85mm f/1.2 L II - That back glass element is...terrifying.

Its my newest lens, so I baby it (as I should probably for the rest of its life, :lol but I never realized how close the glass element at the back was to the mounting ring until I bought it and the guy at Henry's pointed it out. Every time I mount it, it is a very slow process taken with extreme care with my eye level to the space between the lens mount and the body. I'm obsessed with not scratching it...

^ This level of care can't be the norm is it? Considering this is when I change lenses in the comfort and relative safety of my house. I'm not sure what I will do when I want to change to the lens in the field - say in the middle of a horse show - bent down on the ground. Does anyone here who owns or owned this wonderful piece of glass have any tips for mounting it without causing a cold sweat? Could one mis-alignment moment while mounting scratch the back glass in an instant? Have you ever done it?

I treat it just like every other lens.
I use a Think Tank LensChanger 3 and remove both caps then put my lenses in. I just make sure the inside of the lens "tubes" in the bag is clean, that's all.

Christina.DazzleByDesi​gn wrote in post #14234606
Its my newest lens, so I baby it (as I should probably for the rest of its life, :lol but I never realized how close the glass element at the back was to the mounting ring until I bought it and the guy at Henry's pointed it out. Every time I mount it, it is a very slow process taken with extreme care with my eye level to the space between the lens mount and the body. I'm obsessed with not scratching it...

^ This level of care can't be the norm is it? Considering this is when I change lenses in the comfort and relative safety of my house. I'm not sure what I will do when I want to change to the lens in the field - say in the middle of a horse show - bent down on the ground. Does anyone here who owns or owned this wonderful piece of glass have any tips for mounting it without causing a cold sweat? Could one mis-alignment moment while mounting scratch the back glass in an instant? Have you ever done it?

Usually when I mount the 85L II, I don't insert the lens straight on because if it didn't align perfectly the rear element WILL end up touching or banging on the camera lens mount. what I do is I tilt the lens slightly upward so I can see the rear element, then rest the bottom of the rear element's metal rim on the camera lens mount first, that way only the metal from both the lens and camera are touching each other, then tilt the lens back down and straight on to fully insert it before I twist and lock the lens in place. Normally I hold onto the camera with my left hand and rest it on my lap to stabilize it, and mount the 85L II with my right hand, i don't change the 85L II when my hands are sweaty incase this fat lens slip off.

nicksan wrote in post #14234632
I treat it just like every other lens.

Same here. Never crossed my mind about scratching the back glass. However if this glass is as tough as the front glass I am not worried.

nicksan wrote in post #14234632
I treat it just like every other lens.

Me too, the only thing I do differently with it involved where I park it when its not in use.

Hmmm....I've never even thought about it nor do I take any special precautions. I think you may be a little on the "too careful" side of things

Christina.DazzleByDesi​gn wrote in post #14234606
Could one mis-alignment moment while mounting scratch the back glass in an instant?

Quit worrying.

The metal part of the mount on the lens is proud of the glass. Not by much but by enough to make the difference. The mount on the camera CANNOT touch the glass.

Believe me, I have mashed the lens onto the camera enough times, in the field, in a hurry. I can see marks and wear in the metal(!) but not a single blemish on the glass.

Andrew

I haven't taken the 85L off my 5D2 in such a long time, I've forgotten what the back end even looks like...

Kolor-Pikker wrote in post #14235509
I haven't taken the 85L off my 5D2 in such a long time, I've forgotten what the back end even looks like...

I think I'm going to try to train myself NOT to look at how close the glass is

Christina.DazzleByDesi​gn wrote in post #14234606
Does anyone here who owns or owned this wonderful piece of glass have any tips for mounting it without causing a cold sweat?

The only thing I do is manually focus it to infinity (while mounted on the body with the camera turned on), which just retracts the front element.

The odd thing is that I've always used this technique, but with the impression it was having an effect on the exposed, back element of the lense. Before making this post, I looked to see what this does to the back element and saw that it has no effect on it at all.

When I first got this lense, I remember reading here POTN that it's a good idea to always focus it to infinity before removing it. I always believed it had something to do with minimizing damage to the back element. Oh well, so much for that.

I just always make sure I see everything lining up and take a little extra caution during mounting, so I don't hit that back glass on the body. Doing this I've never felt any concern about damaging it.

Christina.DazzleByDesi​gn wrote in post #14235571
I think I'm going to try to train myself NOT to look at how close the glass is

Oh ho ho, It's not that I'm afraid to take it off or anything, I simply have no reason to because it's so perfect

post pics?

terios_kwiQ wrote in post #14239763
The only thing I do is manually focus it to infinity (while mounted on the body with the camera turned on), which just retracts the front element.

The odd thing is that I've always used this technique, but with the impression it was having an effect on the exposed, back element of the lense. Before making this post, I looked to see what this does to the back element and saw that it has no effect on it at all.

When I first got this lense, I remember reading here POTN that it's a good idea to always focus it to infinity before removing it. I always believed it had something to do with minimizing damage to the back element. Oh well, so much for that.

I just always make sure I see everything lining up and take a little extra caution during mounting, so I don't hit that back glass on the body. Doing this I've never felt any concern about damaging it.

Do you know now then why its a good idea to focus to infinity? I've never done that for any of my lenses (unless the focus tube was extended too far when powered off)

New question! Why does it have a funny lens hood? it doesn't twist and lock like usual lens hoods...

Ebwly wrote in post #14240037
post pics?

Sorry for the quality, quickly snapped with my phone...


Here is the back element of the 85L ....

... WOW ... that is crazy close. Mount it and forget about it sort of lenses. (Never take it off! )

Thanks for sharing.