{"id":10246,"date":"2020-12-13T10:47:54","date_gmt":"2020-12-13T15:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admiringlight.com\/blog\/?p=10246"},"modified":"2020-12-13T11:24:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-13T16:24:17","slug":"review-canon-rf-85mm-f-2-macro-is-stm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/admiringlight.com\/blog\/review-canon-rf-85mm-f-2-macro-is-stm\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Canon began the EOS R system, they started with three L series lenses and one affordable prime lens: the versatile 35mm f\/1.8 Macro IS. As they have fleshed out the system, they’ve added a few other affordable lenses, but if you wanted a faster lens for portraiture, you were somewhat limited to the exceedingly expensive RF 85mm f\/1.2L, or adapting older EF glass. Now Canon has added the $599 RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM to the lineup, and it looks to be another lens with good image quality and very high versatility owing to the 1:2 maximum magnification. I’ve had the RF 85mm f\/2 in my possession for a few weeks now, so lets dive into the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM on the Canon EOS R6<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Construction and Handling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2 Macro has a build quality in line with the other consumer-grade RF lenses. That means a metal mount with polycarbonate exterior, with the standard RF pewter colored ring at the base. I have to say, Canon has done a nice job with these lenses, putting exterior build on a level very similar to their L lenses, but there are some key differences. First, the plastic appears to be a little thinner than that used on the L lenses, and the 85mm almost seems to be very slightly smoother than that used on the RF 35mm f\/1.8. Second, the lens lacks any weather sealing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overall, tolerances are tight, and the lens feels solidly constructed. The RF 85mm f\/2, like the 35mm f\/1.8, also has an extending front element during focusing, and that extending tube does have a small amount of play in it, but nothing worrisome. While the lens does extend while focusing, the front element does not rotate, so using polarizing filters or variable-ND filters is not a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2 IS is moderate in size: it’s slightly larger in diameter than the EF 85mm f\/1.8, and is a little longer as well, but given that this lens is also a 1:2 macro lens, that is somewhat expected. While the base lens is a bit bigger, it’s worth noting that once you add an EF-RF adapter, the entire package is actually slightly smaller than the adapted EF 85mm f\/1.8. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM on the Canon EOS R6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The light weight lets the lens handle very well on my EOS R6.<\/a> Like all of Canon’s consumer-grade lenses, the RF 85mm f\/2 Macro does not come with a lens hood in the package. This is one of my big frustrations with Canon, as essentially every other manufacturer includes lens hoods with all their lenses. In this case, the hood for the RF 85mm is the ET-77, which retails for a whopping $60, though several places are selling it for $50. In any case, that’s an absurd price for a piece of plastic that should be included. This policy needs to change, Canon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The RF 85mm f\/2’s switches<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The lens has three switches on the left side of the lens: a three position focus limiter, an AF\/MF switch, and a switch for the image stabilizer. The Focus limiter is nice to have on a lens with close focus abilities, though I find that I don’t often have issues with it hunting outside of where my subject is, so I usually leave it set to Full. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lens has a manual focus ring in the middle of the lens that turns smoothly, but lacks any real damping. Focus is by wire like all RF lenses, but Canon lets you select in-camera whether manual focus varies with how fast you turn the lens, or whether you want a linear response. At the front of the lens is the standard RF control ring, which is full size (unlike the thinner one used on the RF 35mm f\/1.8), and moves with satisfying clicks at each detent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autofocus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2. Macro has Canon’s Stepping Motor (STM) that it has been using in the majority of its consumer grade lenses the past few years. The stepping motor allows for excellent precision and smooth and quiet focus in video, but in comparison with its USM motors of years past, it can be a little slower and noisier when shooting stills when the gear-type of STM is used. The RF 85mm does use the gear type of stepping motor, which helps keep the lens compact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, in stills mode, when making large changes in focus (like from shooting closeups and switching to distant subjects), focus can be slow, and makes audible noise during operation. However, for normal shooting in the non-macro range, such as for shooting action or portraits, autofocus is actually reasonably quick. It locks on to the subject quickly and surely, and while the focus for these small adjustments is audible, it is not loud. In video mode, focus slows down and is extremely quiet and smooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Biking – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM @ f\/2, 1\/5000s, ISO 100 (continuous AF)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When shooting action with the RF 85mm f\/2, I was a bit surprised to see that it kept up very nicely while shooting on my EOS R6. Focus was able to keep up with tracking a moving cyclist while passing close by, and maintain sharp focus on the eyes throughout the entire run. If trying to track movement very close (such as flying insects), the speed may be lacking, but for shooting people beyond 1m or so, focus is easily able to keep up for most general action shooting. I don’t think this is going to be a lens for the professional sports photographer, but I also don’t think it would perform too badly if pressed into that sort of service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image Stabilization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2 also comes with image stabilization in the lens, and it’s rated for five stops on its own, or up to eight stops when used in conjunction with the EOS R5 or R6. For macro shooting, this drops to around 3 stops, according to Canon. The optical stabilization does get close to that 5 stop rated claim. On an EOS RP, I was able to get around 4 stops of stabilization, with sharp shots consistently at around 1\/5s. On the EOS R6, I was able to get another stop or so, with consistently sharp shots at around a half second, and occasional sharp shots at around one second or more, if I was able to brace myself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not meeting that 8 stop claim from Canon and CIPA, it’s still an excellent result overall. I also do notice that the stabilization is notably less effective at macro distances since any movement is magnified at those focus distances. In all, it’s a good stabilizer, and it’s nice to have on a lens like this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue: Image Quality<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Image Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the Canon EF system, the EF 85mm f\/1.8 is one of the oldest lenses in the system, and hasn’t been updated at any time since its original release way back in 1992. Part of that is because it was a pretty good lens, focused fast, and was affordable. With the RF mount, there’s finally an opportunity to update the more affordable 85mm lens in Canon’s lineup, and I think overall they’ve done an excellent job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharpness<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM is a very sharp lens. Images are tack sharp across about 90% of the frame right from f\/2, with just a bit of softening at the very edges. Stop down to f\/2.8 or f\/4, and the edges and corners sharpen up nicely to provide very good cross frame sharpness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is a close portrait shot at f\/2. Click here<\/a> for a 100% crop of my eye. (I used the Canon remote app with eye detection). You can see the lens shows excellent resolution wide open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Self Portrait – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM @ f\/2, 1\/50s, ISO 200<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you’d expect in a lens with the Macro moniker, the 85mm f\/2 also maintains very good sharpness at close focus distances.At the minimum focus distance of 0.35m, or 1:2 magnification, sharpness is much the same as at more normal focus distances, with good central image sharpness from wide open, with a bit softer edges and soft corners, but stopping down a bit brings the image into sharp focus from corner to corner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, sharpness on the 85mm f\/2 is a fairly substantial step up from the older EF 85mm f\/1.8, when shot at wide apertures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bokeh<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As a fast 85mm prime lens is often used for portraiture, bokeh is a rather important quality in a lens such as this, and the 85mm f\/2 puts in a respectable performance here. For portrait work, bokeh is rather good, with a generally smooth appearance, though contrast can sometimes be a little high. Like the RF 35mm, specular highlights become elliptical towards the edges, and are smaller in size than they are in the center of the image frame. These factors can sometimes combine to add a small amount of nervousness to the image when dealing with complex backgrounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leaf Ninja – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 85mm f\/2 @ f\/2, 1\/2000s, ISO 100<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still, there’s also nothing objectionable about the bokeh either. Highlights are evenly lit, with no obvious outlining. The overall rendering isn’t as creamy as the RF 85mm f\/1.2L, but it’s still a solid showing, and I’m pleased with the bokeh of the lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When shooting closer up, the bokeh is very pleasing, with a smooth, creamy appearance to background blur, with nice, even specular highlights. Just the slightest hint of a brighter edge to the highlights can sometimes be visible, but I still really like the overall look. There is a touch of a double edge in the just out of focus areas of the fence in the shot below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Layla B – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM – Combination of two exposures – f\/3.5, 25s, ISO 100 for the lock, f\/2, 8s for the remainder of the image.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Color, Contrast and Chromatic Aberration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The 85mm f\/2 Macro shows very nice color response, with a neutral color cast and good color saturation, even wide open. Contrast is excellent straight from f\/2, even at minimum focus distance, and allows for punchy images at any aperture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the weaknesses of the older EF 85mm f\/1.8 lens was a fair bit of longitudinal chromatic aberration and purple fringing in high contrast situations at wide apertures. The new RF 85mm f\/2 on the other hand shows a very good performance with regards to chromatic aberration. Lateral CA is negligible, with essentially none visible in real world shooting. Longitudinal CA is also relatively well controlled, with just a slight greenish yellow cast behind the focus point, and a bluish cast in front of the focus point. I did not experience purple fringing at all with the lens in my testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2 shows moderate pincushion distortion when uncorrected, a fairly common thing nowadays, as manufacturers have determined that software corrected distortion can allow for them to focus on other aspects of lens design and make an overall better image post-correction. The RF 85mm does correct well and still shows good sharpness after distortion correction. Below, you can see an uncorrected image, with that slight pincushion showing as bowing at the edges of the building near the left of the frame. As an aside, this shot is handheld at 1.6s, while braced against a railing…that IS+IBIS of the R6 is excellent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Columbus – Canon EOS R6 with Canon RF 85mm f\/2 Macro IS STM @ f\/2.8, 1.6s, ISO 100
Distortion and vignetting correction disabled, handheld.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The RF 85mm f\/2 does show rather strong vignetting wide open, which eases upon stopping down. By f\/4, it\u2019s much improved but there is still some residual vignetting there as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flare performance is mixed. Veiling flare is relatively good, with minimal loss of overall contrast with bright lights just out of frame, though when a bright source is in the frame, green and purple ghosts appear. They\u2019re fairly small in size, but there are quite a lot of them, so it\u2019s definitely something to watch out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, I\u2019m very pleased with the optical quality of the RF 85mm f\/2 Macro. It\u2019s a very sharp lens with nice bokeh and good color and contrast. The lens is an improvement over the earlier EF 85mm f\/1.8, and adds extra capabilities with 1:2 close focus ability as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue: Conclusion and Image Samples<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/h4>\n\n\n\n