85L II + 5D Mark III

sebr wrote in post #15041126
I have been reading somewhere here that the 85L's AF speed is much better when using this lens on the 5D3 compare to the 5D2... Some of the AF speed complaints area likely to disappear in the future

When I had a 1dmk3 my 85L mk2 was a slug in the AF department. Put that same lens on my 5dmk2 and its still a slug.

The IQ from the 85L is superb. However if your running and gunning and you miss the focus (bride/groom walking down the isle) it'll feel like a lifetime to get the large chunk of glass go from one end to the other. You can miss the documentation of the "perfect" expression.

AlanU wrote in post #15041382
When I had a 1dmk3 my 85L mk2 was a slug in the AF department. Put that same lens on my 5dmk2 and its still a slug.

The IQ from the 85L is superb. However if your running and gunning and you miss the focus (bride/groom walking down the isle) it'll feel like a lifetime to get the large chunk of glass go from one end to the other. You can miss the documentation of the "perfect" expression.

5d2 is not really that great when it comes to AF no? 5d3 also improved significantly in that area compared to 5d2.

smorter wrote in post #15030156
Daylight = Awesome

Very low light = Terribly slow to lock focus. As bad if not worse than 5D2

Accuracy is better though

...

+1.

Off topic: my 24L II works better with my 5D3 than my 5D2 for accuracy.

TheLensGuy wrote in post #15031292
Can anyone look at the link I posted and comment on whether this lens is really weather sealed? http://digital-photography-school.com …sealing-canon-lenses.html

The 85L is not weather sealed. It does not have a gasket at the mount like the 100L or 70-200 2.8 IS lenses.

TheLensGuy wrote in post #15042434
5d2 is not really that great when it comes to AF no? 5d3 also improved significantly in that area compared to 5d2.

center focus the 5dmk2 is excellent.

I'll pick up a 5dmk3 one of these days. I'm honestly thinking of actually buying a 50L now because its "suppose" to work much better in AF with the new af of the 5dmk3.

So 85L is that bad with AF? Then why is it so popular?

TheLensGuy wrote in post #15043126
So 85L is that bad with AF? Then why is it so popular?

its all about bragging rights.....you should know that by now if your on the POTN :P Owning a 1dx, 5dmk3, 50L, 85L, 200L f/2IS is a criteria to keeping up with the joneses. LOL!!!

I love the lens for portrait work with slow moving subjects/static subjects. I own the 85 f/1.8 for other things.

LOL...yup, for bragging rights!! And if we're going to be posting pix, I might as well join in. Only cuz Alan started it.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/s2kennyc/722293​5276/

TheLensGuy wrote in post #15043126
So 85L is that bad with AF? Then why is it so popular?

Because its not "that bad" in the AF department. It really is all based on tolerance. I heard all about that before I bought the lens, but I bought it not knowing what to expect, but then I happily discovered, its really not that bad and keeps up fine with what I shoot. Maybe the 5D3 helps with that. Either way, since the 5D3 came out I've heard a lot of people saying how their 85L is faster/more accurate than ever before.

As for why its popular, the focal length is nice, the 1.2 is awesome, and it does it all while being tack-sharp wide open.

Might as well jump in too with some samples

Don't own it but regarding AF you need to check a guy who posts here his indoor dog agility shows shots from his 85L. He claims it is better than his 135L, and even 300mm f2.8 IS L. Can't believe him but his shots are awesome.

bobbyz wrote in post #15044650
Don't own it but regarding AF you need to check a guy who posts here his indoor dog agility shows shots from his 85L. He claims it is better than his 135L, and even 300mm f2.8 IS L. Can't believe him but his shots are awesome.

Bobby,

If someone is sitting at a fixed distance and is in AI SERVO you can rattle off a bunch of frames and the 85L would do a sufficient job in focusing.

However if the photog slightly miss focuses the subject and the large chunk of glass starts to hunt......oHHHHHHH a world of hurt. The pig slow af will make you quiver praying you dont miss a money shot.

S2Kenny, she's HOT!!

Lensguy, the thing you must consider is what other lenses you have. I would consider the 85L as a niche lens for certain situations. There are photos you cannot get sooc at closer distances unless you have f/1.2. The thing about the 85L is that it hammers the shot accurately with no fear of backfocus like the 50L. The 85L does have a real crappy MFD so you must sometimes step further back and crop in post for some types of headshots.

Oh and the comment about bragging rights....ya its TRUE I'm not in the cool club yet in the ownership of a 1dx or 5dmk3......some day ...... someday LOL!! At least I own an 85L..... please note I'm poking fun but its not far from the truth on public forums to discussing gear photog skills is much more important than gear acquisition.

I've been extremely happy shooting f/2 to f/2.2 and getting beautiful creamy bokeh using my 85 f/1.8. If your shooting fast paced events I'd feel more comfortable using the silly fast 85 f/1.8 due to its incredible AF speed. You cannot look up the noses of "party goers" but nice background separation individually or very small groups. However depending on lighting the 70-200 may be a better tool to use. Bday parties to bridal parties the 85L on a secondary camera has given me incredible results even with little children. The slow AF does rear its ugly head when children get their share of alot of sugar

There's a reason why I own both 85mm in the canon flavour. I wont consider the 85 f/1.4 from sigma. Both of my 85mm I currently own are accurate regardless of what distance I am away from the subject.

AlanU wrote in post #15044877
Bobby,

If someone is sitting at a fixed distance and is in AI SERVO you can rattle off a bunch of frames and the 85L would do a sufficient job in focusing.

However if the photog slightly miss focuses the subject and the large chunk of glass starts to hunt......oHHHHHHH a world of hurt. The pig slow af will make you quiver praying you dont miss a money shot.

S2Kenny, she's HOT!!

Lensguy, the thing you must consider is what other lenses you have. I would consider the 85L as a niche lens for certain situations. There are photos you cannot get sooc at closer distances unless you have f/1.2. The thing about the 85L is that it hammers the shot accurately with no fear of backfocus like the 50L. The 85L does have a real crappy MFD so you must sometimes step further back and crop in post for some types of headshots.

Oh and the comment about bragging rights....ya its TRUE I'm not in the cool club yet in the ownership of a 1dx or 5dmk3......some day ...... someday LOL!! At least I own an 85L..... please note I'm poking fun but its not far from the truth on public forums to discussing gear photog skills is much more important than gear acquisition.

I've been extremely happy shooting f/2 to f/2.2 and getting beautiful creamy bokeh using my 85 f/1.8. If your shooting fast paced events I'd feel more comfortable using the silly fast 85 f/1.8 due to its incredible AF speed. You cannot look up the noses of "party goers" but nice background separation individually or very small groups. However depending on lighting the 70-200 may be a better tool to use. Bday parties to bridal parties the 85L on a secondary camera has given me incredible results even with little children. The slow AF does rear its ugly head when children get their share of alot of sugar

There's a reason why I own both 85mm in the canon flavour. I wont consider the 85 f/1.4 from sigma. Both of my 85mm I currently own are accurate regardless of what distance I am away from the subject.

I own 35L + 70-200 IS II and 24-105 (which I am selling). My plan is to use 35L and 85L indoors, and 70-200 IS II outdoors (and sometimes 35L for outdoors as well, but I rarely take landscape shots and I might always buy 24-70 II at some point).

My subject is mainly my daughter, she does run around a lot, but for that I have 35L. I want to use 85L for shots where I cannot use 70-200 IS II due to F2.8, which is pretty much 99% of the shots after 5pm. I don't own/want a flash.

Lensguy,

You must buy a flash. Learning to bounce flash is essential for documenting children. There are so many circumstances where if you dont have flash (outdoors) your photo will have overblown backgrounds so that you get proper exposure of your child. I love the organic look of available light but I also find it crippling if you want to also want story telling backgrounds (in or partially in focus) without being blown out white/grey. (been there/done that and want more out of my documentation of my children/ or paid jobs)

For most of my photos of my kids I love the 24L instead of my 35L. 35L on a full frame isn't wide enough sometimes. I also prefer using my 16-35L more than my 24-70L.

85 f/1.8 is cheap enough that you can have it kick around when/if you really feel the 85L is going to improve your vision. I feel the 85L so niche that its just either sitting around or its heavily used for portrait work (slow /non moving subjects)

AlanU wrote in post #15045457
Lensguy,

You must buy a flash. Learning to bounce flash is essential for documenting children. There are so many circumstances where if you dont have flash (outdoors) your photo will have overblown backgrounds so that you get proper exposure of your child. I love the organic look of available light but I also find it crippling if you want to also want story telling backgrounds (in or partially in focus) without being blown out white/grey. (been there/done that and want more out of my documentation of my children/ or paid jobs)

For most of my photos of my kids I love the 24L instead of my 35L. 35L on a full frame isn't wide enough sometimes. I also prefer using my 16-35L more than my 24-70L.

85 f/1.8 is cheap enough that you can have it kick around when/if you really feel the 85L is going to improve your vision. I feel the 85L so niche that its just either sitting around or its heavily used for portrait work (slow /non moving subjects)

Funny you say that, I just sold my 580 EX and prior had sold my 430 I just cannot deal with a flash, I never liked it, and it takes so much effort to set everything up for 1-2 shots, then the scene changes and there you go you have to change everything as well.

I'm not a professional so it's okay if I miss a shot here and there because of exposure outdoors (it actually never happens). My biggest problem now is I am missing so many shots because of F2.8 on my 70-200 indoors. It's just not fast enough.

The 85L will open up opportunities but if the light is not ideal it also wont help you either.

F/2.8 is too slow on many occasions indoors. However using bounced light you can get semi flash look but dynamic shades without any softboxes. Diving into flash opens up photography to a different level. No lens will improve your skills unless you have the tools...flash is one of them.

This photo was taken in the evening. If I used available light (artificial) the photos would look meh...... but with flash you can change your "style" in a matter of seconds.