Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM Lens

[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