rscheffler wrote:
Yeah, I'm wondering whether this is actually a 'real' f/1.4 lens. The math suggests front element should be 60.7mm and it's a 67mm filter thread. The ring around the front element appears to be more than 6mm wide (3mm on each side = 6mm). It would be interesting to know the t-stop value. DPR mentioned it has some software corrections, which wouldn't be surprising. I wonder if some of that is an EV boost to normalize with other f/1.4 lenses in the lineup.
I have the EF 85/1.4L IS and its front element is around 68mm across, give or take... and its retaining ring is quite narrow so that the edge of the glass is quite near the filter thread. Not the case with the 85 VCM which appears to have a very wide ring around the front element. ...Show more →
One of the reviews shows the field of view alongside that of the RF 85/1.2 (which has f = 86.5 mm). I used these images to estimate f = 82 mm for this new lens. Give or take 1 mm. The 50 VCM is f/1.46 and the same number appeared in a lot of Canon patents recently. Assuming that it also applies to the 85 VCM, we find a front element diameter of about 56 mm.
All lenses come with a correction profile these days. The 85 VCM has some vignetting, but zero distortion.
I'm also wondering about cat's eyes severity due to stuffing an 85/1.4 into this form factor.
There are reviews out where this can be judged. It is not bad at all.
The best review that I have seen is that YouTuber DAVISION. (In German.) This guy has torn apart other VCM lenses, but he is lyrical about the new 85 VCM, which is going to replace his RF 85/1.2.
Yes, the math would not work for an 135/2 and 67mm filter thread. f/2.2 or 2.5 should. I agree I'd like to see a fast 100/105 (Canon does 100mm, Nikon does 105mm) in the f/1.8 range.
The filter thread is indeed prohibitive, and I believe that a well-corrected 135/2 also requires a longer length.
That said, it looks like the 85 VCM performance is stellar for such a compact design.
Toothwalker wrote:
The best review that I have seen is that YouTuber DAVISION. (In German.) This guy has torn apart other VCM lenses, but he is lyrical about the new 85 VCM, which is going to replace his RF 85/1.2.
Davision also has an English-language channel, but that one does not feature the 85 VCM.
rscheffler wrote:
There's still cat's eye, of course. Even some sign of onion rings, though IRL probably won't typically be noticeable.
From Canon Japan's site for this lens:
Yes, of course. Some lenses behave better than other ones, but there is no lens that keeps a perfectly round shape towards the corners. The 85 RF is in the same ballpark as the EF version, or 85/1.4 lenses of other manufacturers. This is not bad given its compact size.
B&H lets you add it to your cart but I don't know if they actually have any (they're closed until tomorrow). Adorama is backordered. Up here in Canada, Camera Canada, Vistek and Camtec show it as in stock. Maybe it's available if you shop around some of the smaller dealers. Maybe US is getting less inventory than other places?
It's a hassle now for Canadian shops to ship to the US. Here it's CAD 1999, which is about USD 1430, but you'd pay the 15% Trump tariff for Japanese products, which will bring it to a similar price as US MSRP.
rscheffler wrote:
B&H lets you add it to your cart but I don't know if they actually have any (they're closed until tomorrow). Adorama is backordered. Up here in Canada, Camera Canada, Vistek and Camtec show it as in stock. Maybe it's available if you shop around some of the smaller dealers. Maybe US is getting less inventory than other places?
It's a hassle now for Canadian shops to ship to the US. Here it's CAD 1999, which is about USD 1430, but you'd pay the 15% Trump tariff for Japanese products, which will bring it to a similar price as US MSRP.
I've tried- I can't locate one anywhere- I am on about 15 local shops I have tried.
rscheffler wrote:
B&H lets you add it to your cart but I don't know if they actually have any (they're closed until tomorrow). Adorama is backordered. Up here in Canada, Camera Canada, Vistek and Camtec show it as in stock. Maybe it's available if you shop around some of the smaller dealers. Maybe US is getting less inventory than other places?
It's a hassle now for Canadian shops to ship to the US. Here it's CAD 1999, which is about USD 1430, but you'd pay the 15% Trump tariff for Japanese products, which will bring it to a similar price as US MSRP.
I had mine waiting for me when I got back from Asia, pre-ordered at B&H within an hour of announcement. Timing was less than perfect, could have used it on the trip (I still hate the 135...)
Just took delivery today - gift for the wife.
Build quality is fantastic. The focus and function ring are well dampened. Pleased with the few test shots and awaiting a portrait session in the coming week. The weight relief is very appreciated after primarily using the 28-70.
Great image. How are you further experiences with that lens. I am also on the edge to sell my 85/1.2, which I love optically, but not size and weight wise. It stays at home to often for that reason.
I would like to ask for a more ‘long-term’ opinion on this lens for photography, not for filming. Does anyone use this lens and have formed an opinion about it based on their own experience?
robcio.m wrote:
I would like to ask for a more ‘long-term’ opinion on this lens for photography, not for filming. Does anyone use this lens and have formed an opinion about it based on their own experience?
I do, I have it since november. Using it professionally; formerly owned the old 85 EF 1.2, the newer 85 EF 1.4 IS, the 85 RF/2 and also owning the 50 RF 1.2 and 35 VCM 1.4
It's a great lens. Very sharp, nice rendering, superfast autofocus, and a small and light offset. For me it ticks all the boxes for my professional work (events and portraits). I'm sure that the rendering of the 85 1.2 is nicer (in fact, the rendering of my 50 1.2 is nicer), but I think I would only notice it when comparing images shot side by side. This lens is good enough for me.
The fact that is it rather small and light makes it great to pop it in the bag besides the staple zoom lenses. The correction needed in LR is not that big; the 35 needs more fixing.
robcio.m wrote:
I would like to ask for a more ‘long-term’ opinion on this lens for photography, not for filming. Does anyone use this lens and have formed an opinion about it based on their own experience?
I'm not an owner, so can't offer you any personal insight, but I found this review interesting. Lots of well-done comparisons that get into the character of this lens.
