Canon EF 85 mm f/1.4L IS USM review - Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

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Canon EF 85 mm f/1.4L IS USM

17 March 2018

Arkadiusz Olech

7. Coma, astigmatism and bokeh

The Sigma A 1.4/85 and the Zeiss Milvus 1.4/85 got us used to the fact that new 85 mm lenses can correct coma well. Unfortunately the results of the Canon in this category force us to revise that opinion. A slight coma influence is already present in the corners of the APS-C sensor; in the corners of full frame it becomes rather noticeable, and it still remains visible on stopping down the aperture by 1 EV. This result partially explains why on the very edge of full frame the resolution values of the Canon were the lowest out of three lenses compared in this test.

Center, f/1.4	Corner APS-C, f/1.4	Corner FF, f/1.4

Center, f/2.0	Corner APS-C, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.0

The astigmatism, understood as an average difference between horizontal and vertical MTF50 function values, amounted to just 2.3%. It is a negligible level so the tested lens should be praised. Compare that to the result of the Sigma A 1.4/85 (1.7%), and the result of the Milvus 1.4/85 which was 3.1%, the highest among those three lenses. Still practically any of those values means a very good correction of that aberration.

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When it comes to out-of focus areas we have no reservations. The light spread is very even in the circles, without any rims or local extremes. The only thing that might worry is the truncation of circles in the frame corners, a symptom of noticeable mechanical vignetting. It remains visible even by f/2.8.

Center, f/1.4	Corner APS-C, f/1.4	Corner FF, f/1.4

Center, f/2.0	Corner APS-C, f/2.0	Corner FF, f/2.0

Center, f/2.8	Corner APS-C, f/2.8	Corner FF, f/2.8