The Price You Pay for Near Optical Perfection

[Kevin DiOssi]

I begrudgingly picked this lens up late last year when it was on sale to convert my entire bag over to the RF mount. Previously, I used the EF 85mm f/1.4L for years and really loved that lens. It still had some chromatic aberration issues here and there, but the autofocus was terrific for sports and the image rendering was spectacular. Not only that, the size/weight of the lens were very manageable. Prior to that lens, I owned the ridiculously good and far too large Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art lens - the EF 85L 1.2 was never on my radar because of its chromatic aberration issues. Now that this RF 85mm has joined the fleet, I can say that it’s not my favorite lens in my bag…when I manage to fit it. This lens is a behemoth of a grapefruit that doesn’t easily fit into any bag I own. It’s extremely heavy as well.

In hindsight, I probably should have just boxed it back up and returned it before I even used it. Unfortunately, I actually used the lens to shoot a concert and then once again at an event, and then again at another event…then I used it for a video shoot. The image quality is truly phenomenal and it’s unreal that a lens with an f/1.2 aperture can be this sharp wide open at 45mp. So, now that I’ve been using it for a couple months, it’s staying in the bag. The images are just too good off of this lens for me to ignore. Sadly, because of its obnoxious width making it a challenge to fit in my camera bags, I won’t be taking it everywhere with me…but I know that when I do, it will be worth it for the images.


I have the RF 135L preordered and it’s very possible that I will sell this lens shortly after I receive that. In which case, the money I lost buying/using the RF 85mm f/1.2L will be seen as a rental fee. I already used it heavily for five big jobs and it was stellar. I just can’t stress enough how much I don’t like the width of this lens in my camera bag. I had to rearrange my bag layout to accommodate it while the new RF 135L will slip right into the spot my EF 85mm 1.4L rested in. It seems like a trivial complaint but it’s a real complaint when you travel across the country with your camera gear for a living.

 

[Jack Calypso]

Sounds like you need a bigger bag ;-)

 

[gaul]

Sounds like you need a bigger bag ;-)

 

[gaul]

I begrudgingly picked this lens up late last year when it was on sale to convert my entire bag over to the RF mount. Previously, I used the EF 85mm f/1.4L for years and really loved that lens. It still had some chromatic aberration issues here and there, but the autofocus was terrific for sports and the image rendering was spectacular. Not only that, the size/weight of the lens were very manageable. Prior to that lens, I owned the ridiculously good and far too large Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art lens - the EF 85L 1.2 was never on my radar because of its chromatic aberration issues. Now that this RF 85mm has joined the fleet, I can say that it’s not my favorite lens in my bag…when I manage to fit it. This lens is a behemoth of a grapefruit that doesn’t easily fit into any bag I own. It’s extremely heavy as well.

In hindsight, I probably should have just boxed it back up and returned it before I even used it. Unfortunately, I actually used the lens to shoot a concert and then once again at an event, and then again at another event…then I used it for a video shoot. The image quality is truly phenomenal and it’s unreal that a lens with an f/1.2 aperture can be this sharp wide open at 45mp. So, now that I’ve been using it for a couple months, it’s staying in the bag. The images are just too good off of this lens for me to ignore. Sadly, because of its obnoxious width making it a challenge to fit in my camera bags, I won’t be taking it everywhere with me…but I know that when I do, it will be worth it for the images.

I have the RF 135L preordered and it’s very possible that I will sell this lens shortly after I receive that. In which case, the money I lost buying/using the RF 85mm f/1.2L will be seen as a rental fee. I already used it heavily for five big jobs and it was stellar. I just can’t stress enough how much I don’t like the width of this lens in my camera bag. I had to rearrange my bag layout to accommodate it while the new RF 135L will slip right into the spot my EF 85mm 1.4L rested in. It seems like a trivial complaint but it’s a real complaint when you travel across the country with your camera gear for a living.

RF 85 vs RF 135 comparison pls ..



In EF mount.. I just love the EF 135 F2

Thx

Gaul

 

[Kevin DiOssi]

Sounds like you need a bigger bag ;-)

Nope, my bags fit every lens I own just fine. This lens is just obnoxiously wide and bulges/flexes the dividers on every bag. I’m using some of the best bags money can buy for traveling with gear from Tenba and ThinkTank. Doesn’t change how this lens fits or doesn’t fit into the bag. It’s wider than any other lens I own except for the 300 f/2.8L II which travels in its own dedicated area…which is essentially what I have to do in order to travel with this 85mm lens.

 

[ZX11]

I begrudgingly picked this lens up late last year when it was on sale to convert my entire bag over to the RF mount. Previously, I used the EF 85mm f/1.4L for years and really loved that lens. It still had some chromatic aberration issues here and there, but the autofocus was terrific for sports and the image rendering was spectacular. Not only that, the size/weight of the lens were very manageable. Prior to that lens, I owned the ridiculously good and far too large Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art lens - the EF 85L 1.2 was never on my radar because of its chromatic aberration issues. Now that this RF 85mm has joined the fleet, I can say that it’s not my favorite lens in my bag…when I manage to fit it. This lens is a behemoth of a grapefruit that doesn’t easily fit into any bag I own. It’s extremely heavy as well.

In hindsight, I probably should have just boxed it back up and returned it before I even used it. Unfortunately, I actually used the lens to shoot a concert and then once again at an event, and then again at another event…then I used it for a video shoot. The image quality is truly phenomenal and it’s unreal that a lens with an f/1.2 aperture can be this sharp wide open at 45mp. So, now that I’ve been using it for a couple months, it’s staying in the bag. The images are just too good off of this lens for me to ignore. Sadly, because of its obnoxious width making it a challenge to fit in my camera bags, I won’t be taking it everywhere with me…but I know that when I do, it will be worth it for the images.

I have the RF 135L preordered and it’s very possible that I will sell this lens shortly after I receive that. In which case, the money I lost buying/using the RF 85mm f/1.2L will be seen as a rental fee. I already used it heavily for five big jobs and it was stellar. I just can’t stress enough how much I don’t like the width of this lens in my camera bag. I had to rearrange my bag layout to accommodate it while the new RF 135L will slip right into the spot my EF 85mm 1.4L rested in. It seems like a trivial complaint but it’s a real complaint when you travel across the country with your camera gear for a living.

CA in a small and light EF 85mm lens is what drove me to the RF 85 f1.2. I have a shoulder bag and a neck strap so I don't notice the couple pounds of my camera with that lens. I'm happy Canon provides the option to buy a lens for such ability and quality in 85mm images. The images are just too good off of this lens that I can't help but ignore the weight and size.

The RF 135 looks good if you have the extra shooting room to stay back from the subject. I wonder how the background will look.

 

[koenkooi]

[...] I just can’t stress enough how much I don’t like the width of this lens in my camera bag. I had to rearrange my bag layout to accommodate it while the new RF 135L will slip right into the spot my EF 85mm 1.4L rested in. It seems like a trivial complaint but it’s a real complaint when you travel across the country with your camera gear for a living.

It is indeed very chonky, when I rented it, it made my RP look like an EOS M Give the RF28-70 a try as well, that is big and heavy, it makes the 85 feel light and nimble!

 

[Basil Fawlty]

Well then

 

[Occams Razor]

Good one!!!

 

[thunder storm]

It's all relative. The Sigma 105mm Art with tripod foot permanently attached and the adapter, that's a heavy lens at 1800ish grams. The RF 85mm f/1.2 isn't really heavy. It's expensive, but heavy? Just 1200is or so. It's not even a walk around focal length anyway. For a 50mm less weight is far more important. Or an f/2.8 (which is pretty heavy in the RF version...)

To be honest, I don't get all the complaining about weight. Get an A7IV + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DN if you don't like weight and accept cats eye shapes up to f/4 or so. If you want f/1.2 and stellar IQ you can have it, but you can't beat physics at some point, so carry it, grow up, stop complaining.

 

[Kevin DiOssi]

It's all relative. The Sigma 105mm Art with tripod foot permanently attached and the adapter, that's a heavy lens at 1800ish grams. The RF 85mm f/1.2 isn't really heavy. It's expensive, but heavy? Just 1200is or so. It's not even a walk around focal length anyway. For a 50mm less weight is far more important. Or an f/2.8 (which is pretty heavy in the RF version...)

To be honest, I don't get all the complaining about weight. Get an A7IV + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DN if you don't like weight and accept cats eye shapes up to f/4 or so. If you want f/1.2 and stellar IQ you can have it, but you can't beat physics at some point, so carry it, grow up, stop complaining.

 

[thunder storm]

It's all relative. The Sigma 105mm Art with tripod foot permanently attached and the adapter, that's a heavy lens at 1800ish grams. The RF 85mm f/1.2 isn't really heavy. It's expensive, but heavy? Just 1200is or so. It's not even a walk around focal length anyway. For a 50mm less weight is far more important. Or an f/2.8 (which is pretty heavy in the RF version...)

To be honest, I don't get all the complaining about weight. Get an A7IV + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DN if you don't like weight and accept cats eye shapes up to f/4 or so. If you want f/1.2 and stellar IQ you can have it, but you can't beat physics at some point, so carry it, grow up, stop complaining.

LMFAO! It’s my review and the only negative thing I needed to point out for people considering this lens is how wide it is and how difficult it has been to fit into camera bags. We’re talking professional roller bags, backpacks, and messenger bags from Tenba and ThinkTank. This lens does not fit normally in any bag I own. What’s the point of a review if I’m only going to point out how positive something is? In actuality, I don’t live on the internet. I’m a working professional who spends 2-3 weeks a month on the road working as a photographer traveling the country. The only negative thing I could find about this lens is it’s size and weight which have absolutely impacted how I travel and pack my camera bags. It most certainly will impact anyone else looking to buy this lens. Otherwise, it’s optically perfect and a phenomenal performer- as I stated. If you don’t find this helpful, carry on and grow up.

I'm wondering sometimes how much help should be needed. Width, weight and price are easy to google. Shouldn't be too much effort before spending the price of this lens imo.

 

[David Pavlich]

Well then

Hands down, one of the best replies I've seen in a long time. Well done!

David

--
The hardest part about being a vegan is getting up at 5AM to milk the almonds.
Viewbug: https://www.viewbug.com/member/David_Pavlich

 

[Kevin DiOssi]

It's all relative. The Sigma 105mm Art with tripod foot permanently attached and the adapter, that's a heavy lens at 1800ish grams. The RF 85mm f/1.2 isn't really heavy. It's expensive, but heavy? Just 1200is or so. It's not even a walk around focal length anyway. For a 50mm less weight is far more important. Or an f/2.8 (which is pretty heavy in the RF version...)

To be honest, I don't get all the complaining about weight. Get an A7IV + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DN if you don't like weight and accept cats eye shapes up to f/4 or so. If you want f/1.2 and stellar IQ you can have it, but you can't beat physics at some point, so carry it, grow up, stop complaining.

LMFAO! It’s my review and the only negative thing I needed to point out for people considering this lens is how wide it is and how difficult it has been to fit into camera bags. We’re talking professional roller bags, backpacks, and messenger bags from Tenba and ThinkTank. This lens does not fit normally in any bag I own. What’s the point of a review if I’m only going to point out how positive something is? In actuality, I don’t live on the internet. I’m a working professional who spends 2-3 weeks a month on the road working as a photographer traveling the country. The only negative thing I could find about this lens is it’s size and weight which have absolutely impacted how I travel and pack my camera bags. It most certainly will impact anyone else looking to buy this lens. Otherwise, it’s optically perfect and a phenomenal performer- as I stated. If you don’t find this helpful, carry on and grow up.

I'm wondering sometimes how much help should be needed. Width, weight and price are easy to google. Shouldn't be too much effort before spending the price of this lens imo.

 

[thunder storm]

It's all relative. The Sigma 105mm Art with tripod foot permanently attached and the adapter, that's a heavy lens at 1800ish grams. The RF 85mm f/1.2 isn't really heavy. It's expensive, but heavy? Just 1200is or so. It's not even a walk around focal length anyway. For a 50mm less weight is far more important. Or an f/2.8 (which is pretty heavy in the RF version...)

To be honest, I don't get all the complaining about weight. Get an A7IV + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DN if you don't like weight and accept cats eye shapes up to f/4 or so. If you want f/1.2 and stellar IQ you can have it, but you can't beat physics at some point, so carry it, grow up, stop complaining.

LMFAO! It’s my review and the only negative thing I needed to point out for people considering this lens is how wide it is and how difficult it has been to fit into camera bags. We’re talking professional roller bags, backpacks, and messenger bags from Tenba and ThinkTank. This lens does not fit normally in any bag I own. What’s the point of a review if I’m only going to point out how positive something is? In actuality, I don’t live on the internet. I’m a working professional who spends 2-3 weeks a month on the road working as a photographer traveling the country. The only negative thing I could find about this lens is it’s size and weight which have absolutely impacted how I travel and pack my camera bags. It most certainly will impact anyone else looking to buy this lens. Otherwise, it’s optically perfect and a phenomenal performer- as I stated. If you don’t find this helpful, carry on and grow up.

I'm wondering sometimes how much help should be needed. Width, weight and price are easy to google. Shouldn't be too much effort before spending the price of this lens imo.

Yet somehow you found your comment helpful?

Helpful is this part of your review:

it’s very possible that I will sell this lens shortly after I receive that. In which case, the money I lost buying/using the RF 85mm f/1.2L will be seen as a rental fee

I think it's impossible to make any comment more helpful than this. It also shows why reviews other than this piece of wisdom are needless.

And a lot of help is needed actually:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4693388

But to be fair, it's not your fault topics like this run parallel to your review. Nonetheless I can't help but have the feeling folks should do their research before buying stuff. A lens diameter is a pretty simple googleable spec, and so is the weight.