Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | Canon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

2 end

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Whisle
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Used are hard to find unless the price is premium. Is this lens that good?

Oct 25, 2023 at 10:22 AM

Creative Edge
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

I use one adapted to my Nikon Z9 and to the GFX100s and absolutely love the lens. Gorgeous IQ starting out at 1.4. One of my favorite on both cameras. I prefer it over the Nikon G version.

Oct 25, 2023 at 11:02 AM

deepbluejh
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

It's got a bit less "character" than the old 85/1.2L, but has far fewer flaws as well. It's an excellent lens all around and great for the price.

Oct 25, 2023 at 11:13 AM

rscheffler
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

As deepbluejh suggests, the 85/1.4L IS is a more refined, modernized version of the EF 85/1.2 that preceded it. Technical improvements include: faster AF, IS, flatter field (sharper at wider apertures towards the edges), better controlled but not eliminated LoCA (bokeh color fringing and purple fringing at wider apertures), better veiling flare resistance in strongly backlit situations.

It's basically a modernized optic, though not quite as "perfect" as the RF 85/1.2. A subjective tradeoff of this modernization is that the manner in which it renders out of focus areas is very neutral, which could be described as having less character than the 85/1.2. This is pretty much inline with many current lens designs.

Oct 25, 2023 at 11:36 AM

Peter Figen
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

And it has image stabilization. I sold my 85mm 1.2, bought the 1.4 and never regretted it for a moment. One of my favorite lenses on either the Canon or the GFX.

Oct 25, 2023 at 11:46 AM

AmbientMike
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Just checked keh they have several in the $1100-1200 range. I'd rather pay less but doesn't sound unreasonable.

You could get a 1.2 I'd guess the 1.4 has better sharpness and contrast wide open. the stuff lens tests measure. Which you might or might not want for portraits, could be secondary

Oct 25, 2023 at 12:09 PM

Creative Edge
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Peter Figen wrote:
And it has image stabilization. I sold my 85mm 1.2, bought the 1.4 and never regretted it for a moment. One of my favorite lenses on either the Canon or the GFX.

I too had the ef 1.2 and prefer the 1.4 version.

Oct 25, 2023 at 12:58 PM

jcolwell
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

There's more than a dozen listed on eBay, at the moment. Prices range from about $1000 US for [E+] to 1300 US for [M-, New].

If you expect to find one for a bargain price, then you should be super careful to avoid scams. IMO, $1300 US for a L-series prime lens in near mint to New condition, is quite reasonable.

Oct 26, 2023 at 07:26 AM

tcphoto
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

I've owned every version of the 85L and I love my 85/1.4L on my 5DIV's. I shot an event recently and paired the 85/1.4L with a Sigma 35/1.4 and was impressed with the results.

Oct 26, 2023 at 07:58 AM

steamtrain
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Whisle wrote:
Used are hard to find unless the price is premium. Is this lens that good?

For AF it's the best Canon 85mm.

For IQ it depends on your preferences. If you like the character, you don't need the best sharpness wide open and fringing up to f/4.0 is o.k. it's your lens. The light transmission is very good. The lens has stabilization, however, most Canon RF bodies having full mechanical shutter have IBIS as well (the R is the only exception as far as I know).

The Sigma 85mm Art is sharper, but heavier. AF of the Art is fast, but the Canon is faster. For IQ, compared to the Sigma, the Canon is overpriced imo, but IQ isn't the only factor of course.

The Sigma 105mm Art is a killer for IQ, while the price is on par with the Canon L, however, that's a heavy beast of course.

The compact 85mm f/1.4 DN Sigma is only available for FE mount. That one is sharper, has way less fringing and it is more compact / light weight than the Canon (even without (!) taking the adapter for the Canon into consideration). The RF mount is a closed mount though, so that might be actually the main reason of the "value" of the Canon EF lens. The other reasons: the L is crazy expensive and pretty heavy, like the Art it has no stabilization, and the stm is only f/2.0, the character of the bokeh isn't very subtle. Both these RF lenses have slow AF.

Oct 26, 2023 at 09:27 AM

Llewtwo
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

It is available in Canon refurbished now for $999.

Oct 26, 2023 at 09:50 AM

comotionfilms
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

As stated by Llewtwo, just go canon direct for $1k.

85 1.4 for $999

That said, if you are on using the R mount, the Samyang Rokinon 85 1.4 is still my favorite and it’s even less $ if you can find it.

Oct 26, 2023 at 09:59 AM

Rivermist
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

An exceptional lens on EF that I enjoyed very much, it would be a hit transposed to RF where we currently are stuck between the very sublime but expensive, very bulky, non-IS RF 85mm f:1.2 and the decent RF 85mm f:2.0 IS USM (certainly a more interesting option than the outdated EF 85mm f:1.8). The EF 85mm f:1.4 L IS is / was that ideal compromise for non-professional folks who count the pounds and ounces on their shoulder (not to mention the $$).

Oct 26, 2023 at 04:08 PM

comotionfilms
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Rivermist wrote:
An exceptional lens on EF that I enjoyed very much, it would be a hit transposed to RF where we currently are stuck between the very sublime but expensive, very bulky, non-IS RF 85mm f:1.2 and the decent RF 85mm f:2.0 IS USM (certainly a more interesting option than the outdated EF 85mm f:1.8). The EF 85mm f:1.4 L IS is / was that ideal compromise for non-professional folks who count the pounds and ounces on their shoulder (not to mention the $$).

That’s why I like turn Samyang/Rokinon option so much. It’s a perfect size on a R mount body, and its images are outstanding. Seriously, I have the RF 1.2 but rarely use it since I like the samyang so much.

Oct 27, 2023 at 07:00 AM

raeyanraju
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

You can buy refurb at canon for a great bargain.

https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/p/refurbished-ef-85mm-f-1-4l-is-usm?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&cjevent=c603025474e011ee83b184fd0a1eba24&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=Sovrn+Inc&utm_term=6158010&utm_campaign=13505864

Oct 27, 2023 at 11:15 AM

steamtrain
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

comotionfilms wrote:
That’s why I like turn Samyang/Rokinon option so much. It’s a perfect size on a R mount body, and its images are outstanding. Seriously, I have the RF 1.2 but rarely use it since I like the samyang so much.

I had that Samyang, but the AF was a hair off - a hair - more often than I like.
Yes, for weight and handling it was nice, and the rendering was beautiful as well.

I really hate Canon for not just allowing for a 85mm everybody wants. Just f/2.0 can be overlooked, but at least give it fast USM AF.... Excluding third party is fine, but at least do produce the good options yourself when doing that. Excluding but not producing the stuff OEM brand isn't protecting any sales, it's just cr*pling a good system for no reason. 50mm = same problem. Just produce an RF 50mm f/1.4 L USM like Sony has the 516 grams 50mm f/1.4 GM. How hard can it be...... Nobody wants to pick poison between a soft wide open double gauss or a crazy expensive slow focusing behemoth.

Oct 27, 2023 at 12:35 PM

comotionfilms
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

steamtrain wrote:
I had that Samyang, but the AF was a hair off - a hair - more often than I like.
Yes, for weight and handling it was nice, and the rendering was beautiful as well.

I really hate Canon for not just allowing for a 85mm everybody wants. Just f/2.0 can be overlooked, but at least give it fast USM AF.... Excluding third party is fine, but at least do produce the good options yourself when doing that. Excluding but not producing the stuff OEM brand isn't protecting any sales, it's just cr*pling a good system for no reason. 50mm...Show more →

You had the RF Samyang? Man, maybe I’m lucky but mine is brilliant. One of my favorite lenses, even over the 1.2 RF and 1.2 EF. I had zero interest in Samyang before this lens, but mine is so good.

Oct 27, 2023 at 01:13 PM

tomasr
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

Sigma art 85. Iq gets incredible from as early as f2. Maybe f4 for corner and for critical work

Oct 27, 2023 at 02:24 PM

steamtrain
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

comotionfilms wrote:
You had the RF Samyang? Man, maybe I’m lucky but mine is brilliant. One of my favorite lenses, even over the 1.2 RF and 1.2 EF. I had zero interest in Samyang before this lens, but mine is so good.

Yup. It was nice, but I'm picky for AF. I made a good profit when I sold it, so the closed RF mount was a good thing for my wallet at that point.

Oct 27, 2023 at 03:07 PM

thedutt
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM

canon refurb has them on sale right now for $999linky

Oct 27, 2023 at 04:37 PM

1 2 end
FM Forums \| Canon Forum \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.