One last 50L lens question

I've followed most all the 50L posts on this forum and am pretty much ready to order a new 50L lens. I shoot with 1DS3 and 1D3 bodies. Have most of the focus issues been with bodies that aren't the 1D series? To eliminate or minimize any focus "issues" with this lens should I try to stay with the center focus point when shooting under 7 feet? What are any other work arounds or words of advice that are helpful? The more I read the more conflicting comments I see on this lens. I'm a shooter and not an "analyzer". My 50 1.4 is my only non-L lens and works fine at 2.8 and above, but I'm after the results that a 1.2 lens can offer. Finally what are the latest lens codes that have shown to have been improved? I typically purchase from Adorama or B&H and my local camera shops don't stock the 50L so I can't test locally. Thanks.

I also read mixed user-experiences, but some people love this lens and do great things with it. Just buy it an use it. If you've problems trade it in for another one.

If you want it, just get it.

I used a rented 50 1.2L on a 50D this summer, and I had no trouble with focus when shooting close up portrait work. It was an amazing lens...one I am saving up to buy to have one of my own.

JelleVerherstraeten wrote in post #11102965
I also read mixed user-experiences, but some people love this lens and do great things with it. Just buy it an use it. If you've problems trade it in for another one.

If you want it, just get it.

I agree.

David

If you have a good one, body doesn't matter, although 50D and 5D II or 1D series don't seem to have the occasional complete AF failures which, e.g., the 40D (~ 1 in 10 shots) and 5D (~ 1 in 20) have, based on my experience. That probably has got to do with the newer AF systems of the later and professional camera bodies.

Personally, I always use centre AF as a long time analog shooter, unless I shoot action or sports, but generally that is not something I use the 50L for.

Kind regards, Wim

Rather than one last question your post is really a recap of most questions already asked...

As for the build dates and the effect on focus accuracy improvements, I'd take online claims with a grain of salt unless they're backed with reliable comparative tests or official statements from in-the-know.

The consistent information from users suggests that if a 50L is calibrated well, it won't show any discernible AF issues as the back focus due to focus shift should remain within the specs. However, it appears that a percentage of 50L copies may leave the factory with imperfect calibration. This is not unique but the very small minority who have for some reason become oversensitive about 50L contribute to a publicity which I think is blown out of proportion. I believe a big majority of 50L users continue using it and possibly never post on a forum. Usually only people write about an issue when they experience a problem. A approximate maths can show the ratio of bad copies reported on forums like POTN to the number of 50L copies that have been actually manufactured.

As for the different bodies, my personal experience is that my 50L has some back-focus issue within the danger zone likely to be due to focus shift. The amount of shift has been relatively negligible with my 1D3 but noticeable with 5D and 7D at 100% viewing. I never tried the work around with 7D but switching from single-shot AF to AI Servo (centre AF frame) did the trick on 5D. I'm afraid this was not practical some times.

Now if you use a body that has AF microadjust, a lens with minor mis-calibration can be managed effectively. I have done this on my three cameras with repeatable success. If a copy is by any chance way out of calibration, a trip to Canon seems to fix the problem (if they detect the problem right and correct it). Wim has told us about his experience and his lens seems perfect.

The last point is the experience with using super shallow depth of field. The same techniques IMO apply to 50L. You have 35L, 50 f/1.4 and 85L so I presume you're fine in this regard. I'm still getting through the learning curve. Just wanted to point this out bacause it's not infrequent that newish users buy fast lenses and try having fun with shallow DOF and then come back and report all sorts of posts that their copies of this or that lens are indeed soft.

Have fun!