$80 f/1.2 Lens vs $1,500 f/1.2 Lens

How does a vintage $80 f/1.2 prime lens stack up against a modern $1,500 f/1.2 lens? Photographer Mathieu Stern recently decided to do a shootout to find out, and he shares his results in this 2.5-minute video.

Stern got his hands on a Porst Color Reflex 50mm f/1.2 manual lens, a rebranded version of the Fuji EBC X-Fujinon 50mm f/1.2 lens, for just $80 on eBay. He pitted that vintage lens against the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L autofocus prime lens, which is ordinarily priced at around $1,500.

Stern (with the vintage lens) and photographer @Fotorescent (with the modern lens) both photographed model @josy_hllt to see how the image quality and aesthetics of their respective lenses compare.

Here are some side-by-side comparisons shown in the video:

The Canon 50mm f/1.2 produces a “smooth and creamy” bokeh that’s prized by portrait photographers, whereas the Porst Color Reflex’s bokeh is much more “harsh and busy” (though, with a look that some may find desirable).