I’m Vanessa Joy, NJ + NYC wedding and portrait photographer, and I’ve recently had the chance to test out the new Canon EOS R6, as well as the brand new Canon RF 85mm f/2.0 lens with image stabilization. Read on to see how this lens works with model portraits, smooth background bokeh, fast-moving kids, and in low-light scenarios.
All of the images in this article are from the brand new Canon RF 85mm f/2.0 IS without any post-production editing. This way, you can see how this lens performs straight out of camera.
Canon describes this lens as a medium telephoto lens ideal for the causal photographer, street photographer, and budding portrait creator. Fast auto focus and a half life-size macro function make this lens a very useful lens, all at a good affordable price. This will be similar to the legendary EF 85mm F1.8 lens that has been around and still selling after 28 years.
Moms like me, streamers, and amateur to hobbyist photographers are going to love this lens. This is the answer for anyone looking for a nice prime lens for the mirrorless camera line. It’s fast in low light and doesn’t break the bank. The fast auto-focus alone makes this a really useful lens for someone who’s on a budget but still wants a quality lens that they’re not fighting with to focus. Going all the way down to 2.0 let’s you use this in low light, but it’s also going to give you beautiful bokeh.
The power of IBIS
The maximum magnification is 0.5 times and the minimum focusing distance of the lens is 1.15 feet. The optical image stabilization has up to 5 stops of shake correction. If you know me, you know I love any lens that has image stabilization. What that means, if you’re not familiar, is the rule of thumb for an 85 millimeter focal length is to shoot at a shutter speed of a hundredth of a second or higher.
With five stops of stabilization, you can ideally stop down five times from that 1/100th of a second and still be okay. Granted, this means you’re probably not running around when you shoot with it or photographing a fast-moving subject. But in normal circumstances, just hold still, hold your breath, stop your heart from beating (kidding) and you’ll be right as rain. The Hybrid Image Stabilization compensates for angular and shift camera shake during macro shooting.
Like a lot of the RF lenses, you have a control ring that you can custom set. The lens features a 12-pin communication system and a circular, 9-blade aperture.
I tested this lens in multiple scenarios so I could evaluate its performance in various lighting and subject situations. I paired it with the newly released Canon EOS R6 and was pleasantly surprised at the speed of focus, even in dimly-lit rooms and while focus tracking my fast-moving toddler. Because this lens is targeted towards non-professionals, ease of use is imperative and typically indicated by its focusing capability. Focusing speed and accuracy are on-point for this lightweight lens, making it very user friendly. Even as a professional photographer, I wouldn’t mind having this lens with me on a job or even to take when I want to bring a camera along on trips and prefer a less heavy portrait lens option.
Shop the Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens Now!
Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM Lens ()
Feature photo via Vanessa Joy
