperture setting. Again, the only way I can see the aperture setting or change it is to take the camera from my eye and read the setting on the lens. I hope for everyone else's sake, I got a lemon...but I'm not sure.

Lezley A.

2012-01-06T19:00:00

I use this lens on my 5D and 7D all the time strictly for video, i love it the lens has a nice "drag" when finding focus, it feels like a much higer priced lens. I have compared this to many other lens including Nikons, Zeiss, and the optical quality is nil. This lens is prone to lens flare but generally I like that anyways. I'd give this lens 5 stars for the price and quality at that price is above 5 stars, but not having autofocus for when I do photography is a 1 star reduction.

Clint V.