85mm 1.2L Centre focus and recompose

Welcome Lizzy!

I'm going to go against the grain here. Especially considering that you're coming from film (pre-pixel peeping). Small focus errors due to focus and re-composing are difficult to detect on film--especially when you're not printing anything larger than 8x10 at the local drug store.

Consider that if you're shooting between f2 and f4, the one decided advantage of the L is rendered meaningless--it's f1.2 aperture. In it's place, you end up with a focusing speed deficit, which is arguably more important when shooting candids of kids.

The 85L is one of those lenses that has quite a steep learning curve. Add that to the learning curve of switching to digital, and post processing, et al, and it can become overwhelming. Add to that the availability of a very capable and much less expensive brother that boasts impeccable credentials itself, I wouldn't recommend it for your stated purpose.

I would say use your existing 85 f1.8 on the new awesome 5D II and shoot wide open at f1.8 and see what you get first before plonking down all that cash for an 85L. It could buy a lot of other lenses that you may need, or computer hardware and software.

Here are some portraits with the 85 f1.8 on a 20D:
#1. @ f2

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gryphonslair99 wrote in post #8108768
If you are shooting either lens at f1.8 then the DOF is the same. You shouldn't have any different results then you get now. If you shoot at 1.2 your DOF is cut down quite a bit and yes, you probably will struggle.

Perhaps a better thing to do would be change you focus method whenever practical and compose and then use the focus point that is relative to the part of the subject you want in focus.

I am learning this so I have to ask if I read this correctly as it seems open to interpretation.

What I believe you are attempting to state is that looking at each lens individually on the current film body will give essentially the same results on the new digital 5D II body since they are both pretty equal frame size.

At first I read that to imply there was no difference in the DOF between the lenses at f/1.8. And I know that is not true...

Do i have that correct? I am like a blind hooker some days, you know, you really have to hand it to me.

How do I get to Carnegie Hall? (How do I get MF pix of children and moving things...) Practice, practice, practice.

Lizzy7 wrote in post #8108830
Thank you

I'm more often likely to be shooting between F2-F4.

Lizzy

It's a total waste of your money to get an 85L.

Your 85 1.8 will be MORE than adequate for your F2-F4 needs. In fact, it will focus much quicker than the 85L, and will also be much easier to carry around than the 85L. And with the money you save, you can buy other lenses that would give you a much greater return on investment.

Sorry, I was feeling rubbish yesterday so I didn't reply.

Thanks everyone and thanks M3 Rocket for posting your lovely portraits, I do agree the 1.8 is a fab lens and I've got some really good results from it.

I was thinking about the 50mm 1.2 for a bit and hired it out to have a go and I decided that I'd much rather go for the 85mm rather than the 50mm (both would be nice but not possible!) Anyway, I did get some lovely pics from the 50mm. I also did some test shots which I had a look at last night (film so I had to wait until I'd processed them!) I have to admit the one where I used the right hand focus point was better than the one where I used centre focus and recompose.

So......I'll keep using the 1.8 until I get the 1.2 (hopefully soon) and I'll enjoy the challenge of learning to use it well and learning to change focus points quickly! Actually I'll keep the 1.8 too

picturecrazy wrote in post #8121026
It's a total waste of your money to get an 85L.

Your 85 1.8 will be MORE than adequate for your F2-F4 needs. In fact, it will focus much quicker than the 85L, and will also be much easier to carry around than the 85L. And with the money you save, you can buy other lenses that would give you a much greater return on investment.

Although I'll probably use it f2-f4 a lot of the time, I'd still like to have the 1.2 for times when there is not much available light and also just because it'll be fun to be creative with it. When I tried the 50mm I did some of my dog and they looked really groovy although it's a whole lot easier with a lazy lurcher who keeps still

Thanks again everyone, it's really helpful to get all this advice.

Lizzy

Just a thought: an alternative is to get the 135L for head shots. Now there's a smoking lens that combines the best of everything--including very fast AF. Add a 1.4x, and you're still under what you would pay for an 85L, but you will have a lot more flexibility with your lens lineup.

M3Rocket wrote in post #8121223
Just a thought: an alternative is to get the 135L for head shots. Now there's a smoking lens that combines the best of everything--including very fast AF. Add a 1.4x, and you're still under what you would pay for an 85L, but you will have a lot more flexibility with your lens lineup.

Hi there, only problem with that is I like to get a bit of the surrounding in. I also shoot in peoples homes and sometime space is an issue so the 85 gives me more options. The little girl in your first portrait is just adorable and number six looks very much like my friends son!

Lizzy

If you can afford it the 85L is everything you could want in a portrait lens on FF or film. It does take a little getting used to but the results are worth it.

DOF is limited at f1.2 but at 10ft is purportedly 0.3 ft which is 3.5 inches and should cover the face adequately.

This was taken on the 85L @ f2

That's a fab shot EdBray, thanks for posting.

Just thought I'd post a couple too......first one is with the 50mm at 1.2, just playing around and unusual for me as I don't usually do colour!

Nice shots Lizzy!

I can see that the B&W one is just slightly back-focused. Another suggestion is to use the Servo AF mode together with the focus point. That will help with any back/forth movement of either the subject or photographer.

Careful focus/recompose works fine with the 85L... I do it all the time! When possible I do use the other focus points too though... less room for error!