85mm F1.2L II - Not happy

fourelements99 wrote in post #10303707
No exif on those test shots. Can you re-post with exif?

in order;

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) Aperture: f/1.2 Focal Length: 85 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80) Aperture: f/1.2 Focal Length: 85 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EVCamera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60) Aperture: f/5.6 Focal Length: 85 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Looks like you're trying to shoot those shots like they had enough Depth of Field to put the whole face in focus when in fact at that large an aperture and that close you'll probably only get the eyes (or one eye) in focus (which is what you would want). In the misfocused shots it looks like the womans bangs are in focus so the plane of sharpness is in front of the eyes.

Your first two, you got the tip if the nose in focus when you should have been focused on the eyes.

f/5.6 is an order of magnitude more DOF so that one worked. On the blue-eyed child, you nailed the eyes instead of the nose.

Yes, DOF @ f/1.2 is that shallow...

The lens is not at its sharpest at f/1.2... nor is it at its most useful... If you or your subject accidentally lean forward or backward by a fraction of an inch between focus and photo, you've missed it by that fraction of an inch. Look at the ISO charts... The lens isn't tack sharp until about f/1.8, and even then, only in the center. The lens is positively beautiful at f/2.8 though!

daft_togger wrote in post #10303721
This is one taken in a well lit conservatory - 1D4 and 85mm at ISO400 and F1.8.....nothing wrong with this one

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This is perfect!

And another sample - this one F1.2 indoors at ISO100

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are you focus and recomposing because focus and recompose with the 85L wide open is a big no-no

And this is on a bright sunny day at F1.2 and I am happy with this one

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very sharp img !!!
I love 85L

daft_togger wrote in post #10303721
This is one taken in a well lit conservatory - 1D4 and 85mm at ISO400 and F1.8.....nothing wrong with this one

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I shoot regularly at f2 and above. What really get's me isn't the technique or lack of but the crazy focus shift issues. Even with a tripod my shots are OOF in 20% of cases. The solution? MA at your most used aperture and hope for the best. Great lens but I hear it's supposed to perform better with the 1D series. Maybe send both for calibration?

billybookcase wrote in post #10303811
are you focus and recomposing because focus and recompose with the 85L wide open is a big no-no

Nope, I am always aiming at eyes or just between eyes. Using One Shot

Both shots at 1.2 seem soft.Have you tried to micro adjust?

85L is a tough lens to master. Patience reallllly pays off with that thing. So does some spray and pray even with excellent composition. I usually take 3 shots even if I know I am focused in. Give it some time, you'll love it.

daft_togger wrote in post #10303825
Nope, I am always aiming at eyes or just between eyes. Using One Shot

do you instantly take the picture once focus is confirmed? because at a really narrow DOF, you moving a little back and the subject moving a little back can equal a blurry picture.

I would make use of the 1D mark IV's AI servo

And this is another good F1.2 shot

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/1.2
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV

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