I have to admit that the new Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS lens has me fairly excited. The prospect of a modernized, wide-aperture 85mm lens with image stabilization and first-party autofocus is very intriguing, and if it performs up to hype, it should be a real winner. The video takes a first look at the lens and shooting with it.

I have a real love-hate relationship with my 85mm f/1.2L II. Its autofocus is a pain and its minimum focusing distance isn’t stellar, plus it’s soft wide open. Still, it provides some gorgeous images. Canon seems to have improved all of those issues with the new 85mm f/1.4L IS, plus they’ve added image stabilization rated to four stops. And if the AF performance truly shows marked improvement, that coupled with image stabilization could see the lens finding a place not just in the bags of portraitists, but in those of wedding photographers as well, where both features will help them cope well with low-light situations. Video shooters should find it a viable option as well. Altogether, it’s an interesting middle ground in Canon’s 85mm lineup. If you’re interested in preordering the lens, you can do so here (with shipping expected in November).