EF 85mm f/1.8 USMvs RF 28mm f/2.8 STM
Canon
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (1992)
Starting from £349 new
Best for Portrait & wedding photography
View EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
VS
Canon
RF 28mm f/2.8 STM (2023)
Starting from £299 new
Best for Travel, street & lightweight everyday carry
View RF 28mm f/2.8 STM
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portrait & Wedding Photography — EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (1992): A thirty-year-old design that still outperforms lenses twice its price — the definitive portrait prime for Canon DSLR shooters.
Travel, Street & Lightweight Everyday Carry — RF 28mm f/2.8 STM (2023): The most compact RF prime — at 85g it turns any EOS R into a true everyday pocket camera.
Who should buy what
Quick take: The rf 28mm f/2.8 stm is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EF 85mm f/1.8 USM (1992) | RF 28mm f/2.8 STM (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £349 | £299 |
| Sensor | f/1.8 (max aperture) | Canon RF mount (full-frame) |
| Video | 85cm minimum focus distance | N/A — lens |
| Autofocus | Ring-type USM — fast, near-silent, with full-time manual override | STM — quiet, suitable for video |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on body IS if available) | None |
| Burst Rate | N/A | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A | N/A |
| Weight | 425g | 85g |
| Dimensions | 75mm diameter × 71.5mm length | 69.2mm diameter × 24.7mm length |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | N/A |
| Screen | N/A | N/A |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | 55mm filter thread |
| Memory Cards | N/A | N/A |
| Connectivity | N/A | N/A |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EF 85mm f/1.8 USM | RF 28mm f/2.8 STM |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Street | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — |
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