As a wedding photographer, choosing the highest quality of gear plays a critical role in helping me capture every meaningful moment in the most breathtaking way possible.  When Canon announced their new RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens, with its compact size combined with its 1.4 aperture, I was thrilled!  This lens might just be my favorite 85mm lens I’ve ever used, and in this review I am going to discuss the background blur, the sharpness, the autofocus, and so much more, as well as compare it to both the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM and the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM to help you decide if this is the 85mm lens for you!

First, we need to consider why you might need an 85mm lens.  An 85mm is a wonderful focal length for portraits as it renders facial proportions in a beautiful, flattering way. This focal length brings the background a little bit closer through compression.  While I typically photograph with an 85mm lens on one camera, I like to pair it with a 35mm lens on my other camera.  I use my 35mm lens to set the context of where we are, and my 85mm lens to focus on the emotions of the day. 

An 85mm focal length can also be great for full body portraits as it flattens out the ground minimizing the space below the feet.  On a wedding day, I use an 85mm quite a bit for individual portraits for both headshots and full body, as well as the ceremony, reception details, speeches, golden hour, and the first dance. 

Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM Sharpness

I love a good sharp lens. When I zoom in I want to see detail in my subject while the background melts away.  After now having used this lens at both weddings and portrait sessions, I have been absolutely blown away by its sharpness! 

Even wide open at f1.4, the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is extremely sharp throughout the entire frame.  If we look at a 100% crop in the image above we will see this lens leaves nothing to be lacking in term of sharpness in the center.  Subjects also remain very sharp when comparing them at the edge of the frame.  I love this because I know that as long as I keep my subjects in the same focal plane, even the people on the edge will still be sharp when I shoot at f1.4.  I can stop down if I want to put more in focus, but if I want to pop my subjects out of the background, this lens lets me do that.  Because this lens is so sharp to start with, stopping down from f2 to f2.8 to f4 only marginally improves the sharpness. 

Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM Bokeh

In addition to great low light performance, one of the main reasons people buy wide aperture lenses is so they can blur out the background.  Beautiful bokeh creates a dreamy romantic feel to the images.  Preferences in bokeh are highly subjective.  As for me, I look for a buttery smooth rendering, and a wrap-around cat’s eye shape to the bokeh at wide apertures.  This lens scores perfectly for me in this aspect.  Looking at the portraits above, you will notice how the bokeh swirls around keeping the attention on my subject.  You will also notice how the bokeh is big and smooth.  Stopping down to F2.0, F2.8, and F4.0, the outer focus circles remain circular due to the 11 blade aperture.

Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM Auto Focus

The focusing ability of this lens is outstanding!  It can go from minimum focus to locked on a subject almost instantly.  It has no problem keeping up with my subject while she was running full speed straight at me.  The AF is instant, silent, and accurate.

Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM Ghosting and Lens Flare

Due to their large glass elements, prime lenses can sometimes wash out when the sun or a spotlight shines directly on the front element.  I was pleasantly surprised at how this lens handles sun-flare.  There isn’t as much ghosting with this lens as the other 85mm lenses I have used.  Some contrast remains even when the lens is pointed directly at the sun.  There is an artifact that appears in the bottom corner of the image above, but this is normal and it seems well controlled. 

Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM Size

As a wedding photographer, a lens’ compact size is a big factor for me.  If the lens is lightweight and easy to hold, I find myself using it more throughout the day.  At my first wedding using this lens, I broke my record for most images ever taken with an 85mm lens.  I think this was due in part to the light weight size of the lens.  It fit easily into my camera bag allowing me to have multiple other lenses in the bag at the same time.  Even the hood is small – not taking up too much space in the bag. 

If you own either the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM lens or the RF 28-70 f2.8 IS STM lens, you will notice they are very similar in same size and weight.  Using smaller lenses allows me to carry more gear as I move quickly throughout a wedding day. 

Canon created their VCM series lenses to all be virtually identical in size and weight.  I think they are the perfect size.  They are easy to hold in the hand, and they are easy to keep stable while photographing. 

Comparison of the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM to the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

I have been using the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM for the last couple of years and have really enjoyed this lens. You can watch my full review of it by clicking HERE.

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

Bokeh – The bokeh created by the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM isn’t as large nor as smooth as the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, but it is pretty close. That said, clients most likely won’t notice. If we look into the corners of the image above, we will notice the F2.0 version seems more nervous whereas the F1.4 seems softer.

Sharpness – The RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is also a little sharper in spite of it having a wider aperture. But for the price, the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is really good, especially in the center.

Size – Surprisingly, these lenses are very similar in size and weight, but there are two things to note. First, the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM lens does not include a hood, so you will need to buy that separately if you want to shield from lens flare. Second, though at first glance RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM seems a little shorter, the barrel extends when focusing, so it actually ends up being longer than the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM.

No Image Stabilization – The RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens does not have image stabilization like the cheaper RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM lens. Though it would be nice to have, I personally prefer the savings in size and weight. If Image Stabilization had been added, it would have been both heavier and more expensive. Because I’m mostly using this lens for portraits, I need to use faster shutter speeds because my subject will likely be moving. That said, most of the time I am careful to hold my camera still when shooting, and with the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens I have no problem getting sharp photos of stationary subjects at shutter speeds of 1/125, 1/60 or even slower. I took some test photos to see how slow of a shutter I could use while hand holding the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens. I was easily able to take photos at 1/30 of a second and was even able to take some sharp photos at 1/15 of a second using the IBIS in my Canon EOS R5 camera.

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM (minimum focus distance) Right: RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM (minimum focus distance)

Macro Capability – The RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM lens wins in this category. It can focus much more closely, creating beautiful detail photos. It is definitely a great budget macro lens!

Focusing Speed – Going from minimum focus to locking in on a subject, the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is pretty slow whereas the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens focusing speed is virtually instant. If fast Auto Focus is a top priority for you, there is no competition here. When manually focusing, the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is painfully slow requiring many rotations to get to minimum focus distance. Contrast that with the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens which only takes a few rotations to go from infinity focus to minimum focus. 

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

Focus hunting – The RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM isn’t always confident in its focusing, whereas the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM seems to lock focus with assurance. In this photo, my subject faced sideways to the camera, and the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM continued to hunt for focus and wasn’t confident on whether or not I wanted to focus on her eyelash. The RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM version locked in on her eyelash right away and stayed on the eyelash while I took multiple photos.

Image above taken with the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM

Price – For the price, the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is the best value of Canon’s three 85mm lenses. For newer photographers, this lens offers a major upgrade for portrait photography, while also gives the added bonus of macro capability. I have used it on many professional portrait sessions and weddings, and it has done a wonderful job! Going forward, I now plan to use the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM for portraits, but I will still use the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM for macro shots as well as for a back up lens in my kit. 

Comparison of the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM to the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM

Next let’s compare the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM with the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM which I have enjoyed using for years. You can watch my full review video of it by clicking HERE.

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 85mm F1.2 L USM

One thing you will notice right away when looking at tripod mounted photos comparing the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM to the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM is that the F1.2 version is more zoomed in. I personally prefer the slightly wider field of view of the F1.4 lens. This is because it allows me to be just a touch closer to my subjects while directing them, and it means I can include a little more of the context surrounding the subject in the image.

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 85mm F1.2 L USM

Bokeh – The RF 85mm F1.2 L USM is Canon’s 85mm bokeh champion! It creates buttery-smooth almost surreal background blur. But the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is not far behind. Plus, when I realized I was paying over $1,000 more for a little more blur while also having to shoulder more weight, the question for me became “It is worth it?” Though for the longest time I wanted as much bokeh as possible, I actually have come to prefer the bokeh of the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM as it’s not quite a pronounced. That said, this tends to be a very subjective topic with a wide variety in preference which is why I included a side by side example so you can decide what you prefer! 

Size/Diameter/Weight – Personally, I think size is one of the most important things to consider when comparing these lenses. The RF 85mm F1.2 L USM lens is certainly not Canon’s biggest or heaviest lens, but for me as a wedding photographer, I found it too big. Hand holding my camera for 10 to 12 hours on a wedding day, while also carrying my lens bag and other equipment, takes a big toll. Every pound matters. Further, I found the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM to be hard to hold. This makes it difficult not only to take out of my bag and safely mount on my camera without dropping it, but also to hold while photographing.

The RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens solves all these problems. It weighs half its much and is much smaller in diameter making it a joy to put on the camera and hold while photographing. At the most recent wedding I photographed, I used the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM more than any other lens in my kit, and absolutely loved its wide aperture and size! 

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 85mm F1.2 L USM

Sharpness – The RF 85mm F1.2 L USM and the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM are neck and neck in terms of sharpness, and both are basically perfect. I really had to pixel-peep to notice any real life difference, and truthfully I couldn’t find any. Both are incredible!

Auto focus – The newer RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM wins here. Its focus is quieter and quicker than the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM version because the F1.2 has bigger, heavier glass to move.

Price – Depending on your location, at the time I checked, the newer RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens was about $1,400 cheaper! Although you can find the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM version cheaper when purchasing a used copy, for me, the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is the much better deal. The only real advantages of the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM version is that it lets in a little more light and has a slightly blurrier background. I personally find the smaller size of the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM to be of so much more value as it made using this lens more practical. 

BONUS: Comparison of the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM to the Canon RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM

One other question I frequently get asked is “Which lens should I get, an 85mm or a 50mm?” The answer depends on multiple variables that only you will know the answer to. For me, I like to invest my money in the lenses I use the most. The RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM is more versatile than the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM. However, the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM is better for rendering facial proportions more accurately as seen in the example below. 

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM

In a full body shot, as seen below, you will notice that the background is brought closer with the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM. Because the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM requires that you have more space to be able to back up to get a full body shot, if you are limited on space, the RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM might be a better option. 

Left: RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, Right: RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM

If you already own the Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM, I would recommend adding the Canon RF 50mm F1.4L VCM to your kit so that you have another focal length to work with, as the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM is a great lens and close enough in quality to the RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM.

You could also start with the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens and see if you use the 50mm focal length a lot before upgrading it. The same is true for the RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM – you could start with that lens and see if you like using the 85mm focal length and upgrade it later if you do.

Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM Conclusion

I am trying not to “over-hype” this lens as everyone has their personal preferences, but for me, the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM might just be my favorite lens ever! I have extensively used all of Canon‘s 85mm lenses going all the way back to the EF series of lenses. Today, after having taken over 4,000 photos with RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens, I am thoroughly impressed!

It is the perfect size, razor sharp, has instant autofocus, and has buttery smooth, beautiful bokeh. This lens rounds out my favorite lens trio ever with the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM, the Canon RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM, and the Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM! If you are a professional shooting Canon and want the best in image quality, I highly recommend all three of these lenses to photographers using the Canon EOS R5, or the Canon EOS R6 Mark II.

Additional lenses and accessories such as memory cards for Canon’s mirrorless cameras, along with all of the gear mentioned in this post can be found at the links below. *Purchasing items through these links helps to support us as we continue to share resources and education for photographers.

• Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM
• Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
• Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro IS STM
• Canon RF 50mm F1.4 L VCM
• Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM
• Canon RF 50mm F1.2 L USM
• Canon RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM
• Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
• Canon EOS R5 MK2
• Canon EOS R5
• Canon EOS R6 Mark II
• Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R
• Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R
• CF Express Memory Card
• Sandisk SD Card

For a video review on the Canon RF 85mm F1.4 L VCM lens, check out my YouTube review:

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