Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 L IS USM on GFX Review

• Fringer adapter is amazing piece of kit
• EF 85mm f/1.4 covers the full GFX 44x33mm sensor
• Center is very sharp from f/1.4 to f/11
• However, corners have low resolution until f/5.6
• Purple fringing is abundant wide open, but easily correctable in post processing
• Bokeh rendering is beautiful and images have a vintage vibe (less aberration correction?)
• Autofocus is much faster than GF80mm f/1.7 and on par with GF110mm f/2

• You have a closet full of EF lenses including the EF 85mm f1/.4L so the expense of the Fringer adapter can be spread across multiple lenses.
• You want to save some money (~USD 300-600) over buying the native GF80mm f/1.7 or GF110mm f/2 lenses.
• You want a more vintage look to your images with more character (i.e., more aberrations and less optical corrections).
• You have an older non-IBIS body so the Optical Image Stabilization in the Canon lens will provide a significant benefit.

fcracer said:

I’m thinking to pick up the Sigma to test out. How’s the AF performance compared to GF80?

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fcracer said:

I’m thinking to pick up the Sigma to test out. How’s the AF performance compared to GF80?

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Arthur85 said:

Looks like the lens has some sort of face retouching feature built in.

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Manzur Fahim said:

Arthur85 said:

Looks like the lens has some sort of face retouching feature built in.

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More like you missed something I wrote in the post

"Other than some editing in PS"

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Arthur85 said:

Manzur Fahim said:

Arthur85 said:

Looks like the lens has some sort of face retouching feature built in.

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More like you missed something I wrote in the post

"Other than some editing in PS"

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My mistake, didn't see any info in your post with the girl with the headscarf.

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fcracer said:

Full review with images can be found here.

TLDR:

• Fringer adapter is amazing piece of kit
• EF 85mm f/1.4 covers the full GFX 44x33mm sensor
• Center is very sharp from f/1.4 to f/11
• However, corners have low resolution until f/5.6
• Purple fringing is abundant wide open, but easily correctable in post processing
• Bokeh rendering is beautiful and images have a vintage vibe (less aberration correction?)
• Autofocus is much faster than GF80mm f/1.7 and on par with GF110mm f/2

The question that kept coming up in my mind as I was writing this review, “in the GFX universe, who is this lens for?” After extensive use of this lens across a variety of subjects, I’ve concluded this lens is for someone that matches the following criteria:

• You have a closet full of EF lenses including the EF 85mm f1/.4L so the expense of the Fringer adapter can be spread across multiple lenses.
• You want to save some money (~USD 300-600) over buying the native GF80mm f/1.7 or GF110mm f/2 lenses.
• You want a more vintage look to your images with more character (i.e., more aberrations and less optical corrections).
• You have an older non-IBIS body so the Optical Image Stabilization in the Canon lens will provide a significant benefit.

If you match any of these criteria, you can’t go wrong with the EF 85mm f/1.4L. However, for my needs, and already being an owner of both the GF80 and GF110, the only benefit I would gain is the faster autofocus speed over the GF80.

The faster autofocus for me isn’t worth the trade-off in corner sharpness so my EF 85mm f1/.4L has gone up for sale (at the same price I bought it at, mind you). Happy to answer any questions you may have here or on my non-commercial blog.

Below are some resolution test charts because I know Greg can't get enough of charts in this forum


Center at 200%


Corner @ 200%

For the people that prefer real world test images, these are for you:


Center at infinity focus @ 200%


Corner at infinity focus @ 200%

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bobby350z said:

If you have Canon lens, worth shooting them on the GFX but if not, there is no point getting these over the GF. Regarding AF, for me the GFX system is slow t focus irrespective of the lens (native or not). So for me, it doesn't matter much whether the GF lens has a LM or not.

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Adam Kingston said:

bobby350z said:

If you have Canon lens, worth shooting them on the GFX but if not, there is no point getting these over the GF. Regarding AF, for me the GFX system is slow t focus irrespective of the lens (native or not). So for me, it doesn't matter much whether the GF lens has a LM or not.

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Struggle to agree with this. The AF speed of some lenses - including the 80 - is notably slower even using CDAF, let alone PDAF or the improved AF available to 100 II and S II users.

The 80 is also much more expensive than EF alternatives, the chroma is practically uncorrectable and the AF just feels and sounds clunky. IMO it's one of the weaker lenses in the line-up.

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Adam Kingston said:

I've never photographed a target and didn't say it was a bad lens. But it's £1400 for a decent used copy and the Sigma Art is c. £600, has chroma that's easily corrected, is faster, focuses faster (and more quietly) and I prefer the OOF areas. I'm just disagreeing that these lenses should be ignored if you don't already own them.

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bobby350z said:

If you have Canon lens, worth shooting them on the GFX but if not, there is no point getting these over the GF. Regarding AF, for me the GFX system is slow t focus irrespective of the lens (native or not). So for me, it doesn't matter much whether the GF lens has a LM or not.

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