Canon Announces the EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

[Larsskv]

I'm 99.9999% sure this will be a great lens. However, pre-order nothing.

Agreed.

Same here. But, I'll order quickly if the initial reviews are positive. If this is of similar quality to the EF 35mm f/1.4L Mk II as I expect it will be, it will be a terrific lens.

I hate to bring you the bad news, but the mtf curves Bryan provides indicates that the 35 L II is a bit sharper wide open. You have to scroll down and compare in both links.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-II-USM-Lens.aspx

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.4L-IS-USM-Lens.aspx

The mtf 10 curve on the 35 L II is approximately 0,95 at f1.4, in the center. The 85 L f1.4 is approximately 0,87 at f1.4 in the center.

The mtf 30 curve on the 35 LII is approximately 0,8 at f1.4 in the center. The 85 L f1.4 gets approximately 0,59.

I wouldnt be too worried though. The 85 L at f1.4 is very close to the 135 L at f2, and I have always found the 135 L to be sharp enough at f2.

 

[Ozarker]

I'm 99.9999% sure this will be a great lens. However, pre-order nothing.

Agreed.

Same here. But, I'll order quickly if the initial reviews are positive. If this is of similar quality to the EF 35mm f/1.4L Mk II as I expect it will be, it will be a terrific lens.

I hate to bring you the bad news, but the mtf curves Bryan provides indicates that the 35 L II is a bit sharper wide open. You have to scroll down and compare in both links.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-II-USM-Lens.aspx

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.4L-IS-USM-Lens.aspx

The mtf 10 curve on the 35 L II is approximately 0,95 at f1.4, in the center. The 85 L f1.4 is approximately 0,87 at f1.4 in the center.

The mtf 30 curve on the 35 LII is approximately 0,8 at f1.4 in the center. The 85 L f1.4 gets approximately 0,59.

I wouldnt be too worried though. The 85 L at f1.4 is very close to the 135 L at f2, and I have always found the 135 L to be sharp enough at f2.

I'd be interested in seeing comparisons (real world, not charts) between the two 85 L lenses. For me, it is going to be about IQ between the two at f/1.4... specifically the bokeh and "3D" effect. I never photograph brick walls.

 

[Talys]

I'm 99.9999% sure this will be a great lens. However, pre-order nothing.

Me too. I'm 99.9999% sure I will buy this lens. But I'll wait for the first sale/price drop.

 

[Deleted member 7828]

I'm 99.9999% sure this will be a great lens. However, pre-order nothing.

Agreed.

Same here. But, I'll order quickly if the initial reviews are positive. If this is of similar quality to the EF 35mm f/1.4L Mk II as I expect it will be, it will be a terrific lens.

I hate to bring you the bad news, but the mtf curves Bryan provides indicates that the 35 L II is a bit sharper wide open. You have to scroll down and compare in both links.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-II-USM-Lens.aspx

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.4L-IS-USM-Lens.aspx

The mtf 10 curve on the 35 L II is approximately 0,95 at f1.4, in the center. The 85 L f1.4 is approximately 0,87 at f1.4 in the center.

The mtf 30 curve on the 35 LII is approximately 0,8 at f1.4 in the center. The 85 L f1.4 gets approximately 0,59.

I wouldnt be too worried though. The 85 L at f1.4 is very close to the 135 L at f2, and I have always found the 135 L to be sharp enough at f2.

Unfortunate, but not surprising TBH.

Looking to get the most out of that 5DSR sensor. The 35L II and 100L do well in this regard. Although, if I'm honest, with this 85 I'm actually more interested to see how it compares at f/2 and f/2.8, since if it's less sharp than the 35 at 1.4, I can just use the 35 instead if 1.4 is needed.

 

[Larsskv]

I'm 99.9999% sure this will be a great lens. However, pre-order nothing.

Agreed.

Same here. But, I'll order quickly if the initial reviews are positive. If this is of similar quality to the EF 35mm f/1.4L Mk II as I expect it will be, it will be a terrific lens.

I hate to bring you the bad news, but the mtf curves Bryan provides indicates that the 35 L II is a bit sharper wide open. You have to scroll down and compare in both links.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-35mm-f-1.4-L-II-USM-Lens.aspx

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.4L-IS-USM-Lens.aspx

The mtf 10 curve on the 35 L II is approximately 0,95 at f1.4, in the center. The 85 L f1.4 is approximately 0,87 at f1.4 in the center.

The mtf 30 curve on the 35 LII is approximately 0,8 at f1.4 in the center. The 85 L f1.4 gets approximately 0,59.

I wouldnt be too worried though. The 85 L at f1.4 is very close to the 135 L at f2, and I have always found the 135 L to be sharp enough at f2.

Unfortunate, but not surprising TBH.

Looking to get the most out of that 5DSR sensor. The 35L II and 100L do well in this regard. Although, if I'm honest, with this 85 I'm actually more interested to see how it compares at f/2 and f/2.8, since if it's less sharp than the 35 at 1.4, I can just use the 35 instead if 1.4 is needed.

I find the 85L f1.2 to be very sharp at f2, even when pixel peeping on pictures from my 5Ds, and I expect that the new 85 L IS will be sharper. However, the amount of detail I ask for in a portrait lens is limited, so I prefer shooting with a lower resolution camera when shooting portraits.

 

[Viggo]

If the new 85 is worse at f1.4 than the 135 L is wide open, I'll be disappointed... but I guess other factors like less ca, better microcontrast and overall contrast might be the better looking image in the end.

Frankly I thought the 85 IS would be as sharp/ wide open as the 135 is at f2.8.

 

[Ozarker]

If the new 85 is worse at f1.4 than the 135 L is wide open, I'll be disappointed... but I guess other factors like less ca, better microcontrast and overall contrast might be the better looking image in the end.

Frankly I thought the 85 IS would be as sharp/ wide open as the 135 is at f2.8.

I got the wrong eye in focus (my very first portrait shot, ever) but the 135 f/2L is great wide open. CA is a problem on the lashes of the closest eye. I would hope the 85 is better, but it would be hard to make it worth the money compared to the 135 f/2L. The IS would be the clincher for me.

 

[Viggo]

Re: Canon Announces the EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

If the new 85 is worse at f1.4 than the 135 L is wide open, I'll be disappointed... but I guess other factors like less ca, better microcontrast and overall contrast might be the better looking image in the end.

Frankly I thought the 85 IS would be as sharp/ wide open as the 135 is at f2.8.

I got the wrong eye in focus (my very first portrait shot, ever) but the 135 f/2L is great wide open. CA is a problem on the lashes of the closest eye. I would hope the 85 is better, but it would be hard to make it worth the money compared to the 135 f/2L. The IS would be the clincher for me.

Yes, I didn't mean the 135 isn't sharp, I have one now and I have owned at least 8-9 in the last 12 years.
But having had the Zeiss 100 f2 and my two other current lenses 35 L II and 200 f2 makes me expect great things for a new 85

The biggest issue I have with the 135 is the focal length is too long and hard to handhold for me without IS.

 

[Ozarker]

Re: Canon Announces the EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

If the new 85 is worse at f1.4 than the 135 L is wide open, I'll be disappointed... but I guess other factors like less ca, better microcontrast and overall contrast might be the better looking image in the end.

Frankly I thought the 85 IS would be as sharp/ wide open as the 135 is at f2.8.

I got the wrong eye in focus (my very first portrait shot, ever) but the 135 f/2L is great wide open. CA is a problem on the lashes of the closest eye. I would hope the 85 is better, but it would be hard to make it worth the money compared to the 135 f/2L. The IS would be the clincher for me.

Yes, I didn't mean the 135 isn't sharp, I have one now and I have owned at least 8-9 in the last 12 years.
But having had the Zeiss 100 f2 and my two other current lenses 35 L II and 200 f2 makes me expect great things for a new 85

The biggest issue I have with the 135 is the focal length is too long and hard to handhold for me without IS.

You are right. These old hands have to use a tripod with the 135 f/2L. I'd be all over one if it came with IS.

 

[ktrphoto]

The new 85 f/1.4 L IS looks like being a wonderful lens. For travel it would be the perfect companion to my 16-35 f/4. Did Canon produce it in response to Sigma's super 85 f/1.4, or was it already in the pipeline?

Whichever, the advantages of IS and weather sealing should make the Canon lens the more attractive, despite its higher price, if it really does produce comparable IQ.

 

[Viggo]

Well, a sad and nice day for me today. I had to sell my 200 f2.0 today since car repairs and cr@p. But it means I can buy the 85 IS and I’m really looking forward to it.

And I pray to the photo Gods that my curse is no longer with me. (If I ever buy anything new, and not used, it won’t work).