50L or 85L II? Poll it up~

Osiriz wrote in post #14836147
I've used both. Love the 85L II.

Get the 85L II if you want best IQ, best looking bokeh, and razor sharp images at f/1.2. It is also more reliable than the 50L in terms of focus accuracy, and it doesn't suffer from the pesky focus shift issue.

That said, the 50L is still a nice lens. Just not as good as the 85.

But I should warn you that that the 85L II has a very slow AF. I can live with that, but can you?

See, this doesn't make sense if you are buying a lens for general use and usable focal length. If people buy lenses based just on IQ, why not just buy the 200 2.0L, since it's the sharpest and most bokehlicious? It's like saying: I really need a pickup truck for all around purpose use, but a everyone says the Corvette is sooooo awesome, so I'm going to get that instead.

Of course, there are always caveats, like if the only thing one is after is sharpness or bokeh. In that case, disregard the above.

I vote 24Lmk2 or 35L

I may just buy a 50L since its f/1.2 (only use that lens wideopen or stopped down ALOT). The sharpness wideopen is acceptable but barely considering its a red ring L lens. Just tested another brand spanking new back focusing/focus shifting 50L recently hahaha what a joke!!! I dont think I'll put anymore effort in looking for a 50L for my style of shooting since its in the danger zone.

The 35L is a great lens with more story telling. If I want a 50mm look I'll crop the 35L file

The 85Lmk2 is a pig slow lens but this is why I also own an 85 f/1.8. Between the two the cheaper one is more versatile with excellent IQ. f/1.2 on the 85L is magical though for certain situations.

I'm lately stopping down a tad more and trying to get way from being a bokeh junkie. You dont always need to blow background to cream.

I've owned and sold both over the years.

Interestingly, after picking up the much cheaper Sigma 85, I've never regretted selling the 85L.

I still regret selling the 50L. I just never had the problems that everyone else apparently suffered.

Had both, kept and continue to enjoy the 85L II.

Just received this lens about a week ago, and have shot a few hundred pics so far without much of this focusing issue. For those who's saying that they still run into focusing issues with new copies, I'm actually really surprised, because after bunch of reading I was sure that the 50L doesn't have this issue anymore in 2012.

I've had the 1.8 mk2 on crop for the longest time, and now going to the 50L on the 5D3 is just a huge step up for me that I think this will stay on the 5D3 for a while when I'm shoot casually for fun.

MatthewK wrote in post #14836398
See, this doesn't make sense if you are buying a lens for general use and usable focal length. If people buy lenses based just on IQ, why not just buy the 200 2.0L, since it's the sharpest and most bokehlicious? It's like saying: I really need a pickup truck for all around purpose use, but a everyone says the Corvette is sooooo awesome, so I'm going to get that instead.

Of course, there are always caveats, like if the only thing one is after is sharpness or bokeh. In that case, disregard the above.

I have never understood people buying lenses based solely on IQ. Focal length first (after all you have something in mind that you want to shoot, I hope), then the best lens in that focal range, barring any budget issues.

I have them both. Every week I declare to my friends that I am selling the 85, then he next week the 50, then the 85. I have sold neither. One or two stunner shots on either makes me fall in love time after time. I will be shooting, look at the image and go ohhbh, then have to explain myself.

Just buy both.

have both, love both

I love my 85L II... in my experience, most of the rant towards the 50L & 85L comes from people that never owned one of these... It took me a while before I got used to the 85L for many reasons but I am soooo happy I stuck with it.

I have both 50L and 85L II. For me, i prefer 50L for street photography due to size, weight, and fast AF compare to 85L II. 85L II has better bokeh than 50L.

Silverstonev8 wrote in post #14832701
I recently purchaced both. I ended up returning the 50 due to its "focus issues" but I am still regretting it every day. I was able to work with it to get some pretty sweet images but I am usually shooting my 1 year old at varying distances and aperatures so it was a bit more challenging to obtain proper focus every time. I love the Focal length of the 50 more so than the 85 but the 85 is on point with the focus no matter what...
I do have the 35L so I didn't really need the 50 but the images from it were amazing compared to the 35s that had a more standard look to them...

If I may ask,what is wrong with the 50 F1.2L lens.What focussing problem dies it have?
Thanks.

It just suffered from a little more focus shift than others that I have. I actually think that I may just order another and learn to work with it... It truly is an amazing piece of glass.