Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Announced

A Premium Prime Lens

Let’s start by saying that the Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is definitively a premium very bright prime lens. It is large and heavy, at around 1.2kg for a diameter of 10.4cm and a length of 11.6cm. It is even more massive than the already gigantic Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM that is “just” 1.09kg. The lens is fully sealed and weather resistant. Also, it is not cheap and not for everyone, at $2699.

This RF 85mm f/1.2L USM is one of the six new RF lenses under development, that includes the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS, the RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM, the RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM, the RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM, and the RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM. As you probably noticed, another 85mm f/1.2L with DS – Defocus Smoothing – should appear later this year.

Image credit: Canon

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM Characteristics

The lens consists of 13 elements in 9 groups. It features a 9-blade aperture system providing smooth and creamy bokeh. The minimum focusing distance is 2.79 ft./0.85m, and the front filter thread is 82mm.

Multiple treatments and technologies are incorporated, like:

Canon’s new Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) that should significantly reduce chromatic aberration.

There are an aspherical element and an ultra-low dispersion (UD) glass element that also helps reduce aberrations.

Fluorine coatings on the front and rearmost surfaces to help prevent dirt and dust from sticking to the lens.

Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to reduces lens flare and ghosting

On the barrel itself, there are two rings, one for the focus adjustment, and one control ring. You can set the control ring to adjust whatever settings you wish, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure compensation and more. The control ring has a clicking mechanism, but if you want it to be silent, Canon can remove the clicking mechanism for a fee.