Photo: Charles Lanteigne (CC BY-SA 3.0)
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
- 85mm
- f/85.0
- Prime
- 1025 g
- Min focus 0.95 m
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Quick answer
A large-aperture f/1.2 portrait lens from Canon's L line, built for full-frame EF cameras. Very shallow depth of field.
Pros
- f/1.2 aperture
- Very shallow depth of field
- L-series build and weather sealing
Cons
- Slow autofocus
- Heavy at about 1 kg
- No image stabilization
Verdict
Suited to deliberate portrait work if you accept the weight and the slow focus. Moving subjects are harder.
About this lens
A 85mm f/1.2 fast short-telephoto prime lens, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is designed for Canon EF mount bodies, from the Canon L series with ultrasonic-motor autofocus. A premium portrait prime with an extremely wide aperture for very shallow depth of field.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 85mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/85.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 2006
- Optical construction
- 8 elements in 7 groups
- Aperture blades
- 8
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.95 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.11x
- Filter thread
- 72 mm
- Weight
- 1025 g
- Length
- 84 mm
- Diameter
- 91.5 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM?
- Studio and environmental portraits
- Shallow depth-of-field work
- Wedding portraits
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 85mm | 23.9° | 28.6° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 136mm | 15.1° | 18.1° |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II fast to focus?
No. Autofocus is deliberate because it moves heavy glass elements, so it suits posed subjects better than action.
Does the EF 85mm f/1.2L II work on Canon RF mirrorless cameras?
Yes, through the EF-to-RF adapter, with autofocus and aperture control. The heavy focusing group means AF stays deliberate even on newer bodies.
EF 85mm f/1.2L II vs RF 85mm f/1.2L: should I upgrade?
The RF 85mm f/1.2L focuses faster on mirrorless bodies. If you stay on EF bodies, the EF lens remains a strong portrait tool.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
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