Canon 85mm Showdown: f/1.2L vs f/1.8 - Ultimate Lens Comparison! 📸 | Gear Review 🎥
Summary
TLDRIn this video, we compare two Canon 85mm lenses: the L version f1.2 and the non-L f1.8. The f1.2 offers superior low-light performance and image quality but at a higher price and slower autofocus. The f1.8 is lighter, cheaper, and faster focusing, making it ideal for event photography. Both lenses are suitable for portraits, but the choice depends on your photography style and budget.
Takeaways
- 📸 The Canon 85mm f/1.8 is an older lens released in 1992, known for its fast autofocus and good bokeh.
- 🔭 The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L, referred to as 'The Keg', is a more recent lens released in 2006 with a massive aperture allowing twice as much light as the f/1.8.
- 🏭 The 85mm f/1.2 L lens has superior construction with a metal body and weather sealing, compared to the plastic body of the f/1.8.
- 💰 The L lens is significantly more expensive, with a new price around $2200 at launch, versus the f/1.8 which was about $700 new and now can be found for as low as $250.
- 📈 The L lens is part of Canon's top-tier product line, offering better construction, wider apertures, and faster autofocus.
- 🔒 The f/1.2 lens is extremely sharp wide open with creamy bokeh, while the f/1.8 has its own character and is also sharp but not as creamy.
- 📹 For video, both lenses perform well, but the f/1.2 offers superior separation and creamy bokeh due to its larger aperture.
- ⚖️ The f/1.2 L lens is notably heavier, weighing just over 2 lbs, which could be a consideration for long events or use on stabilizers.
- 🔄 The autofocus on the f/1.2 L lens is slower compared to the f/1.8, which might be a disadvantage for event or action photography.
- 🤔 The choice between the two lenses should be based on the type of photography one does, with the f/1.8 being more versatile for various scenarios and the f/1.2 being ideal for portrait photography in low light.
Q & A
What are the two Canon lenses discussed in the script?
-The two Canon lenses discussed are the Canon 85mm f/1.8 and the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L version.
When was the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens released?
-The Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens was released in 1992.
What is the nickname for the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens and why?
-The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens is nicknamed 'The Keg' due to its massive size and weight.
What is the difference in construction between the L lens and the non-L lens?
-The L lens has a metal body and weather sealing, while the non-L lens has a plastic body and lacks weather sealing.
How much does the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens weigh?
-The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens weighs just over 2 lbs (approximately 2.4 lbs or 907 grams).
What is the significance of the 'L' designation in Canon lenses?
-The 'L' designation in Canon lenses signifies that they are part of the top-tier product line, featuring better construction, wider apertures, and faster autofocus.
How does the autofocus performance of the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens compare to the 85mm f/1.8?
-The autofocus on the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens is slower compared to the 85mm f/1.8, which is a significant drawback for event photography.
What is the price range for the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens when new, and what is the current used price range?
-The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens was priced at $2,200 when new in 2006, and the current used price range is between $800 and $1,200.
What is the advantage of the 85mm f/1.2 lens over the 85mm f/1.8 in terms of image quality?
-The 85mm f/1.2 lens allows in twice as much light, providing better image quality, better chromatic aberration, and ghosting reduction.
How does the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens perform in video?
-The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens performs excellently in video, offering smooth autofocus and great separation due to its wide aperture.
What is the main consideration when choosing between the Canon 85mm f/1.2 L and the 85mm f/1.8 lenses?
-The main consideration is the type of photography or videography one does, as well as the importance of weight and autofocus speed in their work.
Outlines
📸 Canon 85mm Lenses Overview
The script introduces a comparison between two Canon 85mm lenses: the L version f/1.2 and the non-L version f/1.8. The Canon 85mm f/1.8, released in 1992, is praised for its fast autofocus and ability to produce good bokeh. The Canon 85mm L f/1.2, known as 'The Keg' due to its size, was released in 2006 with improved optics for better chromatic aberration and ghosting reduction. The L lens is positioned as a top-tier product with better construction, wider apertures, and faster autofocus, reflected in its higher price.
🔍 Physical Characteristics and Lens Lineup
The physical differences between the L and non-L lenses are highlighted, with the L version being larger and heavier due to its 1.2 aperture and metal construction. The non-L version has a plastic body but still features a metal mount. The L lens is more expensive, with prices ranging from $800 to $1,200 used, compared to the non-L version's $250 new price. The script questions whether an L lens is necessary, suggesting that the non-L version might suffice for many photographers.
🌐 Technical Details and Autofocus Comparison
Both lenses have an eight-blade aperture for circular bokeh. The L lens's 1.2 aperture allows for more light and separation, resulting in creamier bokeh. Despite not being an L lens, the non-L version has its own color characteristics and is sharp wide open. The autofocus of the L lens is criticized for being slow, which is a significant drawback for event photography, while the non-L version has a fast USM motor. The choice between the two lenses depends on the type of photography one does.
🎥 Video Usage and Final Thoughts
For video, both lenses perform well with fast enough autofocus, especially the L lens with its smooth focus ring. The L lens's 1.2 aperture provides excellent separation. The non-L lens, being lighter, might be more suitable for use on stabilizers. The script concludes that the lenses complement each other, with the L lens being ideal for portrait photographers who need the wide aperture and do not mind the weight or slow autofocus. The non-L lens is recommended for those who need a lighter, faster autofocus option, suitable for various photography types.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Canon lenses
💡85mm
💡Aperture
💡Bokeh
💡L lens
💡Chromatic Aberration
💡Autofocus
💡Weather Sealing
💡Image Quality
💡Crop Factor
💡Video
Highlights
Comparison of two Canon 85mm lenses: the Canon 85mm f1.2 L and the Canon 85mm f1.8.
The Canon 85mm f1.8 is a fast lens released in 1992 with good autofocus and bokeh.
The Canon 85mm f1.2 L, known as 'The Keg', allows in twice as much light due to its larger aperture.
The 85mm f1.2 L has better coating for chromatic aberration and ghosting reduction, and overall better image quality.
L lenses represent Canon's top-tier product line with better construction, wider apertures, and faster autofocus.
Price difference between the L lens ($2200 new in 2006) and the non-L ($700 new in 1992).
Physical differences: the L version is larger and heavier with a metal mount, while the non-L has a plastic body and lighter weight.
The L lens, weighing over 2 lbs, might be too heavy for long events, unlike the non-L at under 1 lb.
Both lenses have an eight-blade aperture for circular bokeh and good subject separation.
The L lens has creamier bokeh and is sharp wide open, while the non-L has its own color characteristics and personality.
Autofocus is a significant drawback of the L lens, being extremely slow compared to the non-L.
The non-L lens's fast autofocus makes it more suitable for event photography and videography.
The L lens's slow autofocus and heavy weight make it less ideal for event photography.
Both lenses are good for portraits, but the non-L is more versatile for different types of photography.
The L lens's 1.2 aperture provides incredible separation and creamy bokeh, ideal for video.
The non-L lens is lighter and more manageable for video work, despite the L lens's superior image quality.
The decision between the two lenses should be based on the type of photography and personal needs.
The non-L lens might be sufficient for most photographers, while the L lens is recommended for portrait and video work in controlled environments.
Transcripts
what's up guys welcome to Vertical bar
media today we're going to be talking
about two lenses today both Canon lenses
both 85s the first is the L version
version 2
f1.2 the first is the Canon 9l f1.8
we're going to talk about their physical
size to one another how they perform in
photo and video as well as compare and
contrast them so be sure to like And
subscribe and we'll get right in so
let's get started talking about these
lenses the first lens is the
859 L f1.8 it came out in
1992 it's very fast this is my personal
one and I've gotten a lot of good photos
with it it shoots the autofocus is very
fast even 1.8 is still great gotten you
know great bokeh with it the next one is
the 85 L among the forms this is known
as The Keg
nons surprisingly because of its massive
element of
f1.2 which lets in twice as much light
as this guy the 1.8 as you can just see
by the physical difference of
them this one came out in 2006 it had a
better coating on its Optics which
allowed for better chromatic aberration
and ghosting reduction and overall it
just has a better image quality next
we're going to talk about where these
lenses fall within the Canon lineup
one's an L one's a nonl what is an L
lens an L lens is the top tier product
line that Canon releases for the lenses
they have the better
construction wider apertures typically
and a faster autofocus and the price is
definitely reflected in that this lens
brand new is $2200 when it was first
released in
2006 now you can get it between $800
$1,200 I got a really really good deal
on this one otherwise I I would have
never purchased this lens this lens is a
nonl and its price is definitely
reflected in its construction this one
has a plastic body unlike this one
that's metal this one has no weather
ceiling unlike this one which does have
weather ceiling its aperture isn't as
wide unlike this one which is 1.2 versus
1.8 1.2
1.8 this is twice as much light as this
one
is and brand new when these lenses first
came out this was about $2,200 in 2006
this was about $700
in and uh in 1992 nowadays this is $250
and you can get this between $800 and
$1,200 that's very difficult for a hobby
is to digest so what I'd like to explain
today is do you really need an L lens
for this 85 I was really really
surprised by it as well we'll get into
that next so let's talk about the
physical characteristics of these lens
as I said earlier this one is the L
version of the 85 it's much bigger due
to massive 1.2 aperture it has a metal
mount in the back which is
great the nonl has a plastic body
construction it luckily still has a
metal Mount it's a smaller design
because the apure is smaller at 1.8 and
it still does a really really good job
as far as weight goes this one
effectually known on the forms as The
Keg earned its name coming in at just
over 2 lbs 2 and a/4 PBS to be exact and
the nonl is just under a pound at
93 and I've done long jobs before and I
couldn't even imagine carrying this
around on my body on my camera body
carrying around or even in my back I
could I would I know I would feel a
weight and it's definitely something to
consider thinking about a lens like this
if you do a events like I do you might
not want it because this is more of a
portrait lens as far as the autofocus
goes and the weight consideration as far
as Dimensions go this is 3 in 3.3 in in
diameter 3 in tall the nonl is 3 in tall
and 2.8 in diameter so they're just
about the same height and it's
unmistakenly that this is an L versus
this and it's signature Red Ring tells
you it's an L so everybody knows you'll
have a l you're shooting with the L lens
as far as how it looks on a camera uh
physically um they're both 85 on a full
frame but on a crop with that uh 1.6
factor it's going to be equal to 136
which is very very tight on a crop when
I had a crop in my 85 I I didn't use it
a whole lot other than for portraits but
once I got a 70 to 200 I didn't I didn't
really use it a whole lot until I got my
fullframe camera so those are a lot of
things to consider just the physicalness
of of these two lenses how much weight
they take up in your bag in your hands
or and how much space they take up in
your hands or in your bag next up we'll
talk about the technical details of
these lenses what uh details about this
are relevant to you as a photographer or
videographer
both lenses have an eight blade aperture
which make for very very circular bokeh
a good separation due to the low f- stop
you're going to have more separation and
more blurriness and more boka roundness
Bess from your from this lens just due
to the 1.2 aperture this one still is
very very solid lens like I've said in
the past it's in my opinion they're
almost just neck and neck like the the
trade-offs really determin which lens
you're going to get the the image
quality on them is both but once you use
this lens it's unmistakably an L versus
over this lens but even though this
one's not an L it still has its own
color characteristics that give it its
own character that even if it might not
be as sharp as the L wide open it still
produces very uh professional images
this one is going to have creamier bokeh
smoother and it is sharp wide open a lot
of lenses aren't Sharp you've heard
you're not supposed to shoot wide open a
stop or two above but with this lens you
don't even need to do that 1.2 wide open
very very sharp in the center and even
close to the edges it it's still very
sharp it's almost to the edge it where
it starts to lose its detail this one
not as much still very very sharp in the
center um but like I said it has its own
personality despite not being an
L where these lenses are very very
different from one another which is kind
of disappointing for me as a
photographer is this autofocus is
extremely extremely slow me as an event
photographer the first photo I took with
this camera and where I had to focus I
knew that it wasn't going to be a lens
for me it is so incredibly slow as an
event photographer I know if I shot with
this lens Not only would it wear me out
due to the two times weight that it is
from the other lens I know I would lose
shots and and honestly it's kind of
disappointing cuz I've had other L's and
their autofocus is extremely fast I've
heard that it's because there's more
steps in between the focus to be more
detailed with the 1.2 but still honestly
it is a little disappointing to pay um
some people pay $2,000 for the lens I
don't think they're I would think a
drawback would be in another area but
not compromise the actual performance of
the lens so with these with this L
versus other L's you really really need
to think about what you're using the
lens for this 8 both 85s both of these
85s are great for portraits but you want
a lens that you don't have to just use
for one type of Photography like I said
I've done portraits but primarily do
events I I pick this lens because the
autofocus is superior to the L lens
despite being a third or fourth of the
cost and I've used this lens and it's
incredibly fast in terms of how fast it
autofocuses and that's really really
something you need to consider and it's
a big drawback honestly but if you just
do portraits you're staying in one spot
you can switch between 85 or 135 or
something like that this lens might be
good for you your subject is staying in
stay in front of you the distance is
pretty consistent so I think this would
be okay if you strictly were a portrait
photographer but if you do anything else
M moving you're probably going to you're
probably going to want this
unfortunately I I hate to say it against
the L all right next up we'll talk about
the physical characteristics relevant to
photography using these lenses and
things to consider both lenses have a
eight blade aperture which gives it the
very circular boka that everybody
desires this one the L 1.2 is going to
have way more separation can let in
twice as much light versus the 1.8
aperture but both Bas are very very
solid both lenses take very very good
photos the L lens is going to have
creier bokeh it's going to have circular
bokeh and this lens is very very sharp
in the center wide open most lenses they
say not to shoot wide open like a stop
or or whatever above but this lens you
don't need to worry about that there's
no point of having the 1.2 if you can't
shoot at 1.2 and it doesn't come out
sharp it is sharp all the way through up
and up to the edges just barely outside
up to the frame does it start to get um
loose detail but even then it's it's
still there this lens is very very sharp
in the
center it doesn't hold its sharpness in
the center as well as the L does of
course but it has its own way of taking
in the Optics and it has its own color
profile different from the L lens which
honestly gives it its own character it's
like it's not trying to it's not trying
to be with the L lenses it's it it
really is its own
thing but where these lenses differ
where it's honestly the most
disappointing as a photographer is the
autofocus I cannot stress that the
autofocus is extremely slow on the L
lens despite its robustness and every
other area I read about the autofocus
being an issue in the reviews and I was
kind of concerned about it but from the
very very first photo I took with this
lens I could tell how slow it was and
being an event photographer I know if I
use the L lens not only only would it
weigh me down in my hands and in my bag
I know I would miss the shot more often
than with this lens the nonl has the USM
motor it's extremely fast especially on
my 1dx Mark I body um it it snacks it it
it goes right to the photo it's it
focuses when I push the button this one
it it it takes some time to get there
and I think that's due to the 1.2
aperture that there's more spots in
between the
focus to pick up for the more detail for
the 1.2 and it just it takes longer to
get there unfortunately which is kind of
a disappointment if you're buying this
lens new at
$2,000 but it really really makes you
need to consider what lens you're going
to be using this for are you a portrait
photographer if so that would be great
you're staying in one spot your subject
is staying in one spot the distance
between the two is pretty consistent you
you'll probably probably be all right
but if you do event if you do events
like me you're going to want the faster
autofocus unfortunately to say Canon
also makes a 50 1.2 so you don't have to
get this lens to have the 1.2 aperture
with something and if you're on a higher
megapixel camera you can crop that
in at at um at 50 and still get the 85
uh focal length cropping or framing that
that you would want to get anyway so you
really need to consider what kind of
photography for you what are you going
to be using this lens for this lens is
$250 as we said earlier and this lens is
like used is about $8 to $900 so what
what are the trade-offs that you're
going to get with where you spend your
money next up we'll be talking about
where do these lenses fall in terms of
using them for video for
video they're both very very good the
autofocus is fast enough as it needs to
be for for video especially with the the
L lens it has very very very very smooth
Focus ring on it I can barely touch my
finger on it and it turns the
autofocus and it has the L
light it has the L Construction which
makes it durable for any kind of filming
environment and also the 1.2 gives you
incredible Separation on your video I
really really can't stress that enough
it's it's so cool having a one .2 it
it's so
creamy and for video it it really just
produces an incredible image for the for
the nonl it's the image is still up
there but in comparison to the 85 it's
still you can still tell the difference
that it's not a l but overall it's still
very very sharp for video you might want
to consider the weight sizes on this as
I said earlier this comes in a little
over 2 lbs this comes in at at at one
pound so this is twice as heavy so how
does that feel on a stabilizer how does
that feel in your camera bag um cing it
around onset offset to different sites
um and and locations for filming and
honestly this lens is extremely
heavy so let's kind of recap what we
learned today and dissect what we talked
about the Canon 85l is a true
representation of an L lens overall it's
just great quality great image quality
it represents everything that's that's
great with Canon great bokeh great color
sharpness all the way through the
aperture range overall it's just it's
just a great lens if you're a pro you're
definitely going to be happy um getting
this with your money it's it's going to
be money well spent for sure delivering
high quality images to your
clients the Canon L lens unfortunately
is the embodiment of a non- l lens it
it's plastic it's lighter but we're
their differences are I really really
think those are their strengths like if
you want a 85 that's not heavy that's
this one if you want a 85 that has fast
autofocus that's this one so I think
they really really complement each other
so where their strengths are the
opposite is great for video this
autofocus is might be kind of slow for
other types of Photography but it's
perfect for video this autofocus is
great for photo and video this one's
heavy this one would be lighter in a
stabilizer so I really really think they
complement each other I wish that there
was another 85 kind of lower than this
but above this but Canada doesn't have a
lineup like that unfortunately it's
either what they give you or the best
that they give you unfortunately so you
really have to decide and like I said
earlier you have to think about what
kind of Photography you're doing what
kind of lens you got to think about what
kind of Photography you're doing and how
that lens fits into your
lineup luckily most lenses don't have
huge drawbacks that make you want to go
toward the budget friend toward the
budget friendly one over the high-end
one I very rarely think that happens but
in this case it's it's honestly pretty
close um I got a really really good deal
on this lens and I was
hoping I was I was hoping I wouldn't
like this one so much that I would keep
it and you know I would basically be
buying a lens I was wasn't trying to buy
but I think I am going to sell it and
I'm okay with that because this lens
I've had for almost 10 years and I've
never thought I need a 85 L maybe a 50 L
honestly because I still have the older
1.4 Canon one but there's other L lenses
to get that I think could better suit
your kit if you're kind of a more
well-rounded
photographer and those are other lges to
consider I don't think this one is it I
think this one is you're totally okay
getting the non-l version but if you're
a portrait photographer you are going to
want this one this is this is the lens
to have if you can fit it on your
stabilizer any you do video this is the
lens to have if you just shoot in dark
environments and nothing else matters
but letting in as much light as possible
this is the lens to have so it really
just depends across the board of where
your camera is going to be at and what
your subject is how much light you have
how fast are they even moving so those
are all things to consider all right
guys that's going to wrap it up we hope
you enjoyed the footage today and we
hope you learned something and if you
knew everything we said in this video
today we hope you just enjoyed looking
at some beautiful camera gear everyone
at vertical bar media we appreciate your
support and we'll see you next time
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