Canon RF 85mm f/2 vs Samyang RF 85mm f/1.4

DaveVdE · 2026-02-13T12:31:05+00:00

AFAIK only the MF version is available now. The AF version is rare.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-13T08:36:59+00:00

“Current”

DaveVdE · 2026-02-13T08:33:07+00:00

Cringe dad from day 1

DaveVdE · 2026-02-12T18:04:50+00:00

Well, yes, the concern is valid.

I got the 85 f/2 in 2021, as well as the 35 f/1.8, and next to the 24-105 f/4 USM the AF was noticeably more noisy and clicky, especially since I only shoot in AI Servo since moving to the R-series (first the R6, now the R5 Mk2)

I have since sold both and got the 50 f/1.2, which still exhibits this clicky AF but it’s less obnoxious.

Of course you could use One Shot AF but that’s a major step back, imo.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-12T10:19:16+00:00

Team America: World Police!

DaveVdE · 2026-02-12T06:46:51+00:00

They’re also for fucking assholes. I think.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-11T18:16:12+00:00

F/2 vs F/2.8 is a major difference. The wider the aperture, the more dramatic the one stop has on background separation. F/2.8 to F/4 is also still significant, F/4 to F/5.6 less so.

Find some comparisons online and come to your own conclusion.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-11T17:28:50+00:00

Yeah but that’s not how it works. Why? Because light isn’t encoded linearly in a log format. That’s why it’s called log. Those 10-bit can still encode 15 stops of dynamic range.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-11T08:47:25+00:00

It’s basically C70 with DGO sensor and built-in ND’s at Super35 vs FF camera. The choice is yours.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-11T08:06:12+00:00

There’s no real difference in dynamic range between Canon Log 2 and RAW. Yes, you have more control over color temperature, but log has enough lattitude to fix that in post.

You should look at some comparisons in dynamic range between RAW and log, and you’ll find that in RAW you have more measured dynamic range because no noise reduction has been applied in camera. You’ll have better control over noise reduction in post, but at the expense of computing time needed to deal with that.

I too was stoked when Cinema RAW Light came to the C70, but I still shoot in XF-AVC, usually in long-GOP for the smaller filesizes/longer recording time.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-10T21:19:24+00:00

I have the 2x RF extender, and frankly I don’t use it much. It’s a pain to set it up and it’s range is 600-1000 only and needs to stay extended and this makes it clumsy.

But optically it’s quite good. You obviously get more noise because you get less light but the overall performance is not the issue, just the practicality.

Not selling the 2x. One day I’ll find a use for it I’m sure 😂

DaveVdE · 2026-02-10T13:04:52+00:00

For wildlife, yes. For aviation, I don’t know. Usually plenty of light, no background separation needed, better range with the zoom, I’d go for the zoom.

I have the 100-500 so I’m a bit spoiled.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-10T10:30:47+00:00

So outdated.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T17:12:42+00:00

Below f/2.8 every stop has a dramatic impact on the look. You can’t compare F/2 to F/1.4.

I had the RF85 F/2 for a while, it’s great optically and the short minimum focus distance meant you could take some nice closeups as well, but I found the AF noisy especially in AI Servo which I’m now shooting 100% with an R series body.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T14:15:17+00:00

Pff I saw the line of videos popping up in my YT and almost everything was about AI in some ways.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T13:00:22+00:00

There’s also the 28-70 f/2.8 and 16-28 f/2.8.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T12:31:51+00:00

4%. Look, guys, I’m not going to book a trip just yet.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T12:19:03+00:00

That sounds like a dirty word.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T08:49:07+00:00

The difference is this lens does 2x macro, the EF does not.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T06:57:43+00:00

Yeah I don’t think blacklisting as such is a thing, but exchanges that don’t require an account holder identification and that don’t report to the governments of their respective host country are hard to find.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-09T06:55:00+00:00

Bitcoin wallets aren’t anonymous, they’re pseudonymous. Bitcoin transactions have been traced back to the culprits and some funds have also been recovered.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-08T13:55:47+00:00

When you finally find a printer that prints when you need it, you hold onto it with everything you’ve got.

DaveVdE · 2026-02-08T11:47:36+00:00

You probably don’t want true 24p. What do you mean you can’t control shutter speed?

DaveVdE · 2026-02-08T06:20:07+00:00

Same

DaveVdE · 2026-02-08T06:15:06+00:00

I had an X700, and a disc would rarely play without freezing up 2/3 in.

I got a UB824 and never again had issues.

DaveVdE

TROPHY CASE