Canon 85mm f1.2

[Sunny]

I tried out a Canon 85mm f1.2 L USM sometime back on my Canon 500D.

http://media.the-digital-picture.com/Images/Pic/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.2-L-II-USM-Lens.jpg

It was deceptively heavy lens for its size (and very expensive too!). This is the widest aperture lens Canon currently makes. It does produce some stunning DOF and bokeh.

I tried it out for a couple of minutes with some boring subjects:

http://www.thephotographer.in/galleries/data/534/117.jpg
@f1.2 :: 1/4000 :: ISO 100

^Strangely there is a lot of purple fringing there.


http://www.thephotographer.in/galleries/data/534/217.jpg
@f1.2 :: 1/50 sec :: ISO 100

^See the strange (and sweet) bokeh there!


http://www.thephotographer.in/galleries/data/534/36.jpg
@f1.2 :: 1/60 sec :: ISO 100


http://www.thephotographer.in/galleries/data/534/46.jpg
@f1.2 :: 1/640 sec :: ISO 100


needless to say this would be a very potent lens in any photographers kit, specially for night photography. The only thing missing there is probably IS, which would make it ultimate!

[KrishnenduKes]

Look at the amount of glass gone in in the making of that lens! Look at the dia!

[hitanshu]

Absolutely.

But why would it need IS. That lens is blazingly fast at 1.2 aperture as is, no?

[rio008]

Tau, where its mentioned that it IS lens ? :)

Edit : Ok i didnt read his last line :P

Sunny, kenda .... what is the use of this 85mm f/1.2 lens ? close up photography ? whats the minimum focal length of this lens ?:confused:


But why would it need IS. That lens is blazingly fast at 1.2 aperture as is, no?

[Sunny]

@hitanshu: Shoot in low light and you will understand why would any lens benefit having IS. No matter how wide the aperture is, you are going to shoot sometime or the other at slow shutter speeds without a tripod and thats when you are gonna wish to Canon for IS! It is a luxury which is a necessity.

@rio: minimum focal length? Its a prime, fixed lens. 85mm. No more, no less.

[rio008]

@rio: minimum focal length? Its a prime, fixed lens. 85mm. No more, no less.

oopz i mean minimum focal distance , sorry :D

[KrishnenduKes]

Sunny, kenda .... what is the use of this 85mm f/1.2 lens ? close up photography ? whats the minimum focal length of this lens ?:confused:

1. It is a 85mm Prime. Will beat most zooms any day in sharpness at that focal length.
2. Ideal focal length for portraits and studio work.
3. The f1.8 opening allows more light to enter, thus;A. You can shoot in lower light without much bumping up the ISO.
B. You can play around with studio lights even more and thus you get also to play around with the WB.



But this lens does not come cheap!

[Xavier]

3. The f1.8 opening allows more light to enter, thus;[LIST]A. You can shoot in lower light without much bumping up the ISO.


Its max opening is f/1.2 ;)
Oh and btw, the 85mm f/1.8 is one of the best non L lenses around. Its AF performance beats the 85 f/1.2 L too! At ~Rs 25k, its total VFM!

[hitanshu]

@hitanshu: Shoot in low light and you will understand why would any lens benefit having IS. No matter how wide the aperture is, you are going to shoot sometime or the other at slow shutter speeds without a tripod and thats when you are gonna wish to Canon for IS! It is a luxury which is a necessity.


Sir,

That is true for mere mortals like me. For pros (like you), I believe hand shake would not be there and hence lesser requirement for IS. N00bs like me wouldn't anyways dream of buying a f1.2 prime in the first place :D

[KrishnenduKes]

Its max opening is f/1.2 ;)
Oh and btw, the 85mm f/1.8 is one of the best non L lenses around. Its AF performance beats the 85 f/1.2 L too! At ~Rs 25k, its total VFM!

Oh sorry! As they say... Freudian slip!

And yes... I simply LOVE the 85mm f1.8!

[Sunny]

@Ken: DO you have the 85mm 1.8? If yes please can you post a review along with some sample pictures. Thanks

[powerslave]

I'm looking at the 85 f/1.8 too but the cost has gone up quite a bit. I'm waiting for some good cashback deal.

[KrishnenduKes]

@Ken: DO you have the 85mm 1.8? If yes please can you post a review along with some sample pictures. Thanks

I had made a comparo of 4 lenses in adverse and harsh lighting, very bright and very low! You can have a look here: http://www.thephotographer.in/darkroom/showthread.php?t=207

[Aryan]

Lovely lens, and lovely bokeh. I am SO happy with the 50mm f1.8 II lens itself, can't even explain how GOOD the 85mm f1.2L must be! :D

But, I guess on an APS-C sensored camera, the 85mm would be a little too much for portraits. Or may be tight portraits would be the name of the game with 85mm focal length. :)