Canon 85L II AF speed on 5D III???

[pierceography]

Impatience, perhaps? Though my 85 won't engage manual focus, even after spinning it. My point was if that's my only complaint, it's a very small one and that the 85 is a wonderful lens.

AFAIK the camera has to be on for the manual focus of the 85L II to engage. In other words, you need to set it to MDF before you turn the camera off.

Right, manual focus works fine when the camera is powered on and the lens is in manual... which was exactly what I had stated in my original post. My point was that this is the process I have to take to retract the front element before removing the lens and storing it. I realize you can spin the focus ring to engage MF, but I usually just flip the switch out of force of habit.

 

[alexturton]

I've had my 85 1.2 about a month now. (On 5d3)

Generally going from close to infinity takes ages and is too slow for street work.

However going from 3m to infinity is actually pretty snappy. So prefocusing is key.

I've had reasonable success tracking some pigeons in flight, although admittedly it was slow at initially locking on.

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

When my camera is set to AP and turned on but I am not pressing the shutter button halfway (so AF is not active), turning the focusing ring does not move the focusing element. Only when I press the shutter halfway (thus enabling the AF) will turning the ring manually actually make the focusing element move. Is this how it is supposed to act? In other words when the camera is set to AF but the auto focus is not engaged (shutter not pushed half way down) should turning the focus ring move the focusing element and change focus?

 

[Loswr]

I do not need to half-press the shutter (which is just meteting start for me) or press AF-ON to manually focus my 85L - if the camera is on, turning the ring focuses the lens (turning it doesn't wake the camera from sleep). The 40/2.8 STM is different - a couple of seconds after the metering times out, the focus ring goes dead even though the camera is awake - for that lens, I need to half-press the shutter or press AF-ON to 'wake up' the AF motor.

 

[Chosenbydestiny]

Oddly enough, 85L II seems to focus faster on my old 1D mark III outdoors than it does on 5D mark III. However, it is more accurate on the 5D mark III. No tests to prove it but it's my gut instinct saying it's still slow as molasses no matter what body it's on, lol. The lens is just too specialized for me to justify the price, so I sold it to a friend and just borrow it on a rare occasion.

 

[Loswr]

Oddly enough, 85L II seems to focus faster on my old 1D mark III outdoors than it does on 5D mark III.

Not odd, the 1-series bodies have a higher voltage battery which drives the AF motor faster in some lenses.

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

I do not need to half-press the shutter (which is just meteting start for me) or press AF-ON to manually focus my 85L - if the camera is on, turning the ring focuses the lens (turning it doesn't wake the camera from sleep). The 40/2.8 STM is different - a couple of seconds after the metering times out, the focus ring goes dead even though the camera is awake - for that lens, I need to half-press the shutter or press AF-ON to 'wake up' the AF motor.

I'll have to check my lens when I get home, but I was pretty sure my wasn't focusing when I turned the focus rings. I think I remember reading somewhere that there is a way to turn off electrical manual focus on the 5D mark III so maybe I just need to check my settings. I will check when I get home and see.

 

[Loswr]

It's in one of the AF menus, second or third, I think. I have mine on the first setting.

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

It's in one of the AF menus, second or third, I think. I have mine on the first setting.

Thanks neuro, I'll check my menu when I get home. I looked up the user's manual online and it says there are three options for USM lens electronic MF:

Option 1. ON: Enable after One-shot AF= After AF operates, if you keep pressing the shutter button, you can focus manually.

Option 2. OFF: Disable after One-shot AF= After AF operates, manual focusing is disable

Option 3. OFF: Disable in AF mode= When the lens' focus mode switch is set to (AF), manual focusing is disabled.

Reading the manual makes it also seem like you have to keep the shutter button (or in your case the back focus botton) pressed to manual focus while the lens is set to (AF). Again, maybe I am just reading it wrong. Not to doubt you, but you are sure that if you just turn your camera on, don't press any bottons and turn the focus ring on the lens while set to (AF) that it will manual focus? I just want to make sure there is nothing wrong with my lens, or yours for that matter

 

[infared]

Dylan... I love the beast...but it isn't for everyone. It's slow to focus...but that is not what the lens is about. It creates dreamy images with bokeh that I cannot get from my other lenses (see list below). It definitely has a "look". You will need a copy of LR to de-fringe the CA...but that is common with most large-aperture lenses when used wide open. If you want fast focus..in any way...this is not the lens for you. I would have to say mine is very accurate to focus. The focusing ring is a bit sloppy, and spinny...etc...
I love the images that come from the beast...It is a lot of money...and many do not have the patience for working with it to get the illusive images..but when you nail it down...nothing else will give you the look that this lens is capable of....
My advice would be to get one with a 30-day return policy..patiently try it out and get the feel for it and see if it is for you.......I really love mine.

 

[Hector1970]

Personally I love this lens. I suppose it's more of a specialised portrait lens. I love the shallow depth of field and te bokeh. Focusing is noticeably slow but to be honest I think it improves your photography when it takes a bit more effort. It's quite a stubby lens, short fat and a bit heavy. Could be easy to drop . The rear glass is quite flush to the back. Attaching it isn't difficult but not as easy as others. I'd recommend it. F1.2 is special
I have a few recent photos near the top of my Flickr page with it (two dogs)
www.flickr.com/FergalO'Callaghan

 

[Loswr]

Just confirmed - camera off, mounted the 85L II (set to AF), powered camera on, touched no buttons/dials/etc., and as soon as the self-clean finished, rotating the focus ring extended the front element.

 

[RunAndGun]

I think some people are overstating the fact when they say the focus speed on the 85 1.2 is really slow. I have this lens(mkII) and the 1.8 non-L version, as well. I think the 1.8's focus speed is faster(and MOD is closer), but the 1.2 isn't as bad as it has been made out to be. For the type of photography that most people will use this lens for, it's more than adequate.

I will tell you two things that I learned early on with this lens, though:

1). It is not a 70-200 2.8 vII. You aren't going to "track" anything with servo focus (especially anything moving towards you) and get it "in focus".

2). I've found I get the best focus results shooting with One-Shot Center Point Four Point Expansion.

 

[infared]

Just confirmed - camera off, mounted the 85L II (set to AF), powered camera on, touched no buttons/dials/etc., and as soon as the self-clean finished, rotating the focus ring extended the front element.

Ditto.

 

[dmills]

It's slow, but it's never been so slow for me that I've missed a shot. You just have to be realistic about what you're using it for. I've even shot some indoor sports with it, but you have to remember that with such a shallow depth of field, you'll want to take a few more shots than you would if you're shooting at f2.8 or f4. I've shot 95%+ of my images with it at f1.2 though, so take that advice with a grain of salt. To my way of thinking, if you're using it much above f1.2, then you're not getting anything out of it you couldn't get with the faster focusing f.18 or a 70-200 2.8...

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

Just confirmed - camera off, mounted the 85L II (set to AF), powered camera on, touched no buttons/dials/etc., and as soon as the self-clean finished, rotating the focus ring extended the front element.

Hey Neuro (and Infared) thanks for testing that. I was doing some research and found this: "If you have the shutter button half pressed, you can override the focus manually, or if you have it set to back button focus, you will always be able to override it." So low and behold I switched to back button focus and I was able to manually focus without touching anything else. If you get a chance can you switch your camera to shutter button focus and verify that the front element doesn't move when you turn the focus ring if your not holding the shutter button half-way down. I'm just super (neuro)tic and since I bought this lens from a seller on craigslist, I just want to make sure it is working properly. Anyway, sorry to totally hi-jack this thread, but I really appreciate the help. This is only my third day with this lens but I am totally loving it. It's nice to be able to just open a small window in a totally dark room and have enough light to get great pictures.

 

[fegari]

Just confirmed - camera off, mounted the 85L II (set to AF), powered camera on, touched no buttons/dials/etc., and as soon as the self-clean finished, rotating the focus ring extended the front element.

Hey Neuro (and Infared) thanks for testing that. I was doing some research and found this: "If you have the shutter button half pressed, you can override the focus manually, or if you have it set to back button focus, you will always be able to override it." So low and behold I switched to back button focus and I was able to manually focus without touching anything else. If you get a chance can you switch your camera to shutter button focus and verify that the front element doesn't move when you turn the focus ring if your not holding the shutter button half-way down. I'm just super (neuro)tic and since I bought this lens from a seller on craigslist, I just want to make sure it is working properly. Anyway, sorry to totally hi-jack this thread, but I really appreciate the help. This is only my third day with this lens but I am totally loving it. It's nice to be able to just open a small window in a totally dark room and have enough light to get great pictures.

Your 85L is fine. Mine behaves exactly like that (85L II with 5D3)

- if shutter button controls AF: MF override only works after pressing the shutter half way (and in AF one shot mode only, not in servo)

- if back AF-ON button controls AF: manual focus override is enabled all the time, regardless of the AF mode.

 

[Loswr]

Thanks - you learn something new every day! One more reason to love back button AF...

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

Just confirmed - camera off, mounted the 85L II (set to AF), powered camera on, touched no buttons/dials/etc., and as soon as the self-clean finished, rotating the focus ring extended the front element.

Hey Neuro (and Infared) thanks for testing that. I was doing some research and found this: "If you have the shutter button half pressed, you can override the focus manually, or if you have it set to back button focus, you will always be able to override it." So low and behold I switched to back button focus and I was able to manually focus without touching anything else. If you get a chance can you switch your camera to shutter button focus and verify that the front element doesn't move when you turn the focus ring if your not holding the shutter button half-way down. I'm just super (neuro)tic and since I bought this lens from a seller on craigslist, I just want to make sure it is working properly. Anyway, sorry to totally hi-jack this thread, but I really appreciate the help. This is only my third day with this lens but I am totally loving it. It's nice to be able to just open a small window in a totally dark room and have enough light to get great pictures.

Your 85L is fine. Mine behaves exactly like that (85L II with 5D3)

- if shutter button controls AF: MF override only works after pressing the shutter half way (and in AF one shot mode only, not in servo)

- if back AF-ON button controls AF: manual focus override is enabled all the time, regardless of the AF mode.

Thanks for the reply and subsequent peace of mind. I was beginning to think that the good deal I got on my lens wasn't such a good deal after all. Now I can sleep well at night knowing I didn't spend all this money on a lens with a busted focusing system

 

[ishdakuteb]

i do not have this lens to play with (wish that i have it, but it is kinda expensive. i can not justify the price, yet i do not really have a need of it.) so i do not really know what is the real problem of retracting. but to retract, you can put the cap on, point your camera to the sky or anywhere that does not have details to archive the focus , half press the shutter... then done. i am not sure if this way would harm any thing, but i think it would not