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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Fixed

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,286 ratings
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Purchase options and add-ons

Brand Canon
Focal Length Description 85
Lens Type Telephoto
Compatible Mountings Canon EF
Camera Lens Description 85 month

About this item

  • 85 millimetre standard lens with f 1.8 maximum aperture for Canon SLR cameras, Lens Type:Telephoto Zoom Lens
  • Ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) brings subject quickly into focus, Focal length: 85 millimetre, closest focusing distance: 2.8 feet
  • Natural angle of view and perspective is ideal for portraits and natural images
  • Designed to produce beautiful background blur; weighs 15 ounces
  • Measures 3 inches in diameter and 2.8 inches long; 1-year warranty. Refer User manual for troubleshooting steps.
  • Lens not zoomable
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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Fixed
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Fixed
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Price$499.00$478.99-26% $369.00
New Price:$499.00
-43% $215.00
New Price:$379.00
$149.00$199.00
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Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 25
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Customer Ratings
Image stabilization
4.5
4.5
4.0
4.4
4.2
Auto focus
4.5
4.6
4.3
4.6
4.4
Picture quality
4.7
4.1
4.7
4.4
Quality of material
4.9
4.8
3.5
For portrait photography
4.7
4.6
4.5
Sold By
Amazon.com
6ave
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Jerry's Photo
Amazon.com
K&M Camera Since 1976
lens type
Telephoto
Telephoto
Telephoto
Telephoto
Wide Angle
Telephoto
compatible mountings
Canon EF
Canon EF
Canon EF
Canon EF
Canon EF-S
Canon EF
lens design
Prime
Zoom
Prime
Prime
Zoom
focus type
Auto Focus
Manual Focus, Auto Focus
Ultrasonic
Auto Focus
Manual Focus
Auto Focus
minimum focal length
85 millimeters
85 millimeters
85 millimeters
50 millimeters
24 millimeters
75 millimeters
max focal length
85 millimeters
85 millimeters
85 millimeters
50 millimeters
24 millimeters
300 millimeters

From the manufacturer

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens

1

2

3

A highly practical medium telephoto lens with superb delineation and portability. Images are sharp and clear at all apertures.

Through computer simulations, the lens has been designed to give beautiful background blur.

Since the front lens group does not rotate during focusing special filter effects are not affected.

4

Looking for specific info?

What's in the box

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens
  • E-58U 58mm Snap-On Lens Cap
  • Lens Dust Cap E (Rear)
  • Warranty
  • Product information

    Warranty & Support

    Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here. [PDF ]

    Feedback

    Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras - Fixed


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    Product guides and documents

    Product Description

    Product Description

    The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens is highly practical and ideal for a range of applications including portraiture. Its fast f/1.8 maximum aperture is effective in low light and ideal for shallow depth of field focus control. An ultrasonic autofocus motor (USM) provides fast, smooth and quiet AF action and because the front lens group does not rotate during focusing, polarizing and special filter effects can be used effectively.

    From the Manufacturer

    Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens.

    Customer reviews

    4.7 out of 5 stars
    4.7 out of 5
    2,286 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the quality, sharpness, and value of the lens. They mention that it takes beautiful portraits with nice bokeh, and is really sharp even wide open. They appreciate the value for money, saying that it's worth the investment. Customers also appreciate the fast and all-time manual focus.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    446 customers mention419 positive27 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the quality of the lens. They mention it has fantastic construction, is sturdy, and has outstanding glass. The lens has a very reliable AF and is built like a tank. The optical quality is fantastic and the lens works like a charm.

    "...Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM lens is a moderate weight (15 oz), very well built lens. It does not come with the appropriate hood, the Canon ET-65 III...." Read more

    "...This translates into perfect portrait depth-of-field and produces awesome boke in the f/1.8 - f/2.0 range, and even a decent amount of boke up to..." Read more

    "...to focus manually (unlike some of Canon's newer lenses) and a dream to work with. I may upgrade to the 1.2 in the future, but I am in no hurry." Read more

    "...GENERALIn general, this is a great lens. The optical quality is fantastic, it is built like a tank, and any photographer will tell you that..." Read more

    431 customers mention419 positive12 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the image quality of the lens. They mention that it takes beautiful portraits with a smooth bokeh. The lens is easy to use and produces flattering headshots. The bokh on this lens is beautiful and the images are much brighter. It's perfect for taking candid pictures and the background is almost pure bokkeh.

    "...keeps the lens out of harms way quite effectively, and it increases contrast and reduces flare at the same time by preventing light from entering..." Read more

    "...This translates into perfect portrait depth-of-field and produces awesome boke in the f/1.8 - f/2.0 range, and even a decent amount of boke up to..." Read more

    "...I am a serious amateur, they replied back saying the photos were gorgeous and amazing, and loved it...." Read more

    "...I like the bright viewing image of the 1.8 but I seldom shoot it wide open, preferring the sharpness and DOF that I get at f/4.0 and 5.6...." Read more

    216 customers mention202 positive14 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the sharpness of the lens. They mention that it's really sharp for an EF lens, has amazing bokeh, and is absolutely accurate. The lens is fairly sharp even wide open, and produces sharp results with beautiful boken. The focus on detail is very sharp, and the center of the image is very crisp. The colors are rich and vibrant, and subjects are sharp. Overall, customers are happy with the quality and performance of this lens.

    "...1. Sharpness - 85mm is very sharp, 135mm/2L is simply a notch above.2. Saturation - 85mm is good, 135mm/2L is much better, image has a pop...." Read more

    "...It was very sharp and had great contrast and color...." Read more

    "Everything you've read is true. Beautiful sharpness and clarity, great bokeh, superb low-light capabilities...." Read more

    "...+ When stopped down the lens is quite sharp across the frame, which makes this suitable for landscape shots as well if you use this focal length for..." Read more

    200 customers mention192 positive8 negative

    Customers appreciate the value of the lens. They say it is an outstanding value for the buy, worth the investment, and a good lens for indoor sports photography. They also mention that it is light and cheap.

    "...Finally, the hood for this lens is inexpensive, well worth the extra few dollars it costs.Aperture is controlled by an 8-blade system...." Read more

    "...But for the high level of quality and the low price, Canon is giving us the option to buy a good solid lens with nice autofocus, crisp images and..." Read more

    "...By far my favorite lens.Great price with Amazon, as always, and really fast shipping." Read more

    "...this is not a perfect lens but it is still one of Canon's best values for lenses. I would consider it Canon's best sub-$500 lens." Read more

    177 customers mention128 positive49 negative

    Customers like the focus of the lens. They mention that it focuses quickly, is sturdy, and has very good image quality. They also appreciate the smooth and silent focusing, and the fact that it offers AF and manual focus. Customers also mention that the focus is accurate and separates focus from metering. They say the auto focus is quiet and very fast, and that the out-of-focus transitions are surprisingly smooth.

    "...The lens offers AF and manual focus, and allows manual focus even when AF is set to on, a very useful feature for low-light and other challenging..." Read more

    "...I couldn't be happier with this lens. The Ultra-Sonic motor works silently and flawlessly...." Read more

    "...preliminary evaluation is that the copy of the lens I received is focusing right and quick with my 6D. Its giving me crisp images with nice bokeh..." Read more

    "...On just one or two occasions, the focus was hunting, but I would put that down as a one off occasion as there was aboslutely very challenging..." Read more

    120 customers mention120 positive0 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the speed of the lens. They mention that the AF is super fast, accurate, and responsive. The lens is fairly fast design, and provides excellent performance.

    "...One last point is that since the lens is a fairly fast design, perhaps there is less overall need for IS..." Read more

    "...is that the copy of the lens I received is focusing right and quick with my 6D. Its giving me crisp images with nice bokeh at f/2...." Read more

    "...Virtually silent and almost instant AF.I love the control over DOF by choosing the aperture you want...." Read more

    "...The pros: Its quiet. It is fast in both aperture rating and the fact that it is prime and focuses quickly. It is a solid metal piece...." Read more

    93 customers mention82 positive11 negative

    Customers generally like the performance of the lens. They say it produces amazing results every single time, works beautifully, and is small and light. Customers also say that it works great in normal lighting conditions and is suitable for shooting action.

    "...I bought this primarily as a portrait lens but it performed so well at a variety of tasks and turned out to be much more versatile than I had..." Read more

    "...and have taken so many portraits with this, simply put, amazing results every single time...." Read more

    "...In a relaxed environment such as this, the lens works perfectly and turns out great results...FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY..." Read more

    "...It was in good shape when it arrived, and it's functioned very well in the time I've had it. (I believe a couple years now!)..." Read more

    69 customers mention56 positive13 negative

    Customers like the portability of the lens. For example, they say it's light enough that they can shoot for quite a while before fatigue, and it'll fit easily into a bag. Some mention that the lens isn't heavy at all, compared to others they've used.

    "...It's light enough that you can shoot for quite a while before fatigue sets in, an issue that will rear its head in any situation that goes on a while..." Read more

    "...The lens is compact, not at all heavy and is perfect portrait lens...." Read more

    "...glass, well built (not an "L" level), responsive, small and light...." Read more

    "...But that's what meakes it light and cheap, so......" Read more

    One of Canon's best for price/performance
    5 Stars
    One of Canon's best for price/performance
    The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM lens is a moderate weight (15 oz), very well built lens. It does not come with the appropriate hood, the Canon ET-65 III. You get both a lens cap and a mount cap, all packed inside tight conformal foam to protect the lens during shipping. There's also a very brief manual and the usual warranty paperwork.The lens offers AF and manual focus, and allows manual focus even when AF is set to on, a very useful feature for low-light and other challenging focus situations. This is a USM lens, and as a direct consequence focus is fast and precise, just as you'd expect.The AF/Manual switch is in a reasonable location, close to the camera body. There is a range indication on the barrel of the lens behind a transparent window which serves to keep dust and debris out of the workings of the lens. Manual focus is controlled with a broad, easy to manage textured ring about mid-body on the lens. During focus, nothing external on the lens body moves or rotates, so there are no complications for using polarizing filters, and no concerns about the lens "pumping" air and so causing dust contamination in either the lens or camera with use.The lens lacks any form of image stabilization. IS is showing up in more and more lenses, though for the price... perhaps this is one of the justifications for building IS into the camera body. I'm sure that this design wouldn't be anywhere near its current price point with IS added to the build. One last point is that since the lens is a fairly fast design, perhaps there is less overall need for IS (though that argument falls completely apart the first time you *do* need it!)It takes a 58mm filter, though I highly recommend the use of the ET-65 III hood rather than a filter; filter use should be limited to polarizers, neutral density filters and so on, rather than keeping a filter on the lens with the idea of protecting it. Here's why: filters create a flat surface over the end of the lens that can (and often does) create low-level reflections. These are most apparent in low-light shots, but they are almost always there. In the case of a UV filter, no other benefit is gained (UV can't get through the lens system anyway) other than physical protection. The hood, however, keeps the lens out of harms way quite effectively, and it increases contrast and reduces flare at the same time by preventing light from entering the lens at high angles of attack. I have shot with both hoods and filters, and after decades of experience, I have to come down firmly on the side of hood technique. It only takes one shot ruined by a filter reflection to wake up to this reality; and hoods never, ever compromise an image. They're simply the best way to go. Finally, the hood for this lens is inexpensive, well worth the extra few dollars it costs.Aperture is controlled by an 8-blade system. The available f-stops range from f/1.8 wide open to f/22.0 fully stopped down. MTF (sharpness) peaks at f/5.6, and vignetting is almost gone by that setting.On my camera, an EOS 50D, resolution loss from diffraction effects begin at f/7.6, so in many ways, the "sweet spot" for this lens for me lands naturally at f/5.6. On a camera with a lesser sensel density such as the 40D, diffraction doesn't set in until higher f-stops, but you're beginning to lose sharpness from other effects, so I'd still call the sweet spot as f/5.6 (which also provides a fairly extensive depth of field) for shots where detail is the primary consideration.For portraits, you'll want to go right for f/1.8 if lighting conditions allow in order to take advantage of the shallow and pleasing DOF isolation this lens is famous for; background blur is very soft yet very strong, while the in focus region remains deep enough to keep the important features of the face in focus from ear to nose. The loss of MTF at f/1.8 is noticeable, especially once you get a feel for how the lens performs at f/5.6, but in my opinion, the compromise is perfectly acceptable in a portrait context. There's another benefit as well; at 85mm, and especially on a crop body like the 40D or 50D, this lens allows you to get some distance from your subject which tends to make them more comfortable, while giving you the modest compression that is the hallmark of any telephoto lens. Portraits "pop" and backgrounds blur away with commendable speed. Head-and-shoulders work will put you at about eight feet, and as the lens can focus down to just under three feet, this gives you considerable control over framing without ever running into a limit imposed by the lens design.This is also a truly excellent lens for not-very-wide field astrophotography, although at critical focus and maximum aperture, chromatic aberration will make itself felt on the brightest stars, which you will then have to compensate for. I have successfully used this lens to capture the the Orion nebula, Andromeda galaxy, Triangulum galaxy, and a number of other astro objects that range from the easy to the difficult, all using no more than a standard (non-tracking) tripod, this lens, and the EOS 50D. On a crop body, 85mm (136mm effective FOV) is definitely the place to be to compromise between star trailing and magnification, and the f/1.8 aperture allows fast enough exposures to eliminate trailing at ISO 1600 and above.I carry this lens nested in a large camera bag (a Tamrac 5612 Pro 12, *highly* recommended); I rarely put the lens on the camera until I am ready to use it, and when I am done, I take it right back off, cap it, and bag it without wasting any time or motion. I do both the assembly and disassembly "blind" in the bag, using the bag top to shield the camera and lens from the wind and environment as best I can manage. The lens has a raised alignment dot that makes blind assembly practical. It's the size of the overall investment that drives this behavior, of course; both the camera and a lens like this deserves -- demands -- good care and that is just what I try to provide.Physically speaking, this lens isn't as large as you might think. Canon did a great job of packing a lot of glass (nine elements in seven groups) into a decent form factor of 3" diameter by 2.8" long; even with the hood mounted, this lens provides a fraction of the intimidation factor of, for instance, the 70-200mm f/2.8L. But at 85mm, it can still "get in there" and catch a lot of action without forcing you to crop to extremes. It's light enough that you can shoot for quite a while before fatigue sets in, an issue that will rear its head in any situation that goes on a while, like a wedding or a play (and that low-light capability is great for stage work, where a flash annoys literally everyone.) Plus it is black, and so looks more like it is designed as part of the same camera system, unlike the L's with the white bodies. That's also less distracting in a dark theater.I can honestly say that this is definitely one of my favorite lenses. I have a fair collection of primes to compare it to, some of which are L glass, and I've got some great L zooms as well; yet for portraits, I inevitably turn to this specific lens as it outperforms everything else I own in the successful shooting methodologies I find myself returning to over and over. Frankly, at the price, I think it is perfectly fair to characterize this lens as a "must-have"; if you're ever going to shoot a portrait, trust me, this is the lens you want (even over the 85mm f/1.2L, which has far too narrow a depth of field for most reasonable portraiture, though you can't beat it for light-gathering.) Like Canon's 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, the 85mm f/1.8 is one of those where you're left scratching your head as to why it doesn't have an "L" designation. It is an outstanding performer.If Canon were to re-do this lens, I'd like to see them add image stabilization, and perhaps some modern anti-CA elements, as this is the one area where this lens occasionally bites the photographer in high-contrast situations. Until that day, though, this lens is unmatched by anything else in Canon's line for price/performance, and I can't imagine anyone ever regretting its purchase.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2008
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of Canon's best for price/performance
    Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2008
    The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM lens is a moderate weight (15 oz), very well built lens. It does not come with the appropriate hood, the Canon ET-65 III. You get both a lens cap and a mount cap, all packed inside tight conformal foam to protect the lens during shipping. There's also a very brief manual and the usual warranty paperwork.

    The lens offers AF and manual focus, and allows manual focus even when AF is set to on, a very useful feature for low-light and other challenging focus situations. This is a USM lens, and as a direct consequence focus is fast and precise, just as you'd expect.

    The AF/Manual switch is in a reasonable location, close to the camera body. There is a range indication on the barrel of the lens behind a transparent window which serves to keep dust and debris out of the workings of the lens. Manual focus is controlled with a broad, easy to manage textured ring about mid-body on the lens. During focus, nothing external on the lens body moves or rotates, so there are no complications for using polarizing filters, and no concerns about the lens "pumping" air and so causing dust contamination in either the lens or camera with use.

    The lens lacks any form of image stabilization. IS is showing up in more and more lenses, though for the price... perhaps this is one of the justifications for building IS into the camera body. I'm sure that this design wouldn't be anywhere near its current price point with IS added to the build. One last point is that since the lens is a fairly fast design, perhaps there is less overall need for IS (though that argument falls completely apart the first time you *do* need it!)

    It takes a 58mm filter, though I highly recommend the use of the ET-65 III hood rather than a filter; filter use should be limited to polarizers, neutral density filters and so on, rather than keeping a filter on the lens with the idea of protecting it. Here's why: filters create a flat surface over the end of the lens that can (and often does) create low-level reflections. These are most apparent in low-light shots, but they are almost always there. In the case of a UV filter, no other benefit is gained (UV can't get through the lens system anyway) other than physical protection. The hood, however, keeps the lens out of harms way quite effectively, and it increases contrast and reduces flare at the same time by preventing light from entering the lens at high angles of attack. I have shot with both hoods and filters, and after decades of experience, I have to come down firmly on the side of hood technique. It only takes one shot ruined by a filter reflection to wake up to this reality; and hoods never, ever compromise an image. They're simply the best way to go. Finally, the hood for this lens is inexpensive, well worth the extra few dollars it costs.

    Aperture is controlled by an 8-blade system. The available f-stops range from f/1.8 wide open to f/22.0 fully stopped down. MTF (sharpness) peaks at f/5.6, and vignetting is almost gone by that setting.

    On my camera, an EOS 50D, resolution loss from diffraction effects begin at f/7.6, so in many ways, the "sweet spot" for this lens for me lands naturally at f/5.6. On a camera with a lesser sensel density such as the 40D, diffraction doesn't set in until higher f-stops, but you're beginning to lose sharpness from other effects, so I'd still call the sweet spot as f/5.6 (which also provides a fairly extensive depth of field) for shots where detail is the primary consideration.

    For portraits, you'll want to go right for f/1.8 if lighting conditions allow in order to take advantage of the shallow and pleasing DOF isolation this lens is famous for; background blur is very soft yet very strong, while the in focus region remains deep enough to keep the important features of the face in focus from ear to nose. The loss of MTF at f/1.8 is noticeable, especially once you get a feel for how the lens performs at f/5.6, but in my opinion, the compromise is perfectly acceptable in a portrait context. There's another benefit as well; at 85mm, and especially on a crop body like the 40D or 50D, this lens allows you to get some distance from your subject which tends to make them more comfortable, while giving you the modest compression that is the hallmark of any telephoto lens. Portraits "pop" and backgrounds blur away with commendable speed. Head-and-shoulders work will put you at about eight feet, and as the lens can focus down to just under three feet, this gives you considerable control over framing without ever running into a limit imposed by the lens design.

    This is also a truly excellent lens for not-very-wide field astrophotography, although at critical focus and maximum aperture, chromatic aberration will make itself felt on the brightest stars, which you will then have to compensate for. I have successfully used this lens to capture the the Orion nebula, Andromeda galaxy, Triangulum galaxy, and a number of other astro objects that range from the easy to the difficult, all using no more than a standard (non-tracking) tripod, this lens, and the EOS 50D. On a crop body, 85mm (136mm effective FOV) is definitely the place to be to compromise between star trailing and magnification, and the f/1.8 aperture allows fast enough exposures to eliminate trailing at ISO 1600 and above.

    I carry this lens nested in a large camera bag (a Tamrac 5612 Pro 12, *highly* recommended); I rarely put the lens on the camera until I am ready to use it, and when I am done, I take it right back off, cap it, and bag it without wasting any time or motion. I do both the assembly and disassembly "blind" in the bag, using the bag top to shield the camera and lens from the wind and environment as best I can manage. The lens has a raised alignment dot that makes blind assembly practical. It's the size of the overall investment that drives this behavior, of course; both the camera and a lens like this deserves -- demands -- good care and that is just what I try to provide.

    Physically speaking, this lens isn't as large as you might think. Canon did a great job of packing a lot of glass (nine elements in seven groups) into a decent form factor of 3" diameter by 2.8" long; even with the hood mounted, this lens provides a fraction of the intimidation factor of, for instance, the 70-200mm f/2.8L. But at 85mm, it can still "get in there" and catch a lot of action without forcing you to crop to extremes. It's light enough that you can shoot for quite a while before fatigue sets in, an issue that will rear its head in any situation that goes on a while, like a wedding or a play (and that low-light capability is great for stage work, where a flash annoys literally everyone.) Plus it is black, and so looks more like it is designed as part of the same camera system, unlike the L's with the white bodies. That's also less distracting in a dark theater.

    I can honestly say that this is definitely one of my favorite lenses. I have a fair collection of primes to compare it to, some of which are L glass, and I've got some great L zooms as well; yet for portraits, I inevitably turn to this specific lens as it outperforms everything else I own in the successful shooting methodologies I find myself returning to over and over. Frankly, at the price, I think it is perfectly fair to characterize this lens as a "must-have"; if you're ever going to shoot a portrait, trust me, this is the lens you want (even over the 85mm f/1.2L, which has far too narrow a depth of field for most reasonable portraiture, though you can't beat it for light-gathering.) Like Canon's 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, the 85mm f/1.8 is one of those where you're left scratching your head as to why it doesn't have an "L" designation. It is an outstanding performer.

    If Canon were to re-do this lens, I'd like to see them add image stabilization, and perhaps some modern anti-CA elements, as this is the one area where this lens occasionally bites the photographer in high-contrast situations. Until that day, though, this lens is unmatched by anything else in Canon's line for price/performance, and I can't imagine anyone ever regretting its purchase.
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    212 people found this helpful
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    Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2010
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
    20 people found this helpful
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    Top reviews from other countries

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    Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Lense
    Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2024
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
    debashree
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing product.
    Reviewed in India on July 12, 2023
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
    Arturo Khampa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfacción
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 26, 2018
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
    Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Todo muy bien
    Reviewed in Spain on March 11, 2019
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase
    kyaw lwin oo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything is ok.
    Reviewed in Singapore on July 8, 2020
    Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase