When it comes to lenses, there are a ton of choices out there. Which lens is right for you and your business? What is the best portrait lens?
Moreover, are you a portrait photographer, a wedding photographer or beauty photographers? Well, lens choice can have a significant impact on your final images.
In this behind the scenes photography tutorial video, we take you on a fashion photoshoot and show you side by side the differences in various apertures showing you how these portraits look at f11, f5.6 and f1.2.
The results speak for themself. Link to the lens – Canon RF85 f1.2 //
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// My Everyday Gear //
Camera Equipment //
Canon EOS-R5 //
Canon EOS R6 Mark II //
Canon RF70-200 //
Canon RF85 f1.2 //
Canon RF50 f1.2 //
Canon RF28-70 f2.0 //
Canon RF15-35 f2.8 //
Canon RF100mm f2.8 Macro //
Canon RF135mm f1.8 //
Canon LPE6N Battery //
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Profoto Connect Pro Trigger //
Profoto A2 //
Profoto A10 //
Profoto B10X //
Profoto B10X Plus //
Westcott Solix Video Lighting //
Profoto Large Silver Reflector //
Westcott 6-in-1 Reflector //
Godox LC500 LED Light Stick //
Westcott L60-B Bi-Color LED Light //
Westcott FJ400 //
Westcott FJ80 //
Westcott FJ200 //
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Avenger Baby Light Stand //
Avenger C-Stand //
Avenger Roller Stand //
Manfrotto Nano Stand //
Gitzo Monopod //
Joby GorillaPod //
Modifiers //
*=Personal Fav
*Westcott Eyelighter 3 //
*Westcott Rapid Box Switch Octa-L //
*Westcott Rapid-Box Light Modifiers //
Westcott Switch Inserts (use any light source) //
*Profoto 5ft Octa //
Profoto OCF Softbox 3’ Octa //
Profoto 24in OCF Beauty Dish Silver //
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Comments
23 responses to “Is the Canon RF85mm f1 2 lens really worth the money?”
After our Iceland trip I had to get it. I tried Brandon's and was in love. It's becoming the most used lens in my bag. I love the video. Cheers.
F 1.2 for sure. Wish you shot at f2 as well for a comparison to the 85 f2 rf lens that’s out
"Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune; but great minds rise above it." -Washington Irving
Is it faster to focus than the old 85mm, but can you not get the same result from a F2.8 70-200mm lens
In all honesty Sal, I’m keeping my trusty EF f/1.4 for a few reasons: the difference (to me) in aperture is negligible and also because of the added stabilization I get from my EF version; can’t have enough of that. Moreover, it’s lighter as well. 🤷🏻♂️
I liked the commands “one-two” and “chin-down”. Would like to see more on this. I have the 85/1.2 as well, differences are only really visible when printing. For social media, you can blur out in post easier 😮
the answer is YES, so long as you know what your doing with it. The difference between the 1.2 and others is sharpness, bokeh, and better light. There are plenty of videos that show the difference and some people are ok with cheaper lenses that aren't quite as sharp or the bokeh isn't quite as good. But when you want the absolute best…
I would prefer a 1.4 for the smaller size.
Absolutely!
For this demo, just show us 1.2, 1.4 & 1.8 that's the determination here. We all should know the results of 5.6 & 11…… but 1.4 to 1.2 is it really worth it?
Love the lens I recently purchased the RF100mm f2.8 Macro but this is in another league. I'll probably end up getting this lens eventually.
Yes it is worth the money and yes it is to be used at f1.2.
What a bunch of crap!
You really stacked the deck because there is a world of difference between 5.6 and 1.2. What would have been useful is showing the difference between 1.4 and 1.2. While informative in absence of the bait and switch
Hi Sal – I think you should compare 85 mm f 1,2 with f1,8 and then ask the question if it is worth the additional amount of money. Comparing with 5.6 and/or 11 does not make sense to me. As a Nikon shooter I'm keen to compare the announced f1.2 85mm Z S lens as soon it will be available with the f1.8 I already use … I fear that it will have a similar price tag like Canons primes. But I agree with you that it will be less work for portrait skin retouching once you can blur it right in camera which is an argument for wide open apertures … however anyone need to justify lens performance, g.a.s. needs, etc. either with his own budget or his personal CFO at home 😉
And pls keep going with your short videos – very interesting and very good edu stuff. Krgds JED
The is nothing new… same old surprise… wow – 1.2 is better than 5.6!
It's like betting…only spend what you can afford! So if your business profits allow you to buy this awesome lens, then yes it's worth every penny. I'm not a working professional, so I will stick to my trusty Canon 1.4 and by happy. 😉
This is a great overview and explanation of why a low aperture (f1.2) lens is worth the money but it does not address the real question if the $1000 extra is worth it over a f1.4 or f1.8 (your comparisons are only done at f5.6 and f 11. I would contend that you can do the same thing at f1.4 or even 1.8 by slightly adjusting the distance from the subject (I am taking inches of adjustment to get approx. the same Bokeh) . A comparison at that level would allow you to build a stronger argument for the 1.2 lens. The other thing that you missed is that on any lens, from any manufacturer, as the f stop decreases, the quality of the glass gets better so the picture will be sharper and have less artifacts. Is it worth it? Only the individual photographer can take these facts and know for sure.!
Sal goes full Italian at 0:54 .. lol.. Great stuff and others have already voiced on the looks, distance from background, etc. All of that matters.. obvs.. Parking lot shots.. the BEST way to sizzle those is to get the pavement/asphalt wet.. get a garden hose or a watering can, fill that sucker up, and wet the area where the model is, and shoot quickly. Looks exponentially better.. and that’s why you never really see a dry street in movies.
I would buy the F1.2 if I was still in business. Lecia has a F.95 50mm lens if you want to be completely manual including focusing. I have some lens from 1974 when I started shooting weddings that still work today. Great video showing what f stop does.
Bought mine a few months ago. Definitely NO regrets. If my wife would let me sleep with it, I would 🤣
Absolutely worth it. Got to use it on an engagement session in December. Makes everything else disappear and the clients popped in the photo.
Great content Sal!
You know there is going to be a difference..
But..When you see em back to back..
Wowwwwww…Huge difference..
Thanks for the post …
Very subdued today..Must mean you are very serious about your glass..😊