Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

A highly practical medium telephoto lens with superb delineation and portability, the Canon EF 85mm lens produces sharp and clear images at all apertures. Through computer simulations, the lens has been designed to give beautiful background blur, thereby bringing your subject into crisp view. The ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) and fast f/1.8 aperture, meanwhile, helps the subject zip into focus in the viewfinder. And because the front lens group does not rotate during focusing, special filter effects are not affected. Best of all, the standard zoom lens--with its natural angle of view and perspective--captures the subject plainly, making it excellent for portraits and images that require a natural depth of field. As with all Canon lenses, the lens carries a one-year warranty.

Technical Details :
* 85mm standard lens with f/1.8 maximum aperture for Canon SLR cameras.
* Ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) brings subject quickly into focus.
* Natural angle of view and perspective is ideal for portraits and natural images.
* Designed to produce beautiful background blur; weighs 15 ounces.
* Measures 3 inches in diameter and 2.8 inches long; 1-year warranty.



Lens Specifications :
* Focal length: 85mm
* Maximum aperture: 1:1.8
* Lens construction: 9 elements in 7 groups
* Diagonal angle of view: 28 degrees (at 30 feet)
* Focus adjustment: Rear focusing system with USM
* Closest focusing distance: 2.8 feet
* Filter size: 58mm
* Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter, 2.8 inches long
* Weight: 15 ounces

PROS:
- I'm a fan of Steven Soderbergh and love how he made it look like he shot Ocean's Eleven with natural light. I wanted the same effects for my get-together photographs and boy did I get them! I shoot mainly in RAW now and apply the Tungsten filter when I import them into CS2 and they look phenomenal!
- After correction, skin tones look very natural and the lighting makes the captured moment look like a captured moment. Not a forced moment like when a blazingly bright flash is involved.
- The bokeh on this lens is dramatic, not distracting.
- The 85mm is solid. Compared to my XT kit lens, the 85mm feels like a 'real' lens with solid movement and loads of glass inside.
- The shooting distance is very comfortable for your subjects, as they do not feel like you're crowding them with your camera.

CON(just one!):
- Sorry, this is not really a con, but more of a warning mostly to other amateurs out there who may be looking at this for the price. It may be pretty obvious to most, but this lens does not feature a zoom range. Meaning if you want your subject's head to look bigger in your viewfinder, you must walk towards them or have them come closer to you. Conversely, if you want them smaller in the VF, you must walk away from them etc...since this was my first fixed lens, I had to get used to it a bit. This is not the lens for you if you want to take group photos in low light situations in small room.