What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?: Canon SLR Lens Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

Started Nov 11, 2017 | Polls

Light Pilgrim • Senior Member • Posts: 1,532

What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

Nov 11, 2017

I know that not many people have seen it, but I think the lens is currently being shipped and we will start seeing reviews in the next 1-2 weeks.

I will purchase this lens if I am going to see the following:

1. Bokeh on par with 85 L 1.2

2. Sharpness on par with Sigma 85 Art

POLL

BOKEY ON PAR WITH 85 1.2
	30.8%	4	votes
NOT CLOSE TO 1.2 AND WORSE THAN SIGMA ART
	23.1%	3	votes
WORSE THAN 85 1.2 BUT ON PAR WITH SIGMA 85 ART
	46.2%	6	votes

Show results

Reply to thread Reply with quote Complain

OP Light Pilgrim • Senior Member • Posts: 1,532

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 13, 2017

When are we going to start seeing 85 1.4 vs 85 1.2 vs sigma art vs zeiss otus?

-- hide signature --

PERSONAL WEBSITE
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

ed rader • Veteran Member • Posts: 9,068

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 13, 2017

apparently not soon enough for you, Pilgrim ;^)

-- hide signature --

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/edraderphotography/

ed rader's gear list:ed rader's gear list

Canon EOS 80D Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Sigma 15mm F2.8 EX DG Diagonal Fisheye Canon EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM +4 more

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

OP Light Pilgrim • Senior Member • Posts: 1,532

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to ed rader • Nov 14, 2017

ed rader wrote:

apparently not soon enough for you, Pilgrim ;^)

True:-)

-- hide signature --

PERSONAL WEBSITE
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

MayaTlab0 • Senior Member • Posts: 2,985

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 14, 2017

The way the answers are worded assumes that the 85mm f1.2 has better bokeh than the Sigma 85mm.

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

OP Light Pilgrim • Senior Member • Posts: 1,532

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to MayaTlab0 • Nov 14, 2017

MayaTlab0 wrote:

The way the answers are worded assumes that the 85mm f1.2 has better bokeh than the Sigma 85mm.

True:-) is it not?

-- hide signature --

PERSONAL WEBSITE
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

MayaTlab0 • Senior Member • Posts: 2,985

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 14, 2017

Light Pilgrim wrote:

MayaTlab0 wrote:

The way the answers are worded assumes that the 85mm f1.2 has better bokeh than the Sigma 85mm.

True:-) is it not?

Bokeh quality is a hotly debated topic and I'd rather not get myself into that .

But in some easily observable characteristics, such as bokeh CA, the Sigma is undoubtedly superior. Maybe in some others the Canon can be demonstrated as being superior. Then it all depends which aspect of bokeh quality you tend to focus on the most.

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

BlueRay2 • Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 14, 2017

wrong premise, wrong question, wrong and meaningless survey! you are talking about a lens that is not here, how ridiculous can it get?

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

OP Light Pilgrim • Senior Member • Posts: 1,532

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to BlueRay2 • Nov 14, 2017

1Dx4me wrote:

wrong premise, wrong question, wrong and meaningless survey! you are talking about a lens that is not here, how ridiculous can it get?

Where all the pictures are coming from?

-- hide signature --

PERSONAL WEBSITE
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

diness • Veteran Member • Posts: 3,758

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 14, 2017

Light Pilgrim wrote:

I know that not many people have seen it, but I think the lens is currently being shipped and we will start seeing reviews in the next 1-2 weeks.

I will purchase this lens if I am going to see the following:

1. Bokeh on par with 85 L 1.2

2. Sharpness on par with Sigma 85 Art

You forgot the fourth option that no matter how good the Bokeh is, 85 f1.2 ii users will never admit that it’s better anyway

diness's gear list:diness's gear list

Canon EOS R Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon RF 35mm F1.8 IS STM Macro Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Herb • Senior Member • Posts: 1,085

if bokeh is on par with the 85 f1.2, then that is not a reason to change

In reply to diness • Nov 14, 2017

diness wrote:

Light Pilgrim wrote:

I know that not many people have seen it, but I think the lens is currently being shipped and we will start seeing reviews in the next 1-2 weeks.

I will purchase this lens if I am going to see the following:

1. Bokeh on par with 85 L 1.2

2. Sharpness on par with Sigma 85 Art

You forgot the fourth option that no matter how good the Bokeh is, 85 f1.2 ii users will never admit that it’s better anyway

How would you measure it? It is all subjective which means to be better that it would have to be lot better otherwise you wont know that it is really better. Same with sharpness.....now if it focuses like a Corvette going around a corner, then perhaps it will be worth getting.

I had a pre-order in with B&H and decided to cancel and just stick with my f1.2 lens. If it turns out to be light years better, then I will order one....I decided to sit this order sequence out.....

-- hide signature --

Herb Turner

Herb's gear list:Herb's gear list

Canon EOS 5DS R Canon EOS-1D X Mark II Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Canon EF 50mm F1.4 USM Canon EF 85mm F1.2L II USM +8 more

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

expro • Senior Member • Posts: 2,274

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 14, 2017

You are dreaming!

this is for an L lens cheap and positioned purposely below the 1.2...

so obviously it will have all the basics covered

sharp in the middle and better than 1.2 out to corners but not as sharp as sigma art

best AF in class

decent but not stellar bokeh

rated great value for money....

there you go that is a concise summary of every review.

expro's gear list:expro's gear list

Canon EOS R3 Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

MayaTlab0 • Senior Member • Posts: 2,985

Re: if bokeh is on par with the 85 f1.2, then that is not a reason to change

In reply to Herb • Nov 14, 2017

Herb wrote:

It is all subjective which means to be better that it would have to be lot better otherwise you wont know that it is really better.

Bokeh isn't entirely subjective. To some degree some rather valid, more or less objective observations can be made. It's what you make of them that's subjective.

Take for example the 35mm f1.4 II. Everyone raves about this lens. Well, not me. There is something about its in focus to out of focus transition that I find particularly objectionable : objects are doubled in the transition area when going from in focus to out of focus. I've switched the following shots from DPreview's review in B&W to highlight this issue :

However, switch the image to colour, and witness the 35mm f1.4 II's incredible control over LOCA against any other 35mm f1.4 ever made :

Both of these observations aren't subjective. It's how they matter to you that is. Some will find the original's LOCA far more objectionable than the newer's doubled objects in the transition area.

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Shaun Gibbs • Contributing Member • Posts: 560

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to BlueRay2 • Nov 15, 2017

1Dx4me wrote:

wrong premise, wrong question, wrong and meaningless survey! you are talking about a lens that is not here, how ridiculous can it get?

I took delivery of mine yesterday in Brisbane. They are real.

-- hide signature --

www.shaungibbs.com.au

Shaun Gibbs's gear list:Shaun Gibbs's gear list

Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +5 more

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Shaun Gibbs • Contributing Member • Posts: 560

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 15, 2017

Only had my lens a day and have taken some samples to test IS and IQ for first impressions.

Not exciting photos, but I did go through all the F stops and shutter speeds in these sequences, and to test purple fringing etc.

RAWs imported straight into Lightroom and exported to Jpg full resolution. No Editing at all.

Autofocus is not quite as fast as the 70-200mm f/2.8L II, but almost, and is very useable.

I'll probably do some more structured photos soon on the weekend and add to the gallery when I have time.

EF-85mm-f14L-IS-USM-Samples

-- hide signature --

www.shaungibbs.com.au

Shaun Gibbs's gear list:Shaun Gibbs's gear list

Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +5 more

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

BlueRay2 • Forum Pro • Posts: 14,816

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Shaun Gibbs • Nov 15, 2017

Shaun Gibbs wrote:

Only had my lens a day and have taken some samples to test IS and IQ for first impressions.

Not exciting photos, but I did go through all the F stops and shutter speeds in these sequences, and to test purple fringing etc.

RAWs imported straight into Lightroom and exported to Jpg full resolution. No Editing at all.

Autofocus is not quite as fast as the 70-200mm f/2.8L II, but almost, and is very useable.

I'll probably do some more structured photos soon on the weekend and add to the gallery when I have time.

EF-85mm-f14L-IS-USM-Samples

nice work, Shaun...looks like a decent lens! i like the sharpness of this lens in particular. the bokeh doesn't seem that hot but contrast and everything else look like a decent "L" lens, but i'd still prefer my fantastic 70-200 f4.0 IS! thanks for sharing your hard work

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Shaun Gibbs • Contributing Member • Posts: 560

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to BlueRay2 • Nov 15, 2017

1Dx4me wrote:

Shaun Gibbs wrote:

Only had my lens a day and have taken some samples to test IS and IQ for first impressions.

Not exciting photos, but I did go through all the F stops and shutter speeds in these sequences, and to test purple fringing etc.

RAWs imported straight into Lightroom and exported to Jpg full resolution. No Editing at all.

Autofocus is not quite as fast as the 70-200mm f/2.8L II, but almost, and is very useable.

I'll probably do some more structured photos soon on the weekend and add to the gallery when I have time.

EF-85mm-f14L-IS-USM-Samples

nice work, Shaun...looks like a decent lens! i like the sharpness of this lens in particular. the bokeh doesn't seem that hot but contrast and everything else look like a decent "L" lens, but i'd still prefer my fantastic 70-200 f4.0 IS! thanks for sharing your hard work

You're welcome. 😊

-- hide signature --

www.shaungibbs.com.au

Shaun Gibbs's gear list:Shaun Gibbs's gear list

Canon EOS R Canon EOS R5 Canon EF 24-70mm F4L IS USM Canon EF 16-35mm F4L IS USM Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS II +5 more

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Yake • Senior Member • Posts: 1,531

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 16, 2017

I think I'm going to stick with the el-cheapo Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC. The bokeh is good and I don't need f/1.4.

Yake's gear list:Yake's gear list

Sony a7 III Canon EOS RP

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

nonproshooterdad • Senior Member • Posts: 1,106

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Light Pilgrim • Nov 16, 2017

It looks like I am the only one that voted it's worse than Sigma.

The 1.2L is still the bokeh king. From all the Sigma 85A reviews, at the same aperture, Sigma is comparable with the 1.2L. The only lacking aspect is the OOF highlight, which 1.2L does it better. At 1.2, the 1.2L blended the background much better, especially the highlight background.

Why did I bet 1.4L is worse in bokeh? The shared property with the Sigma and 1.2L is the bigger diameter in the glass components. I guess that's needed for better bokeh. And we already saw some samples from the 1.4L, doesn't look like bokeh is its strength. And Canon already said it'd not replace the 1.2L. It would be unlikely its bokeh to be the same as the 1.2L at the same aperture.

Canon has no intention to make it that much better. Sigma has. That's why Sigma got my vote. My Sigma is on its way to my home. :D.

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Bluerio • Regular Member • Posts: 418

Re: What do you think about the bokeh that 85L 1/4 will produce?

In reply to Shaun Gibbs • Nov 16, 2017

Shaun Gibbs wrote:

Only had my lens a day and have taken some samples to test IS and IQ for first impressions.

Not exciting photos, but I did go through all the F stops and shutter speeds in these sequences, and to test purple fringing etc.

RAWs imported straight into Lightroom and exported to Jpg full resolution. No Editing at all.

Autofocus is not quite as fast as the 70-200mm f/2.8L II, but almost, and is very useable.

I'll probably do some more structured photos soon on the weekend and add to the gallery when I have time.

EF-85mm-f14L-IS-USM-Samples

Thank you Shaun, really useful post and good amount of samples in different situations.

From a first close look the lens seems very sharp across the entire frame but CA are massive, and in few cases even not rectifiable in post. Blur is smooth, bokeh exhibits cat's eye towards the extreme and seems a bit characterless.

Bluerio's gear list:Bluerio's gear list

Sony a7R III Sony a7 III Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Sony FE 55mm F1.8 Sony FE 70-200 F4 +8 more

Reply Reply with quote Reply to thread Complain

Keyboard shortcuts:

FForum MMy threads

Latest sample galleries

Nikkor 58mm F0.95 Noct Sample Gallery

Sony ZV-E1 pre-production sample gallery (DPReview TV)

The Canon EOS R3 goes to the rodeo

Fujifilm X-H2 review samples

See more galleries »

Latest in-depth reviews

DPReview TV: Nikon 58mm F0.95 Noct Review!

We're Noct messing around with this review.

DxO PureRAW 3 review: Give Adobe's apps a much-needed boost with modern AI algorithms

Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom impress in a lot of ways, but their noise reduction lags the competition and their lens corrections lack a real-world basis. DxO PureRAW 3 aims to come to their rescue without totally reinventing your workflow!

The Sony ZV-E1 is the company's latest vlogging-focused camera: a full-frame mirrorless camera based the FX3/a7S III sensor, aimed at YouTubers and 'creators' looking to go pro.

The Sony ZV-E1 is a full frame camera targeting YouTubers. Chris and Jordan are Youtubers, what do they think?

Fujifilm's X-H2 is a high-resolution stills and video camera, that sits alongside the high-speed X-H2S at the pinnacle of the company's range of X-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras. We dug into what it does and what it means.

Latest buying guides

Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.

There are a lot of photo/video cameras that have found a role as B-cameras on professional film productions or even A-cameras for amateur and independent productions. We've combed through the options and selected our two favorite cameras in this class.

What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both the speed and focus to capture fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.

The best cameras for family and friends photos in 2022

Family moments are precious and sometimes you want to capture that time spent with loved ones or friends in better quality than your phone can manage. We've selected a group of cameras that are easy to keep with you, and that can adapt to take photos wherever and whenever something memorable happens.

Best affordable cameras for sports and action in 2022

What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.

Check out more buying guides »


Spending a Penny by Lensmate from Faeces	Brazilian Gripen by Johnson Barros from Fast Jet With Wheels On The Ground	Mike and the FWS1000 by GeoffN from Scooters/Motorbikes in motion	The end of another day by io_bg from Good Night	The food transfer by dv312 from A Big Year 2023	CURIOSITY by TX Photo Doc from Fleeting Moments

4	Tudor Ciobanu
3	Le Kilt
2	akustykmagmanetpl
2	1DSmII
2	Rock and Rollei
2	rodriguezPhoto
2	Kameratrollet
2	Photobygms
1	Mark B.
1	Abbott Schindler
1	Kjeld Olesen
1	Loren Charif
1	José B
1	AnthonyL
1	Lemming51
1	ed rader
1	Stakeouttoo
1	gcrimmins
1	J A C S
1	Tom59