The Canon RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM has arrived, and it fills a niche many portrait shooters have been ready on. The 85mm focal size has lengthy been the candy spot for flattering portraits, and Canon’s newest model guarantees to stability sharpness, weight, and background blur higher than any earlier than it.
Coming to you from Shane Lengthy Pictures, this detailed video walks via how the brand new Canon RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM stacks up in opposition to Canon’s RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM and RF 85mm f/2 IS STM Macro lenses. The f/1.4 model impresses instantly with its sharpness, holding crisp element from heart to nook even huge open. Lengthy exhibits edge crops the place topics keep tack-sharp at f/1.4, a uncommon trait for quick lenses. He pairs it together with his Canon EOS R5 and places it via sensible checks, from portraits to marriage ceremony protection, displaying that autofocus stays locked even with quick movement. He pushes it additional by capturing into direct gentle and finds it controls flare surprisingly effectively for an 85mm prime. The small hood and balanced weight make it straightforward to hold and swap throughout occasions with out breaking rhythm.
In one other phase, Lengthy compares it to the RF 85mm f/2 IS STM Macro lens. The f/2 mannequin stays an incredible possibility for close-ups and element pictures, due to its brief minimal focus distance, however it struggles with slower focus and fewer constant monitoring. Lengthy exhibits the distinction in bokeh high quality side-by-side: the f/1.4 model produces smoother, bigger blur circles with an 11-blade aperture, whereas the f/2 appears barely busier. He notes that whereas the f/2 lens presents built-in stabilization, the f/1.4 retains issues lighter, relying as a substitute on the digital camera’s in-body IS. That trade-off leads to much less bulk with out sacrificing sharpness when utilizing correct shutter speeds.
Later, Lengthy compares the f/1.4 to Canon’s heavyweight 85mm f/1.2. The f/1.2 nonetheless leads in sheer background blur, however the distinction is smaller than most count on. The f/1.4 is quicker to focus, quieter, and noticeably lighter at half the burden of the f/1.2. Lengthy factors out how the f/1.4’s barely wider subject of view makes it simpler to work nearer to topics, a small however helpful edge throughout portrait classes. In real-world photographs, you’d wrestle to justify the additional price of the f/1.2 until you want that closing sliver of bokeh. For many shooters, the f/1.4 model hits the higher stability between high quality, velocity, and practicality.
Lengthy additionally compares the attitude of 85mm versus 50mm lenses, utilizing each to indicate how compression impacts portraits. The Canon RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM offers extra versatility in tight areas, however the 85mm stays the go-to for correct facial proportions and separation. He means that new shooters begin with the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 and the RF 85mm f/2 to see which focal size fits their work earlier than upgrading. Take a look at the video above for the total rundown from Lengthy.
