85L MK2 Eye Test

I purchased the Sigma 85 and had issues with it... erratic focusing at different distance. I tried for 3 days to dial in the lens with no luck....so... I sent it back and picked up the 85LMK2....


First... this is not a scientific test... I used Lens Align to adjust the lens earlier today and my wife was nice enough (although super tired) to let me fire off about 60 shots. Out of the 60... I missed 5 shots.... mostly at F/1.2 and F/1.4 shots No fault of the lens....shooting F/1.2 is not easy at all... IMO.

I shot as if I would shoot a client... different distances... moving close and moving back... just like I would a real session. I think the lens did great. I do think I need to make one more MA adjustment... to +5 backwards vs +4 as I think F/1.2 shots will benefit.

I did use ND filters stacked to cut enough light to shoot down to F/1.2 with the strobes.


So... on to the shots... All are pretty much usable with F/1.2 being a little soft for my taste... and again... one more adjustment might do the trick. And... I need to learn how to shoot @ F/1.2 effectively .

All images were brought in to ACR and sharpened at 55

No additional sharpening... shots are at a 100% crop.

Very positive first round... round 2 tomorrow.

Hatch

F/1.2

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

Man, if that f/1.2 shot is soft for your tastes, you've got a quite lofty palate.

What were your focus settings?

5.6 looks the sharpest to me. REALLY sharp...

It's too bad your wife has fried retinas after 60 flash shots in a row. I'm actually surprised there are eyelashes left after that much light exposure!

Most everyone I know runs from the third flash exposure!

stupid-sharp

Maybe better lighting on the eye-ballz to get the neat detail of them...?

If it looks a touch soft it's probably your ND filter. You should try some without the Nd. Don't tell me you can't figure out I way to bring your strobes light level down a few stops.

WhyFi wrote in post #11474504
Man, if that f/1.2 shot is soft for your tastes, you've got a quite lofty palate.

One more adjustment... and I think it will be really spot on.

rick_reno wrote in post #11474564
What were your focus settings?

Single shot..Auto focus...center point...without focusing and recomposing.

richardfox wrote in post #11474609
5.6 looks the sharpest to me. REALLY sharp...

It's too bad your wife has fried retinas after 60 flash shots in a row. I'm actually surprised there are eyelashes left after that much light exposure!

Most everyone I know runs from the third flash exposure!

yeah... she was ready to stop by the 10th shot. LOL

Erik_L wrote in post #11474692
stupid-sharp

Maybe better lighting on the eye-ballz to get the neat detail of them...?

Typical beauty dish setup...

aroundlsu wrote in post #11474772
If it looks a touch soft it's probably your ND filter. You should try some without the Nd. Don't tell me you can't figure out I way to bring your strobes light level down a few stops.

Would be the ND... will have another try later today. Yes... I can calm the strobes some... I want to keep the main in close with the beauty dish... I have a 3 stop ND gel I will use this evening on the strobe... I was lazy last night...


Thanks for the comments all.
Hatch

That's why I love my profoto d1 250 monolight. At minimum power I can shoot wide open with a gridded dish right in the face of my subject. I do it all the time.

aroundlsu wrote in post #11474821
That's why I love my profoto d1 250 monolight. At minimum power I can shoot wide open with a gridded dish right in the face of my subject. I do it all the time.

I have the Elinchrom 600rx's and they get down there... but... the best I can do is about F/2.8 with a deflector in the beauty dish and the sock on... at ISO 50. Didn't have the grid in... might toss it in for kicks. After that,... I have to stack the ND filters... or add a gel. Sometimes... less is more.

Hatch

I see a lot of CA on the F1.2 shot. Try to take some of it out and it is really sharp.

Nick

Hi Hatch. Doesn't look bad - if it helps here's an example from my 7D at f1.2 (not sure what sharpening was applied... its just whatever is default for ACR)

IMAGE IS A REDIRECT OR MISSING! Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Thanks for the sample shots.

I adjusted the lens today.. one more time... just to +5 back versus +4 and things look great. Going to leave it. F/1.2 looks really nice. I just need to work on nailing the shots with the thin DOF.

Nice image BTW.

This lens is not going back... very pleased with the results.

Hatch

f/1.2 should be sharper and with more contrast. the stacked NDs take their toll

Hey Hatch,

Thanks for taking the time to do the test! I love the 85L @ f2.0! It's just sexy sharp at that aperture while still maintaining the DOF that i want.

Dragos Jianu wrote in post #11478949
f/1.2 should be sharper and with more contrast. the stacked NDs take their toll

You are correct... I went back... dialed in the lens to +5 backwards and it is very sharp at F/1.2. No ND filters this time around...

Marloon wrote in post #11478995
Hey Hatch,

Thanks for taking the time to do the test! I love the 85L @ f2.0! It's just sexy sharp at that aperture while still maintaining the DOF that i want.

Glad you liked it.... I don't mind see charts and stuff... but.. I have to make sure the eyes are sharp... if I can't dial a lens in and the eyes are not sharp... it gets sent back. This is what happened to the Sig85...I got a bad copy.... picked up the 85L... no looking back now. lol
Hatch