Reviews by MaraLee

I picked up this lens when it was $100 off. It has since gone back up to the msp of $499 USD. I got it for doing Fresh 48s where I needed a lightweight lens that would allow me to get portrait-quality photos in low light and close quarters.

I had been using the RF 28-70, but it's too heavy for all day use in hot rooms, and it was getting banged around. I needed something lighter, and less expensive to replace if something should happen to it. The RF 35mm fit the bill perfectly.

I do notice quite a bit of a vignette at the corners, but it's easily removed in post if I don't want it. Most of the time I just leave it as it's not too distracting and offsets the subject. If the room is very dark, it will hunt and sometimes have trouble locking on. I can up the ISO a tad, focus, and lower the ISO again and it'll lock for me.

Unfortunately, I don't have any images to share with it yet. I've taken hundreds, but they're all HIPAA protected and I cannot share them online. I'll add one or two when I get them.

Even with the faults I listed, it received a 5 star rating from me due to the value vs. the price tag. I think anybody could pick up this lens and get some pro quality images out of it.

This was my second major lens purchase. Again, just like with the RF 85mm 1.2, I was shocked at the size and weight even though I was expecting another big lens. This thing weighs 3.15 pounds and takes a 95mm front filter. I need two hands to hold it anywhere but at the mount.

The images it delivers are nothing less than amazing. The 28-70mm zoom is perfect for getting in close or recomposing a shot in close quarters where an 85mm doesn’t give you enough room. It’s very fast and provides excellent low-light images on par with Canon’s RF 85mm f1.2 L, despite it being a zoom. Let me repeat that… it’s a zoom lens that can compete in image quality with a prime.

This is another expensive lens, but it’s a piece of glass that will change your whole game if it’s something that will be useful in your kit.

This will be my first review of a Canon RF lens, and very apropos, really, because it was my first lens purchase that literally gave me goosebumps when reviewing the initial images SOOC.

First impression of the lens out of the box was the sheer size and heft of the thing. Weighing in at 2.63lb (1195g), it’s very heavy and dwarfs my R6 body. The lens wears the body rather than vice-versa.

The girth is awkward for my stubby hands in things like mounting and unmounting from the body, and the 82mm filter size means a good quality filter assortment will run into some money. Real estate in your kit bag will soon be at a premium as well, and I found some of my lesser gear now stays home to make room for this lens.

All that said, the images from this lens are MAGNIFICENT. The f1.2 maximum aperture when wide open utilizes the very lowest available light and delivers razor sharp images with bokeh to die for. There is a learning curve to this shallow of a depth of field, so I’m not going to say it’s a super easy lens to use in every situation, but it delivers phenomenal results when you figure out its sweet spot.

Being my first 85mm telephoto prime, I soon learned it wasn’t the best lens for every situation, but I can get a lot out of it in many scenarios by moving my feet and keeping a tripod handy. I also invested in a good neck/shoulder strap and hand clutch for stability and security. I have arthritis and neurological issues in my hands, neck and back and needed a little assistance with the weight after carrying it more than 20 minutes or so.

This beast of a lens is perfect for portraits and stock photography, and the super-shallow depth of field is excellent for subjects that aren’t moving in and out of your focal plane.

It IS very expensive, but all the best toys are. This one delivers and will help pay for its room and board if you let it.