Canon RF 85mm 2.0 Macro IS STM

Highly Recommended Just like basically all fast, medium-tele prime lenses, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 STM IS macro is capable of delivering outstanding image quality. It's already very sharp at f/2 - even on a high megapixel body - and it's about as sharp as it gets at f/4. Lateral CAs are negligible. There's a slight degree of pincushion distortion but image auto-correction can eliminate the traces without significant side effects. A vignetting of 2 f-stops at f/2 is in line with other lenses in this class so an activated auto-correction is a good idea here. The quality of the bokeh is a bit of a mixed back. Out-of-focus highlights are nicely rendered in the image center but suffer from the usual cat-eye effect in the corners. While the foreground rendering is very smooth, the more critical background blur can be a bit busy. There's also a visible amount of LoCAs (bokeh fringing) at large-aperture settings which just can't be easily corrected. The build quality is generally good but it doesn't truly impress. An extending and quite wobbly inner lens tube feels like belonging to a past era really. Conversely, the truly ancient Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 and EF 100mm f/2.8 USM macro offer internal focusing. There is also no weather-sealing and the AF, while quite fast, isn't noiseless. So there are some aspects where you can feel that Canon had to cut corners. The quality of used materials is quite Ok but you don't get the impression that the lens body has been cut from rock either. A highlight is certainly the image stabilization system with a claimed efficiency of 5 f-stops (8 f-stops when combined with the camera IS). While we won't sign this figure with blood, the results are impressive nonetheless. However, despite a few downsides, the Canon RF 85mm f/2 STM IS macro remains a very desirable and versatile lens with a fairly attractive price point. As such - highly recommended!

The Canon RF 85mm f2 is a fairly affordable short telephoto lens for the EOS R mirrorless system that performs double-duty for portraits and close-ups. The f2 focal ratio may not deliver as much background blur as faster models, but there’s still plenty of potential for shallow depth-of-field effects, while the face and eye detection on the EOS R bodies makes it easy to grab focused portraits wherever the subject is on the frame. Like the RF 35mm f1.8 before it, there’s no weather sealing, the lens hood is not included and the macro capabilities may be limited to 1:2 magnification - or half actual size - but that’s still sufficient for most people and the results can look great from a more practical distance than the 35. Throw in optical stabilisation that benefits bodies with or without IBIS and you have a very compelling lens for the money. The biggest issue is the wealth of alternative 85s to choose from, including a bunch from Canon, but the RF 85mm f2 represents a step-up in overall quality, close focusing and potential burst speed over the old EF 85 1.8 and is a lot more affordable than the faster 85s in Canon’s range. If you’re desperate for an 85 1.4 at a more affordable price, look to Samyang or Sigma, but the combination of great quality optics even wide-open, attractive rendering, useful close-ups and optical IS make the RF 85mm f2 a no-brainer for EOS R owners. I’m also pleased Canon’s introducing more affordable models in the native line-up. So like the RF 35mm f1.8, it comes Highly Recommended.