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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Review

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The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is a highly recommended lens for portrait photography. It has a solid build quality, fast autofocus, and impressive image quality, especially at wider apertures. However, it does suffer from purple fringing at f/1.8 and longitudinal chromatic aberration, but these issues can be managed. It is not suitable for video work due to the lack of image stabilization.

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is highly recommended for portrait photography. The image quality is impressive with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration.

Pros
  • Solid build quality
  • Fast autofocus
  • Impressive image quality at wider apertures
  • Sharp and detailed portraits
Cons
  • Purple fringing at f/1.8
  • Not suitable for video work
  • Challenging to use on APS-C cameras

The build quality of the lens is solid and weighty, without being too heavy, and the focus ring is smooth and damped.

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is a highly recommended lens for portrait photography. The build quality of the lens is solid and weighty, without being too heavy, and the focus ring is smooth and damped. The autofocus motor is fast, making it a pleasure to use. At the 85mm focal length, it's a bit challenging to use on an APS-C camera like the Canon 60D, but it excels in capturing sharp and detailed portraits. The lens suffers from purple fringing at f/1.8, but the image quality is impressive with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/4 significantly improves the sharpness and reduces fringing. The lens is not suitable for video work due to the lack of image stabilization and its tendency to produce shaky footage. Overall, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is highly recommended for portrait photographers who prioritize image quality and sharpness.

Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/4 significantly improves the sharpness and reduces fringing.

Source

This article is based on the review by

Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost is a YouTube channel dedicated to providing in-depth reviews and analyses of photography equipment, particularly lenses. Christopher Frost, the creator and host of the channel, is known for his thorough and detailed evaluations of various lenses from different manufacturers, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and others.  To learn more, please visit the channel here.

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