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Is the 85mm compromise wirth it?

Started Jul 9, 2020 | Polls thread
Ray Chen Veteran Member • Posts: 9,651
Wide Open Performance
1

panther fan wrote:

I think it is pretty clear that Canon is positioning the 85mm F2 against the competing 85mm F1.8 options while wanting to provide additional versatility by making it a stabilized macro. It seems they have made some smaller sacrifices to get there

-1/3rd of a stop less light

Realistically, the classic 85mm f/1.8 doesn't really shine until f/2.5 or f/2.8. Mind you, I've shot plenty of wide open shots on that lens, but I know faster shutter speed and/or shallower DoF have a cost. If the new f/2 lens performs great wide open, to me, it is actually faster in real usage.

Is the new lens weather sealed? That is something I wish the old f/1.8 had.

-slightly higher weight

And one big one:

-External "whole unit" focus, which is likely not fast and expectedly not silent

Is that a welcome tradeoff or do you wish Canon had stuck to the classic formula?

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Ray

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