The nature of the focal length and maximum aperture of the 14mm lens means that the elements are smaller and require less torque to drive them. I'd get mine at Adorama, at B&H or at Amazon. Material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted or otherwise used without the prior written consent of The Imaging Resource. Still, distortion correction is destructive at the pixel level as some portion of the image must be stretched, or the overall dimensions reduced. Stop down to f/2.8 or f/4, and the edges and corners sharpen up nicely to provide very good cross frame sharpness. Complementing this lens's macro-focusing capabilities and furthering low light use is Hybrid IS, "providing up-to-3-stops of Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization to compensate for both angular and shift-type camera shake that may occur during macro shooting." However, the fringing is greatly reduced at f/1.6 and pretty much gone at f/2. Stopping down produces continuous improvement through f/5.6, where even the extreme corners are looking excellent. This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. However, Canon charges a significant amount for something with a low production cost that should be included in the box. Utilizing engineering plastic construction, the RF 85 STM's slightly-textured exterior barrel looks and feels nice, as does the straight exterior diameter of this design. Ken. When you need/want to leave the tripod behind, IS is there for you, helping to ensure sharp images and adding significant versatility to this lens. Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM review techradar.com - Sharmishta Sarkar. Samples taken from the outer extreme of the image circle, full-frame corners, in this case, can be counted on to show the worst performance a lens is capable of. This lens features a focus distance range limit switch that, in addition to making the full focus range available, enables distance selection to be limited to 1.1-1.6' (0.35-0.5m) or 1.6' (0.5m) - ∞. As an "RF" lens, the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens is compatible with all Canon EOS R series cameras and any other camera with an RF mount, including video cameras. The wide aperture also enables autofocusing in low light conditions. Coma occurs when light rays from a point of light spread out from that point, instead of being refocused as a point on the sensor. For many more comparisons, review the complete Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens Specifications using the site's lens specifications tool. The reviewed Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens was sourced from Canon USA. Photo. Imaging Resource © 1998 - 2021. Image stabilization does not stop subject motion, but it is incredibly effective at stopping camera shake for both stills and video. August 10, 2020 3431 Views. [Canon]. Enable the "Retract lens on power off" setting in the camera menu to ensure that the lens is fully retracted after use. The EOS R System expands the EOS lineup with full-frame mirrorless cameras, the RF lens series, optional mount adapters for compatibility with EF/EF-S lenses, and a game-changing RF lens mount at the heart of it all. The STM uses smaller 67mm filters vs. 77mm. Those stars appear to be growing wings, showing this lens not a strong performer in these regards. This lens is just a no brainer for any EOS R owner. Order now to ship at the end of June 2019). This hood provides very good protection from bright flare-inducing light and also from impact. APS-C format cameras using lenses projecting a full-frame-sized image circle avoid most vignetting problems. Or, would you feel more comfortable buying after having a hands-on trial period? Lateral CA is another aberration apparent in the corners. Below is a close portrait shot at f/2. The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens is a great all-around value lens choice. Regardless of the camera format being used and like most focal lengths, 85mm can be useful for landscape photography. The "portrait photography" designation is a broad one that covers a wide variety of potential still and video uses ranging from moderately-tight headshots to full body portraits, with a wide variety of potential venues including both indoors and outdoors. This is a 100% crop from the extreme top left corner of an ultra-high resolution EOS R5 frame showing diagonal black and white lines. The EF lens has a modestly wider aperture available, uses smaller filters (58mm vs. 67mm), and does not focus-extend. In the first row of samples, the bark of a tree was photographed from a comfortable portrait distance (ignore the slight shading differences caused by a distant tree branch I didn't notice). The Canon LP-1216 Lens Case is also optional. In this case, the sharpness fall-off into the corners is mild but noticeable. Primarily for perspective reasons, the classic portrait focal length range is from 85mm through 135mm. Any color misalignment present can easily be seen in the site's image quality tool, but let's also look at a worst-case example. Photography Blog reviewed the Canon RF 85mm f/2 IS STM MACRO lens for the Canon EOS R system, and came away with a rather positive impression. Ignore the slight distant tree branch adding some shading to the first f/2.8 sample, but especially with vignetting clearing, the contrast improves nicely at f/2.8. With a 9-blade count aperture, point light sources captured with a narrow aperture setting and showing a sunstar effect will have 18 points. That is the shape seen here. Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM review: specs and price. First Looks at Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens Image Quality, In Today's B&H Deal Zone: Lexar 128GB 2000x V90 UHS-II SDXC Memory Card – Only $109.99 (Save $60.00), H&R BLOCK 2020 Deluxe, More, Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens review, Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens Specifications, Canon RF 35mm f/1.8mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro Lens, Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens comparison, Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens vs. Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens comparison, Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens comparison, « Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens Review. But then if I point at something 6 feet away, the focus is slower. Use the site's comparison tools to create additional comparisons. Renting is fast and easy. On this page I’ve provided a selection of sample images I took with the Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro IS STM. The RF 85mm f/2 macro has a focus-by-wire or electrical manual focus system (vs. a direct gear-driven system) common for STM lenses. That said, those scenarios usually permit apertures narrower than f/2 to be used. This lens is a no brainer, as well as the upcoming RF 50mm f/1.8 will be, and should be in every EOS R owner’s camera bag. Canon's metal RF mount is nice, considerately shaped for mounting and dismounting the lens. This lens is not weather sealed. Get your Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens now! Once we get the L lens tested on the sharper EOS R5, I expect the image quality comparison will show the 85 L producing f/1.2 sharpness Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens. 85mm vs 97.9mm; Minimum focus distance? I have done entire senior sessions with an 85mm lens, and subjects always love the results from this focal length. Except for a small number of specialty lenses, the wide aperture bokeh in the corner of the frame does not produce round defocused highlights, with these effects taking on a cat's eye shape due to a form of mechanical vignetting. However, the RF 85 F2 avoids the f/1.2 lens's requisite significantly larger size, heavier weight, and vastly higher price. Canon offers a click stop removal service for this ring (at a cost). In general, lenses are not as sharp in the periphery, where light rays must be bent more strongly than in the center. Our Verdict The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is another pocket friendly RF prime that punches way above its weight, obliterating the old EF 85mm f/1.8 and boasting corner sharpness superior to the almighty RF 85mm f/1.2L! The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM doesn't have any user reviews yet! It is easy to argue the case for the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens being a great value, with the low price anchoring the argument. Those aspects increase the joy of use, with reduced fatigue increasing the photographer's sharpness. There should only be black and white colors in this image, and that is what I see. In the examples below, look at the fringing colors in the out of focus specular highlights. As mentioned at the beginning of the review, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens is the nearest predecessor and, therefore, worthy of comparison. Not to mention it's a whole lot easier to carry around. Canon USA provides a 1-year limited warranty. As Samyang specifies “Samyang’s RF series is known for its outstanding image quality, since the AF 14mm F2.8 RF was awarded the prestigious TIPA award in 2020 as ‘best mirrorless prime wide-angle lens.’ The new AF 85mm RF also makes no compromise in image quality: A total of 11 elements in 8 groups, with 4 high-refractive (HR) optics and an extra low-dispersion (ED) lens, have … Gear. Photographing the details at a wedding (the rings, shows, or dress details, for example), in the garden (such as flowers), or on the dinner plate is within this lens's capabilities. The small size, light weight, and low price were additional important popularity factors. In the center of the frame, the RF 85 f/2 is quite sharp wide-open at f/2. Canon has not promoted the optical design or special elements of this lens, but a single UD (Ultra low Dispersion) element is included. Intro Compatibility Specifications Performance ComparedRecommendations Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM (82mm filters, 42.2 oz./1,195g, 2.8'/0.85m close focus, $2,699. Most modern lenses have lens correction profiles available, and distortion can easily be removed using these. The L lens has less geometric distortion. The RF 85 f/2 utilizes the common, relatively small 67mm filter size. R-series cameras featuring IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization), such as the Canon EOS R5 and R6, utilize combination IS for an incredible 8-stop rating from this lens. There is a size and weight price to be paid for the ultra-wide aperture, and looking at the specs and measurements, The Canon ET-77 Lens Hood is optional. This focal length can work very well for commercial uses, general studio photography applications, and a wide range of other subjects. People in action are in this lens' capabilities. From an audibility standpoint, nothing is heard unless an ear is very close to the lens. Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens Combining a short-telephoto field of view with a sleek design and close-focusing performance, the RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a well-rounded lens for a range of subjects, from portraits to macro subjects. The additional bokeh examples are full images reduced in dimension. As such it is better than the vast majority of fast 85mm lenses. This is a small and light lens that takes up little space in the bag and requires little effort to carry and use. In some lens designs, the plane of sharp focus can move forward or backward as a narrower aperture is selected. Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens Review, First Looks at Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD Lens Image Quality, Olympus Transfer to OM Digital Solutions Corporation (OMDS) Completed, The First Tamron Lens Promotions for 2021, Instant Savings: Delkin CFexpress POWER Memory Cards – Save Up to $125.00, Canon and Sony Rebate Promotions Looking Bleak at Start of 2021. The manual focus ring electronically controls the focus of the lens. Impatience leads me to use AF to set the focus distance close to what is needed before switching to MF, and this method works fine most of the time. The front and rear elements of this lens are not fluorine coated, and without this coating, the effort required to remove a fingerprint is moderate. Thanks for helping me help you! Canon's Air Sphere Coating (ASC) is not reportedly featured on this lens, but with a low 12 element count (11 groups, the EF f/1.8 has 9/7), flaring is not a significant issue. The manual focus ring has a slightly-grippy ribbed surface with the control ring being strongly knurled for a tactile difference. Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM. bigger. With a focal length and relatively wide aperture combination ideally suited for our most important subjects, people, this ancient lens's usefulness was a key to its long-sustained popularity. Unlike its older sibling, it’s small, lightweight and, more importantly, far more affordable. the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens vs. Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens comparison shows the L lens significantly heavier and larger – including wider. Removal is sometimes very challenging, and in some cases, flare effects can be quite destructive to image quality. If you look through a tube at an angle, similar to the light reaching the corner of the frame, the shape is not round. Canon EOS R RF85mm F1.2 L USM lens 85mm f/2.8 1/250s 500 ISO 0.0 EV Canon EOS R ... After the note above, I grabbed my camera with RF 85mm 1.2 to review focusing. The Canon RF 85mm F2 is a useful macro lens with a minimum focusing distance of 0.35m and a maximum magnification ratio of 0.5x, providing 1:2 macro shooting capability. The Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM joins the similar RF 35mm F1.8 Macro as an affordable prime lens for the EOS R mirrorless camera system. Read the review at DxOMark… The Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM is a very good performer, other reviews confirmed it. Here are some f/11 (for aperture blade interaction) examples. There's nothing I'd call "hunting". With only one focal length, prime lenses are typically designed to feature low geometric distortion. Little reduction is seen after the about 0.4-stops present at f/5.6. Images are tack sharp across about 90% of the frame right from f/2, with just a bit of softening at the very edges. Again, the L lens features Professional-grade build quality and a 1-stop (2x as much light) wider aperture to its advantage, though an adapter is required for use on RF-mount cameras. When manually focused at f/2, this lens shows minor front focusing at f/2.8. Note that the control ring is clicked by default, and this ring's clicks are going to be audible in camera-based audio recordings. Noticeable subject magnification/framing changes are seen in the long full extent focus range change this lens avails, and focus breathing is still moderately strong without fully reaching the macro end. the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM Lens vs. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens comparison shows the L lens larger and twice as heavy. Professional-grade build quality and a vastly wider aperture are two significant differences. Critical for nearly all images, especially with the shallow depth of field of the 85mm and f/2 combination, is accurate focus, and many of us rely on autofocus for that task. This effect is called focus shift (residual spherical aberration or RSA), and it is seldom (never?) The retailers I recommend below are the ones I trust for my purchases. Why is Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM better than the average? As seen earlier in the review, the amount of blur a lens can produce is easy to show, and telephoto lenses are advantaged in this regard. Consider a Lowepro Lens Case or Landscape and architecture photography and flatwork reproduction are photographic disciplines that frequently require sharp corners. The sharp image rate slowly decreased as exposure durations increased, with occasional sharp images still being collected at 1.3-second exposures. As expected, the older lens has a moderately lower price. One of the … These results show that contrast improves very slightly as the lens is stopped down. This performance is differentiating from the higher-end Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens. While the sound is deceptive from a smoothness perspective, the EOS R-series cameras focus this lens relatively smoothly (a benefit for video recording). Learn more. With a built-in customizable control ring and a fast 12-pin communication system, the RF85mm F2 Macro IS STM is an ideal travel companion for your portrait, macro, low-light, and video needs. The EF lens has less geometric distortion and has less peripheral shading at wide and narrow apertures. As usual, focusing in low light occurs more slowly, but fortunately, "low light" is really dark for this lens. With the lens' AF/MF switch in the "MF" position, the camera meter must be on/awake for manual focusing to be available. Short distance focusing adjustments happen relatively quietly, though some clunking is audible. While that number falls considerably short of what I usually look for in a serious macro lens (1.00x, 1:1), 0.50x is an excellent spec for an 85mm lens with an f/2 aperture, and the close-focusing feature gives this lens great versatility. The spherical aberration color halo shows little size change as the lens is defocused, and stopping down one to two stops generally removes this aberration. At f/2.8, the RF lens advantage is stronger. I seldom need sharp extreme corners for portrait photography, though faces are often outside of the frame's center. A majority of the sample images shared in this review also illustrate bokeh. Also, note that this lens' aperture adjusts quietly and smoothly – it is ideally suited for video recording under changing lighting conditions. Canon already has an RF mount 85mm prime , but given its eye-watering price, it’s no surprise that a second RF 85mm f/2 lens has joined the ranks. Write a review Read all reviews. Engagements, weddings, parties, events, theater, stage performances including concerts and recitals, families, small groups, senior adults, fashion, documentary, lifestyle, etc. The first example shows a 100% crop that includes defocused highlights being very smoothly filled. The STM lens's 1-stop image stabilization rating advantage equalizes the difference in aperture in regards to avoiding handheld camera shake, but the f/1.4 aperture is better for subjects in motion and for background blur strength. Another favorite Canon 85mm lens is the EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM. An 85mm F1.4 lens has a LOT of glass inside, and those larger, heavier elements are harder to move with speed and silence. John Riley reviews the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 RF - Samyang's latest 85mm lens for the full-frame Canon EOS RF system, with a bright f/1.4 aperture, and competitive price. The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 USM L is very good in suppressing this but it's not fully corrected. 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