Canon 85mm f/1.2L Review: Six Months with a Borrowed Portrait Legend

It started with a simple question.

A family pulled out a lens and asked, “Is this a good one?” I looked at the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L and couldn’t hide the smile—“Absolutely.”

That quick exchange turned into a six-month experience. They let me borrow it—for a wedding shoot, and then just kept letting me hold onto it. I paired it with my Canon 5D Classic as a backup to my main rig, the Fuji X-H2S. The two couldn’t be more different—but that contrast made it all the more interesting.

Canon 85mm f/1.2L + 5D Classic: Heavy, But Built Like a Song

This lens is dense. Built like a tank. But when I mounted it on the 5D Classic, the balance felt right. That combo has history baked into it—like I was borrowing not just gear, but a whole era of photography.

After a few test shots, the weight stopped mattering. What came out of that glass was nothing short of beautiful.

Real-World Use: Wedding Portraits & Travel Shots

The first test was a wedding gig—portraits under pressure. And yeah, the autofocus on the 85mm f/1.2L is no speed demon. It’s slow. Sometimes frustrating. But once it locks, that razor-thin depth of field is pure magic.

Images came out warm, dreamy, and soft in all the right places. Bokeh like melted butter. Skin tones with character. This wasn’t sharp-for-sharp’s-sake imagery—it was storytelling in every frame.

I kept the lens on hand for travel and portraits, using it anytime I wanted a little cinematic feel. It lived in my kit as a backup to my Fujifilm X-H2S, but some of my favorite shots during those months came from that old Canon duo.

The Aesthetic: Warm, Romantic, and Lyrical

There’s a reason this lens is still revered. It doesn’t just capture details—it paints them. The color rendering leaned warm, and the falloff was velvety. It brought this emotional depth that’s hard to replicate, even with today’s crispest mirrorless lenses.

If I wanted mood and soul, I grabbed the Canon.

Is the Canon 85mm f/1.2L Worth It in 2025?

If you’re a portrait photographer or commercial shooter—yes, without question. It’s a specialized tool, but one that delivers a signature look. For weddings, headshots, studio work? This lens sings.

But for documentary-style work, fast-paced environments, or minimalist setups? It’s a commitment. A beautiful one—but a heavy one (literally and creatively). I wouldn’t carry it “just in case.” I’d carry it for something specific, something intentional.

Would I buy it? If I booked more portrait-heavy gigs—absolutely. Until then, I’ll just keep hoping someone else asks me if I think it’s a good lens