50L with UU date code, focus shift issue?

I wonder anyone is using a 50L with UU date code (2006) ? In general, is it a good idea to buy a 5 years old L series lens? any concern?

The 50L is great just test it before you use it to make sure it is sharp. if not you can always send it in for a recal.

what would be a fare price for such a lens if condition is "exellent" claimed by the seller?

Depends on a lot. I would say around 1100-1400 but I am cheap.

While I have never had a “focus shift” problem in any real world picture taking situation since I got the 50L in December of 2006 (UU1000), I did get it to “focus shift” when I was micro adjusting it a few years ago. It shifts when I use the center auto focus point from f2.2 to f4 and from MFD to a little over four feet.

That being said…

All 50Ls “focus shift” (even the new ones) in the “danger zone” and way too many of the early ones are not as sharp as they should be at any aperture. As with any lens (but especially with this one), purchase it from a seller with a liberal return policy. Make sure you have it micro adjusted correctly, don’t worry about the focus shift, but do check it carefully for soft focus.

Hope this helps.

The focus shift in the 50L is spherical aberration that won't disappear no matter when it was made. Because it doesn't use floating elements it won't get rid of the spherical aberration at close focussing distances in the aperture range 1.4 to 2.2. This impression that newer ones have eliminated it are false I'm afraid. You just have to be careful at closer distances.

You'll find that even the much vaunted Zeiss 50mm and 85mm lenses suffer from it more, but oddly not much is said about them?

billppw350z wrote in post #11937086
While I have never had a “focus shift” problem in any real world picture taking situation since I got the 50L in December of 2006 (UU1000), I did get it to “focus shift” when I was micro adjusting it a few years ago. It shifts when I use the center auto focus point from f2.2 to f4 and from MFD to a little over four feet.

That being said…

All 50Ls “focus shift” (even the new ones) in the “danger zone” and way too many of the early ones are not as sharp as they should be at any aperture. As with any lens (but especially with this one), purchase it from a seller with a liberal return policy. Make sure you have it micro adjusted correctly, don’t worry about the focus shift, but do check it carefully for soft focus.

Hope this helps.

so something change in the production flow for newer 50L?

Unfortuntely, I am looking to buy used. This specific 50L is UU11 date code. according to the sellers, who is a professional photographer, he hardly use it, and this lens just came back from CPS. I wonder if I should give it a shot. What would be a fair price?

I would only buy this lens from a shop with a nice return policy.

I will never, ever buy this lens used unless it came with a warranty balance, but even then, if it's a "shifter" then there's really nothing much anyone can do about it.