Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

  The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Autofocus Lens is a fast lens that delivers superb optical performance. A maximum aperture of f/1.2 makes it the professional's choice for shooting without flash in low light conditions. The large aperture also provides fine control over depth of field for compelling portrait photography.

    Retaining the impressive optical performance and large aperture of its predecessor, this medium telephoto lens has been improved with a Ring-type USM, high-speed CPU and optimized algorithms to achieve an autofocus speed approximately 1.8x faster than the original. The high-speed AF and circular aperture create a shallow depth-of-field that brings attention to the subject and blurs the background, which is ideal for portraits and weddings.

    The L-series is Canon's flagship professional lens range, combining outstanding image performance and ultimate operability with dust and moisture resistant construction. Large maximum aperture of f/1.2 provides outstanding speed for shooting in low light conditions, without the need for flash.

    The floating optical system, which includes an aspherical lens element, suppresses aberrations and ensures excellent imaging performance. Super Spectra lens coatings and lens element shaping suppress flare and ghosting, more prone to occur with digital cameras due to reflection off the image sensor. Coatings also help achieve true color balance and increase contrast for vivid hi-fidelity images. Ring USM uses ultrasonic frequency vibrations to drive extremely rapid auto focus with near-silent operation. A high-speed CPU and optimized AF algorithms contribute further to AF speed. Full time electronic manual focus override is available without having to switch out of AF and the circular aperture creates a shallow depth-of-field that brings attention to the subject and blurs the background, which is ideal for portraits and weddings.

In the box  Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Autofocus Lens:

• E-72 72mm Snap-On Lens Cap
• Lens Dust Cap E (Rear)
• ES-79 II Lens Hood
• LP1219 Soft Lens Case
• 1-Year Canon USA & Canada Limited Warranty

Conclusion

Pros

1.) Exquisitely sharp and contrasty, even wide open, even in the corners, and even on full-frame.
2.) Exquisitely well made.

Cons

1.) Slow autofocus, needed for accurate f/1.2 focusing.
2.) Clumsy, indirect electronic manual focus.
3.) Doesn't focus very close, only 3.2' (0.95m).
4.) Slightly more flare than the Canon 85mm f/1.8.
5.) Huge.
6.) Heavy.
7.) Expensive.


Canon calls this the CANON LENS EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM.

• EF: Electronic Focus. All modern Canon lenses focus with a motor in the lens. 
• L: Expensive as L. No exact meaning other than this being Canon's lingo for lenses with extra durability and weather sealing. L lenses work on all cameras including film and full-frame digital. Canon puts a red band around the front of these. 
• II: Canon's second version of this lens. There is an older version, introduced in 1989, called CANON LENS EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM, without the "II".
• USM: Ultra-Sonic Motor: The focus motor operates silently.

Full frame canon 85mm at f/1.2

     AF speed is slow, slower than the 85mm f/1.8. This f/1.2L II version is much faster than the first 1989 f/1.2L version. Canon says this new version is 1.8x faster than the original f/1.2, but it's still slower than the f/1.8 I tried. The lens needs to be positioned mechanically within distances measured in wavelengths of light, so this takes a while longer than less precise, slower f/stop lenses. This is because the system needs to be much more precise than other lenses to ensure accurate focus at f/1.2. Depth of field at f/1.2 is a few inches (5 cm) at one hundred feet (30m), so extreme AF accuracy is required to make real use of the f/1.2 aperture.

   

      Advice: you'll want to look for the green focus confirmation dot in the finder (in which case you'd be better off with AF) or use a special high-precision manual focus screen. The standard focus screens in AF cameras are optimized for brightness with modern f/2.8 and slower zooms.

      Standard focus screens therefore aren't ground glass; they are laser-cut with special patterns that only see though the lens at about f/2.5. Want to see this? Stop the lens down with the field preview button. You won't see any dimming until you get to f/2.5. That's right: this lens looks no brighter than an f/2.8 lens through the finder! You also can look at the finder screen through the front of the lens. You'll see a weird image: you'll only see the light coming through the finder screen in a circle where the diaphragm would lie at f/2.5. The rest is dark, if you're looking through the camera from the front. The special manual focus screens available for some Canon cameras use traditional ground glass to let you see more accurately at f/1.2. The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L II changes magnification as it focuses, like most still camera lenses.

Full frame canon 85mm at f/2.8

     It's almost silent. It makes a slight sliding noise as it moves, with almost no clunking. The manual focus ring sounds nice when spun with the camera off. It makes a super high precision encoder sound, if you listen for those things.


Overall

     It's a huge hunk of glass. It feels weird on-camera. It weighs 36% more than the 70-200mm f/4L, and is a lot shorter. My camera always feels like it wants to flop forwards. AF is slow, and manual override is a weird indirect electronic system. It is a masterpiece of manufacturing. It reeks of quality and precision, and its images are extraordinary.