This lens is great for portrait work as well as studio stills, with a max aperture of f1.8 it's also great for shooting indoor sports.

Item is very well packed. The seller even sent a polarizer for the lens for free. This was a great buy.

A very nice lens. Sharp and fast af. In a small gym or interior area you may need the 50mm 1.4 due to the crop factor. On a Canon 40D it is the equiv. of a 80mm lens in 35mm film terms.
Still a great lens for a lot of applications.

I had been wanting this lens for quite sometime and after reading several reviews myself in how great it is, I am incredibly happy I made the decision to purchase! An excellent lens it is, perfect focal lenth for portraits.

I got this lens a few weeks ago,and have been thrilled with it! It's definately not "L" build quality, but it's great optically. Color saturation is very rich, and I haven't seen any color fringing. And boy is it sharp! It's my favorite go to lens for portraits,as the bokeh is nice and smooth and the perspective is very flattering. It's usable wide open, and by f/2or 2.8 it's sharper than any of my 6 other lenses. Get the hood, because no other hood will attach to it .

I am in love with this lens! I don't think it's work the extra $700 for the 1.3 L series - this lens does the trick! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Fantastic image quality lens. Mine is mated with the Rebel XTi, and produces great results. Light, fast and tack sharp.

This lens is amazing!
I purchased this lens to use for my daughter's vollyball pictures and I couldn't be happier...

This is a light weight, fast focusing lens with excellent image quality. Open the aperture wide and get beautifully blurred backgrounds. Definately worth the price.

Yes, you want this lens, (or the "L"-glass version, if your wallet can afford the $1700 plus cost-this "non-L" version is around $350) even if you have something that covers this range. This is some finely crafted glass, and a best buy in terms of cost-to-benefit ratio. You get speed, DOF control, beautiful bokeh, and it's darn cheap to get into the whole world of protraiture, if you think about it.

You want this for portraits. Everybody and everything from your dog to the Queen of E looks silkier, more soulful and more loveable with this lens. It's perfect on a Canon 5D.

People say that it's not the equipment-it's the photographer. But, in this case, it really is the equipment. You can do natural-light photography under difficult and trying conditions, and you've got plenty of room to spare in the ISO, aperture and shutter speeds, because this lens is so fast and responsive. The lens is light and portable so you can take it everywhere. Once you "get" the feel of the fixed focal distance you just intuitively snap pics of the sweetest sweetness. Seriously, my friends think I'm a good photographer. Between you and I it's just that this lens rocks!

I recently got to shoot an evening with the Canon 85mm F1.2L and was simply blown away by the quality of the pictures. After seriously considering the $1300 premium for the Canon 85mm F1.2L, I decided to get the 85mm F1.8. I was pleasantly surprised.

The sharpness and color is just stunning. The lens focuses very quickly. The bokeh on portraits is more than acceptable. The build quality appears to be sturdy. I didn't see any serious chromatic aberration or vignetting in my images.

I shot some comparable portraits with the Tamron 17-50 and the Canon 70-200 F.4L (non-IS) and I felt that the 85mm F1.8 gave me the best pictures, though I love the versatility and the quality of those two lenses.

This one is certainly a keeper. Even after I save up enough to get the F1.2L, this lens will continue to be in my bag and probably be actively used in many indoor events.

This is an excellent lens for shooting portraits. Very sharp even in the corners. Reasonably fast focus. I think f1.8 provides all the versatility most photographers would need. If anything, I find the depth of field at f1.8 so shallow that it is useful only rarely. I don't see the point of f1.2. Usually I need more depth of field to get someone's head in focus unless I am some distance away. For just 20% of the cost of the f1.2 L series 85mm, this lens is a great value.

i'm a wedding photographer, and purchased this lens mainly for it's low price and f/1.8 aperture. i noticed that the clarity and crispness is hit or miss. sometimes it focuses perfectly, other times, even at 1/125 it seems a bit blurred. i used it on my canon 350D, so the issue could have been caused by the camera just as much as the lens itself, (although i haven't had this issue with any of my other lenses.) if you've got the money i would probably recommend the other canon 85mm f/1.2 lens, but this lens can serve it's purpose in low/dim lighting.

This is my first prime lens, and my second lens purchase, and it was exactly what I was looking for. If you're just starting out in photography and haven't shot with a prime before, it's an experience I'd recommend (removing the zoom forces you to think about where you're standing and makes me more inclined to fiddle with other features which have a larger impact in the resulting photos). The low f-stop is absolutely fantastic for shooting photos in real world indoor lighting situations. The only negative thing I have to say about this lens is that it has no IS, but that seems to be the norm for < 300 mm prime lenses... the lack of IS causes me a bit of a headache when I'm trying to shoot in low light without a tripod and want to ensure I've got my subject in sharp focus.

I use this lens to shoot my daughter's dance competitions. Very pleased with it.

This is a great and fast portrait lens. I wasn't sure if I would need it, as I already have the 24-105 f4L IS USM and 70-200 f4L IS USM, but after reading the reviews and reasonable price I thought it would be worth the shot.

I found this lens generally produces my best portrait shots, and is fast under lower light conditions. Most of my portraits are under window light, so even f4 sometimes is too slow at 1/20 of a second or more. This lens lets me get faster and the 1.8 ap performs great background blurring. I did post a picture here as well so you can see a shot example with the lens. My only caveat is with the rebel Xti you get that multiplication factor and sometimes i need to back up further than I actually can, so you may want to consider the 50mm if you have an Xti.

Here's my take on what I use each of my lenses for:
1. 24-105 is my everyday walking around lens. Good flexibility, but not as sharp at f4, f5.6 seems to be the sweet spot.
2. 85 for serious portrait work and when light is low
3. 70-200, great general telephoto and great for kids portraits outside as it lets you keep your distance (so they aren't so aware of you) but still filling the frame.

Overall, the 85mm (or 50mm) probably belongs in your kit if you do portraits, especially given the price. It provides L quality shots without the L series price.

The reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 5 is because the lens stopped autofocusing after 2 months, and I've realized it is near impossible (at least for me) to manually focus at f1.8. I dropped it off at a service center, so hopefully it will return soon.

This is a great lens. I love the the way it does close ups and the clarify of the pictures are breath taking. I am also very happy with the purchase. It was shipped to me in a timely manner and I had no problems. I would recommend this lens to anyone who is new to photography as I am for excellent close up shots.

This is one of the must-have Canon lenses. I've used it not only for portrait work but for shooting live performances. Tender color rendition but sharp in resolution - skin is looking great with this lens. Blazingly fast and accurate autofocus.
Definitely recommended!

I bought this lens to take basketball and wrestling photos, and I have not been disappointed. It takes very clear photos without a flash. If you have an interest in photographing high school sports, this is the lens for you.

I had my first headshot session with it today... WOW! It's SO fast, quiet and love the bokeh.
I shot wide open and in 738 pics, I didn't see any trouble. I shot with a UV filter and the cannon hood.
I was a little worried that with the crop factor of my XTi (x1.6. 1.6x85=136) it would be too close. Not at all. Perfect.
After only one 738 picture outdoor headshot shoot, I would highly recommend this little guy...

Not much to add to the other great reviews, except to say that I've had this lens for over a year, and it never fails to produce razor sharp photos. I've used it for photographing cars, mounted on a tripod and stopped down to 5.6, and the results are just stunning. There are some excellent comparisons to the 85 f1.2/L out there, and while the L lens is just the slightest bit sharper it's hard for a non-professional such as myself to justify the additional $1300.00. If this focal length suits your needs, don't hesitate. It really is one of the best lenses out there, and the price makes it a bargain.

This lens has got to be one of the best values in the EF lens lineup. This little guy has incredible resolving power and very good sharpness from f/2 onward. Optimal sharpness is around f/4 or f/5.6 by my eyes.

Sharpness talk aside, I love it because it's so compact and lightweight. It's not a large intimidating lens, like the 70-200/2.8 and so when shooting portraits or candids, people don't freak out. I recently used it to shoot several young children/babies and they felt comfortable around me. I probably wouldn't have been able to get right up to them had I brought along a big long piece of glass. The creamy bokeh is quite good, though it doesn't have that etheral quality that the 85L produces. Then again, this lens costs about 1/6th the price of the 85L!

The only thing I wish this lens would do is focus closer. 3 feet is a bit too far when using the lens for existing light shooting indoors. Other than that, no complaints at all.

Pro: This lens is fast (you can have faster shutter speeds/lower ISOs in low light at maximum aperture)

Pro: on a 20D/30D/40D/Digital Rebel with a 1.6x crop factor, this lens acts like a 135mm lens (though a 1.8 135mm would cost big bucks), great for portraiture

Pro: Huge bang for the buck, this is a great lens for the price

Pro: Not too big or heavy

Con: Case and hood aren't included (given the price, they should be)

Con: being a medium telephoto prime, it can be a bit inconvenient to use as it requires a pretty big distance from the subject (3 feet minimum)

No better way to make a subject pop and have your background completely out of focus than to shoot this lens with its incredibly large aperture. Sharpness is great and bokeh is nice and creamy.

I just got this lens about a month ago and let me say it is probably the best lens you can get for under 400. That is not to say that the under 400 dollar price tag makes it fall into a category with other lens of the same price, because this lens is leagues above most lens at this price. It feels easily as solid as the L glass that ive used, and is small and compact. The AF is super fast (ring type USM, I hate non ring type lens'), and with a 1.8 aperture, you can shoot in really low light. I just used this lens for a college hockey game (notoriously bad lighting) and was able to get some amazing captures. Just to put it in perspective, even a 70-200 f/2.8 would be almost unusable in that light. I was able to shoot as fast as 1/1000 at ISO 800 f/1.8. To be able to shoot with that fast of a shutter speed indoors is amazing. Plus, the 85 is built like a rock, it feels so solid. The first time you pick it up, I promise you will be surprised at how good it feels to hold, especially if you arent used to L glass.
Be warned though, this is not a portrait lens! On a 1.6 crop body like the xti it is approx. equal to a 135mm on a full frame. that means you have to stand roughly 13 yards back from a subject to get their whole body into the picture. In a room this lens is very very tight. Shooting from the corner of a rink its perfect for net shots, shooting from the corner of a room doesnt work so well, and thats where you WILL find yourself trying to take people pictures. If you want a portrait go for the 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4, or even a 35 f/2. But if you are looking for a fast low light sports or concert lens this is it! Some head and shoulder shots are doable, dont get me wrong, but if your main intent is portraits you will be disappointed (as an outdoor lens its fine since you always have enough room but for group shots you will have to stand far away). Otherwise I highly highly recommend this lens...for the price its a must have i feel. Also it has great bokeh!

This is an example of where the hype meets expectation.
It is SOOOO sharp and the colors are fabulous! And don't even get me started on the beautiful bokeh!
Since I purchased this lens in July it has been on my camera 90% of the time outdoors. I'm a portrait photographer and it's SUCH a great lens...I can shoot wide open at 1.8 and it's still TACK sharp. LOVE IT!

As most of the others have said, this lens is awesome. I got it and with in the first 10 minutes I was taking some of the best portrait shots I have taken to date. If you have the $ even if you need to borrow it, get this lens

THIS LENSE IS ONE OF MY BEST WEPONS IN MY ARSENOL IT'S GREAT FOR PORTRAITS THE CLARITY IS UNBELIVABLE

I have two other lenses (17-85 EF-S IS and 70-300 EFS IS) which cover the 85mm focal length, but they are f4.5 at the fastest. I wanted less depth of field and the bokeh for which this lens is known.

I'm extremely happy with this lens. It's just gorgeous, closest thing to my 90mm Leica Summicron I've used. I use it primarily for portraits. It focuses quickly and is very sharp when used with my crop camera. Amazon is also terrific, I make all my major camera purchases here.

This is a lens that should be in every camera bag. On a 1.6 crop body like the Rebel series or 30D/40D it really excels for portrait work or indoor sports. It's a little long for general indoor use and you can get some purple fringing when shooting high contrast scenes if it is wide open but generally not a problem. You have to spend a heck of a lot more in order to beat this lens.

First of all, I want to say that one of my personal problems with this lens is that I have a full frame DSLR. On a full frame camera, this focal length is not very desirable to me. It's not wide enough for most shots and it's not close enough for most close-ups. It's just occupying a strange length that I hardly ever use. I do freely admit that this focal length makes much more sense to me on a DSLR camera with a crop factor such as the digital rebels and most of the D series other than the 5d and Mark models. On those it is a whole different story. On my 5D. this length is virtually useless to me.

Low light? I didn't find this lens to live up to its reputation as being a good low light lens. I took many pictures with this lens in a variety of lighting situations and it was a dog in 99% of the low-light situations. Poor sharpness, poor bokeh, poor fringing, poor everything. Just bad results. The only time I really got this lens to shine and deliver great results was in perfect lighting outdoors during the "magic hour" or with a flash on. I already have lenses that shine in those conditions; I don't need another one.

Purple fringing? Horrible. Just horrible. Go to a search engine and type in this lens and purple fringing. Just watch the results you get! I had a few really great on location shots ruined by it last week. I mean it is like a solid purple border encasing the object. People on other sites have said that it is worse in lower light situations. Hmm...isn't this supposed to be a lower light lens? Isn't that kinda the point? So, basically I can shoot in lower light but my pictures will be scrapbook grade (I kid you not it is this bad) instead of the professional grade my clients demand? I also read a few sites where people said it is worse when the colors are more contrasting. So basically, I can avoid the issue if I shoot only scenes or subjects that are monochromatic?

Bottom line, despite what others have said I do see why this lens is not an "L" lens. This is not, in my opinion, an "L" lens that just happens not to say "L" on it. This is a midrange lens at best. Again just my experience. I realize that it doesn't help that all of my other lenses are "L" lenses so it is easier for me to see the difference and also it is natural to assume that I have built-in bias in this area. I sell pictures for a living part time so obviously I am more demanding for that reason too.

All of that being said, I have no reason to single out this lens because it is not professional grade. If it had performed well I would have come here and raved about it. For example, I think the base model $550 Rebel XT DSLR camera is one of the best cameras ever made. It's an outstanding camera in every way, not just for the price. I have used Canon kit lenses that I got off the internet for $35 and gotten outstanding results. Sadly, this is not an item that has outperformed or met expectations. It has not, in fact, met expectations in my view.

For cameras with a crop factor this probably makes much more sense. For me I am going to have to obtain a 135mm lens for my 5D to do the same thing that this lens would do on a 30D or Rebel. Also, if you plan on shooting in sunlight or with a flash I don't really see any issue with buying this lens. It's when the aperture gets wide that problems start to arise.

This lens is like winning the lottery. You don't pay much to get in the game, but then you win big.

It must be one of the best bargains in Canon's lens offerings.

If you have been looking at the other reviews of the EF 85 you have read what a gem this lens is. Not much I can add to all the good news other than it is all true.

I'm sure if Canon put a red ring around this lens and doubled the price they would sell just as many of them, maybe more.

Crisp, clear images. Silent focusing. Easy handling. Light. Background can be as you like it, blurred or sharp.

A joy to work with.

Only one word of caution. You can focus from eyelash to eyelash, so compose and focus carefully.

Simply put, you cannot beat the 85mm f/1.8 without some very deep pockets. Wide open the lens performs as well as many L zooms with apertures 1-2 stops slower. And at all comparable apertures, it beats my 24-105mm f/4.0L hands down.

I just got this lens and have only used it for a short time, but already I can tell it will be a favorite. The details when you print pictures taken with this lens are awesome! Very sweet lens for the price. I was a little skeptical of the fixed focus at 85mm, but so far it's not been a problem. Low light shooting is a snap with this lens! I would recommend it to anyone shooting indoors, or in low light. It's great!

I shoot a lot of indoor sports and have found this lens to be VERY fast focusing with sharp colors. Great portrait lens. This is well worth the money.