For those who are new to the SLR Lounge Canon Lens Wars series, be sure to check out the Lens Wars Teaser video, where we introduce the series and our testing methodology as well as all the other videos on each focal length.
Image Quality and Detail of Canon 85mm Lenses at Wide Open Apertures
Let’s start from the top with their aesthetic bokeh quality and sharpness at their respective Wide Open Apertures (WOA). Once again, this is a visual test of differences, not a technical test. So, we are trying to distinguish differences in appearance while viewing images full screen on a Dell U2713HM 27″ IPS monitor.
Bokeh Comparison at Wide Open Apertures
Just by viewing the full-size images below, it is very easy to distinguish which image is which. The Canon 85mm f/1.2L clearly stands out in terms of its bokeh.
In the zoomed in images below, I can see that the 85mm 1.2 at its WOA of f/1.2 simply has a beautiful creamy look to the bokeh that is unmatched by the other 3 Canon lenses.
In fact, as you may have read in our Canon zoom lenses comparison at the 85mm length, the 70-200 f/2.8L IS Mark II and the standard 70-200 f/2.8L without IS produced images that are extremely similar in all respects. The only factor between the two 70-200s is the Image Stabilization found on the 70-200 f/2.8L II and its subsequent higher cost.
You can see in the images below that these two lenses are evenly matched.
Therefore, for the purpose of this shootout, we will just compare the two 85mm Canon primes to the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II to keep things simple.
Detail Comparison at Wide Open Apertures
Now when it comes to comparing sharpness, contrast, and color at wide open aperture, the Canon 85mm f/1.2 is only slightly softer compared to the 70-200 zoom lenses. Nevertheless, the cropped image we see below shows that the 85mm 1.2 is still pretty sharp and has good contrast, especially considering that this 85mm prime has a very large aperture of f/1.2.
The Canon 85mm 1.8, on the other hand, does not quite have the same pop as the 85mm 1.2 and the 70-200 zooms. As shown below, the image that it creates is softer and less contrasty compared to the other lenses in this group.
Low Light Consideration
In terms of low light performance, the Canon 85mm f/1.2L is going to give you roughly 250% more light than the 70-200 f/2.8 zooms at f/2.8, and around double the light of the Canon 85mm 1.8. So it offers significantly better low light performance in addition to the aesthetic quality of its bokeh when shooting wide open.
Image Quality and Detail of Canon 85mm Lenses at Widest Common Aperture
Ok, so that we see the aesthetic differences at their WOAs, let’s go ahead and come up to their Widest Common Aperture (WCA) of f/2.8 and compare the lenses for sharpness and aesthetics.
Bokeh Comparison at Widest Common Aperture
While the amount and aesthetics of the bokeh looks visually similar for all four lenses at their WCA of f/2.8, if we zoom in, we can see that the shape and the blend of the bokeh is just a bit softer and more creamy on the 85mm 1.2L than the 70-200mm.
Now, when we compare the bokeh of the 85mm 1.8 and the 70-200mm zooms at their WCA of f/2.8, it is a little more difficult to see differences.
The 70-200mm zooms appears to have slightly more distinct and high contrast shapes in the bokeh, while the 85mm 1.8 appears to be just a bit softer which we can see by moving towards the left of the frame over the leaves.
So looking at the comparison above, neither image is necessarily better than the other, and it is going to be a subjective preference. However, I do prefer the slightly stronger and more pronounced look in the bokeh of the 70-200mm f2.8. Either way, it is tough to distinguish when you are not pixel peeping.
Detail Comparison at Widest Common Aperture
Just like at wide open aperture, both the Canon 70-200mm 2.8L II and the Canon 85mm 1.2L create better color rendition and contrast than the 85mm 1.8. But that is to be expected with the L series lenses compared to regular glass.
Up close, we can easily see in the images below of our model’s dress that the 70-200mm and the 85mm 1.2L are quite a bit more sharp than the 85mm 1.8.
Now, when we compare the 70-200mm zooms and the 85mm 1.2 side-by-side, the difference in sharpness is relatively tough to see.
It appears that at their WCA of f/2.8, the Canon 85mm 1.2L is ever so slightly sharper than the 70-200mm zooms, which can be seen over our models dress sequins.
Extending out to the right edge of the frame, 85mm 1.2L further separates itself in terms of sharpness when compared to the other lenses in the group.
Lens Recommendation for the Canon 85mm Lenses
So for the first time in this series, it is tough to give you a solid conclusion of the best lens because of each of these four Canon lenses does something unique enough at various price points to make them worth owning.
So let’s take a look at the pros and cons for each Canon lens.
The Low-Light Bokeh King
If you want the most aesthetically pleasing bokeh and just the most bokeh in general, then the Canon 85mm f/1.2L is the lens for you.
Even at such a wide open aperture, the 85mm f/1.2 still produces excellent overall sharpness and image quality, especially when compared to the standard 85mm 1.8 prime lens.
And of course, if you want the best low-light performer, the 85mm f/1.2 significantly allows more light because of its very large aperture of f/1.2. All of this performance does come at a hefty sum of $2,199. But, here is the thing, while this lens does give you a slightly better bokeh aesthetic and low light performance than its little brother, the 85mm 1.8 does 90% of what this lens can do for a fraction of the price!
Our Favorite Zoom Lens at the 85mm Focal Length
If you want telephoto functionality, good low light performance, beautiful bokeh, and the best overall sharpness and image quality for a telephoto lens, the clear choice would be the $2,499 Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II.
And when you pair this lens with the 85mm f/1.2, you end up with two completely unique lenses that are both worth owning in your toolkit. The 85mm is going to give you amazing artistic imagery and unmatched low light performance, while the 70-200 is going to give you an awesome focal range, great low light capability, and the ability to create beautiful and unique artistic images via lens compression.
The Best Bang for the Buck at 85mm Focal Length
If you don’t have the $2,200 budget to step into the Canon 85mm f/1.2L, then the $419 Canon 85mm f/1.8 is going to give you 90% of the performance for only around a fraction of the price. In fact, I was so impressed by the performance of this lens that I can safely say this is a must have lens for those that can’t afford to step into the Canon 85mm 1.2L. Placed side by side, it was difficult to tell the difference between the 85mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.2L without zooming in and pixel peeping.
Even if you already have the 70-200mm zoom lens, the 85mm 1.8 is still worth owning because it is still going to give you more bokeh, it is sharp enough to shoot wide open, and it is roughly 1.5 stops or so brighter than the 70-200mm f/2.8.
The Best Alternative Zoom Lens at 85mm Focal Length
Again, as long as you are ok with not having image stabilization, then you will get virtually the same image performance, the same low light functionality, and the same bokeh-liciousness that you can get with the 70-200mm f/2.8L Mark II.
Conclusion of the Canon 85mm Lenses
So all four of these Canon lenses are winners in the 85mm focal range, and personally I would choose two of them based on your budget.
Obviously, if you have the budget or you simply need the best gear possible, I would recommend the Canon 85mm f/1.2L and the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II, which will cost close to $5,000.
But, if you are just starting out or are a little tight on cash, then the non-stabilized 70-200mm f/2.8L and the Canon 85mm f/1.8 will literally give you 90% of the image quality and functionality of the other two lenses for around $2,000.
Either way, all four of these lenses are incredible lenses within their respective price points. In particular, the 85mm 1.8!
So Which Portrait Lens Should You Get? If you photograph both events and portraits, I'd say go for the 70-200mm. You'll enjoy the versatility of the zoom while still capturing great bokeh at a distance. If you photograph portraits with a focus on aesthetics, the 85mm wins hands down.
Even if you already have the 70-200mm zoom lens, the 85mm 1.8 is still worth owning because it is still going to give you more bokeh, it is sharp enough to shoot wide open, and it is roughly 1.5 stops or so brighter than the 70-200mm f/2.8.
A 70-200mm lens is a versatile optic with uses for wildlife, wedding, sports, landscape and even portrait photographers. The option of having short, medium and long telephoto focal lengths in one lens with a fast constant aperture gives photographers so many creative options.
For many portrait photographers, the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is considered the key to great results. This lens seems like it covers all the bases that any portrait photographer would want: wide aperture, a range of good focal lengths, and excellent build quality.
An 85mm lens is excellent for portrait work. By isolating the subject and minimizing distortion, this lens can produce captivating, flattering portraits, headshots, and full-body images. Ask “What is 85mm lens good for?” and you're likely to get the default response “portrait work.”
The cinematic look is done using a 65mm focal length. 50mm is 15mm wider than that, while 85mm is 20mm longer than that. So if you truly want a cinematic look, go for a 50mm. If you want a more classic portrait shoot look, reach for an 85mm lens instead.
85mm is a great focal range for the type of street photography I do. It's not close enough to really disturb people (which is great unless you're looking for the opposite effect in your street images), but not too far that you're completely removed from the action.
If you're shooting a big family, a 50 or 85mm lens will give you the wide angle you need to get everyone in the frame. If you're shooting family portraits with only a couple of subjects, you can use a lens with a slightly longer focal length, like an 85mm, to fill the frame without having to stand too close.
One thing that many of the available 70-200mm lenses have in common is that they are very good indeed. The brightness, speed of focussing and overall sharpness these days are breathtaking – certainly wedding photographers of previous generations would be amazed by what is now routine.
I just got a new 70-200 and have been puting it through its paces. my copy is at f/4 as sharp as at f/5.6 or f/8 from 70-200mm. Great lens! F5. ... Latest buying guides.
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Got a new R5! Which of the following EF lens still holds ground today?
The Canon 24-70mm lens allows you to shoot fairly large group portraits as well as closer framed individual poses without having to change lenses. For tight headshots, a lens with a little more reach than the 70mm maximum length would be ideal.
85mm is the best focal length for portraits because it doesn't distort facial features (sometimes it actually enhances them). With a full-frame camera, this means an 85 mm lens, while with a crop-factor camera, you need a 50 mm lens.
A majority of portrait photographers would agree that this is one of the best lenses for portraits, especially the f/1.8 lens. This option is available for most camera brands, including Nikon, Sony, and other mirrorless cameras.
85mm lenses are excellent for all kinds of portrait photography. You'll get flattering images that will make your subject look better, and you can use the lens both at night and during the day.
The Canon 85mm lenses are all good for shooting portraits, especially head shots. Actually they're great for portraits! The 85mm focal length is a moderate telephoto and telephoto lenses give you a pleasing flattened perspective and a comfortable working distance from your subject.
An 85mm lens won't distort the subject in any way and will only compress your image, so whichever angle you decide to shoot your subject from you're going to get pleasing results.
The 85mm 1.4 is a game changer.The Image Stabilization feature is amazing and I now consider it one of my most ACCURATE lenses in terms of focus. There are SO many reasons why I love this lens and CANNOT have my defined style without it!!
The general rule to follow is to have a shutter speed higher than your focal length. This means that at 24mm, you will need to use a 1/30th of a second or faster shutter speed. At 85mm, use 1/100th or faster, and so on.
The longer focal length lets you shoot a wider scene by standing further back than you would with a 50mm lens. 85mm lenses produce natural depth-of-field effects, which make the subject stand out from the background.
The 85mm is known as a portrait lens, but it's also perfect for food photography. To shoot straight-on or 3/4 angle shots, I recommend a 100mm macro lens. A macro lens isn't just for tight, close-up shots, although it's great to have for this reason.
Wide angle and ultra-wide angle lenses are the most popular lenses for landscape photography. Their focal lengths usually range from 14-35mm, though some can be as wide as 10 or 12mm.
My general recommendation is ISO 400 for sunlight, 800 for light shade, 1600 for dark shade, and 3200 to 6400 for early evening into night. You should test your camera's ISO capabilities and figure out the maximum you are comfortable shooting with.
Yes, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 is a macro lens also. Its minimum focus distance is 13.8 inches, which leads to a 0.5x magnification. This means a subject that is about 3.5 x 2.3 inches will fit the frame of a full frame camera at the minimum focus distance.
When it comes to larger groups, choosing a wider lens is a must. The best versatile lens for both portraits AND large groups is a 35mm. This gives you the ability to capture a larger group without the use of rows. You could also use a lens like the 24mm or the 24-70mm.
Set the aperture to between f/2 and f/4 for single subjects and f/5.6 to f/8 for group shots. Use a shutter speed of at least 1/200th if handheld and 1/15th on a tripod.
The ISO setting determines how sensitive your camera's sensors are to light. The key to a great outdoor portrait is considering how bright it is outside. In full daylight, use a lower ISO setting, between 100 and 400, while later in the day or at night you'll have to pick a much higher setting.
Many wedding photographers use both a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm to capture the wedding day. These work particularly well during parts of the day when the pace of events isn't ideal for lens swaps. As far as wedding lenses go, this is the most necessary addition.
If you are shooting the moon alone, you can get pretty good results with a 200mm or 300mm lens, but to really fill the frame, you will likely want an even longer telephoto lens or you can use a teleconverter to extend a lens you already own.
The sharpest aperture on any lens is generally about two or three stops from wide open. This rule of thumb has guided photographers to shoot somewhere in the neighborhood of ƒ/8 or ƒ/11 for generations, and this technique still works well. It's bound to get you close to the sharpest aperture.
first test your lens for sharpness, as there's a high possibility that your lens is soft. Most lenses are not very sharp at their widest aperture. Instead, they are sharp when stopped down by 1 stop or sometimes 2 stops. It's also referred as “Sweet Spot” of a lens.
Generally speaking, for almost every lens, you'll get a sharper image―with all other factors being equal―at the middle apertures and not at its widest or smallest aperture. Let's dive deeper into why that is, and how you can figure out your lens's sweet spot.
The minimum focusing distance does vary from model to model, but it's generally around 15 inches (38 centimeters). In other words, you can use a 24-70mm lens to capture stunning close-up shots – of flowers, leaves, portrait details, and more.
Therefore, if you're looking for the best lens for portraits, get one that has a long focal length. Aim for a focal length of at least 70mm for APS-C cameras or 105mm for full-frame cameras for better portrait photos.
Of our favorite lenses, the least ideal is a 24-70mm. However, it's a lens that many people who are established but are branching into headshot photography may already own. We would only recommend shooting headshots at the 70mm focal length of this lens, and even that is pushing it as far as distortion goes.
The 50mm f/1.4 is the pick of the litter, capable of astounding image quality, sharpness, and bokeh. It's a little bigger than other 50mm f/1.4 lenses, but it's available for Canon and Nikon DSLRs and goes toe-to-toe with any lens those companies have right now.
Most photographers tend to use a moderate telephoto lens—70mm to 200mm—as that range generally produces the most flattering angle of view for most people's features.
That's easy. The best lens for everyday photography is a fast, 50mm prime lens. A 50mm lens on a full-frame camera best approximates the field of view we see with our eyes.
Using a better lens than the standard one supplied with most cameras almost always results in a significant improvement in quality. A large part of the technical quality of an image is determined by the lens, the only exception being the sensor and the way the camera processes the images.
Popular prime lenses for portrait photography include 50mm and 85mm when shooting close-ups, or 24mm and 35mm when shooting full length. One of the most common zoom lenses for portraiture is the 70-200mm.
If you photograph both events and portraits, I'd say go for the 70-200mm. You'll enjoy the versatility of the zoom while still capturing great bokeh at a distance.
Creating portraits using wide angle lenses can enhance perspective, but also distort proportions. If you capture the same portrait with a 24mm lens and a 50mm lens, the image from the 24mm will slightly distort your subject in the frame–especially around the edges.
A go-to for portrait photographers, an 85mm lens also works well for unobtrusive street photographers. It's no surprise that it's a favourite among paparazzi, too! Unlike the 35mm and 50mm lens, the extra-long focal length lets you put some distance between you and the subject without sacrificing any of the context.
85mm lenses cost more than many prime lenses at different focal lengths, but the price is worth it if you regularly plan to use your equipment. You can capture unique portraits and landscape photos and even use your lens for less conventional photography types—such as street shots.
The major drawback of this lens is that its minimum focusing distance is rather large for food photography. With a minimum focusing distance of around 2.8 ft or 85cm, you can't get up close to your subjects. That's where you will start to use a macro lens.
If you're shooting a big family, a 50 or 85mm lens will give you the wide angle you need to get everyone in the frame. If you're shooting family portraits with only a couple of subjects, you can use a lens with a slightly longer focal length, like an 85mm, to fill the frame without having to stand too close.
The 35mm lens is probably the most common lens used by street photographers, and this is because it has a lot of advantages in this fast-moving genre. It is wide enough to capture multiple subjects in the frame easily or a subject and a background.
Most photographers choose to shoot in 3:2 aspect ratio in the camera, a standard ratio of an image based on 35mm film. But if you're planning to shoot just for social networks purposes, choosing 4:5 in your camera may work in your favor.
If you're interested in portrait photography, the best lenses are between 45mm and 85mm. At these focal lengths, the proportions of the face and body are true to life and flattering. In most cases, wildlife and nature photography requires long focal lengths in the 300mm to 600mm range.
Canon 85mm lenses are great for most portrait photography applications. They're a useful addition to your camera bag for shooting weddings, family portraits, actor or corporate headshots, or when shooting portraits of any other variety.
It is hard to go wrong with the famously versatile 50mm lens as a first prime lens. If you plan on focusing primarily on close portraits, 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm lenses are excellent choices for headshots, beauty, and fashion photography.
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If you want the most aesthetically pleasing bokeh and just the most bokeh in general, then the Canon 85mm f/1.2L is the lens for you.
If you want telephoto functionality, good low light performance, beautiful bokeh, and the best overall sharpness and image quality for a telephoto lens, the clear choice would be the $2,499 Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II.
If you don’t have the $2,200 budget to step into the Canon 85mm f/1.2L, then the $419 Canon 85mm f/1.8 is going to give you 90% of the performance for only around a fraction of the price. In fact, I was so impressed by the performance of this lens that I can safely say this is a must have lens for those that can’t afford to step into the Canon 85mm 1.2L. Placed side by side, it was difficult to tell the difference between the 85mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.2L without zooming in and pixel peeping. 
So you don’t have the $2,500 for the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II? Then you could get the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L without image stabilization for around $1000 bucks less at $1,449. 