Question about EF 85mm f/1.2L USM vs. EF 85mm f/1.8 USM?

[Csst]

Is there a big differnce between these 2 lens beside the 1.2 and 1.8 fstop and is the price really worth 85 1.2 or is it becuase its a L lens..and also i thought prime lens are just as good as L lens if this is the case wouldn't it be smarter to get the 85mm 1.8 instead.i hope this is not a dumb question i'm just kinda wondering whats the big price differnce is?

Csst

[jgbeam]

There is a great article called "Wide Open" in the August issue of Shutterbug on shooting for shallow depth of field. The author, Jay Abend, says there are three critical lenses to own if you want to achieve really crisp images wide open: Canon's 135mm f/2.0 L, 85mm f/1.2 L and 90mm f2.8 TS-E tilt-shift. He also opines that the prettiest bokeh in the world is a tie between Canon's 85mm f/1.2 L and the 200mm f/1.8L.

But, he also loves the 50mm f1.4. No mention of the 85mm f/1.8, but this is also a fine lens, as many have attested. Of great interest in this article are the tips for getting that ultra-sharp image. Manual focus, not auto, and bracket for focus. With shallow DOF you can't trust autofocus, as I learned last weekend on a bunch of portraits. :oops:

Jim

[blacktape]

What are you gonna be using the lens for?

1.2 lens would probably be good only for still subjects. First the heavier glass would make AF slow. Second, a 1.2 aperture is way too shallow even AF sensor from the 1-series won't guarantee sharp images.

I have the 85 1.8 and believe me, it's really2 sharp, even on full frame 1Ds it's still very sharp. DoF at 1.8 is still very shallow it's enough for the most creative shallow focus pictures. As a matter of fact, when I shoot still lifes and want to have nice DoF effects, I find 1.8 still too shallow and go for 2.8 instead.

1.2 lens is a stop faster. but you're using digital, and you probably don't need the speed. ISO1600 on the 300D/10D is clean enough to make 8x10 prints.

[drisley]

Also, keep in mind what you plan to use the lens for.

The F1.8 has better contrast, but the F1.2L has better resolution.
The F1.8 has much better/faster Autofocus (up to 3x faster).

This page has a VERY good article comparing both lenses.
http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/85mm/

[Belmondo]

I have both, and I find myself using the 1.2L a lot for 'people' shots. (I'm not good enought to call them portraits.) I find the greater ability to control DOF very worthwhile. It is heavy, though. Very similar to the 50mm f/1.0 I used to own.

[blacktape]

belmondo,
can you post sample pics of your people shots with the 1.2L ?
also i'm very interested to see sample pics of 50 1.0.
both shot at wide open, hopefully.

actually I just used the 85mm 1.8 again today, and man its autofocus is FAST! faster than 50mm 1.4, 50mm 1.8, 70-200 f2.8, 70-200 f4.

[drisley]

I find the autofocus on USM primes to be very fast too!
My 85F1.8 USM was indeed faster than my 70-200F4L USM.
If you think the 85F1.8 USM is fast, you should see the 135F2L USM in action. It's smokin'! :shock:

[Belmondo]

Hopefully I can do that within the next couple days. I'm not going to have any time to do anything fun for the next couple days.

I no longer own the f/1.0. I came into poseession of it almost by accident, and decided it was nothing I could ever really use. To me, it seemed a little soft, but since I sold it, I've since seen a couple low-light portraits done by its new owner, and they're gorgeous.

[blacktape]

hehe it's probably a good thing you have no images from the 50 f1.0 otherwise it might really be the next thing in my purchase list.. which is BAD.

[Belmondo]

Actually, they're becoming very hard to find. It's been out of production for a while.

[blacktape]

apparently Canon've had enough complaints from wives all around the world.

same reason they pulled the 200 1.8 out.

:D

[Belmondo]

apparently Canon've had enough complaints from wives all around the world.

same reason they pulled the 200 1.8 out.

:D

You know, I hadn't thought of that, but that's not a bad rationalization. I'm not sure Canon ever considers the 'collectibility' of certain lenses once they go out of production.

On a much lower level, the early 50mm f/1.8 lens is much in demand. People are spending obscene abounts of money for a lens that is optically equal to the Mk II version of the same lens. A good copy of the earlier unit will sell for roughly twice what the 'Thrifty Fifty' sells for new.

Go figure.