Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM Lens

[Keith B]

Whatever you do, don't talk to Keith. Just don't do it... :-)

Haha!


I do love the 85L. I will be the first to admit it had a lot to do with L lust and there is no sexier L lens in my opinion. It feels just amazing in your hands and it is beautiful to look at. Remove the lens and rear caps and gaze through you will go into a deep trance and probably have an outer body experience.


A lot of reviews ask if you would recommend this to a friend. I can honestly say no. It is expensive and I'd say real world type stuff the 1.8 is plenty. 1.2 is rarely useable due to the ridiculously shallow DOF. You'll be amazed how still you have to be to get focus right at 1.2. If you (or your subject) lean forward or back the slightest bit you miss focus by a bunch. More than likely you'd end up shooting 1.8 or above just to get focus shots. The bokeh will be softer and sweeter but it is $1900.


This lens will make you very paranoid too. The glass is very vulnerable in front and rear. This an emphatic "HELL NO!" on the loaner request. So you may lose a friend or two.


This shot below was shot at 1.2. I pretty much nailed the focus but it's almost useless of a shot other than showing how tough the DOF is contend with.


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[Sheiky]

Haha that's just sick!


In short: I guess 9/10 times the 85 1.8 will do even great and for a lot less money.


I just had to smile at the loaner request by the way []

[peety3]

I will be the first to admit it had a lot to do with L lust and there is no sexier L lens in my opinion.

I said this once before about the 85L, but now I'm going to say it again in a different light: Do not, I repeat do not rent/touch/try the 200/2. You will commit grand theft (actually five-grand theft) if you touch that lens and don't have the greenbacks standing by to buy it. If 200mm suits the composition you're after and you can get the DoF to suit your desired shot, you WILL have a great picture. It's stunning in its versatility - low-light anything, sports anything, and long portraits. Not only is it just Dreamy Goodness (see http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/07/29/canon-200mm-f2/), the IS unit is out of this world too. If you find yourself with the 85L and the 200/2, you will simply put the 85L back in your bag, and you will walk to get the shot with the 200. The poor 85L will feel lost and neglected (I have done it, both times I've rented the 200/2).

A lot of reviews ask if you would recommend this to a friend. I can honestly say no. It is expensive and I'd say real world type stuff the 1.8 is plenty. 1.2 is rarely useable due to the ridiculously shallow DOF. You'll be amazed how still you have to be to get focus right at 1.2. If you (or your subject) lean forward or back the slightest bit you miss focus by a bunch. More than likely you'd end up shooting 1.8 or above just to get focus shots. The bokeh will be softer and sweeter but it is $1900.

I wouldn't recommend the 85L to a point&shooter. For those who want good results and are willing to take the time to learn the lens, 85L is worth every penny. I recommended the 85L to friends - they're both high-energy, type-A people; he loves it, while she hates having to sneaker-zoom and doesn't appreciate the need to plan her compositions.


pt

[neuroanatomist]

I said this once before about the 85L...Do not, I repeat do not rent/touch/try the 200/2.

But what if there was a solution that blended the best of both worlds?!? [:P]

[Keith B]

I will be the first to admit it had a lot to do with L lust and there is no sexier L lens in my opinion.

I said this once before about the 85L, but now I'm going to say it again in a different light: Do not, I repeat do not rent/touch/try the 200/2. You will commit grand theft (actually five-grand theft) if you touch that lens and don't have the greenbacks standing by to buy it. If 200mm suits the composition you're after and you can get the DoF to suit your desired shot, you WILL have a great picture. It's stunning in its versatility - low-light anything, sports anything, and long portraits. Not only is it just Dreamy Goodness (see http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/07/29/canon-200mm-f2/), the IS unit is out of this world too. If you find yourself with the 85L and the 200/2, you will simply put the 85L back in your bag, and you will walk to get the shot with the 200. The poor 85L will feel lost and neglected (I have done it, both times I've rented the 200/2).

A lot of reviews ask if you would recommend this to a friend. I can honestly say no. It is expensive and I'd say real world type stuff the 1.8 is plenty. 1.2 is rarely useable due to the ridiculously shallow DOF. You'll be amazed how still you have to be to get focus right at 1.2. If you (or your subject) lean forward or back the slightest bit you miss focus by a bunch. More than likely you'd end up shooting 1.8 or above just to get focus shots. The bokeh will be softer and sweeter but it is $1900.

I wouldn't recommend the 85L to a point&shooter. For those who want good results and are willing to take the time to learn the lens, 85L is worth every penny. I recommended the 85L to friends - they're both high-energy, type-A people; he loves it, while she hates having to sneaker-zoom and doesn't appreciate the need to plan her compositions.


pt

I'd recommend it to a pro shooter (or someone with a ton of disposable cash), with out a second thought. It is just too big of an investment. I personally feel VERY good about MY investment, f/1.2 is right up my alley. I'd never tell someone it was not a great lens. Just wouldn't want to persuade someone to get it.


I was shooting an indoor event this weekend, I had the 85L on my 7D and the 35L on my 5DII and I loved sneaker zooming. I always looked at pics that had interesting crops and would think to myself "Wow! How did they think to crop that like that?" Then you realize it was necessity. With a zoom you tend to try to capture all the elements in there entirety, but with primes you have to predict, react and capture as much as possible. It was a blast.


I definitely intend to pick up the 200/2 sometime in the future. I don't know when though. Hopefully my 85L won't get neglected. The event I shot would have been great to have the 85L on my 5D and the 200/2 on my 7D.

[Neil1000]

Hi


your observations of this lens are the same as I have for the 50mm f1.2. But I would not swap it for anything. To have f1.2 indoors in winter when the light is rubbish and where flash is forbidden and the family are round the table is just wonderful (ie a birthday partyat a restaurant where flash is not allowed).


I know the 50mm 1.2 is not popular but the problems you describe with the 85mm 1.2 are the same.


DOF at f1.2 takes a lot of time to learn.





best wishes, neil

[ddt0725]

Do not, I repeat do not rent/touch/try the 200/2. You will commit grand theft (actually five-grand theft) if you touch that lens and don't have the greenbacks standing by to buy it. If 200mm suits the composition you're after and you can get the DoF to suit your desired shot, you WILL have a great picture. It's stunning in its versatility - low-light anything, sports anything, and long portraits. Not only is it just Dreamy Goodness (see http://neilvn.com/tangents/2008/07/29/canon-200mm-f2/), the IS unit is out of this world too. If you find yourself with the 85L and the 200/2, you will simply put the 85L back in your bag, and you will walk to get the shot with the 200. The poor 85L will feel lost and neglected (I have done it, both times I've rented the 200/2).

Hmmm...maybe I'll have to lust over this one for awhile! That way, I'll know I'm super safe ...I won't commit a crime and I don't have the $$$$ so it will safely remain a secret crush forever!

Denise

[ddt0725]

This shot below was shot at 1.2. I pretty much nailed the focus but it's almost useless of a shot other than showing how tough the DOF is contend with.

Hi Keith,


If ANYONE SHOULD own this lens, it is definitely you! These photos definitely show that you know exactly how to use this baby with awesome skill!

If ANYONE SHOULD NOT own this lens, its me! It is as far as a lens can get as being the right lens for me so I think I'm just going to go on with it being a never ending crush that I'll justhave to live with! [:'(]

Denise

[Keith B]

Hi Keith,


If ANYONE SHOULD own this lens, it is definitely you! These photos definitely show that you know exactly how to use this baby with awesome skill!

If ANYONE SHOULD NOT own this lens, its me! It is as far as a lens can get as being the right lens for me so I think I'm just going to go on with it being a never ending crush that I'll justhave to live with! [:'(]

Denise

Hi Denise


You are way too kind. I held off on posting portraits I shot with it, they were some kids dealing with heavy stuff and didn't feel right posting them. I use to shoot my 24 1.4 wide open all the time and now I do the same with my 35. So I've gotten pretty steady at shooting shallow DOF. It's not rocket science but it can be frustrating if your shots are OOF when you thought you actually nailed the shot.


Here a couple of candids I took with the 85L at 1.2 though


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