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How Does the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L Compare to Samyang 85mm F1.4?

Chris Gampat
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07/13/2021
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM first impressions product images Canon EOS RCanon RF 50mm f-1.2L USM2.81-50s100

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I’ll preface this article with saying that we didn’t do a head-to-head comparison test of the two lenses. But we’ve done our own original reviews of the two lenses and they’re both very good. Each one has something different going on with it. They’re also very different prices. I believe most people won’t be able to tell the differences between one 85mm lens vs the other. So we’re going to report on our findings based on our tests of both lenses. The Samyang 85mm f1.4 RF is a great lens. But the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L is obviously Canon’s best of the best. So which is better? Are you ready?

Table of Contents

  • Ergonomics
  • Build Quality
  • Autofocus
  • Image Quality
    • Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L
    • Samyang 85mm f1.4
  • Which One? Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L or Samyang 85mm f1.4?

Ergonomics

The Canon lens is bigger and chunkier. It’s also much heavier. Depending on what camera you own, it will also be easier to use. Canon RF cameras that don’t have three exposure dials will let you use the one on the lens. The Samyang lens doesn’t have that. 

The outside of the Samyang lens uses a metal exterior, which I prefer honestly. I think metal exteriors are much better for the environment. Canon uses plastic, but it’s a high-quality feeling plastic. Look at that sheen in the photo above. Isn’t it lovely? The Samyang lens is also much lighter than Canon’s, but that’s kind of obvious.

Build Quality

Both lenses are weather sealed. Well, at least they say that. Canon is actually, really, genuinely weather sealed. Samyang, from the diagrams, doesn’t seem to be totally weather sealed. However, Samyang just feels nice in the hand because of the metal build quality. At the end of the rainy day though, I’d rely much more on the Canon lens than I would the Samyang. Just remember also that mounting the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM to your camera is like putting a brick on your EOS R5.

Autofocus

Both Canon and Samyang are very good here. I’m starting to believe that we need to go back and update our Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L review. Rereading what we wrote in the autofocus section no longer seems to make sense to me: it’s in contrast with my own findings. The Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L is super fast to focus and always very accurate with the Canon EOS R5. And it’s no slouch with the Canon EOS R as well. As time has gone on, I’ve honestly trusted Canon’s system more than I trust Sony’s sometimes.

With all this said, Samyang also does a pretty solid job. In real-life use, I actually think there’s a negligible difference when it comes to autofocus. Both are good. And for portraits, both are going to get the job done.

Image Quality

Here’s where things becomedifferent. Both lenses have a character and a look going on that I love. Obviously, the bokeh is smoother and creamier with an f1.2 lens than it is with an f1.4. But the Samyang is no slouch, and in a blind test, I don’t think anyone would tell the difference. Samyang has its own colors, and Canon’s colors are also very bold. Here are some samples below.

As an FYI, we tested the Samyang during the pandemic, which made it very tough to work with models.

Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L

Captured with the Canon EOS R

Samyang 85mm f1.4

Which One? Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L or Samyang 85mm f1.4?

Truthfully, they both do a good job. If you’re on a budget, go Samyang. Check out our review. Sometimes it’s better to have a lens rather than no lens at all. If you can afford the Canon L lens, go buy the Canon L lens and know that you’ll have a heavy lens to work with. Go check out our review of the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM. And also consider the price difference. The Samyang is around $649 and the Canon is well over $2,000 at the moment of publishing. 

What would I personally choose? Neither. Canon’s image quality is wonderful, but the lens is too heavy for me. The Samyang is great, but I’ve had autofocus issues with Samyang lenses in the past. Plus, I often shoot in the rain. I’m holding out for a Canon RF 85mm f1.4 L lens with full weather sealing that isn’t a mammoth.

85mm autofocus build quality canon Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM image quality samyang Samyang 85mm f1.4 RF
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Chris Gampat

Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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