I Eat My Hat - The 50L is Sharp!

I tried out the 50L (twice!) a couple years ago and I was very disappointed in this lens. I've been negative about it ever since. I used a 50/1.4 since, but I was never thrilled as the 50/1.4 is a bit soft below f/2.8. Since I have a 24-70L that is crackerjack even wide open, I don't need a 50mm prime that is not great below f/2.8.

But - If there are some places I could really use faster than f/2.8, 50mm is one (and 35mm is the other). So I tried it again.

For a baseline - here is the overall image plus a 100% crop from my 24-70L wide open at 50mm and f/2.8 for a baseline. Then I'll post a series of 100% crops from the 50L from f/1.2 to f/2.8 for comparison.

So let's get started with the overall image and zoom crop. This is ISO100, 1/200 on a 5D lit with a 430EX.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

So let's get right into the fast end. Here are f/1.2 and f/1.6. You can see the 50L is soft at f/1.2 but it gets a lot better by f/1.6. This is good enough (at f/1.6) for large prints.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

And not f/2 and f/2.8. IMO the 50L is almost as good at the 24-70 by f/1.6 and definitely there by f/2.0. I was really pleasantly surprised to see how sharp this lens is.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

umm...that first shot is clearly not the shot that you are cropping ....not that that really matters...congrats on the lens

DreDaze wrote in post #11739381
umm...that first shot is clearly not the shot that you are cropping ....not that that really matters...congrats on the lens

Well, every shot is different since they were all at different apetures and one was with a different lens. The first shot is just to give you an idea of what you are looking at.

The rest all had the photographer / subject in the same locations. The subject does change her expression a bit as he puts up with being a test target.

I had the same experience. My first one was absolute garbage and put me off for awhile. I recently gave it another shot and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Congrats on the lens.

Looks like a nice lens, 1.2 must be fun

That first pic better not be a girl.

Storage wrote in post #11739749
That first pic better not be a girl.

?!!?

I want a 50L. Not prepared to pay. Anyone feeling generous?

Storage wrote in post #11739749
That first pic better not be a girl.

Oh, right. That's my son.

Storage wrote in post #11739749
That first pic better not be a girl.

..?

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11739771
..?

Once girls are past infant age it's bad form and at some point KP to have chest nudity photos.

Wow... thats very nice, congratz on the lens! Third time is the charm!

so you bought a new 50L? later production? ... I've been scared to pick one up after reading the other 50L threads.

I may consider one now, although I'm leaning towards a 50 MP.

Congrats!

I feel so much better about my purchase now. Any soft picture is probably due to AF or user error