Digital Camera World - UK (2019-08)

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com AUGUST 2019 DIGITAL CAMERA^117

Verdict

The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 is massively expensive

and specialised, but it does everything you’d hope

and more. Its image quality wide-open is quite

superb, and the autofocus performance can

deliver sharp ‘eye’ shots time and time again.

4.5 Outstanding

4.5

Features

4.5

Image

quality

3.0

Value

he Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM combines a fast f/1.2
maximum aperture, for soft background blur, with
the 85mm focal length reckoned to give the best
balance between flattering facial perspectives and
a useful working distance. An important addition
to the Canon RF lens roadmap, it’s likely to be categorised solidly
as a ‘portrait’ lens by most photographers, although Canon
says it’s also suited to street and low-light photography.
That f/1.2 lens aperture is quite something. It’s roughly half a stop
faster than the f/1.4 maximum aperture commonly seen in portrait
lenses. The optical design uses Canon’s cutting-edge BR (Blue-
Spectrum Refractive) glass material to ‘negate’ colour aberrations,
and an aspheric element to eliminate the spherical aberration
in ultra-wide-aperture lens designs.

Performance
Canon’s old 85mm f/1.2 lens was so slow as to make accurate
focus quite tricky, but this new RF version has no such problems.
The ring-type USM autofocus is really fast, and the EOS R’s eye AF
is extremely effective. With the ‘old’ lens it was a challenge getting
eyes in focus even with static subjects, as the slightest sway or
movement by the photographer could throw out the focus.
There’s no such problem here – especially if you switch to Servo
AF. In fact, the EOS R and RF 85mm f/1.2 delivered a 100% hit
rate of sharp eye focus when we tested it against a subject
walking directly towards the camera. Given the extremely
shallow depth of field wide open, that’s very impressive.
Our lab tests show that the resolution falls off towards the
edges of the frame, but that’s not necessarily a problem in a lens
designed for portraits, and the resolution in the centre of the frame
is spectacular, even wide open at f/1.2. Rod Lawton & Dan Pearce

T

1

Fluorine coatings on

the front and rear

elements help protect

against dust, moisture

and scratches.

2

The customisable

control ring can be

used to adjust shutter

speed, lens aperture,

EV compensation

and ISO settings.

3

This is one of Canon’s

premium L-series

lenses, so it comes

with weather-sealing

as standard.

Canon RF 85mm

f/1.2L USM

£2,799/$2,699

The ultimate portrait lens

http://www.canon.co.uk

Specifications

Full-frame compatible: Ye s

Effective focal length: 85mm

Image stabiliser: No

Minimum focus distance: 0.85m

Max magnification factor: 0.12x

Manual focus override: Ye s

Focus limit switches: Ye s

Internal zoom: N/A

Internal focus: Ye s

Filter size: 82mm

Iris blades: 9

Weather seals: Yes

Supplied accessories: Hood, pouch

Dimensions: (dia x length): 103 x 117mm

Weight: 1,195g

5.0

Build &

handling

2

1

3

Centre sharpness

Centre sharpness is superb across all apertures.

Corner sharpness is relatively disappointing, though.

Fringing 0.38

As you’d expect from a high-quality prime lens,

fringing is very well controlled at all apertures.

Distortion -0.14

This distortion figure is so low that it has no practical

significance in everyday photography.

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Prime lens