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Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS

The Defocus Smoothing (DS) variant of Canon's flagship 85mm f/1.2 — an apodization design that trades roughly a stop to a stop and a half of light for exceptionally smooth, soap-bubble-free bokeh transitions. A specialist choice for portrait and wedding photographers chasing the smoothest possible background blur rather than outright speed; USM-only autofocus, no VCM.

Starting from
£3499 new
Available at 2 retailers
Check price at Clifton Cameras
✓ Available at 2 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Clifton Cameras
Clifton Cameras
£3499
Check on Clifton Cameras →
Amazon
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Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Core
Released
2019
Lens Type
Prime
Focal Length
85mm
Aperture
f/1.2
Compatible Mount
Canon RF
Filter Size
82mm
Dimensions
103.2mm x 117.3mm
Weight
1195g
Weather Sealed
Yes
Optics & Focus
AF Motor
Ring-type USM
Optical IS
None (relies on body IS if available)
Aperture Blades
9
Magnification
0.12x
Min. Focus Distance
0.85m

Select up to 2 cameras to compare against the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS. It's always pinned as the baseline.

Select 1–3 cameras to compare

4 cameras compatible with the Canon RF mount.

EOS R6
Canon
EOS R6
£1299
EOS R6 Mark III
Canon
EOS R6 Mark III
£2799
EOS R5 Mark II
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EOS R5 Mark II
£4299
EOS R3
Canon
EOS R3
£5999
GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
8.9
Street
4.5
Travel
4.6
Wedding & Events
7.5
Filmmaking
5.6
Documentary
5.8
Landscape
6.3
Casual
4.1
Food
6.2
Architecture
6.3
Underwater
5.8
✅ Great For
🧑
Portrait 8.9 Strong on optical quality, maximum aperture and focal length. Apodization optics give exceptionally smooth bokeh transitions, prized for portraiture.
💍
Wedding & Events 7.5 Strong on optical quality, autofocus and maximum aperture. Sealed L-series build with the smoothest background rendering in the RF 85mm range.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
📷
Casual 4.1 Held back by focal length and value for money.
🌆
Street 4.5 Held back by focal length and portability.
✈️
Travel 4.6 Held back by portability and focal length.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →
Price History — RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS