Canon 85 1.2 versions 1 & 2......

Hi , Is there much difference between version 1 and version 2 of canon 85 1.2. I hear focus speed is main thing ? What elese ?

Lens coating has been improved.
Focus distance information is passed to the body for ETTL-II.

So this means if you are shooting with a 85L Mark I with a YN-E3-RT transmitter + Yongnuo YN-600 EX-RT speedlite that automatic ETTL II is useless because of the outdated electronics in this lens ?

CheshireCat wrote in post #18294838
Focus distance information is passed to the body for ETTL-II.

I don't know if useless is the right word. For sure it won't have distance info.
How useful distance info is, I don't know. I never use flash.

Besides focus speed, the biggest difference is that the 85 f1.2 ver 1 is not serviced by Canon. Both are focus-by-wire with the ver 1 being USM while the ver 2 is ring USM. If the ver 1 stops auto focusing, you have a nice paper weight. The ver 1 was released in the late 1980's so good luck finding critical parts. Otherwise very little difference.

Thanks...

The EF 85mm f1.8 lens you already have is considerably faster focusing and more versatile than either 85/1.2L version.

The 85/1.2L is an amazing lens.... But rather specialized and a bit difficult to work with.

Might want to check out some of the third party alternatives.... Several offer 85/1.4... And there's a new Tamron 85/1.8 with images stabilization.

Finally, there are pretty strong rumors of a new Canon 85/1.4... possibly with IS... coming sometime this year.

Thanks......

So when version I doesn't pass any info to the body, in which way does this influence pictures without flash and with wireless flash setup ?
I just got another bid to sell my 85L MKI for the same price of a new Sigma 85 1.4 Art....

notastockpikr wrote in post #18296162
Both are focus-by-wire with the ver 1 being USM while the ver 2 is ring USM.

Both share the same USM design. Version II has a shorter focus throw.

IF you're using ETTL(whether its on-camera or via radio) there will be no communication of the distance at which the subject is to the camera. So you're likely to have poor accuracy on the amount of power the flash delivers from image to image.

cwphoto wrote in post #18302420
Both share the same USM design. Version II has a shorter focus throw.

My bad...you're right.

This link is a detailed discussion of ring versus micro USM lenses:

https://www.dpreview.c​om/forums/post/2011371​2

The 85 L ver I and II are both ring USM lenses.

And with a wireless Yongnuo 600 EX-RT set and a sender, the distance information is given to the camera with the infrared beam if i'm not mistaken and this sends distance info to the camera ?

ma11rats wrote in post #18303020
IF you're using ETTL(whether its on-camera or via radio) there will be no communication of the distance at which the subject is to the camera. So you're likely to have poor accuracy on the amount of power the flash delivers from image to image.

So the Yongnuo 600 EX-RT (via radio) for example doesn't pass the distance info measured by the infrared light to the Canon 6D body either, are you sure ?

ma11rats wrote in post #18303020
IF you're using ETTL(whether its on-camera or via radio) there will be no communication of the distance at which the subject is to the camera. So you're likely to have poor accuracy on the amount of power the flash delivers from image to image.