Photo Plus - UK (2019-12)

The Canon Magazine 109

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f/1.2f/1.4 f/1.8 f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22

85mm PORTRAIT LENSES

Centre Middle Edge

Sharpness

CANON RF 85mm

f/1.2L USM £2799/$2699

Sometimes it’s hard to resist the temptation to go

large, especially when the quality is so good

new lens from Canon,

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looks large on a svelte

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is expensive to buy. But while

it’s big in build and price, it’s

supersized for image quality

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The highly complex optical

path includes aspherical and

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elements, the same Air Sphere

Coating that’s featured in the

latest EF 85mm f/1.4 lens, plus

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the EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens.

The overall aim is to maximize

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contrast, while keeping both

lateral and longitudinal

chromatic aberrations,

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to an absolute minimum.

Build quality is a step up

from Canon’s EF f/1.2, with a

sturdier feel and the addition

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coatings on the front and rear

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ultrasonic AF system is much

faster than in the EF f/1.2, but

again has an electronically

coupled focus ring that

operates with precision.

Performance

Unlike the Canon EF f/1.2, the

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the central region of the

frame, even when shooting

wide. Acting as a showcase for

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longitudinal or ‘bokeh’

fringing is well controlled

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becomes negligible even when

narrowing the aperture. The

quality of bokeh is the best in

the group, and defocused

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rounded when stopping down.

FEATURES

VERDICT

01

You get fluorine

coatings on the front

and rear elements.

02

The control ring can

be customized for

adjusting the likes of

aperture, shutter

speed and ISO.

03

There’s no physical

focus distance scale,

but it would be

superfluous anyway.

04

The electronically

coupled focus ring

works a treat.

05

An AF range limiter

switch locks out the

short range between

0.85m and 1.5m.

FEATURES

BUILD & HANDLING

PERFORMANCE

VALUE

OVERALL

01

02

04

A

05

03

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