Canon Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens Review
The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM delivers classic portrait looks on a budget. Its autofocus shows its age, but for the price, that beautiful bokeh is hard to beat.
Overview
The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is a classic portrait lens. It's been around for years, and for good reason. It gives you that flattering, compressed look with a nice, bright f/1.8 aperture to blur backgrounds. This is a no-frills, get-the-job-done lens. It's built for full-frame Canon DSLRs, so it's a solid, chunky piece of glass that feels reliable in your hands.
Performance
The optical performance is solid for the price. That f/1.8 aperture lands in the 77th percentile, so you get great background separation and decent low-light ability. The bokeh quality is also good, sitting in the 74th percentile. But the autofocus is just okay, ranking in the 47th percentile. It's not the fastest or quietest by today's standards, and it hunts a bit in low light. There's no image stabilization either, so you'll need steady hands or good light.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great f/1.8 aperture for the price. 98th
- Produces nice, creamy background blur. 76th
- Durable, straightforward build quality. 76th
- Light and compact for an 85mm prime. 75th
Cons
- Autofocus is slow and noisy sometimes.
- No image stabilization at all.
- Not weather-sealed, so be careful outdoors.
- Minimum focus distance is pretty far for close-ups.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 85 |
| Focal Length Max | 85 |
| Elements | 9 |
| Groups | 7 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/22 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.9 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 58 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 850 |
| Max Magnification | 1:7.7 |
Value & Pricing
This lens is all about value. You're getting that classic 85mm portrait look without breaking the bank. Prices float between $499 and $600 depending on the vendor, so shop around. At the lower end, it's a fantastic deal. At $600, you start to wonder if you should look at newer options. But for pure portrait shooting on a budget, it's hard to beat.
vs Competition
Compared to newer third-party options, it's a trade-off. A lens like the Meike 55mm F1.8 Pro might have faster, quieter autofocus and sometimes stabilization, but it's a different focal length. The Viltrox 35mm f1.7 is wider and often cheaper, but it won't give you the same flattering compression for headshots. This Canon lens is a known quantity. It's not the most versatile or high-tech, but it does one thing very well for a fair price.
| Spec | Canon Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Sirui Sirui Sniper 56mm f/1.2 Autofocus Lens (Sony E, |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85mm | 55mm | 24-70mm | 24mm | 17-70mm | 56mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.2 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Sony E Mount | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | true | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 425 | 281 | 676 | 269 | 544 | 422 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Telephoto | - | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | - |
Verdict
Buy this if you shoot portraits on a Canon DSLR and want a reliable, affordable prime lens. It's perfect for headshots, half-body shots, and events where you can control the distance. Don't buy it if you need fast, silent autofocus for video, or if you shoot in bad weather often. It's a specialist, not a generalist.