Compare lenses

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM vs Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM and the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM if you want a brighter f/1.4 (0.7 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds and optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it. On these specs the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM has no clear advantage: choose it if the price, the handling or a lens you own decides it.

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM and the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM	Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Maker	Canon	Canon
Focal length	85mm (prime)	85mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	85mm	85mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.4brighter	f/1.8
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Stabilised	yesstabilised	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Weight	not listed	425 g
Cameras it fits	22 in this guide	22 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM: 85mm.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM: 85mm.

Aperture

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM: f/1.4 wide open.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM: f/1.8 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.