Thank you for including your settings on the pictures!! Sooo helpful, and I find that most people don’t include this on their sample photos. Thank you for this review, I’m convinced to make this my first $1K+ lens purchase :)
The football shaped bokeh is known as "cat's eye" bokeh. Occurs as a result of mechanical vignetting, more noticeable on the edges of the image vs the centre, esp on wide aperture lenses, some more noticeable than others. Some people like the effect, some don't. The 50mm f/1.2L is another lens where it is prominent.
I really like your video reviews. You show a lot of really nice portraits in them, a behind the scenes of a portrait shoot would be really interesting ;) Keep up the good work!
John Rikard Nilsen I did! But the sd card I was shooting on that day died. Won’t even show up/ mount on the computer or camera. I shot the bts of the xf80mm macro the same day and the bts footage from that shoot was also lost. I was in a pretty bummed out mood. Oh well. This is all I could do.
So glad this video popped up on my feed. Was on the fence about this lens, but I think I will hold off for now. Great review, really enjoy your format.
Aperture is affected also by subject between light source and subject in addition to the actual blades, which could be why some of your images have flattened bokeh edges. Live the 85 1.4, fantastic lens. :) Solid review.
Seems like a really great lens. Your photos are nice, very natural and smooth tones. The chromatic aberrations, sharpness and vignetting are very similar than those with the 85/1.2L II. The CA actually doesn't occur on the flat plane that is in focus, but rather the out of focus areas right when the circle of confusion kicks in, so it's really Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration rather than typical chromatic aberration, just like the 85/1.2.
I know I'm late. BUT, the reason why there are flat sides on the bokeh balls and stuff is because of the opening on the rear element being larger then the mirror box. Its totally natural. The only way to get rid of them is to stop down the aperture, which in turn, gets rid of the reason you bought the lens sadly. There should be an experiment to with round mirror boxes and/or sensors that'll crop in to give better looking bokeh from lenses with with huge rear elements.
This is true. It's called mechanical vignetting where the light entering the front element from the side chops off the bokeh balls to be more of a cateye shape. No lens with these kind of apertures and physical size can go around this issue. I had the 85/1.2L II and it did it too, but i liked the look.
Non-circular or cut-off bokeh balls are just a characteristic of fast primes - the image circle of de-focused highlights near the edge gets cut off because it would diffract beyond the limits of the lens. I see the same phenomenon with my 35 1.4, 50 1.8 and 85 1.8. Dustin Abbott has compared a number of fast 85mm lenses and all show the same characteristic to some degree, even a Zeiss Otus.
Actually, not quite. Mirror box bokeh clipping issue is well know and is due to the size limitation of the mirror box in DSLR cameras. This is aperture size related only. all F1.4 and wider apertures will be definitely affected. This issue is lens model and make independent. The lens' iris (when shot on the wide open end) is wider than the mirror box -- it's an internal shaped bokeh template that you can't make go away.
i love this because other reviewers simply take pictures of a trash can in an office with fluorescent lighting that anything would look awful in. And they use it as a benchmark for sharpness and rendering... lol
the rewason of the strange bokeh is that Canon have very wired mirror system, the mirror in every canon camera cut the bokeh , making it not as smooth as expected. this problem can be solved when mount to sony mirrorless camera.
I’m a canon 5d3 user and have this lens. It’s a great combo. I sold my 1.2 and haven’t looked back. On a different note, and maybe something for a different video, you mentioned you’re a Fuji shooter as well. I’m considering the switch over to the X-T2 (or the upcoming 3) What are your thoughts on comparison of the two systems?
For the birckwork wall picture, at f/1.4 wouldn't the corner parts of the image be less sharp because they not in the focused portion of the depth of field?
Glocks use plastic. If it's good enough for pistols. It's good enough for lens barrels. Younger photographers forget the reason we switched to plastic barrels was to prevent burning our hands in the heat or freezing them in the cold. Also heat expands the gasses the between the elements directly affecting their performance. That's why Canon made their bigger telephotos a reflective white-gray color.
Hey Zed ProMedia, Thank you for this great review. I'm really enjoying your content. I had no clue the Canon 85mm f1.2 is focus by wire. Do you by any chance know if there are any other Canon lenses, particularly L lenses that are focus by wire? The reason I ask is I shoot mostly video, and I don't want a lens that has focus by wire because I use manual focus for video. Also, were you using DPAF on the C200 during the flower/stabilzation shots? And was this shot in 4K mp4 or raw lite? Any help on this would be great. Thanks! - Paul Harwood
PaulHarwood856 I don’t know of any other L lenses that are focus by wire but all the stm lenses are focus by wire. That video IS test I did was dpaf but just regular mp4 4K. I only shoot bigger jobs in raw. There’s no point for RUclips when the mp4 4K is as good as anything else that shoots it.
The 50mm f/1.0L also used to have a fly by wire manual focusing, but the lens is hard to come by. From my knowledge some super telephoto lenses have focus by wire, but they have more of a damp feel so they don't feel as bad as the gimmicky 85L.
Great review, thanks. Been shooting a lot with the 1.2, but the focus is just too tough to work with. I think I'll go for the 1.4 instead after seeing you review.
When you say 'the older 85mm 1.2", do you talk about the first or the second version? [I'm trying to choose between the 85mm 1.2 mark 2 and the 85mm 1.4 IS ;) ]
I have the 85mm f1.2 II and can confirm it hunts, with going from a 5d mk2 to a mk4 the speed at which it hunts has got much more acceptable. The focusing ring on the f1.2 is the smoothest I’ve felt on any L lens. The thing is a Bokeh machine, I haven’t had a chance to use the 85mm f1.4L IS, as I’m here watching the review, also watching Kai W’s review and comparison it looks like the 1.2L has the upper hand in creamy bokeh, but the 1.4L has got the flat out speed of focus sorted.
Thank you for the review, and really well explained built quality. Very useful actually and really stunning samples of images. Canon also has a live chat now, they are based in UK but might be useful for some of your viewers, here is a link: www.canon.co.uk/canonlive/live-chat/? They helped me with some cute modes on the camera. Anyways, AF speed sounds convincing enough to choose this lens over 85 f1.2. Thank you!
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
First time watching - very impressed. No nonsense - straight to the point - no idle chatter. Well done.
Production value keeps getting better, you're like the MKBHD of the photo gear world :)
Very nice portraits man. I agree with everyone else. You do the best reviews.
As a nikon shooter, I must say, so far canon and leica colors are just GORGEOUS!!!
zed is by far the best reviewer because he actually shoots good photos! I cringe watching the other reviewers. I hope you review the fuji 90mm
Right? Can't even watch Jared Polin's videos for that very reason!
Still the most detailed and best quality reviews out there! Thanks again man!
Thank you for including your settings on the pictures!! Sooo helpful, and I find that most people don’t include this on their sample photos. Thank you for this review, I’m convinced to make this my first $1K+ lens purchase :)
Pretty much sold me on this lens. I was super close to buying the 85mm 1.2 but this having IS is just a huge bonus especially shown in video.
The football shaped bokeh is known as "cat's eye" bokeh. Occurs as a result of mechanical vignetting, more noticeable on the edges of the image vs the centre, esp on wide aperture lenses, some more noticeable than others. Some people like the effect, some don't. The 50mm f/1.2L is another lens where it is prominent.
My type of review. Great work keep it up 👍
I really like your video reviews. You show a lot of really nice portraits in them, a behind the scenes of a portrait shoot would be really interesting ;)
Keep up the good work!
John Rikard Nilsen I did! But the sd card I was shooting on that day died. Won’t even show up/ mount on the computer or camera. I shot the bts of the xf80mm macro the same day and the bts footage from that shoot was also lost. I was in a pretty bummed out mood. Oh well. This is all I could do.
Excellent review. Great job. Thank you.
So glad this video popped up on my feed. Was on the fence about this lens, but I think I will hold off for now. Great review, really enjoy your format.
nice one mate! your videos are only getting better!
Nice Review. Your Images are amazing. So nice Potraits, very gifted Photographer !!!
Cheers Lee. Great review and cracking shots to back it up with
I really like the tones of your post processed images.
Excellent review and excellent video! Subscribed!
I've had mine for a couple of months now & like you said goes well with the 5D IV!
Nice one dude! Been thinking about adding this lens to my stash.
Awesome review and Photos!!!!!
Great review!!! Great info.
Canon L glass - one thing that Sony can't quite match yet.
They have to rely on third-party like Sigma HAHA! And...HEAVILY! 😆
Sony is still borrowing from Minolta's optics 😂
Awesome lens and beautiful review.
Aperture is affected also by subject between light source and subject in addition to the actual blades, which could be why some of your images have flattened bokeh edges. Live the 85 1.4, fantastic lens. :) Solid review.
Seems like a really great lens. Your photos are nice, very natural and smooth tones. The chromatic aberrations, sharpness and vignetting are very similar than those with the 85/1.2L II. The CA actually doesn't occur on the flat plane that is in focus, but rather the out of focus areas right when the circle of confusion kicks in, so it's really Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration rather than typical chromatic aberration, just like the 85/1.2.
I know I'm late. BUT, the reason why there are flat sides on the bokeh balls and stuff is because of the opening on the rear element being larger then the mirror box. Its totally natural. The only way to get rid of them is to stop down the aperture, which in turn, gets rid of the reason you bought the lens sadly. There should be an experiment to with round mirror boxes and/or sensors that'll crop in to give better looking bokeh from lenses with with huge rear elements.
Very nice review, thank you.
Great video. We learned a lot.
Nice review! The IS handheld c200 looks better than I thought it would
Thanks for a great review.
wow my next Lens
I own the f1.2 and it does chop the bokeh balls at 1.2 as well. It's characteristics of these fast lens when shot wide open.
Chris M weird I don’t remember it doing that but I also never used it shooting directly into lights like that. Thanks for the info 👍🏼
Zed ProMedia here a shot I took with my 1.2 w chopped bokeh photos.app.goo.gl/BJ6KGsVPfKgvTgzr2
This is true. It's called mechanical vignetting where the light entering the front element from the side chops off the bokeh balls to be more of a cateye shape. No lens with these kind of apertures and physical size can go around this issue. I had the 85/1.2L II and it did it too, but i liked the look.
Great review fellow Canadian! Thank you.
Non-circular or cut-off bokeh balls are just a characteristic of fast primes - the image circle of de-focused highlights near the edge gets cut off because it would diffract beyond the limits of the lens. I see the same phenomenon with my 35 1.4, 50 1.8 and 85 1.8. Dustin Abbott has compared a number of fast 85mm lenses and all show the same characteristic to some degree, even a Zeiss Otus.
Actually, not quite. Mirror box bokeh clipping issue is well know and is due to the size limitation of the mirror box in DSLR cameras. This is aperture size related only. all F1.4 and wider apertures will be definitely affected. This issue is lens model and make independent. The lens' iris (when shot on the wide open end) is wider than the mirror box -- it's an internal shaped bokeh template that you can't make go away.
I like this guy. Reminds me of the pawn
Stars kid. Corey
Great video!
great review
Nicely done. Subscribed.
Awesome pics! 😍😍😍
Look at those freaking damn colors! Thats why im still a canon user, im a proud 5dIV owner. Ofcourse you are very talented too!
Interesting video recordings
i love this because other reviewers simply take pictures of a trash can in an office with fluorescent lighting that anything would look awful in. And they use it as a benchmark for sharpness and rendering... lol
Good review!
I cant wait to one day afford one of those Canon's, last thing on my Vlog list I NEED! LOL. Love the depth of those cameras! Great review, thank you!
a comparison between the sigma 85mm art would be interesting
I’m a little behind everyone else as I just bought this lens yesterday. However, great review. Thanks.
the rewason of the strange bokeh is that Canon have very wired mirror system, the mirror in every canon camera cut the bokeh , making it not as smooth as expected. this problem can be solved when mount to sony mirrorless camera.
Nice review man. Between this guys and the sigma which one is sharper? Which situation one would require the IS? Even at a wedding.
Great video. I agree with the “MKBHD of camera gear” comment below. I have a 5D4 and XT2. Could you compare this to the epic 56mm 1.2 please 🙂
The chopped bokeh happens as well on my 1.2
The sound it made when I shook it, first scared the hell out of me, I thought it was broken
I actually use this lens along with 24-70 on the events. I sold 85 1.2 ll to get that lens.
That good of a blur 3.4. Will be renting at next wedding
hi, do you have reviews of canon 85mm f1.2 L II?
:P
I’m a canon 5d3 user and have this lens. It’s a great combo. I sold my 1.2 and haven’t looked back. On a different note, and maybe something for a different video, you mentioned you’re a Fuji shooter as well. I’m considering the switch over to the X-T2 (or the upcoming 3) What are your thoughts on comparison of the two systems?
3:56 how on earth do you get that depth of field on f/3.2?
It’s an 85mm lens on a fullframe camera. F5.6 will give you decent shallow depth of field. Not like f1.4 would but yeah.
150th like 😇great video!
For the birckwork wall picture, at f/1.4 wouldn't the corner parts of the image be less sharp because they not in the focused portion of the depth of field?
Do you think B&H turn around and sell that as new when they get it back from you?
Compare it to the Simms art please.
what about canon 1DX mark II with that lens dose it fast compare to 5D mark V?
What is ceramic collaboration??
Will this fit on canon 2000 D? Many thanks for your reply ;)
Awesome video! What are your thoughts on focusing speed of this vs the XF 56mm f1.2
Hard to say. Pretty similar. Maybe slightly faster but the big thing is that its a lot more confident and more accurate compared to the xf56mm f.12
Wow. I've never even considered the cold of the lens.
Can the lens be use on other canon camera model like 70D
Ms Muas yep! Basically Any canon EF mount camera. Also EF adapter to the new RF mirrorless mount :)
Glocks use plastic. If it's good enough for pistols. It's good enough for lens barrels. Younger photographers forget the reason we switched to plastic barrels was to prevent burning our hands in the heat or freezing them in the cold. Also heat expands the gasses the between the elements directly affecting their performance. That's why Canon made their bigger telephotos a reflective white-gray color.
*Adding to my wishlist
I have it and I'm able to take sharp pics handheld at 1/13th of a second ! And I have a shaky hand
Hey Zed ProMedia,
Thank you for this great review. I'm really enjoying your content. I had no clue the Canon 85mm f1.2 is focus by wire. Do you by any chance know if there are any other Canon lenses, particularly L lenses that are focus by wire? The reason I ask is I shoot mostly video, and I don't want a lens that has focus by wire because I use manual focus for video. Also, were you using DPAF on the C200 during the flower/stabilzation shots? And was this shot in 4K mp4 or raw lite? Any help on this would be great. Thanks!
- Paul Harwood
PaulHarwood856 I don’t know of any other L lenses that are focus by wire but all the stm lenses are focus by wire. That video IS test I did was dpaf but just regular mp4 4K. I only shoot bigger jobs in raw. There’s no point for RUclips when the mp4 4K is as good as anything else that shoots it.
Hey Zed ProMedia,
Sorry for the late response. Thank you for your reply. That's good to know about STM lenses and the MP4 on the C200.
- Paul
The 50mm f/1.0L also used to have a fly by wire manual focusing, but the lens is hard to come by. From my knowledge some super telephoto lenses have focus by wire, but they have more of a damp feel so they don't feel as bad as the gimmicky 85L.
Hey Micko Castren,
I didn't know the Canon 50mm f1L has focus by wire. Interesting. Also about the super telephoto lenses. Thanks!
- Paul
Great review, thanks. Been shooting a lot with the 1.2, but the focus is just too tough to work with. I think I'll go for the 1.4 instead after seeing you review.
Am a grown man, but I feel jilted when you review gear other than Fuji 😂
When you say 'the older 85mm 1.2", do you talk about the first or the second version?
[I'm trying to choose between the 85mm 1.2 mark 2 and the 85mm 1.4 IS ;) ]
I have the 85mm f1.2 II and can confirm it hunts, with going from a 5d mk2 to a mk4 the speed at which it hunts has got much more acceptable.
The focusing ring on the f1.2 is the smoothest I’ve felt on any L lens.
The thing is a Bokeh machine, I haven’t had a chance to use the 85mm f1.4L IS, as I’m here watching the review, also watching Kai W’s review and comparison it looks like the 1.2L has the upper hand in creamy bokeh, but the 1.4L has got the flat out speed of focus sorted.
I have 85 # 1.8 ----## should I sell my one..¿
I am asking the same question. The 1.8 is a great lens though.
Brother please please Give me one lens
오~ 잘봤어요
Thank you for the review, and really well explained built quality. Very useful actually and really stunning samples of images. Canon also has a live chat now, they are based in UK but might be useful for some of your viewers, here is a link: www.canon.co.uk/canonlive/live-chat/?
They helped me with some cute modes on the camera.
Anyways, AF speed sounds convincing enough to choose this lens over 85 f1.2. Thank you!
This isn’t a Fuji lens! Dubyateeef!
your hair XD
Bachmann Manuel 😂 yeah. That’s why I wear a hat 😎
Don't worry, mine looks sometimes even wors XD
I'd love to have his hair. Don't have much left on top anymore :(
9 sided polygon = nonagon
what's up with your hair. (you get it? :p)
Great review