What would you pay for a EF 85 1.8/2.0 IS USM?

A lens I would like Canon to build is an updated EF 85 1.8: give it the latest "budget" USM focus updates and coatings and add IS as they have done with their new 28mm and 35mm primes. Perhaps give it an aperture of 1.8 or 2.0.

I think Canon needs to play catch-up to the Nikon 85/1.8G ($497) and Sigma 85/1.4 ($894) and the Canon 85/1.2L II ($1999) is not the appropriate answer.

What would you pay for this new (hypothetical) Canon lens?

I would gladly pay $599, but I know Canon will charge $899...

SchnellerGT wrote in post #16047903
I think Canon needs to play catch-up to the Nikon 85/1.8G ($497) and Sigma 85/1.4 ($894) and the Canon 85/1.2L II ($1999) is not the appropriate answer.

Catchup how? I have no experience with the Nikon 85 1.8, but Canon 85 1.8 is cheaper and I can only assume they are comparable. Sigma is a hell lot sharper and faster, so that's a fair asking price imo.

The Nikon 85 1.8G is a sharper lens (at 1.8) and exhibits a lot less CA.

Canon has a great value lens but it is showing its age IMO. Adding IS would be nice icing on the cake and make for the perfect 85mm portrait lens.

I wouldn't pay for it. The 85 1.8 I've already paid for works fine for me.

If Canon would make an 85 f'/1.4 IS for $1100-$1300 I would seriously think about it. Though that's still most likely a low price considering it would be Canon.

The 28mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, and 100mm f2 all came out about the same time (early 90s) and included USM. I'm going to put my neck out and say the 85mm was one of the best... I would rather see the others (the 28 and 50 mainly) updated before the 85mm imho.

Also, as kin2son says, I'm not sure i'd be willing to pay what Canon would want for it... by the very nature of the focal length, the 85mm is often considered a portrait lens, and I very rarely find myself using a shutter speed slow enough to produce blurry images, because people move hence I wouldn't be willing to pay the extra for IS when the current model performs so well (again, imho). It doesn't mean it wouldn't have it's place though

Costly IS wouldn't be particularly attractive to me, especially if the lens was slower to compensate. If I'm going to drop big dollars on an 85 prime I'd rather pay for a big aperture, not IS. I assume it would be at a price point where a used 135L would be more compelling to me.

The 85 1.8 is a brilliant lens for indoor sports. Very sharp and blazing AF speed. I wouldn't want to lose any of that. IF they could come out with say a new sharper IS version I'd pay $900 for a 1.8

carpenter wrote in post #16048354
The 85 1.8 is a brilliant lens for indoor sports. Very sharp and blazing AF speed. I wouldn't want to lose any of that. IF they could come out with say a new sharper IS version I'd pay $900 for a 1.8

I have used the 85 1.8 for indoor sports. At 1/500 to 1/800, of what use is IS? It seems like you are paying $900 for IS you won't be using.

An 85mm f/2 IS would be one excellent lens... I would pay $800 for it if the IQ is excellent with no major flaws like the coma on the 35 f/2 IS.

Tommy1957 wrote in post #16048468
I have used the 85 1.8 for indoor sports. At 1/500 to 1/800, of what use is IS? It seems like you are paying $900 for IS you won't be using.

I have no idea where you drew that conclusion from. In no way is my 85 limited to indoor sports. It just works very well for indoor sports. If I could get that same AF speed and an even sharper lens for $900 I'd be all over it as it is already a very nice multi-purpose lens.

carpenter wrote in post #16048569
I have no idea where you drew that conclusion from. In no way is my 85 limited to indoor sports. It just works very well for indoor sports. If I could get that same AF speed and an even sharper lens for $900 I'd be all over it as it is already a very nice multi-purpose lens.

OK. Thanks. Narrow minded-ness on my part. Action stuff is about all I use that lens for. No offense intended.

Perhaps you are asking what would the ultimate indoor sports lens be?

canon would charge at least $800 for it...

if anything 85/1.8 is stellar, amazing sharp and one of the fasting focusing lenses canon makes. i think the 50/1.4 is do for upgrade before the 85 is, mainly because the AF is prone to bump failure if you dont protect it with a hood.