Canon EF 50 F1.2L And EF 35 F1.4L Sharpest Settings

[Secretariat]

In what  Aperture settings do the Canon EF 50 F1.2L and EF 35 F1.4L lenses produce the sharpest images?

Thanks.

[RLPhoto]

In what  Aperture settings do the Canon EF 50 F1.2L and EF 35 F1.4L lenses produce the sharpest images?

Thanks.

50L is from 1.2-2.8. I dont know about 35L.

[ihendy]

I have the 35L.  I find 2.8 is very sharp.  I love shooting at 2.0 - still really sharp but great bokeh.  1.4 is still extremly usable, but sometimes the Chromatic abberations need touching up in post process.

The 50L I tried out and decided to keep the 50 1.4.  It really shines from 1.2 - 2.8.  After that I find the cheaper 1.4 is just as good or better.  I decided to not purchase the 50L. As I have the 85L II as well, I could not justify the cost as I find I prefer both the 35 and 85 lens over the 50L. 

Both are awesome lens.

[Viggo]

50 L is sharper at 1,8 than 2,2 and the sharpest is f5.

35 L is sharpest at 2,5 (a bit surprising perhaps) and has a pretty even curve all the way.

24 L II is sharpest at 3,5 with more variation.

[Bosman]

In what  Aperture settings do the Canon EF 50 F1.2L and EF 35 F1.4L lenses produce the sharpest images?

Thanks.

50L is from 1.2-2.8. I dont know about 35L.

Sharpest @ F1.2?  Congrats if that is true for you. However i don't do much manual work at that F stop so I could be corrected possibly. I honestly don't know whats sharpest on my copy but generally an F1.2 lens is sharpest at F5.6. Now i want to do tests at F1.2 manually lol. Peace!

[RLPhoto]

In what  Aperture settings do the Canon EF 50 F1.2L and EF 35 F1.4L lenses produce the sharpest images?

Thanks.

50L is from 1.2-2.8. I dont know about 35L.

Sharpest @ F1.2?  Congrats if that is true for you. However i don't do much manual work at that F stop so I could be corrected possibly. I honestly don't know whats sharpest on my copy but generally an F1.2 lens is sharpest at F5.6. Now i want to do tests at F1.2 manually lol. Peace!

Anything Slower that 2.8 on the 50L is not as sharp as other 50mm's. Yes, Its at its best at F/8, but meh, What lens isn't?

[neuroanatomist]

The 50L has focus shift - as you stop down from wide open, if back focuses, but at some point (which is dependent on subject distance) the thicker DoF overcomes the back focus.  So, if plotting the sharpness of the 50/1.2L based on autofocus (assuming it's AFMA'd normally, i.e. at f/1.2), I'd expect it to be sharp at f/1.2, then get progressively softer as you stop down until somewhere in the f/2.2-f/3.5 range, then get progressively sharper again, peaking at f/4 or f/5.6 then dropping again after f/11 when diffraction sets in.

[K-amps]

The 50L has focus shift - as you stop down from wide open, if back focuses, but at some point (which is dependent on subject distance) the thicker DoF overcomes the back focus.  So, if plotting the sharpness of the 50/1.2L based on autofocus (assuming it's AFMA'd normally, i.e. at f/1.2), I'd expect it to be sharp at f/1.2, then get progressively softer as you stop down until somewhere in the f/2.2-f/3.5 range, then get progressively sharper again, peaking at f/4 or f/5.6 then dropping again after f/11 when diffraction sets in.

What the heck are you doing lurking on these forums Neuro... you should be teaching a class on optics somewhere ...

[Viggo]

The 50L has focus shift - as you stop down from wide open, if back focuses, but at some point (which is dependent on subject distance) the thicker DoF overcomes the back focus.  So, if plotting the sharpness of the 50/1.2L based on autofocus (assuming it's AFMA'd normally, i.e. at f/1.2), I'd expect it to be sharp at f/1.2, then get progressively softer as you stop down until somewhere in the f/2.2-f/3.5 range, then get progressively sharper again, peaking at f/4 or f/5.6 then dropping again after f/11 when diffraction sets in.

What the heck are you doing lurking on these forums Neuro... you should be teaching a class on optics somewhere ...

It's just that it isn't sharper at 1,2 than 1,8 af'd. I do not notice the shift when stopping to 2,2, but I see that it is softer. But you're right that 5 is sharpest and it completely craps out on the smaller from 8 to 16.

[Studio1930]

Yes, Its at its best at F/8, but meh, What lens isn't?

My 200 f/2 on my 1DX isn't sharpest at f/8.   

[RLPhoto]

Yes, Its at its best at F/8, but meh, What lens isn't?

My 200 f/2 on my 1DX isn't sharpest at f/8.   

Really? Because I wouldn't be able to tell from F/2 from F/8 sharpness wise on that particular animal. 

[Plato the Wise]

At 1.2 the depth of field on the 50mm L at close distances is about 4 millimeters. If you or the subject moves the slightest bit, it will not be in focus where you intended.

I usually compensate by shooting at F2 or 2.8 and find it very sharp at those f stops.

[Viggo]

At 1.2 the depth of field on the 50mm L at close distances is about 4 millimeters. If you or the subject moves the slightest bit, it will not be in focus where you intended.

I usually compensate by shooting at F2 or 2.8 and find it very sharp at those f stops.

Ai Servo on the 1d x takes care of that.

[wopbv4]

please check
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/472-canon_50_12_5d?start=1


it shows that center is best at F4.

borders stay poor throughout the range.

Even the 50 F1.8 has better border performance.

[Plato the Wise]

At 1.2 the depth of field on the 50mm L at close distances is about 4 millimeters. If you or the subject moves the slightest bit, it will not be in focus where you intended.

I usually compensate by shooting at F2 or 2.8 and find it very sharp at those f stops.

Ai Servo on the 1d x takes care of that.

Will the 5d miii do the same in Ai servo?