85L II, How slow is it?

I always hear the 85L can deliver dreamy photos, but the main knock on it is the slow focus. How slow are we talking? Sometimes, my 50 1.4 is slow and hunts in low light. Is it like that? Of my other lenses, I don't really notice any of them being too slow for me...sure I'd love them to be faster, but who wouldn't.

what subjects are you intending to shoot? that will tell you if its 'slow' or not

Good point. Subjects can be pretty fast- dogs, cats, kids. That alone probably answered my question.

get the 1.8 or just keep on with the 50/135

Its slower than the 85 1.8 I know that for sure because I own both of them... I was getting hit or miss shots of my Australian Shepherd but she is FAST, the 85 1.8 nailed every shot of her. Alas, the benefits of the 85L II easily out weight the slightly slower AF speed.

85L is surprisingly fast on 1D series.

i've used it to take pictures of my borzoi dogs running, it's fast enough to get them and they're pretty fast dogs.

I use 50F1.4, 135L2.0, 300L2.8 and 85 L ..... and what is sureis that most people don't know how to use 85L for sport .. it's blazing fast and accurate between 3 meters to infinite !!! 85L focus system is totally unlinear (it's slow and ultra precise between .9 and 3 meters and ultra fast over 3 meters.
I don't shoot snail or flea races !! so I don't need ultra fast AF with macro style Dof, which is nearly the case @F1.2 at 90cm !!! ...
I have put dog agility shows, quadbike races, flying dancers, night shots, dog playing in this thread

https://photography-on-the.net …p=12467748&post​count=9913

You will even get in this thread 100 pictures issued from sequences to prove Focus can track any subject 3 to 4 times faster than Usain Bolt or Michael Jordan ...

Worst unreliable AF is certainly Canon EF 50F1.4 ..

alpha_1976 wrote in post #12535541
85L is surprisingly fast on 1D series.

Sweet! Exactly the justification I need to pick up a 1D series

newworld666 wrote in post #12535883
I use 50F1.4, 135L2.0, 300L2.8 and 85 L ..... and what is sureis that most people don't know how to use 85L for sport .. it's blazing fast and accurate between 3 meters to infinite !!! 85L focus system is totally unlinear (it's slow and ultra precise between .9 and 3 meters and ultra fast over 3 meters.
I don't shoot snail or flea races !! so I don't need ultra fast AF with macro style Dof, which is nearly the case @F1.2 at 90cm !!! ...
I have put dog agility shows, quadbike races, flying dancers, night shots, dog playing in this thread

https://photography-on-the.net …p=12467748&post​count=9913

You will even get in this thread 100 pictures issued from sequences to prove Focus can track any subject 3 to 4 times faster than Usain Bolt or Michael Jordan ...

Worst unreliable AF is certainly Canon EF 50F1.4 ..

Good to know. Thanks!

kuma1212 wrote in post #12535928
Sweet! Exactly the justification I need to pick up a 1D series

I just bought 1D MKIII in replacement of a 50D to be as a second body with a 5DMKII for sport events..
After a few weeks training with it, I just found :
- Centre focus point are as fast between 50 and 1D, 5DMKII is a bit slower
- Outer focus points are much faster and rather accurate with 1D (70%) only 50% with 5DMKII and 50D
- Lower focus points are almost unusable with 5DMKII and 50D.

Actually, I am still training Af adjustments ..

The 85 is slower than other L lenses but not to bad. It all depends on what your going to be shooting. I have both the 85 1.2, and the 85 1.8.
They are both amazing lenses and even though i wold never sell my 1.2, I probably wound not re-buy it knowing how good the 1.8 is.