The Canon 85mm f/1.8 is much easier to use than either of theNikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D or Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-D lenses. To get manual focus at any time, simply grab the ring on the Canon 85mm f1.8. The Nikon 85mm lenses still require a manual switch to get to and from manual focus mode.
Don't worry that you're not paying for an "L" designation. This 85mm f/1.8, like the 100mm f/2.8 Macro, can make much sharper images than most of my other L lenses, like my 14mm f/2.8L, because it's so easy to make a good 85mm fixed lens. In this case, Canon has made an extraordinary 85mm lens.
Good News:
1.) Easy manual focus: just grab the ring at any time.
2.) Instant and accurate focus.
3.) Sharp.
4.) Fast.
5.) Small.
6.) Lightweight.
7.) Inexpensive.
Bad News:
1.) None, if you get accurate focus on your sample of camera. Go get one, unless the simiar 100mm f/2 USM is more to your taste..
Name
Canon calls this the Canon Lens EF 85mm f/1.8 USM.
EF: Electronic Focus. All modern Canon lenses do this.
USM: Ultra-Sonic Motor: The focus motor operates silently. Unlike most other USM lenses, it's not part written on the lens as "USM," it's spelt out as ULTRASONIC in gold paint.
Focal Length
85mm.
Used on a 1.3x camera it gives an angle of view similar to what a 107mm lens would give on a 35mm film camera.
On a 1.6x camera it gives an angle of view similar to what a 138mm lens would give on a 35mm film camera. See also Crop Factor.
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8.
Optics
9 elements, 7 groups, no other fancy nomenclature because it doesn't need any. Internal focus: only internal groups move when focusing, nothing moves externally.
Diaphragm
8 blades.
Stops down to f/22.
Filter Size
58mm, plastic.
Never moves.
Closest Marked Focus
2.8' (0.85m) from the image plane (the back of the camera).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:7.7.
Size
2.940" diameter x 2.826" extension from flange (74.68 x 71.77mm), measured.
Weight
14.045oz. (398.2g), measured in 2007.
14.090 oz. (399.55g), measured on a second sample in 2010.
The 85mm f/1.8 EF USM is a handy, small, easy to use and very high performance lens. I prefer it to the $2,000 Canon 85mm f/1.2L II because this f/1.8 is smaller, lighter, focuses faster, focuses closer, has less flare and has the same sharpness.
At its low price, the 85mm f/1.8 EF is a no-brainer. If you think you want it, just get it. It performs excellently.
FOCUSING back to Performance or back to Introduction.
Nothing external moves. All focusing is internal using cams.
Speed
AF speed is fast - faster than my own eyes can focus.
It's faster than the newest (2006) huge Canon 85mm f/1.2L II.
Sound and Noise
It makes the usual plastic sliding on plastic sounds.
Ease of Manual Focusing
Excellent!
Just move the manual focus ring at any time for instant manual focus override.
I wish all lenses worked this well. The good ones do today, but some, like Canon's newest 85mm f/1.2L II version, are still kludgy.
Autofocus Accuracy
Accuracy at f/1.8 is great on my 5D, with just a tiny propensity to focus to the near side of the tiny depth-of-field. At f/2.8 it's dead-on all the time.
Shooting test targets at f/1.8 on my Rebel XTi either tends to be on, or focuses a bit closer than intended. I can show this with deliberate tests, but with real 3D subjects it's not a problem.
In 2010 on one sample of 5D Mark II, I got the best resuklts with the focus micrometer set to +5. Otherwise it consistently focussed in front of the intended subject.
Focus Breathing
Breathing is a motion picture term which refers to what happens as you pull (change) focus from near to far.
It doesn't matter in still photography, but I still look for it.
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 changes magnification as you pull focus.
BOKEH back to Performance or back to Introduction.
Bokeh is wonderful. It's neutral at small apertures, and soft at large apertures. It's as perfect as I've ever seen. No real lens offers Gaussian defocus blur circles at large apertures.
The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is an easy lens to recommend. It's much better than you expect, so if you're reading this because you think you want one, then just go get one. You'll love it!
The only things the five-times as expensive Canon 85mm f/1.2L II does better is lighten your wallet, fatten the weight hanging around your neck and it's a little sharper in the far corners, full frame, wide open.
The f/1.8 focuses much faster and easier, and is an all-around more satisfying lens than the f/1.2. The f/1.2 is for weird things like astronomy where you absolutely, positively need f/1.2.
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