85 1.2L AF fast enough for sports?

[jaymrobinson]

I was just wondering, for anyone who has the 85 1.2L. I hear the AF is slow, but is it fast enough to do indoor sports like basketball and whatnot? The question applies to old or new model. I guess with fast moving sports, you would have trouble focusing at apertures much lower than 2.8 anyway. Does anyone use this lens for sports photography?

[morehtml]

It's possible with the II version but not the best choice. To get the most keepers you would still want it at 2.0 and then you might as well use the 85mm 1.8! If your spending $1500-$2100 on a lens might as well get the $300 little brother too!

[liza]

No. The 85mm f/1.8 is faster.

[morehtml]

No. The 85mm f/1.8 is faster.

Yep the 1.8 is faster focus but the 1.2 Mk II does indoor sports with some skill, it's faster focus than you think. But I would still use the 85mm 1.8 if I have both, ahh and I do!

[jaymrobinson]

morehtml, what do you use the 1.2L for? Portraits?

[Dante King]

85L is mainly a portrait lens. Use the 85 1,8 for sports. Save 1700$$$

[jaymrobinson]

But then I can't be the king! :)
But I'm not seriously considering getting the L, I'll be happy with the 1.8.

[morehtml]

morehtml, what do you use the 1.2L for? Portraits?

Wedding formals including groups when I have room, portraits, low light photos, shoots on location where I don't want to use tons of flash but want to annihilate the ugly background of someone's house (like shooting babies/toddlers for instance), where subjects are relatively still and yes I have tried it on sports but 1.2 is way to thin DOF really. I try to use it when I am for sure blowing up a print large like for bridal portraits, etc.

Basically a 85 1.2 L Mk II is 2X the lens of the 85mm 1.8 for 5X the money but heavier and slightly slower AF.

[Mark_Cohran]

I have both the 85 f1.8 and the 85 f1.2L - I'd definitely pick the f1.8 over the 1.2L for sports.

Mark

[calicokat]

I have both the 85 f1.8 and the 85 f1.2L - I'd definitely pick the f1.8 over the 1.2L for sports.

Mark

I second that motion ;)

[peterdoomen]

1.2 (even MkII) will indeed be too slow to focus. I hardly can take good photos of couples dancing.

But then again, I suspect it's the only lens with wich you *can* take photos of dancing people at a wedding - without flash.

Fot sports, I'd recommend something longer and with faster autofocus.

P.

[calgaryphotographer]

The MkII is a little slow focusing, but for the job it was designed for...it's still a great lens. You don't need AF for weddings :P