Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Stuntman Mike wrote in post #11024475
That's your call.

I'm looking at this lens or the 135L and 3/4 of my lenses are already at or have 50mm in the FL.

In my case, I got the 17-55 (to your 24-70) instead. Hope that helps.

S-S wrote in post #11026281
the 24-70 isnt all that great unless you have one of the rare sharp copies. or you dont mind stopping it down... but then you might as well get the 24-105 f/4L which is a REALLY sharp nice lens and has more reach

Something I should probably add, and the reason i'm having difficulty deciding is the fact I don't currently own a lens that covers the focal lengths between wide and medium. I have the 15mm fisheye, and then the 50mm f/1.8, and nothing in between. Whichever lens I choose will be my 21st birthday present, so i'd like to choose wisely.

Then again, I know which I want, and which I need...hence the debate. I might check out a Sigma zoom to cover the FL so at least I have the lengths covered for jobs, and the 50mm for everything I can possibly shoot with it.

Edit: David - Awesome work, as usual. I'd like to hear your thoughts on shooting weddings purely with primes. Tough? Enjoyable? Does it ever weigh on your mind that you might miss a moment, or do you ever get frustrated not being able to zoom? And how does the whole 'change lenses mid-ceremony' thing go, if you do it at all? Love your photos dude. Very impressive!

TristanCardew wrote in post #11026803
Edit: David - Awesome work, as usual. I'd like to hear your thoughts on shooting weddings purely with primes. Tough? Enjoyable? Does it ever weigh on your mind that you might miss a moment, or do you ever get frustrated not being able to zoom? And how does the whole 'change lenses mid-ceremony' thing go, if you do it at all? Love your photos dude. Very impressive!

Hey Tristan!
I shot with a 5D & 50 1.4 for 2+ years without any other lens's.. So for me to have 4 primes now is a dream come true haha. I think keeping your setup as simple as possible is the way to go. I've found it makes you think about whats in your frame, the lighting, the story you want to tell so much more than if you're standing in the same spot with a zoom.

I know some people can't live without their zooms.. but im happy changing glass more often.. being able to shoot @ 1.2 at ceremonies/receptions where there is zero light is invaluable (i rarely use flashes for weddings)

davo_robbo wrote in post #11027013
Hey Tristan!
I shot with a 5D & 50 1.4 for 2+ years without any other lens's.. So for me to have 4 primes now is a dream come true haha. I think keeping your setup as simple as possible is the way to go. I've found it makes you think about whats in your frame, the lighting, the story you want to tell so much more than if you're standing in the same spot with a zoom.

I know some people can't live without their zooms.. but im happy changing glass more often.. being able to shoot @ 1.2 at ceremonies/receptions where there is zero light is invaluable (i rarely use flashes for weddings)

Cheers mate!

I spent my first two years of photography (including a 6-month trip through Europe) shooting almost primarily (pun intended) with a Nikon 50 f/1.8 and a Nikon 10.5mm fisheye, and to be honest most of the shots on my website, in my portfolio, and printed in magazines were shot with the 50, so I do know what you mean about putting more thought into your images, and enjoying the luxury of a simple kit.

50mm is definitely my favourite focal length (I think for the aforementioned relationship I had with it, similar to yours), so I probably shouldn't be too worried...it's just good to hear another perspective! So thanks very much.

TristanCardew wrote in post #11027071
Cheers mate!

I spent my first two years of photography (including a 6-month trip through Europe) shooting almost primarily (pun intended) with a Nikon 50 f/1.8 and a Nikon 10.5mm fisheye, and to be honest most of the shots on my website, in my portfolio, and printed in magazines were shot with the 50, so I do know what you mean about putting more thought into your images, and enjoying the luxury of a simple kit.

50mm is definitely my favourite focal length (I think for the aforementioned relationship I had with it, similar to yours), so I probably shouldn't be too worried...it's just good to hear another perspective! So thanks very much.

More than welcome bud!
50mm on FF is unreal. Get yourself a 50 1.4 or L and you're set

davo_robbo wrote in post #11026734
Heres a few from a wedding yesterday
shot on the bottom left is actually from a 24L.. buut i figured you guys wouldnt mind too much!

You should post your pics in the 45 ts-e thread as well. I'm waiting for mine.

was this with Kenko tubes ?

jetcode wrote in post #9225920
here's a shot on one of the coldest mornings at around 8am using a 12mm extension tube wide open

Here are some shot from my trip to governors island this past Saturday. For those who dont know, governors island is a small island off the southern coast of Manhattan. Really close and free fairy ride away. All shots taken with the 50L. Let me know what you think as always.

1- Our greeter upon arriving at the island:

Wow...ok! I have read through (ok scanned as well) and researched this lens SO much that my brain is spinning. The only real question that I have is do the newer copies of the 50L still experience the backfocusing issue and does it still have that focus shift issue?

I'm considering simply renting the 50L to see what I personally think but I was curious about an up to date analysis of the lens.

HemisFear wrote in post #11034978
Wow...ok! I have read through (ok scanned as well) and researched this lens SO much that my brain is spinning. The only real question that I have is do the newer copies of the 50L still experience the backfocusing issue and does it still have that focus shift issue?

I'm considering simply renting the 50L to see what I personally think but I was curious about an up to date analysis of the lens.

Yes. It doesn't matter which date code you get. EVERY single copy of the 50L will shift. Backfocusing varies, and my latest copy doesn't seem to exhibit as much as my early one but it does shift.

However this is one of the most blown up issues that causes people (myself included) to shy away from this lens. I'm on my 3rd copy over the last couple years because my previous ones did get very frustrating to use. The latest one works well enough that I can live with any other issues.

I still think it's worth getting and I find that it makes its way onto my camera much more than any other lens of mine.

agphotography wrote in post #11035314
Yes. It doesn't matter which date code you get. EVERY single copy of the 50L will shift.

Not quite the case actually. Mine has a May 2010 date code and there is absolutely no perceptible focus shift whatsoever.

In another thread I've been trying to determine whether this is the case only with the latest date code versions of this lens and so far several people with the latest date code (2010) and one with a late 2009 date code have posted to say that theirs doesn't exhibit any evidence of the focus-shift either.

What is the date code of your one?

Mike

HemisFear wrote in post #11034978
Wow...ok! I have read through (ok scanned as well) and researched this lens SO much that my brain is spinning. The only real question that I have is do the newer copies of the 50L still experience the backfocusing issue and does it still have that focus shift issue?

I'm considering simply renting the 50L to see what I personally think but I was curious about an up to date analysis of the lens.

Well, my copy was UY06XX and still experienced the backfocus shift. I sent it to Canon for repair, but returned back the same... Today, I sent it back to Amazon for a refund. As much as I really really loved the IQ rendered by this lens, my sub-conscious just would not leave me alone. I was literally stressing so much over the backfocusing issue, I thought not having to deal with it would provide a peace of mind... I am just going to scratch off 50L from my collections list, and start saving for a 200L. My problem now is that I have a big gap between the 24 and 85.

I don't think you'd know which copy you would get from Canon, although you can be assured that the pictures you produce with this lens will be superb. If you have a relaxed, not over-stressing, and not over-picky type of personality, go for the 50L. If you are like me, I'm sure your emotions would run quite wild and eventually let this go for your health sake...

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #11035358
Not quite the case actually. Mine has a May 2010 date code and there is absolutely no perceptible focus shift whatsoever.

In another thread I've been trying to determine whether this is the case only with the latest date code versions of this lens and so far several people with the latest date code (2010) and one with a late 2009 date code have posted to say that theirs doesn't exhibit any evidence of the focus-shift either.

What is the date code of your one?

Mike

Mike,

I Have had a UV, a UX and now a UY (2010). Every copy I have tried exhibits some kind of focus shift. It's how the lens was designed. The molded rear element causes the shift, there's no escaping that. I'm not saying it's so bad that the lens is unusable, but when you use anything other than f/1.2 the shift will happen when you are within 6' of the subject. Focus shift is a very different issue from front or back focus.

davo_robbo wrote in post #11027013
Hey Tristan!
I shot with a 5D & 50 1.4 for 2+ years without any other lens's.. So for me to have 4 primes now is a dream come true haha. I think keeping your setup as simple as possible is the way to go. I've found it makes you think about whats in your frame, the lighting, the story you want to tell so much more than if you're standing in the same spot with a zoom.

I know some people can't live without their zooms.. but im happy changing glass more often.. being able to shoot @ 1.2 at ceremonies/receptions where there is zero light is invaluable (i rarely use flashes for weddings)

David, good stuff! Glad to see you're keep up the good work. So, what's your most used lens? How about at a wedding?

Thanks mate! Yeah been plugging away pretty hard over the last few months, really getting behind the business and investing my time/energy/money to hopefully see it grow!

50L haha without a doubt.. Its the standard lens on my camera unless i specifically need the wide angle, tele or TS
Hows your work going? have you finished Uni yet? I remember you studying a while back

agphotography wrote in post #11035952
Mike,

I Have had a UV, a UX and now a UY (2010). Every copy I have tried exhibits some kind of focus shift. It's how the lens was designed. The molded rear element causes the shift, there's no escaping that. I'm not saying it's so bad that the lens is unusable, but when you use anything other than f/1.2 the shift will happen when you are within 6' of the subject. Focus shift is a very different issue from front or back focus.

I have the 7D, so focus adjustments is completely possible for me. I'm just curious if this resolves the issue completely or not. Frankly, what bothers me about this is that from what I've seen the 50L is arguably one of Canon's sharpest lenses and I find that it is my absolute favorite focal length.

My hope was to use the 50L & 100L Macro (TOTALLY underrated as a portrait lens) and sell my 85 1.8 (it's not as jaw dropping as people say it is in my view...it's a VERY good value....but it's NOT razor sharp imo).