Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L (MK 2 VERSION)

Having just looked at the current range of Canon lenses available on the Canon web site. I realised that there are many MkII versions in the range for both EF Zoom and Primes. Several being produced only just recently in the past year.

Considering that the 50mm lens is a very popular focal length and most preferred lens for street photography as well as portrait work and wedding photography, one reason being as the field of vision is close to the human eye on a FF body.

I think it’s about time Canon made a MkII version. It has now been around since August 2006. Although a wonderful lens that produces a beautiful bokeh, Wide Open the Current f/1.2 version suffers from technical issues such as Chromatic Aberration, not that sharp in the corners, strong vignetting etc.

Over the last few years I have upgraded 4 of my L Lenses to MkII versions and I have been amazed of the improvements made to build quality and overall quality of images produced.

If Canon can sort out the issues to the 50mm f/1.2 in a MkII version they will have a real winner that will be very popular.

I hope Canon view this Forum and come up with a long awaited replacement soon.

I will be interested in other members views on this subject.

Buy a 50L 1.2 lens, use it often, enjoy it's imperfections.

While I enjoy day dreaming of lenses that don't exist....
I have learned, my time is better spent using the gear I have and refining my own skills.

I'm all for revising glass, as long as they don't ruin the beautiful rendering of the current 50L. However, considering the beauty of the 85L II it's probably not a concern.

I actually wish they would do a 50mm f/1 II.

I'm not really all that unhappy with the 50L. I agree that the purple fringe can be significant, but it is less of an issue than the 24L II, 35L and 85L II IMO.

Sharpness is fair, not exceptional wide open like you get with the 85L II, but good. And quite good stopped down. Bigger to me is that the lens has stellar flare performance and incomparable bokeh.

I suspect a lot of possible improvements in sharpness are known by Canon, but such designs would be bad for bokeh. In such a trade, some folks might take the lens as it is. Canon's other two 50mm lenses in the 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 have terrible bokeh.

I couldn't agree more. On more than one occasion I have almost bought the 50 f1.0
Unfortunately I don't know a local individual that would lend one to me.

There is no doubt about it that this lens delivers magic, that's why its been around for 9 years untouched. With the changes I've seen to my other MkII lens over the previous versions with regards to for example IQ/sharpness, smoother focusing ring, faster AF, lens coatings etc..... I can only imagine a MkII version will be more of a delight and an incredible lens to use.

It's easy money for canon. Super versatile, super old design, and people put up with it. I've been shooting with the Zeiss 55 and it's shocking how much better it is in some ways. The canon comes alive when you stop it down, however the sony Zeiss is ridiculous wide open.

The saving grace is that the 50L is a light leech.

I love the 50L. I don't have much to add about MKII speculation but I don't see a particular need to update it, especially since it's already weather-sealed.

The 50L was kind of therapeutic for me. I went through pretty much every 50mm lens imaginable a few years ago to find the perfect 50, before finally settling on the L. Since getting the 50L I haven't bought any Canon gear (I used to buy and sell gear all the time). The 50L just makes me wanna slap it on the 5D and shoot!

The 50L is fully weather sealed when a front filter is installed.

Put my name down for the 50L love-in too. It completely renewed my enthusiasm for photography (after 10yrs as a professional, then a change of career and 20yrs without touching a camera). It took me a while to learn how to use it well, but now I can't get enough of it. Wouldn't bother me at all if that was the only lens in my bag.

Id love a 1.2 MK 2 version so that the price of mk 1 drops even more so I can afford to snag one=)

the 50L 1.2 is my most used lens every year.

Out of 11,000 photos taken for clients last year, 8,000 of those were done with the 50L and half of those were wide open. Anything ranging from product shots, to automotive, to portraits and weddings. If Canon does a Mark II of this lens I am definitely purchasing it.