You need L glass on FF.

I've been hearing this all over the place lately. L glass brings out the 5D's real IQ and blah blah blah. So what about lenses like the 85 1.8 and the 50 1.4 and other non-L glass that is superb on crop cameras? Are they suddenly not good enough for FF? Are these lenses that flawed on FF cameras? Just curious and appriciate any input as to why the general consensus around here is that L glass on the 5D or don't get a 5D.

It's the elitist mentality. I don't get it, either. I've seen many great pics posted that were taken with the 5D and Tamron 28-75 combo. Excellent pics.

I have a 5D and had the 85 1.8 and 50 1,4. They were great on the 5D.I actually sold them to fund some small part of my 85 1.2L purchase. The 100 Macro also is very good.These are ,IMO, three of the best Canon non-L's. That being said the 5D flourishes with very good glass. The lenses you mention certainly fall into that category.

The common complaint is the fact that most lenses will vignet wide-open on the 5D/1Ds and will show any corner sharpness problems with lesser lenses.

But, to answer your question, no the 85 1.8 is no worse on FF, infact, I like it more !

Gary.

5D and 50 1.4 is one of the nicest combinations I've ever used. Possibly the most enjoyable to use. The "fact" that you need L glass is crap. It sure doesn't hurt, though.

I have an $80 lens that does quite well on my 1D. Not full frame, but not far off either.

its all lies, although you don't want to buy a $2800 camera just to put a crappy $50 lens on...

I completely agree with you guys. My cousin really liked the 135L but said it was too long. I said why not the 85 1.8. He said "its not L glass, so it won't be as good as the 135L." I tried to say the 135L is better because it's just naturally sharper, not because it's an L. (which, if you need sharper than an 85 1.8, get yourself a Hasselbad)

I really like the quote in someone's signature that says something along the lines of "Amateurs worry about Gear, Pros worry about light".

Any 5D will outshoot IQ-wise just about any other Canon Series camera. Will L lenses make it better? Probably, there is sharp and then there is sharp-er, but nothing that Photoshop does not have readily available.

I would love for someone to come and talk about the magnificent Bokeh of L lenses. What a bunch of nonsense. Pixelpeepers with a voyeuristic adicction to blurriness. (With all due respect of course, not trying to offend anyone )

I say shoot with what you have. Personally, if I wanted to shoot landscapes, and still life, portraits, I would get the 5D, and based on that, build a lens setup that suits my needs.

And thus I have spoken it. Or writ it. Or whatever have ye.

I don't mind the 135L even on a crop cam. However, I don't think it's anywhere near "too long" on FF. At 8-10' or so, on a 30D, I can use 135mm for a head and shoulders.

I tried my son's Tokina 19-35 3.5-4.5 the other day on my 5D (it costs about £140/$250) and, by f5.6/6.3, it was as sharp as my 17-40L. Colour wasn't as nice, but the contrast was good.

It's all relative.

Gary.

All my lenses (L and non L) are sweet on my 5D
except my telescope gets too much vignetting

Here are a couple quick snapshot-ish images from two $8 lenses (shipping included) on a 1D Mark II. I don't have a full frame camera to demonstrate, but I don't think the point is lost.

http://i14.photobucket​.com …o/misc/2007-04-26-001.jpg
http://i14.photobucket​.com …o/misc/2007-04-26-002.jpg
http://i14.photobucket​.com …o/misc/2007-04-26-003.jpg

I'm not bashing L glass, but I don't think it's a MUST either, with caveats of course. Sometimes an L is the best option for certain things.

I remember reading an article in National Geographic where all the photos were taken with a camera phone... good stuff.

I can say that the 5D doesn't "require" L glass for sure. As Most people have already said, there are many non-L glass that are superb.

I have a 50 F/1.4 and a 135 F/2 L on my 5D, both are wonderful. Now of course, the 135L has other things that are better then non-L glass such as build, for the 135L the contrast is in another league. That said, just take some pictures and you will be able to tell if they are acceptable for you.

My opinion is, non-L glass is fine on the 5D, but L glass is L glass, they have their own proporties . Just my 2 cents.

Koaster

On a side, note, I believe you sold your 35L ? why? I am seriously considering this lens.