For photographers who specialise in the portraiture photography genre, the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS lens would definitely be of interest to you! The 85mm focal length is one of the popular focal length choices used by portraiture photographers. Having tried out the EF85mm f/1.2L and EF85mm f/1.4L lenses, and having reviewed the EF85mm f/1.4L previously, I personally prefer using the f/1.4 focal length.

I would be keen to test and review the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS lens, some time down the road when the opportunity arises. Using my previous knowledge and experience using the EF85mm f/1.2L and f/1.4L lenses, the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS lens would be able to continue on Canon’s 85mm L lenses legacy.

With the announcement of the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS lens, I now have an option to choose from both EF and RF lenses, the 85mm portraiture lens that I have been considering to add on to my setup. How I would want to build my Canon EOS RP and RF lenses setup, it’s still a work in progress (and a lot to strategise and plan) since I have my existing Canon EOS-1DX Mark II DSLR inside my setup.

For those who have just started/concentrating on the Canon EOS R and RF lenses system, you have less headache and can start to welcome the new RF lenses being announced and arriving into the market. The new RF L lenses announcements showed Canon’s commitment to the Canon EOS R and RF lenses lineup, I am looking forward to more lenses on their RF lenses roadmap!

Let me share with you more information and details on the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS lens:

“We are proud to introduce the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS, a powerful lens that achieves the highest optical performance among Canon’s interchangeable lenses with 85mm focal length,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore. “Equipped with Canon’s  original DS coating and f/1.2 maximum aperture, the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS makes significant and smooth ‘bokeh expression’ possible to achieve.”

Unique DS Coating for Smooth Bokeh

With Canon’s proprietary vapour-deposited coating technology, the DS coating has the effect of gradually decreasing the transmittance of light from the centre to the periphery of the lens. This produces a smooth gradient bokeh that provides that beautiful expression as soft blurring can be achieved all around the outline of the bokeh. To optimise the effect, DS coating is used on the front and rear surface of the lens, allowing users to achieve high optical performance when shooting. The optical performance of the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS, together with the previously released RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens, even surpasses that of the renowned EF85mm f/1.2L USM lens.

With the large aperture of f/1.2, the soft and smooth gradient bokeh effect of the DS coating is maximised. The unique DS feature of the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS adds a special touch to images in various settings, ranging from weddings and portraits, fashion or lifestyle scenarios.

A Large Aperture Lens with Superior Resolution

When it comes to large aperture lenses, the 85mm focal length has been the ideal choice for portrait photographers, allowing them to create natural-looking portraits with beautiful bokeh in the background. The RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS has an optical design of 13 elements in 9 groups, including Blue Spectrum Refractive Optics (BR) optical element, 1 UD and 1 ground aspherical lens element. The BR and UD lenses help to greatly suppress chromatic aberration, resulting in excellent rendering performance.

The lens also features Canon’s proprietary Air Sphere Coating (ASC) to reduce lens flare and ghosting caused by reflections, as well as enhance image clarity and contrast when shooting back-lit subjects.

Thanks to its bright aperture of f/1.2 and 9-blade circular aperture, the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS delivers beautiful and soft background blur. The large aperture also allows users to capture sharp and crisp images in low light environments with a higher shutter speed.

The lens achieves a minimum focusing distance of 0.85m and 0.12x maximum magnification, expanding the shooting area from close-ups of people to shooting small objects.

A Brand New Shooting Experience

The RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS also features a new “control ring” found in new RF lens series, allowing users to assign settings that include aperture value, shutter speed, ISO sensitivity and exposure compensation. The tactile control ring gives the user precise control allowing accurate adjustment without looking away from the subject.

When the control ring is operated alongside the main dial and quick control dial on the EOS R camera, user will have three dials to set the aperture, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity respectively, simplifying the complex operations that initially required several steps to achieve.

For flexible adaption to changes in the environment, users can assign exposure compensation to the control ring during portrait shooting. In the case when there is a sudden change in lighting conditions, the user can use one hand to operate the control ring and adjust exposure compensation while simultaneously using the shutter button with the other hand.

Being an L-lens for professionals, the RF85mm f/1.2L USM DS’s weatherproof construction also makes it dust and water-resistant, making it the perfect choice of lens for photographers who enjoy outdoor photography.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing and availability will be advised at a later date.

* Information and pictures courtesy of Canon Singapore and Ogilvy *

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