50mm F1.2L and 135mm F2L

[Canonized]

sigma mis-focus 3m and above i believe.

Yes, that is a known problem. Fortunately, it has to do with calibration and an hour visit to Sigma here at Bkt Merah solved it. Now it performs very well and very happy with it. I use it as my standard lens despite having a large L collection. The image quality is as good as Canon L.

 

[Snoweagle]

Until now i still dunno why so many people have issues with their 50L. Maybe due to the same batch or something?? :dunno:

 

[Canonized]

Check out this post which lists several reviews of the Sigma 50mm 1.4.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5324347&postcount=24

You can read the whole thread here:
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546050

 

[rendition]

Until now i still dunno why so many people have issues with their 50L. Maybe due to the same batch or something??

Maybe your eyes are not as particular. Maybe the ones who spotted have eyes too sharp... but I've experienced it myself when shooting at near the minimum focusing distances *especially*. Sending for calibration didn't help but has made the back focusing less pronounced. Different users have different expectations of a lens. That said, the 50mm f/1.2L is great in other aspects. I think it's a great focal length (FF) for day-to-day scenes.

 

[Snoweagle]

Maybe your eyes are not as particular. Maybe the ones who spotted have eyes too sharp... but I've experienced it myself when shooting at near the minimum focusing distances *especially*. Sending for calibration didn't help but has made the back focusing less pronounced. Different users have different expectations of a lens. That said, the 50mm f/1.2L is great in other aspects. I think it's a great focal length (FF) for day-to-day scenes.

At f/1.2, i still think it's sharp but don't expect to be as sharp like f/2.0 or f/2.8 which is really sharp!

 

[bobbynyoto]

By the way, what does calibration do to the lens?

Do we have to do it to all the lenses?

 

[VeerloN]

Don't expect 50 at f/1.2 to be as sharp as 85 at f/1.2

 

[gazkw]

Don't expect 50 at f/1.2 to be as sharp as 85 at f/1.2

too true... 50L is idiosyncratic.

85L is :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[calebk]

how 'bout canon coating? would it peel off?
...

The coating refers to the external coating around the barrel of the lens.

By the way, what does calibration do to the lens?

Do we have to do it to all the lenses?

Calibration makes sure the camera and lens are focusing accurately as a whole. You only perform it on lenses that are not focusing accurately.

 

[kokanadan]

May be a bit off-topic.
My copy of 135mm seems to AF hunt a lot. Is it due to the thin DOF or is there something wrong with my copy?
Does other 135mm users face the same issue?

 

[rendition]

My copy of 135mm seems to AF hunt a lot. Is it due to the thin DOF or is there something wrong with my copy?

Don't have this lens, but on my 70-200, I will change the focusing range switch (i.e 1.2m–∞ or 3.0m–&#8734 according to the scene which I believe exist in the 135L. Try that, it's actually to prevent too much focus-hunting.

 

[calebk]

May be a bit off-topic.
My copy of 135mm seems to AF hunt a lot. Is it due to the thin DOF or is there something wrong with my copy?
Does other 135mm users face the same issue?

Are you using auto-selection for your AF points?

 

[Limsgp]

Quite a while ago, I got the chance to tryout the 50mm F1.2L, took some pictures, and then compare to the Kit lens EF18-55mm.

In the below 100% crop sample, the left is 50L @ F7.1, the right is 18-55 @ 55mm, F5.6

The 50L is sharper and have better contrast.. but the differences isn't that much.. I guess..

Maybe the comparison isn't fair.. but the 50L doesn't seems to be that outstanding at all.. or maybe the difference is only apparent with high end cameras..

At f/1.2, i still think it's sharp but don't expect to be as sharp like f/2.0 or f/2.8 which is really sharp!

 

[calebk]

Quite a while ago, I got the chance to tryout the 50mm F1.2L, took some pictures, and then compare to the Kit lens EF18-55mm.

In the below 100% crop sample, the left is 50L @ F7.1, the right is 18-55 @ 55mm, F5.6

The 50L is sharper and have better contrast.. but the differences isn't that much.. I guess..

Maybe the comparison isn't fair.. but the 50L doesn't seems to be that outstanding at all.. or maybe the difference is only apparent with high end cameras..

I think the comparisons should be held at open or close to open aperture like at f/1.2. Oh wait, the kit lens can't go that wide. You see, you pay a premium not just for colour, contrast or resolving power, but also the light gathering power of a large aperture lens. Comparisons must be held on all levels.

 

[Limsgp]

Maybe the way I phrase it is not right.. what I meant is, when stopped down, the 50L isn't really that sharp compared to the kits lens.

Of course the 50L has it's qualities.. but that's outside the scope of the discussion where sharpness is concerned. I'm not trying to say that the 50L is not a "better" lens. I'm just commenting that it is not really outstandingly sharp. Of course overall it is a much much better lens than the kit lens as a whole.

I think the comparisons should be held at open or close to open aperture like at f/1.2. Oh wait, the kit lens can't go that wide. You see, you pay a premium not just for colour, contrast or resolving power, but also the light gathering power of a large aperture lens. Comparisons must be held on all levels.

 

[gazkw]

f7.1 on a portrait... wrong usage. doesn't exhibit what the 50L is all about.

consider these...

edit: yes, its not a super sharp lens. but it does not preclude it from great usage. pixel peeping sharpness is just like masturbation, self satisfaction.

 

[kokanadan]

Are you using auto-selection for your AF points?

Nope, AF point at mid.

 

[kokanadan]

Don't have this lens, but on my 70-200, I will change the focusing range switch (i.e 1.2m–∞ or 3.0m–&#8734 according to the scene which I believe exist in the 135L. Try that, it's actually to prevent too much focus-hunting.

Yeap, fixed the range as well... the hunting starts when i use 0.9m-∞ and subject is about 1m+ away... initially i thought it was my focus distance...

 

[kcuf2]

frankly, me myself is a victim of the 50mm f1.2L fever.... for the past 3days, i have been to the "usual shops" and I have that strong urge and desire and whack it...

 

[gazkw]

Nope, AF point at mid.

typically don't have that issue but if it is low light hunting, yes it happens.. but less prone that 50mm f1.2 for sure.