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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is an autofocus short telephoto prime for the Canon EF mount, pairing an 85mm focal length with a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture and a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor. Introduced as part of Canon's EF line-up for 35mm SLRs and later full-frame and APS-C DSLRs, it is widely used for portraiture, events and low-light work where shallow depth of field is wanted without the size or price of the 85mm f/1.2L.

In the current 2026 UK auction market, hammer prices for the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM have sat in a fairly tight band: recorded results run from £120 to £175, with a median around £150 across the sales on file. The most recent saleroom result, in September 2025, was £162, so clean working copies are still selling for roughly what they were worth a couple of years ago rather than collapsing in value, and that price level reflects wholesale auction hammer figures rather than dealer retail.

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Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Date Price Source
Sep 2025 £162 Flints Auctions
Aug 2025 £188 Flints Auctions
Feb 2024 £120 Special Auction Services
Jan 2024 £138 Flints Auctions
Jun 2022 £175 Flints Auctions
May 2010 EUR 650 Leitz Auction

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