Canon 85mm
1.8 lens vs. 1.2 lens
The Canon 85mm 1.2L II and 1.8 lenses are vastly different, both in quality and price. Even though they have the same focal length, the two lenses have an over $1500 difference in suggested retail price.
Aperture Range
The most obvious difference is that the 1.2L II has an aperture range of f/1.2-16. The use of a larger aperture results in a blurry background. The capability to go to f/1.2 is an extremely rare feature in lenses. This large aperture allows a photographer to use a slower shutter speed and also create a blurred background, which draws focus to the subject of the image. The 1.8 lens has a range of f/1.8-22. The maximum aperture of f/1.8 is still considerably large compared to most lenses.
Build Quality
The 1.2 lens is an L-series lens, the "L" standing for luxury. This means a much tougher build quality as well as the use of higher quality glass. The L-series is the best than Canon offers and is preferred by professionals.
Chromatic Aberrations
The 1.2L II features special glass coatings to reduce chromatic aberrations. The 1.8, due to poorer build quality, suffers from more noticeable chromatic aberrations compared to the 1.2L II.
Tags: Canon 85mm, build quality, chromatic aberrations