Lens News

Canon announced its latest lens for the EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera system: the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM standard prime lens. This is Canon's fifth lens in its RF family to complement its two EOS R-series mirrorless cameras: the Canon EOS RP and Canon EOS R. 

According to Canon, the new RF 85mm lens is designed for portrait photography. "The new lens features a bright f/1.2 aperture which, along with the 85mm focal length, encompasses an ideal lens for portrait photographers," Canon said. "85mm is often the preferred focal length selected by photographers when shooting portraits because it provides an appropriate depth and perspective of the subject relative to the background, helping to capture high-quality imagery with beautiful and desirable bokeh. The focal length also allows for the photographer and subject to maintain optimum distance apart to support strong communication, while not being too close."

The most unique feature of the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM lens is Canon's proprietary optical technology, Blue Spectrum Refractive (BR) Optics that helps to reduce chromatic aberrations that could occur with large aperture lenses, Canon said. The BR optical element, first introduced in the EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM, is inserted into the lens and refracts blue light between the concave and convex lenses. This enables the convergence of the entire wavelength of light to one point, resulting in higher image quality from the center to the edges of an image.

Additional features of the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Include:

• Minimum focusing distance of 2.79 feet/0.85 meters

• Customizable control ring that allows photographers to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture or ISO

• One Aspheric and one UD Lens, along with BR optics help to reduce chromatic aberration

• 12-pin communication system

• L-Series dust and weather resistant build with fluorine coating

• Air Sphere Coating (ASC) helps minimize lens flare and ghosting

The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM lens goes on sale in June 2019 for $2699.