Product ReviewsCanon EF 85mm f/1.2 USM Lens

Mark I lens - Slow, heavy but sharp & bright

I used Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 USM lens with a Canon 5D Mark II camera. The lens is slower than Canon 28-70mm (older version of 24-70mm) and Canon 17-40mm. This is probably because the 85mm is not the Mark II lens. However the pictures came out very sharp. I used the lens in the morning before the sun comes out. None of my other Canon lens of f/2.8 can take pictures in the dark; this lens can. I don't like its slowness, but I like its sharpness and the details captured by this lens. It is a very bright lens. A reasonable price for Mark I lens should be about $1200. Excellent glass. Somewhat heavy. Hope this helps.Read full review...

Fine Pics and a Great Way to Meet Chicks. Why we love photography.

This this has become my 'normal' lens since I bought it on Ebay a couple of months ago. The image quality is incredible and consistent through the lens' remarkable range of capabilities. I bought a mark II awhile back and was pleased with it's ease of use and speed (it's about twice as fast as the mkI...great for action etc.) but not particularly wowed by image quality. Sold it for a little profit and bought the I on a whim...'twas a bargain. It delivers a consistent "Jeeeeeeeez I didn't know I could do THAT!" kick just about every time I use it.

It's big and clunky and draws a lot of attention but if you want to use a single piece of equipment that never makes you compromise what you're trying get done, this fits the bill. If you're after 10fps speed and great images, go for the MKII; if you're after creative flexibility and outa this world image quality, go for the I. Bargain at any price!Read full review...

Excellent, heavy lens

This is a very specialized lens. 90% of buyers would be better off getting the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8, which is just as sharp in most situations, about 1/5th the price, lighter, and has much faster autofocus. I would love to own this lens again, but most people are expecting way too much money for the older version. A used series II lens should command a price of around $1,500, the older lenses should be around $1,000. Do yourself a favor and get yourself the EF version, unless someone is being reasonable selling an older L f/1.2.Read full review...

Canon EF 85mm 1.2 USM Portrait Lens

Where do I start? Canon EF 85mm 1.2 USM Portrait Lens is my first big lens purchase. Making a long story short, I started taking shots around my kitchen and front yard as soon as took IT out of the box. I said, "Whoa, this picture came out of my kitchen? There was a lot of Whoa! Oooooooh! Daannggg! Can't wait to my first portraits.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kazu5743

EF85mm f1m2 mkI - The 'Edge Of Tomorrow' lens

Seen the movie? Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt portray two soldiers reliving the same day figuring out how to 'overcome the odds to win all'.

Shooting the 85 is just like that. It will shove in your face every weakness in your technique. You'll either quit, saying something like 'it's not really my thing', or you'll hang in, work hard and be stunned by what this thing is capable once you get into the zone.

F1.2 makes for fantastic street work, incredibly moody images, f3.2-5.6 gives shoulder to shoulder resolution on portraits that will drop your jaw. F8 in vertical format will give incredibly detailed stitched panoramas that will have an amazing 'immediacy' that wide angle lenses will struggle to deliver.

Make no mistake...this is an acclaimed pro-level lens for many reasons. As soon as you're 'tight 'with it, it'll create some of your most enduring and talked about images. It's a MUST have piece of kit.Read full review...

Verified purchase: No

A very beautiful lens with classic rendering

Title says it all. It's heavy, it's not really fast to autofocus, but now slow either (just put it on an R6 or R5). It's very sharp for its age, even on an R5 renders so much detail from f1.2. Two drawbacks for me: heavy chromatic abberation in bright light, and lacks a bit of contrast wide open, not to be confused with micro contrast which this lens has in abundance - very 3d like images). 3d pop is off the charts, renders beautifully, organic look due to microcontrast, low glass element count, not clinical like all modern glass). One of my favorite all time lenses! Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: nbz-jp

the ideal portrait and low light lens

Once you get past the cost of this lens, it's all good. I use this lens in portraiture and low light settings. Semiprofessional in my application, this lens often takes me to the next level of professionalism, in spite of my skill weaknesses.

This lens is perhaps now my favorite prime lens. Highly recommended, start saving your dollars now, and look forward to a positive shooting experience.Read full review...

The lens that enhances your pictures!

I'm Photographer since 2004 and I worry about creating different images, so I chose this lens to do some tests regarding the effect of the blurry background and foreground clearly enough.
This lens also allows more light input for faster photo, the tip is also buying the Canon 18-200mm lens and if you meet with the STM function, will have even more advantages in the speed of focus for creating videos

It's a shame that I have not received the product, because I have no money required by Brazilian customs to release my lens.
But challenges also be part of my profession and praise from customers help me so I will have to invest more in creating different images!Read full review...

Happy

Only 4 starts is because a few small marks on rear glass that weren’t shown in ad. But doesn’t show up on images so no big deal:. Love this lense.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: matsuiyastore

Canon 85mm f/1.2 L USM MK II Lens

I always want to buy the 85mm f/1.2 price was too deep,then I know Canon coming out with the Mark II version, I was just going to wait. When I saw this lens on ebay, I got to have it. So far I am very happen with this lens, image are very sharp & you can shoot it at low lighting.
I didn't like about this lens is the weight & the USM auto focus is not as fast as all the Canon L lens.Read full review...