85L Mark II: Soft or Not?

Being a self-confessed pixel peeper, I thought I'd start a bunch of threads to get an idea of how many soft copies there are. Sure, there are probably more people that own one lens than others and it's possible people with soft copies will speak up more than those with sharp copies. I'm hoping those percentages are consistent across the board, so here goes with the 85L Mark II.

Still blows me away how sharp this lens is wide open....perfectly sharp at 1.2. By 1.6, forget about it, even my kids go "wooooooooo, thats cool Dad" when I hit 200% on their eyeball

I don't own the 85L because I don't have a use for it (had 85/1.8, hardly used, sold), but I was offered a chance to test drive the 85L by one of my dealers who was trying to make a sale

I took a couple of frames wide open and I was absolutely floooooooooooored by the sharpness on my 5D. It was as sharp at f/1.2 as the 85/1.8 was at f/2.2 or 2.5. A lot of people saying the 1.8 is 'just as sharp' are not shooting wide open - there is nothing wrong if you don't shoot wide open or you don't need that crazy aperture, but if you DO need the aperture, that's the way to go. I wasn't happy with my 85/1.8 at 1.8.

So in that instant I understood why the 85L commands such a huge price premium.

Took the CF card home and peeped it on the monitor. Absolutely amazing. I could see every hair on my subject's head and that's where I learned the words "PLANE of focus" - the DOF is so shallow, there's no depth!!

If I needed that focal length I WOULD plow down the $$ on the 85/1.2L without reservation, it's just that I don't need that FL and aperture. If I was shooting f/4 or below, I have two lenses covering that.

I'm so tempted. I'm planning a trip to the States in the next few weeks so I am making a big shopping list. I guess I can strike off the Mark III, so now I've got money for glass. So far, I've found differences enough in my 70-200 and 24-105 that warranted swapping, but I hate the hassle. So far, so good on the Mark II 85mm as I have yet to hear of a bad copy of this lens.

I have to give this lens some more love. Results are always good.

OK, so I think I'm convinced. Is it cheating if I add it to my sig before I get it?

Nah, add it, I won't tell

I had the 85L first version, and while it was plenty sharp, just didn't focus fast enough for me.

I just picked up the 85L II. It is awesome. I'm bringing it this weekend to the wedding meet in Albany. Can't wait to see the results wrought from it by the pros there.
me

SunTsu wrote in post #4231480
OK, so I think I'm convinced. Is it cheating if I add it to my sig before I get it?

Hehe well... I added my 35L to my sig one day before I got it, well... had already paid for it, was in the mail. So I guess it depends how long until you get it.


I know the feeling though... adding it to the sig kind of makes it official

Flickster wrote in post #4231614
Hehe well... I added my 35L to my sig one day before I got it, well... had already paid for it, was in the mail. So I guess it depends how long until you get it.

I know the feeling though... adding it to the sig kind of makes it official

I believe in the official siganature etiquette thread, it specifically states you must have at least paid for the lens and it's in the process of being shipped, although strong cases were heard from the "must have in ones possesion" side of the fence:p

To work around that, simply say......

85L: COMING SOON!!!!!!!

Lightstream wrote in post #4231871
To work around that, simply say......

85L: COMING SOON!!!!!!!

85L: COMING SOON !!!!!!!!

I'll be working with this lens tomorrow.... Never lets me down.

My 85L is pretty much close to this test. Maybe a tad better. http://www.the-digital-picture.com …&CameraComp=9&F​LI=0&API=0

Deadly sharp wide open, first time. That goes for each of my lenses, FWIW.

Emmet Otter wrote in post #4233905
My 85L is pretty much close to this test. Maybe a tad better. http://www.the-digital-picture.com …&CameraComp=9&F​LI=0&API=0

I'm not sure I'm reading it correctly, but is the 70-200mm f/4 sharper at 70mm than the 85mm f/1.2?