UPDATE 11:42 PM: Gone fast! The listing is now unavailable to ship; you can also purchase from this alternative listing.
UPDATE 11:46 PM: Both listings are now sold out.
Beach Camera via Amazon is listing the RF 85mm f/1.2L USM for $2299.00. We can’t help but think this is a price mistake, as it is $300 less than the price seen at all other authorized dealers. Beach Camera is an authorized Canon USA dealer.
Isn’t this bonkers? I bought my Canon EF 85mm f1.2 lens through the street price program about seven years ago for $1,635. It felt like an expensive purchase. (Especially as I only used to once since, at home, just to try it out…)
Technology is supposed to be getting cheaper each year, not more expensive.
I saw a deal on a Samyang 85 1.4 II (for Sony E) lens last Thanksgiving for $350. I have enough never-used fast 85mm lenses, so I didn’t buy it, even though it is a fantastic lens.
Now Meike makes an 85mm f1.8 AF lens for Sony that costs $199! $199! And it’s actually pretty good.
It is a real shame Canon is banning 3rd party RF lenses with AF. I almost never use AF lenses as I like fast manual primes. Yet the whole 3rd party lens saga is pushing me towards fully switching to Sony. There is just no reason why a fast 85 should cost more than $2,000. Especially not when the yen is so weak / the USD is so strong.