Left
85mm f/2
When stopping down a
little, longitudinal chromatic
aberration can remain a
little more apparent than
with some competing lensesFar left
85mm f/1.4
Centre sharpness is
excellent, and the relatively
mediocre corner sharpness
is rarely a problemRight
A chunky lens with a
premium build
Build quality and handling are
excellent, while optical image
stabilisation is a real bonus.
The depth-of-field markers on
the focus distance scale are
comparatively superfluousPRICE: £1,379 / $1,599
Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
Canon’s latest 85mm f/1.4 lens for DSLRs aims to give you the best of both worlds
Buying a prime lens can often land you
with a bit of a conundrum. Should you go
for a modest aperture rating of around
f/1.8 to f/2.8 with the bonus of optical
stabilisation, or would you be better off
with a faster f/1.4 lens that enables a
tighter depth of field? There’s a lot to be
said for stabilisation when you’re shooting
handheld with a telephoto lens, especially
in portraiture where you might be shooting
in the shadows or other relatively dull
conditions for a softer quality of light.
This lens from Canon caters to both
sides of the argument, with a fast f/1.4aperture rating and a highly effective four-
stop optical stabiliser. The latter is notably
lacking in the Nikon and Sigma f/1.4 lenses
on test. Like most of Canon’s L-series lenses,
it has pro-grade build quality and comes
complete with weather seals and a hood,
generally not included with Canon’s more
mass-market lenses. Moreover, durability is
enhanced by a shock-absorbing front barrel
and fluorine coatings on the front and rear
elements, to repel moisture and grease
and aid easy cleaning. High-tech internal
coatings include ASC (Air Sphere Coating)
to minimise ghosting and flare.The ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system
proved fast and consistently accurate in our
tests, while the stabiliser lived up to its four-
stop claims. Contrast and centre sharpness
are excellent even when shooting wide open,
although corner sharpness lags behind that
of the competing Sigma lens, especially
at wide apertures. Lateral chromatic
aberration is very minimal, but longitudinal
chromatic aberration (or ‘bokeh fringing’) is
more noticeable than with the Sigma lens.
In other respects, bokeh is pleasing and
remains good when narrowing the aperture
from its widest setting.LENS AVAILABLE
TO HIRE FROMA CAMERA .COM
GROUP TEST
Left
85mm f/2
When stopping down a
little, longitudinal chromatic
aberration can remain a
little more apparent than
with some competing lensesFar left
85mm f/1.4
Centre sharpness is
excellent, and the relatively
mediocre corner sharpness
is rarely a problemRight
A chunky lens with a
premium build
Build quality and handling are
excellent, while optical image
stabilisation is a real bonus.
The depth-of-field markers on
the focus distance scale are
comparatively superfluous
PRICE: £1,379 / $1,599
Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM
Canon’s latest 85mm f/1.4 lens for DSLRs aims to give you the best of both worlds
Buying a prime lens can often land you
with a bit of a conundrum. Should you go
for a modest aperture rating of around
f/1.8 to f/2.8 with the bonus of optical
stabilisation, or would you be better off
with a faster f/1.4 lens that enables a
tighter depth of field? There’s a lot to be
said for stabilisation when you’re shooting
handheld with a telephoto lens, especially
in portraiture where you might be shooting
in the shadows or other relatively dull
conditions for a softer quality of light.
This lens from Canon caters to both
sides of the argument, with a fast f/1.4aperture rating and a highly effective four-
stop optical stabiliser. The latter is notably
lacking in the Nikon and Sigma f/1.4 lenses
on test. Like most of Canon’s L-series lenses,
it has pro-grade build quality and comes
complete with weather seals and a hood,
generally not included with Canon’s more
mass-market lenses. Moreover, durability is
enhanced by a shock-absorbing front barrel
and fluorine coatings on the front and rear
elements, to repel moisture and grease
and aid easy cleaning. High-tech internal
coatings include ASC (Air Sphere Coating)
to minimise ghosting and flare.The ring-type ultrasonic autofocus system
proved fast and consistently accurate in our
tests, while the stabiliser lived up to its four-
stop claims. Contrast and centre sharpness
are excellent even when shooting wide open,
although corner sharpness lags behind that
of the competing Sigma lens, especially
at wide apertures. Lateral chromatic
aberration is very minimal, but longitudinal
chromatic aberration (or ‘bokeh fringing’) is
more noticeable than with the Sigma lens.
In other respects, bokeh is pleasing and
remains good when narrowing the aperture
from its widest setting.LENS AVAILABLE
TO HIRE FROMA CAMERA .COM
GROUP TEST