Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM (2)

Has anyone thought about moving up to the RF lens? The reviews say it is sharper but I find the EF version sharp enough where it matters. Anyone has thoughts on this?

I prefer the optical rendering (low elements count ?) and physical handling (same size like my jam jar) of the EF than the RF.

AcademicNomad wrote in post #19105068
Has anyone thought about moving up to the RF lens? The reviews say it is sharper but I find the EF version sharp enough where it matters. Anyone has thoughts on this?

The 50 1.2 EF is so good on the R I cannot see any reason why I would ever upgrade. I was happy with it on my EOS bodies but on the R the 50 is sharp wide open and renders beautifully. What more would you want?

I think the EF 50L's quirks are part of its legendary charm.

Thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated

jwcdds wrote in post #19105198
I think the EF 50L's quirks are part of its legendary charm.

Many of the 50L "quirks" disappear when shooting with it on a mirrorless body. Its legendary charm makes it one of two lenses I've kept for more than a decade.

Timphoto wrote in post #19105233
Many of the 50L "quirks" disappear when shooting with it on a mirrorless body. Its legendary charm makes it one of two lenses I've kept for more than a decade.

any Canon mirrorless or just one of the two recently released models? Good with EOS R/RP? or even M50?!!!

AcademicNomad wrote in post #19105376
any Canon mirrorless or just one of the two recently released models? Good with EOS R/RP? or even M50?!!!

Should be good with any mirrorless. The primary fault of the 50L was the focus shift at closer distances. But that's based off of the old phase-detection AF. Since mirrorless is based on sensor contrast-detection, the focus-shift issue doesn't come into play.

I can only speak to using it on an prototype Canon RP and since then adapted on 4 different Sony bodies. The Sony A7R2, A7R3, A9, and the A7R4. This particular shot was taken for another thread on "contradictions."

Image hosted by forum (1058051) © Timphoto THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

jwcdds wrote in post #19105400
Should be good with any mirrorless. The primary fault of the 50L was the focus shift at closer distances. But that's based off of the old phase-detection AF. Since mirrorless is based on sensor contrast-detection, the focus-shift issue doesn't come into play.

So it should be the same with a DSLR in live view, right?

Pippan wrote in post #19105404
So it should be the same with a DSLR in live view, right?

Yep. Live view shooting (and mirrorless, which is essentially full-time live view) has eliminated the need for lens AF microadjustment.

jwcdds wrote in post #19105406
Yep. Live view shooting (and mirrorless, which is essentially full-time live view) has eliminated the need for lens AF microadjustment.

I thought focus shift was a lens issue (different focal plane wide open cf stopped down), not something that can be 'fixed' by micro adjustment. Is that not the case? Doesn't live view set focus wide open, then stop down to the chosen aperture just like phase detect?

Pippan wrote in post #19105408
I thought focus shift was a lens issue (different focal plane wide open cf stopped down), not something that can be 'fixed' by micro adjustment. Is that not the case? Doesn't live view set focus wide open, then stop down to the chosen aperture just like phase detect?

50L's focus shift could be adjusted using microadjust, but it'd throw off the focus at farther distances. (At least that was traditionally my experience.) It's more or less dialing in the setting for the most commonly-used environment.

Also, to add insult to injury (though this was true for all lenses), focus changes when using different light sources. If you set your lens focus to incandescent lighting, the focus would be off when shooting in fluorescent lighting.

(I should clarify, these were based on traditional AF, not live view.)

Pippan wrote in post #19105408
I thought focus shift was a lens issue (different focal plane wide open cf stopped down), not something that can be 'fixed' by micro adjustment. Is that not the case? Doesn't live view set focus wide open, then stop down to the chosen aperture just like phase detect?

jwcdds wrote in post #19105410
50L's focus shift could be adjusted using microadjust, but it'd throw off the focus at farther distances. (At least that was traditionally my experience.) It's more or less dialing in the setting for the most commonly-used environment.

Also, to add insult to injury (though this was true for all lenses), focus changes when using different light sources. If you set your lens focus to incandescent lighting, the focus would be off when shooting in fluorescent lighting.

(I should clarify, these were based on traditional AF, not live view.)

I did a bit of googling. Evidently (and I hadn't realised this) for most DSLRs in live view (and presumably mirrorless), AF is done with the lens at the aperture it will be exposed at, not wide open as with phase detect. So you are right that focus shift is not an issue for mirrorless cameras (or DSLRs in live view).