usa.canon.com Customer Reviews Collected from usa.canon.com
Canon - EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Medium Telephoto Lens - Black
Average Customer Rating:
4.8 out of 5
4.8
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating breakdown 36 reviews
5 Stars
31
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Star
0
97%of customers recommend this product. 
(
33 out of 34
)
Customer Reviews for Canon - EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Medium Telephoto Lens - Black
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Incredibly sharp lens
on July 15, 2010
Posted by: NemoN
from NYC/DC
Between my 135/2 and this 85/1.2, I shoot 90% of my work. This is an incredibly sharp lens that makes the most of the current crop of hi-res sensors. I used the 85/1.8, which in and of itself is pretty sharp, for years, but the 85/1.2 leaves it in the dust. Also, less chromatic aberration on the highlight edges.
Pros: sharp, beautiful bokeh, well balanced with a 1d series
Cons: heavy, slightly slower focusing, expensive
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
The Ultimate Bokeh Machine
on March 4, 2010
Posted by: SuperM3
from Riverside, California
This is one of the best lenses on an already excellent line-up of the Canon L Series. The low-light and bokeh- producing capabilities of this lens is unmatched. It has the creamiest bokeh of all lenses.The color rendition and sharpness are really superb. At aperture 1.2 at its closest focusing distance, the depth of field is only 1.5cms., and that gives you a very dramatic look that other lenses will find difficulty reproducing.
I've read other reviews, not only here but also in other sites, about focusing problems, and those to me are most probably operator issues rather than a problem with the lens itself. This lens can be technical to use because you have to rethink how to focus on your subjects. You can not just point and shoot specially if using the largest aperture settings. It is important that you have to precisely know what you are focusing on. Using the individual focusing points will solve probably 99% of the focusing issues. Once you have trained yourself on how to focus with this lens, the rewards are great.
Pros: Fast auto-focus, Superior build quality, Super-sharp images
Cons: nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
One of my Best "L" lenses
on March 28, 2012
Posted by: Liberty
from Missouri
I've just finished making a few portrait shots with this lens and I must say, I am amazed by the image quality. The images have a great contrast, sharpness, and beautiful clarity; even at aperture wide open. The background blur (bokeh) is ASTONISHING--it just melts like cream.
I was very nervous at first convincing myself about the price. However, the instant I saw the pictures I made with this lens, my worries quickly were put to rest, and great happiness and satisfaction filled my soul!
If you are in the market to have "THE" best 85mm lens in the world, and you have the money, don't think twice and purchase this lens. You will be very happy you did.
Pros: astonishing bokeh, great sharpness, beautiful contrast, amazing detail and clarity even at it's widest, accurate focusing
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Portraiture's Best Friend
on August 10, 2012
Posted by: PixelPrincess
from St. Charles, Il
Photography is my passion & my 5D Mark II my beloved. Each lens being a window to see the world in a different way, the 85mm f/1.2 offers a deeper more personal connection with the subject by allowing the rest of the world to fade from existance in a way no other lens seems to be able to do. I postponed buying this lens for too long; wouldn't be without it now!
Pros: Fast auto-focus, Superior build quality, Super-sharp images
Cons: just a bit heavy, no is (a security blanket for me)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Background Control
on July 1, 2011
Posted by: IX-XI
from Central PA
With the 5D II and this lens, I've gotten more referrals for outdoor portrait gigs than I ever got using previous glass. Senior portrait season is here, and I've had fun with my clients shooting multiple shots with different levels of background softening to give them an idea of the choices they have.
Some go straight for the supersoft backgrounds. Others want enough detail to indicate where they are. Others want everything in the pic.
However they choose, I've noticed I'm getting more "emotional" photographs. The thing is so fast I can tell my subject to be as still as possible, shoot an HDR bracket in half a second and have no ghosting after Photomatix has its way. Human subject HDR was elusive to me before this lens. Now I'm an HDR god.
This lens lets me do it all. Parents think I'm a genius, and I'm just a landgrant grad with a camera. Now they're coming back and asking me to shoot their weddings! Uh oh. I'm going to have to buy more indoor gear. My outdoor work is worth the pay though, and I have to give it up to the 85 1.2.
I have a lot more good shots than I used to before I got this bit of glass.
Pros: Superior build quality, Super-sharp images
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Simply Amazing
on January 11, 2011
Posted by: DreamEFX
from Fairfax VA
This is the "be all" of all portrait lenses. The sharpness, the wide open goodness at f1.2 and the feel you have when it's plugged into your Canon DSLR is unsurpassed. This lens can be used as a walk around lens but you will soon find it has a lot of faults used like that.
I rate this lens a perfect 5 stars because using this lens for portraits is just amazing. In fact this is my absolute favorite lens and I look forward to taking some incredible shots everywhere I go.
Pros: Superior build quality, Super-sharp images
Cons: Slow auto-focus, not weather sealed
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Heavy but astonishing
on February 28, 2020
Posted by: AndrewPDX
from Portland, OR
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought this lens for portraiture and the quality is astonishing. The lens itself is fairly heavy but there’s quite a bit of glass involved.
I see a lot of chromatic aberration when shooting high contrast subjects. Although editing software usually does a decent job of removing it, it can sometimes be an issue when a subject is in business attire with a white shirt.
Regardless, the depth of field is razor sharp and I recommend taking at least a few shots per pose to ensure that you get the eyes in focus.
Speaking of focus, it’s slow. This is not a lens for fast-paced action. It wants you to take your time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
The best 85 in the game!
on June 20, 2020
Posted by: Siraj Of Tha Halo
from Oakland, CA
Verified Purchase:Yes
This is an excellent lens with a beautiful bokeh. Great for headshots and product photography!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
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