Canon Announces Portrait Powerhouse: The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens

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Portrait converts to Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system, rejoice! The RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens is here to provide a seriously sharp and fast prime for your collection. A perfect complement to the RF 50mm f/1.2L, the new 85mm allows your subject to fill more of the frame while maintaining impressive low-light performance, fast autofocus, and crowd-pleasing bokeh. Its redesign of the popular EF 85mm f/1.2L applies the latest technical advances achieved in Canon glass to a mirrorless lens, making the R system even more appealing for professional portrait use.

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens
Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Lens

The 85mm f/1.2’s ring-type Canon Ultrasonic Motor (USM) outpaces its EF counterpart, making it an exceptional choice for video or still capture. Combine this with Face Detect or Eye Detect AF and the lens becomes a perfect companion for shooting runway, event, or other moving subjects that require tack-sharp rendering on the fly. For studio work, a minimum focusing distance of 2.79' gives you enough working space to produce a tight headshot with maximum resolution. Like other RF lenses, the 85mm f/1.2 has a programmable Control Ring for changing exposure compensation, aperture, shutter speed, or ISO on the lens. Professional workflow further benefits from a 12-pin connection between camera and lens that keeps communication fast.

Photographs made with a Beta Sample lens

Creating an 85mm f/1.2 lens for mirrorless required a strategic redesign of Canon’s past lenses. The result combines Blue Spectrum Refractive (BR) optics, an Ultra-Low Dispersion (UD) glass element, and a large-diameter aspherical element for sharp images with minimal aberration and distortion. Canon’s Air Sphere Coating, in addition to Canon’s multi-coating, reduces lens flare and ghosting. Finally, Fluorine coating makes the front and rear elements resistant to the elements and the lens is sealed against dust, dirt, and moisture at all ring positions, switches, and mount for dependable performance no matter the conditions outside.

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