Description
The world’s smallest, lightest1 full-frame F2.8 wide-angle zoom
Breathtaking G MasterTM image quality right out to the edges of the frame
Extraordinary resolution and bokeh throughout the zoom range
Autofocus that is smooth, precise, quiet, and lightning fast
Refined movie imagery with minimized focus breathing, focus and axial shift
KGee –
So far so good with this lens. Images are super sharp and vibrant, nice contrast. Focus is great, super quick, however motor can be a touch noisy and it sometimes hunts unneccessarily but the focus limiter switch will help with this. I mostly use this for lifestyle/commercial images in restaurants and the macro ability is fantastic. I prefer an 85mm over a 100mm dedicated macro as it’s a more natural focal length I think so this lens is perfect. I used to use the previous 85mm 1.8 with extension tubes which wasn’t ideal. Have tested this for portraits and its fantastic, pin sharp focus with the eye detect AF. Lovely bokeh and seperation. All in all a fantastic lens for photos on the R system. If you don’t need the 1.4 then this for nearly a quarter of the price is a no brainer. One person found this helpful
michae1ange1o (verified owner) –
Coming from the Nikon world I’ve been using the 85mm f/1.8g and expected similar performance from this lens. Bear in mind the Nikon is a sub £400 lens. I’ve always known the compromises and was happy to except them but this Canon 85mm is simply a huge disappointment. Firstly Canon don’t appear to provide hoods with budget lenses, something I not used to and will cost around £50-60 if you want genuine, less for a knock off. Lens motor, I’m used to the continual stepping of AF motors when using Servo AF but this thing is loud, you can even feel it from the body, again not something I’m used to. Optics, this is where the lens really starts to suffer. I don’t really buy in to nervous bokeh and all of that stuff but the bokeh on this lens can be Ok and then it can be darn right awful. The worst one being being a shot I took of a fruit bowl and the bokeh added a horrible chunky line to the bokeh edge of a banana. CA is poor, but common for budget lenses, I would say this Canon suffers from it worse. Even shooting with overcast window light approx 12ft behind the subject I was getting a lot of green and purple CA which compared to other lenses wasn’t very easy to remove in Photoshop. All in all I’d skip this lens, save your money and pony up for the big brother. Canon currently don’t appear to allow third party lenses so it doesn’t leave much else in the way of options. 4 people found this helpful
Karen Fisher (verified owner) –
OK its not a true macro, a close up lens is what it is. For my purposes it gets close enough and I would rather have that f2 that 1:1. I do a lot of flower photography and use it on the RP although I have an R I always pick the RP with this lens, it is a very light combo and easy to hand hold. I can’t express strongly enough how much this lens has helped my photography. I have other macro lenses but this is my ‘go to’ choice now. It is very sharp even when wide open and the focus is spot on. The focal length suits my work, much better than the nifty-fifty or the 100mm f2.8. Easy to carry in a small bag with the RP and the RF 24-240mm – if you shoot RAW make sure you allow LR to apply the lens corrections.
Pierre-Luc –
In recently purchased the Canon R6 as I had read it has excellent focusing – I have a review on here. I needed a few lenses and decided on the 85mm Macro ISD STM. And I wasn’t disappointed. The camera lens doubles up as a portrait lens and a macro lens. Very useful. Pros, 1. Its light 2. Auto-focus for both distance and very close up is first class 3. No aberration as I can see 4. F2 so great for low light 5. Nice crisp images. Cons. 1. No lens hood (Canon don’t provide ideal these with the cheaper end lens though you can buy them, but expensive. 2. All plastic but again I didn’t see Andy disadvantage. 6 people found this helpful
Rafael Lara (verified owner) –
January 2024 Style Name: Single I really enjoy this lens. It’s smooth, the image stabilisation and auto focus have been effective during events and functions. I would recommend it. Great depth of field and creamy background. One person found this helpful
S.G –
OK it’s not a f1.4.or f1.2 but check your bank balance. f2 is plenty fast for most applications and of course it has highly effective IS built in, so even great on the EOS R. Handles well, it’s sharp and although not true macro, focusses close enough for most pictures. Love it. Perfect cat lens. 4 people found this helpful
Patty Miller –
December 2024 Style Name: Single Excellent quality images, worth the money. I would recommend this lens.
Ms joanne swindle –
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 November 2024 Style Name: Single Excellent lens.