Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro REVIEW vs RF 1.2 vs EF 1.8 BEST for EOS R 

Find out how why the Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro is a no-brainer for EOS R! Check prices at B&H: bhpho.to/3iO6vU2 // WEX: bit.ly/3edZGrt Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic #canon #rf #macro

Why can’t all tech reviews be as good as Gordon’s? I’ve been a fan for a long time but this one makes me realize it’s time to become a paid sponsor and also pickup that photography book!

You answer all questions. So glad you’ve been doing this for so long. Thank you for your continued content over the years!

Always a pleasure to see a lens review from Gordon pop up on RU-vid ..

I went for Canon RF 85mm f2 Macro thanks man

Yet another thorough and concise review Godon. Thanks for sharing - your posts always a huge assistance when choosing gear.

So very thorough. Thank you for publishing this!

I was looking for this sort of review for a while. You have no idea how happy I feel right now! I own the 85 mm f1.8 and I also noticed that my photos seemed to be seemingly out of focus. I am glad to find out that I’m not the only one!

That was an absolutely brilliant review. The "real world" examples, comparisons and applications were really appreciated. An absolute pleasure to watch from start to finish. Many thanks!

Gordon, thank you very much for this review. I’m shopping around for my first ever RF lens and this really helps! Amazing work!!!

I have been waiting for this review!

Very comprehensive and thorough review. Thanks and keep doing what you do!

Another great review Gordon, thanks for comparing these options. That 1.8 is still doing pretty good for nearly 30 years old design! I had the EF 85 1.4 IS on my radar for a while, but this native RF option might be a better deal (for me). Sure, the background blur and over 1 stop of extra light gathering on the 1.2 is great, but it’s over $3,000 more here ($850 vs $4000 Canadian). Plus, the close focusing “macro” ability on that F2 sure can make some beautiful photos as you demonstrated!

This is one of the best lens review videos I've ever seen. Great job.

Great review! This was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks!

The Canon mirrorless scene is getting better and better. This was a very good comparison video!

This is one of the best reviews for ANYTHING that I have ever watched… thank you!! No brainer, I picked one up immediately after this review. Excited to try it out!

Another great review Gordon! I am looking forward to getting my hands on this lens soon!

Thank you, I found it very useful and it allowed me to make my mind!

Finally a review of this lens!

I was looking for a review comparing this lens with the EF 1.8 all over RU-vid. It is annoying how many reviewers compare things completely outside a close budget bracket. Thanks for the review!

Great review! I’m still waiting for my pre-order.

Your review is so great i even changed the playback quality to 1080p to fully enjoy the experience! (I come from a place where i have only 15gb monthly quota). That's how much i appreciate your review 🤗

Hey Gordon ... I been watching your reviews, but realized I had not subscribed. Fixed that! Now about the review, great job, very informative. I had thought to keep my 85mm f/1.8 USM and get an adapter when I upgrade to the R5. Based on your stellar review, I am sticking with that plan. I love the look of the EF 85mm f/1.8 images; coupled with its speed, is why I love it. I was excited about the EF 85 f/1.2, but when I rented one and did a photoshoot with it; I found it slowed me down way too much because of low AF. In this review, when you show tight close ups, there is too much detail for my style of portrait work. I like to shoot wide open and EF 85 f1.8 captures a creaminess that is just perfect. Pores, blemishes and peach fuzz are stuff I would to have to adjust in post. So I am not feeling that ... so gonna keep riding with the horse that brung me lol.

Great review!!

Brilliant review as always! Thanks! Very helpful!

Just discovered your channel yesterday. This review was so incredibly helpful, so thank you. Happily subscribed to your channel now as i know it will come in handy!

That's pretty sharp ! 🙂 Thanks for this nice review ! 🙂

Yesssss I've been waiting for your review on this one! Hopefully will pick it up sometime soon to compliment my R, great review as always!

Another great review, thanks. I have the 35 1.8 and now im gonna buy this one for my R5

Thanks for the benchmark, it really useful to me!

Great review, especially comparing with the older lens

Thanks for this review, Gordon. I’ve always loved your reviews.

Hi Gorden, thanks for your test. The RF 85F2 sounds really great. The EF 85F1.8 and the EF 50 F1.4 have a bug with the EOS R and obvious R5/R6 eye AF. If your subject is far off center they front focus compared to the real eye position. The EF 50 F1.4 is more extrem in this regard. In order to use these lenses with eye AF keep your subject fairly centered. I can only speculate why. My guess is they use a kind of correction for points which are off center in the lens itself. And btw even if you use the focus guide it shows focus is there but actually it is not.

Fantastic and thorough review. Thanks, Gordon. I'm going to buy the RF 85mm f/2 for my R6.

Thank you very much for the review! Helped make a decision..

Ok. I was ready to give up a body part but hold that thought. I'm feeling really great after seeing this review. Thanks Gordon!

Thanks for this Gordon primarily because I also use the EF 85 f1.8 on the R6 and it performs *exactly* like yours does, I can't say it's a bad copy because on the 6D mark 1 it's razor sharp. Sadly the F2 background effect doesn't seem to compete with either so I think i'll opt for an RF 1.8 at some point.

Very good review with useful comparision.

Great review as always Gordon.

Best breakdown of the RF 85mm f2 I've seen... and I've seen a lot.

Exactly the review I needed! I’ll be purchasing the RF 85mm F2 today.

Nice! Really compelling option, and the irony, I realised it's made in Malaysia, and I haven't had to try one in my hands yet hehe

Great review.Thx a lot! I will get one as the better IQ the the EF 1.8 convinced me.

Thanks Gordon for your great review. Your tireless work has reassured me in my pre-order! Thanks also for confirming the situation with the lens hood (or lack thereof in the box). I would have thought with this newer mount Canon would have broken with its tradition with the non inclusion of hoods with standard tier lenses. But it is like complaining why the earth is spherical (round). It is, what it is, so there is no real surprise!

I still use the 30 years old EF 85 mm f1.8 for family portraits. Hard to beat this lens for the price, small size and light weight. Amazing cheap lens. Thanks for the great comparison.

Excellent review. Very useful. I am becoming a fan of yours.

Thanks for the review, Gordon. This will be my new headshot lens for my new R5.

Seeing the sharpness struggles you have on the old EF 1.8 makes me grateful for how good a copy I got on mine. Mine is really close to the same sharpness as the new 85 f/2 thankfully (at least in the center). Plus I got it on super sale for only $250 😁😁😁. Guess I'll be keeping that copy for a long time more.

'Wasn't drunk at the time' - Laing at his best ! Great review 👍

Thanks for a down to earth and sensible review !

An excellent review - every statement well considered..... Thank you..

Fantastic video and lens mate. Can't wait to buy it 😜 Thanks for another amazing review mate. Appreciate your super hard work and brilliant unbiased reviews.

Great work, Gordon !

Excellent review, Gordon. That's a good point about EF lenses and the reduction in fps on the R5 compared to native lenses. I was thinking of getting the R5 for wildlife photography with my EF 500mm f/4 l ii. I'm now wondering if that lens would also take a fps hit? I live in Hove and you're more than welcome to test it out.

This is exactly what I've been looking for. I am considering purchasing a full-frame mirrorless and having this type of review is very helpful. Thank you!

Just made a purchase on this review. Many thanks 😊

Excellent work you have done Gordon Laing

Fantastic review. I would do the 1.2 but it isn’t the money but the size that had me ordering the f2

Thanks for the great review, been trying to look for some comparison between the rf 85mm f2 and the f1.2 Great review and I think I am sold to the f2 base on the size and price. Thanks again!

this was hands down the best review for this lens

Best reviews as always! 👍🏻😁

This video is amazing, thanks Gordon. I now know which lense to buy

RF 100mm Macro 2.8 get's here today, will try that out for a bit and see how well it does. I feel that the 85mm F2 will be so close that I may as well jump to the F1.4 or lower for the 85mm lens. But that price increase is huge, and no IS like the older EF F1.4 making other options tempting. Samyang honestly would be my pick, but as of today you cant find that lens anywhere it was discontinued.

Looks like a great lens! The colour fringing on the bokeh of the RF 85 f2 was a little distracting though.

Another great video, Gordon. Been following you for a long time. Even though I watch and read many reviews on a lens before I buy I always take CameraLabs as the last word and most trustworthy and reliable. I've felt with the EF lenses that you always had to go the L models to get the best image quality but I am finding that with RF the standard primes punch well above their weight...so much that I haven't had the need to get a red ring on any of my kit since moving to mirrorless. Thanks again, sir!

Great review again! I'd only be curious to see the focusing in low light situations compared to the 1.2.

That RF2 lens looks like a good bit of kit , and a lot smaller and lighter than the super RF1.2 plus a load cheaper. The EF lens is holding it's own when you think that it was made over 30 years ago. very good comparison off all three, pity Canon didn't implement weather seals on the F2.0 lens. Yet as always a great review from you Gordan cheers.

Well done! Thanks.

Hi Gordon. Thorough, as ever. You've sold me on the latest R offerings, still trying to balance capability against budget! Certainly for slightly long focus out and about video I much prefer the f2 version. Not just the lower weight, I think, within RU-vid limits, that it looks 'nicer' in your tripod non-vlog section. Cheers. BobUK

Excellent review, very comprehensive. Personally, I preferred the images of the RF 2.0 model as the super shallow depth of field on the 1.4 removed a lot of detail from the model's face and jacket. If I really need a blurred background there are tools in post for that.....Waterproofing would be nice. I also would prefer third-party lens hoods to avoid the Canon price gouging.

They all look pretty good. I would love the 1.2 but with how little I shoot small focal length it’s hard to justify the price, the F2 will work for me.

Wonderful review! This lens may actually be what makes me upgrade my old 6D for an R6. All aspects of the lens looks great, except that I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed by the difference I bokeh, where the EF version actually looks fairly good. I also have the Tamron 85mm 1.8 VC, which is actually a great lense, and I wonder if the benefit of a native mount is actually enough for buying the RF over the Tamron?

This lens is PERFECT for the uber cheap Canon RP! Pair that with the 35mm 1.8 IS, and you have a tremendous two lens, stabilized prime kit. Nice! Also perfect for close up ring shots (both primes).

Hey Gordon, I love Your Videos 😍Right now I now that 85 mm f/2.0 is great choice. Thx

Thanks for this review

That helped so much! Thanks. Im going to get the RF 85mm f2 to update my old EF 85 1.8, as it is washed out wide open (i dont think you have a faulty version, mine is the same)

Excellent review

Great review, helped me to choose the RF 85mm 2.0 for my Canon R6. I allready have the RF 35mm F1.8. Kind regards from Denmark.

Very detailed review

wow amazing camera..i love it..both R5 and R6 are awsome

I watched your video a few time now, and decided to buy this lens. :) I did use your wex link, I hope it helps you as much as your video helped me. Thank you.

The ‘legends’ sign at 12:26 is def sharper with the RF85 f2 than with the f1.2, amazing given the cost difference

Can't believe how sharp the RF1.2 corners are wide open! What a miraculous lens!!! Wow!!

Thanks Gordon, I am placing an order for the RF 85mm f2 Macro now :)

thank you for this great review :)

Thanks Gorden. you are my most favorite reviewer of Cameras lens. Many say in photography Technical details doesnt' matter. Yes it is but when choosing gadget that's what matters. There no other reviewer in RU-vid who can get to the details as you do without wasting time on stupid things. Thank you so much! When I get better i'll get you are Espresso machine.

excellent, thanks Gordon 👍

Great video, love this!

awesome comparison 👍

Thank you 🙏

The best I have read. i bought the lens and enjoy using it.

Great review 👌For sure I'll buy 85 mm f/2.0

Another great review my friend! Looks like a great lens for the money. Cheers.

Perfect point of reference lens selection Gordon, another fantastic review! Seems like Canon is fighting off third party brands by infusing value oriented features like image stabilization(IS), macro capability(1/2) and an affordable price. @ f2, it’s indistinguishable in terms of sharpness vs the RF f1.2, unless of course you look at the bokeh. I prefer this strategy of adding IS and a macro capability vs third party brands, Z and FE mount. In a few months, RF mount will have 3 glass with IS and macro capability lenses; 35 f1.8, 85 f2, 24 f1.8, hopefully the 50 f1.8 will include it too. I will jump to the RF mount as soon as the f4 trinity is complete; 14-35, 24-70 w/h macro capability and the “coke can” 70-200......speed it up Canon!

Thanks Gordon, I have been waiting for this. I'm not surprised Samyang wouldn't send you a copy of their 85. The Focus is appaling on, the R5 and the lens is incompatible with IBIS. I bought one and sent it back a week later. Very poor results, it's not worth the hassle. This new f2 macro looks decent, but I think i'll just save and go for the 1.2L.

Now that’s a proper review!

Excellent review as we’ve come to expect. Those 1.2’s are gold but man are they heavy. I’ve found out on hikes I use the new rf35. I don’t notice it on my peak clip when compared to the RF24-105L. But I still lust for the 85 f/1.2!!!

Holy smokes the tripod comparison towards the end showed just how crisp that 85 F2 is. Impressive!

One of the most complete professional reviewers in youtube 🙌🏽😎