Advise on EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM

[Belle&Sebastain]

Hey bros, get me offer you guys an insight. while I agree to most people here that the TS has not need the 85mm f1.2 mk2. Its not as slow as everyone in the internet talks about.

I have both versions on the 85mm, f1.8 and f1.2 and I can seriously vouch the lens can focus quick enough for my usage for moving people, etc. The only disclaimer to this is under every low lighting where is hunts, even the 1.8 version will have problems finding its focus too, even though it focus quickly.

The 85mm 1.2 IS NOT THAT SLOW THAT IT CANNOT BE USED FOR ACTION! Lots of people can talk about it but how can have really use the lens enough to understand its REAL strengths?

 

[Garion]

Welcome to the 85 1.8 club.. bro.. u wouldn't regret.

Should start a fanclub for 85 1.8 fans here...so many supporters and soon to be new club members.

 

[Garion]

Just like 300mm and 400mm for me is only the F2.8 version will not waste money on the F4 and F5.6 version respectively.

Sorry to disagree, but if everyone were to think like you, then what's the point of Canon in producing f4 and f5.6 (for 400mm) versions of these lens? The way you're thinking is like making these lens out to be lousier in IQ than their f2.8 brothers, which is completely wrong. Sure they may not compete in bokeh and speed, but IQ is still excellent and they're capable of churning out great pics as well.

An f2.8 lens may be the Holy Grail for every photographer, but does everyone need them? No. Not everyone is a working sports professional photographer, or can afford the $$$ for the ultimate f2.8s. Some shoot for fun and for casual needs, the f4 or f5.6 is good enough for them. That is the beauty of this Canon lens system, there is almost a lens for any need regardless of focal length.

 

[m3lv1nh0]

Should start a fanclub for 85 1.8 fans here...so many supporters and soon to be new club members.

Sooner or later I will get the 85L.. it's a must lens for wedding photographers.. so till I have the cash to burn.. it's still the 1.8 for me.

 

[bernstein1234]

Should start a fanclub for 85 1.8 fans here...so many supporters and soon to be new club members.

85 f1.8 is popular cos the performance-cost ratio is vvvvvvvv good. 1.2, only people who has cash to burn, or desperately need it, or have saved up hard enough, will buy it.

 

[nemo]

Actually, I owned most of the non L versions of all the lens that I have before. But now, none are non L. Why? Cos when I am using the non L version, I always wondered, if this shot has been taken by an L lens how is it going to be like? So after a while, the lens became an L lens. In the process I wasted alot of money buying the non Ls. So now I tell myself, if I want a particular lens, I will save till I can get the best Canon can offer then I buy. Just like 300mm and 400mm for me is only the F2.8 version will not waste money on the F4 and F5.6 version respectively.

400mm f2.8 is serious money...

 

[charlesleong]

The 85mm 1.2 IS NOT THAT SLOW THAT IT CANNOT BE USED FOR ACTION! Lots of people can talk about it but how can have really use the lens enough to understand its REAL strengths?

Thank you for your sharing. Indeed most (if not all) of us would want to have the 85L for it's strengths, but i submit that not everyone would have the $3k or so needed to shell out for a copy.

In that aspect, and in reference to TS's questions, a 85 1.8 might be more suited to his purposes. Of course, if he has $$$ to burn, i would like to become his best friend :bsmilie:

 

[airbooster]

btw how do you guys put that very cool red "L" in your signature and post har?

Just in case i go collect my 1.8 and come home with the 1.2 ehehehe :bsmilie:

 

[airbooster]

Sooner or later I will get the 85L.. it's a must lens for wedding photographers.. so till I have the cash to burn.. it's still the 1.8 for me.

Hmmm... after having said all that... and then you tell me THIS. Wah i just discovered that i am easily swayed.

 

[airbooster]

Hey bros, get me offer you guys an insight. while I agree to most people here that the TS has not need the 85mm f1.2 mk2. Its not as slow as everyone in the internet talks about.

I have both versions on the 85mm, f1.8 and f1.2 and I can seriously vouch the lens can focus quick enough for my usage for moving people, etc. The only disclaimer to this is under every low lighting where is hunts, even the 1.8 version will have problems finding its focus too, even though it focus quickly.

The 85mm 1.2 IS NOT THAT SLOW THAT IT CANNOT BE USED FOR ACTION! Lots of people can talk about it but how can have really use the lens enough to understand its REAL strengths?

Ok now this is the first post i read so far that states the 1.2L's AF is not that slow. Perhaps so far the comparison is between the 1.2 and 1.8 and relatively, it's slow, i really dont know.

My application is outdoors AND indoors and i am hopeless at manual focusing coz i have "four eyes". Unless i get the bronica with super gigantic view finder, i will still need the AF to do the job for me.

My concern thus far is therefore if the 1.2L is up to the task for photographing my kiddos. Coz that will be the most limiting criteria. Everyone else, including my colleagues ( yeah pingpongsong said that ) will be pretty still unless they are absolutely HIGH... hehe

If your answer is a resounding YES! then i will reconsider the 1.2L again as i really want to have the ultimate for this focal length.

 

[tSkye]

Actually, the 85/1.8 is good enough for most usages in terms of DOF and focusing speed.

Then again, I have had no problems with the 85L with issues on flaring.
The creaminess of the bokeh and the sturdiness of the lens coupled with no flaring makes it something to die for.

 

[pingpongsong]

another reason why I have not gone for the 85mm ...

I took it for my recent trip to europe. for the trip i took total around 1k shots, 85l only 20 shots.

 

[airbooster]

So seems that Air Booster has made up your rational mind and go for 85mm f1.8.

no doubt 85 1.2 mk2 produce stunning image, sharp and nice bokeh but it really is a specialist lens for potrait.

I took it for my recent trip to europe. for the trip i took total around 1k shots, 85l only 20 shots.

As you have mentioned, it is a specialist portrait lens afterall. I suppose that's why you created only 20 pics out of a 1000 in europe. And correct me if i am wrong, almost all 20 pics are portraits right? So the lens did what it's designed to do. Good thing is you are one of the fortunate few to have a lens like that in your bag in the first place...

Just to share my recent trip to norway. I had only 2 lens with me. the 10-22 and 24-105. Needless to say, i used the 10-22 80% of the time due to the vast expanse of space and sheer size of the mountains and fjords there. The other 20% of the time i used it mostly for wide open f/4.0 and max zoom just to create the bokeh for portrait shots of me wifey and friends. After reviewing all the pics i created ( all 2000 of it ), i conclude that i only need 2 lens for a scenic trip like that. the super wide zoom and a nice solid portrait lens. Hence the reason for starting this thread.

I am sure this focal length is cornerstone for both FF and crop in photog. That's why i am willing to invest. And when i stress on the word INVEST, i expect a return. Pictures say a thousand words, but a good one captured by oneself is truly priceless.

Just my 2 drops... ... of crude oil.... hehe

 

[charlesleong]

wow. you must be really fortunate to have a wife who appreciates your hobby (i presume she's behind your plans to get the 85L?)

 

[airbooster]

wow. you must be really fortunate to have a wife who appreciates your hobby (i presume she's behind your plans to get the 85L?)

Yeah call it vanity I mean who doesn't like to look flattering in a pic right? I was so dead bang on the 1.2L is because i like the colour of the 24-105L so much. Trouble is at f/4 and on a crop body, the bokeh can only be so much.

Or maybe if i can take bokeh and everything else out of the equation and just tok about colour, which one performs better? the 1.2L or the 1.8?

 

[An drew]

So now I tell myself, if I want a particular lens, I will save till I can get the best Canon can offer then I buy. Just like 300mm and 400mm for me is only the F2.8 version will not waste money on the F4 and F5.6 version respectively.

Way to go! :thumbsup:

Of course sometimes the smaller L lens might be better or even best for certain applications or circumstances, e.g. to be inconspicuous, travel, trekking, flight shots, etc.

 

[airbooster]

OK one last question and i hope you can bear with me.

For both 40D or 5D, in which order would you buy the following lens supposing it's not in your arsenal yet :-

1)EF 35mm f/1.4 L USM
2)EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM
3)EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM
4)EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM

Bearing in mind the various criteria from the thread so far... i.e Portrait, indoors and outdoors, bokeh ( must be heaps better than the f/4L lenses ) etc etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[charlesleong]

woah we're talking serious cash here.

but for landscapes, if you really want wide angle you'd be talking about 14L.

For portraits, you can't really go wrong with the 50L on a crop or the 85L on a FF body. The 135L is also a splendid piece of glass (and the only of the 4 i own), and is the cheapest of the 4 you mentioned. You will need some distance between you and the subject though.

The bokeh will automatically be better because of the HUGE apertures we're talking about. (Background? what background? we don't need no stinking background!)

I take more portraits than landscapes, so with sufficient $$, it would be 35-135-50-85 in that order (for me, YMMV) since i already have the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8.

good luck and happy shooting your wife (with your camera, that is)

 

[XenoBaka]

woah we're talking serious cash here.

I take more portraits than landscapes, so with sufficient $$, it would be 35-135-50-85 in that order (for me, YMMV) since i already have the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8.

A bit OT, I was thinking of getting a 50 1.4 before reading this thread, but after reading all the praises for the 85 1.8, I am kinda swayed to get a 85 1.8 instead. Now, I am wondering which one should I get first??!! (everytime I visit the forums, I get brainwashed, evil thoughts come pouring in :devil

 

[iankwa]

Get 2nd hand one lor. At least you won't lose much if you want to sell ;p