Canon’s EF 85mm f1.8 USM is an affordable classic portrait lens for both full-frame and cropped bodies. The 85mm focal length allows you to stand a little further away than 50mm models, while accentuating the blurred background effect. The f1.8 aperture is sufficiently large to achieve very blurred backgrounds and the USM focusing is quick and quiet. It’s getting on now, but remains the most affordable Canon prime with a large aperture and delivers good results for the money. If your budget is higher, consider Canon's newer EF 85mm f1.4L IS USM which is fairly unusual in the short telephoto market for having built-in optical stabilisation. Owners of Canon's full-frame EOS R mirrorless bodies may also be interested in the upcoming RF 85mm f1.2L USM, although this is a much more expensive option.
Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM
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Written by Gordon Laing
Canon’s EF 85mm f1.8 USM is an affordable classic portrait lens for both full-frame and cropped bodies. The 85mm focal length allows you to stand a little further away than 50mm models, while accentuating the blurred background effect. The f1.8 aperture is sufficiently large to achieve very blurred backgrounds and the USM focusing is quick and quiet. It’s getting on now, but remains the most affordable Canon prime with a large aperture and delivers good results for the money. If your budget is higher, consider Canon’s newer EF 85mm f1.4L IS USM which is fairly unusual in the short telephoto market for having built-in optical stabilisation. Owners of Canon’s full-frame EOS R mirrorless bodies may also be interested in the upcoming RF 85mm f1.2L USM, although this is a much more expensive option.
