Canon Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 Lens for Review

So you're looking at the Canon Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5. This is a full-frame, manual-focus portrait lens for Canon RF mount cameras. It's a medium telephoto prime that's built for one thing: creating beautiful, soft backgrounds. With that f/1.5 maximum aperture, it's designed to let in a ton of light and give you that classic portrait look. People searching for a 'Canon RF portrait lens' or a 'fast 90mm lens' are going to find this one. It's not a small lens at 771g, and it doesn't have autofocus or image stabilization, so you know what you're getting into. If you're a photographer who loves the process of manual focus and wants that specific focal length with a very wide aperture, this is your tool.

Let's talk numbers. Its bokeh quality scores in the 88th percentile, which is excellent. That f/1.5 aperture is in the 82nd percentile, meaning it's one of the fastest lenses you can get for the RF mount. In practice, this means you get incredibly shallow depth of field. Your subject pops right off the background with that creamy, smooth blur. The optical quality is solid, landing in the 61st percentile. You'll get sharp images when you nail focus, especially stopped down a bit. Just remember, the autofocus score is in the 47th percentile because, well, there isn't any. It's all on you. The 1:11 magnification ratio means it's not a true macro lens, but you can get some decently close shots for detail work.

Priced around $449, this lens sits in an interesting spot. For a native RF mount lens with an f/1.5 aperture, that's actually pretty competitive. You're paying for the optical formula and that fast aperture, not for bells and whistles like AF or weather sealing. If you absolutely need autofocus for portraits, this isn't it, and you'll need to spend more. But if you're comfortable with manual focus and want that specific look, the price is hard to argue with for the results you can get.

This lens is a specialist, so let's compare it to some alternatives. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 Z is a much wider lens, has autofocus, and is cheaper, but it's for a completely different purpose (environmental portraits vs. tight headshots). The Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro is closer in concept—it's a fast prime—but it's shorter, has autofocus, and is more of a general-purpose lens. If you're looking at the Mitakon 90mm, you're probably comparing it to other portrait lenses like the Canon RF 85mm f/2 or the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AF. The Canon has AF and IS but is slower (f/2). The Samyang is similarly fast (f/1.4) and has AF, but it's more expensive. The Mitakon's trade-off is clear: you get a faster aperture for less money, but you give up autofocus.

Should you buy the Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5? It's a yes, but with a big condition. Buy this lens if you are a portrait photographer who loves manual focus, wants the absolute creamiest bokeh from a very fast aperture, and doesn't mind the weight or lack of stabilization. It's a fantastic tool for studio work or controlled outdoor shoots where you have time to focus. Do not buy this lens if you shoot moving subjects, need autofocus for client work, or want a walk-around lens. It's not versatile. It's a single-purpose instrument, and if that purpose aligns with your style, it delivers beautiful results for the price.