IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

[JonAustin]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

The 85 update is not truly needed unless you are a completist and believe 'the whole line needs to be refreshed', all the lenses need to look the same in a brochure, etc. (i.e. you are in Canon's marketing group or you are a lens collector.) The current 85mm F/1.8 is quite possibly the greatest bang for buck lens that Canon currently sells. It's a stellar lens for the dollar, even 15-20 years after its release: http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/419-canon_85_18_5d?start=1

I owned an 85/1.8 for several years, and although I liked it very much, I ultimately replaced it with the 100/2.8L IS macro. I used the 85/1.8 primarily for in-studio portraits, where I only used it wider than f/2.8 experimentally. I liked the quality of images from the 100 IS macro better.

Whether or not the 85/1.8 needs an update is for us mere photographers a fairly subjective question. (For Canon, of course, it's a business revenue / profit issue.) FWIW, my minor irritation with the 85/1.8 was its slight CA in some instances, and my major gripe was its clip-on hood, which I found cumbersome to attach correctly; when I didn't get it on right, it would pop off easily.

If I were Canon updating the 85/1.8, I would bring its optics up to current non-L prime standards, add IS (dropping max aperture to f/2.0 would be a small price) and give it a bayonet hood.

I'm looking forward to the release of an updated Canon non-L 50mm with true ring USM, with or without IS.

 

[KyleSTL]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

If the "Year of the Lens" turns out to be just slapping IS on some existing lenses, I will be highly disappointed.

Um, have you seen the 35mm IS versus the old 35mm f/2?: TDP Link
Or versus even the 35mm f/1.4L (at f/2): TDP Link

You can't tell me that lens is not impressive considering its size and price. I know its not nearly as impressive as the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art, but it's also much smaller and costs half as much. On paper it is the most hand-holdable lens ever made (using the 1/FL rule of thumb, a sharp picture could be had at 1/2 to 1/2.5 sec).

The 24mm IS and 28mm IS are just as good, and I, for one, welcome our new higher-quality non-L lenses. I think I'll probably pick up the 50mm when it is released. I wasn't happy with the 50mm 1.8II or 50mm 1.8 I, and I think the focusing definitely needs improvement on the 50mm 1.4 (especially when used with a focusing system like the 5D Mark I).

 

[ahsanford]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

FWIW, my minor irritation with the 85/1.8 was its slight CA in some instances, and my major gripe was its clip-on hood, which I found cumbersome to attach correctly; when I didn't get it on right, it would pop off easily.

If I were Canon updating the 85/1.8, I would bring its optics up to current non-L prime standards, add IS (dropping max aperture to f/2.0 would be a small price) and give it a bayonet hood.

I forgot about the hoods. Great comment!

I have the 50 F/1.4 and the hood attachment is terrible -- you can cross thread it, you can miss the ring and have it slide up the lens barrel, reversing it is a pain, it is poorly secured -- you name it.

If the 24/28/35 IS refreshes are any indication, the new hood for the 50 / 85 will be stellar. I have the 28 IS hood and it's as solid as any L hood I own (save for the war-worthy 70-200 F/2.8 IS II). It's secure, fast, and well built. In fact, on the 28mm length, I just leave it on the lens full-time because I don't have to fiddle with a CPL. (I hate wide angle CPL 'pseudo-vignetting' you get from such a wide variation in polarization, so under 35mm length I don't use CPLs.)

- A

 

[ahsanford]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

If the "Year of the Lens" turns out to be just slapping IS on some existing lenses, I will be highly disappointed.

Um, have you seen the 35mm IS versus the old 35mm f/2?: TDP Link
Or versus even the 35mm f/1.4L (at f/2): TDP Link

You can't tell me that lens is not impressive considering its size and price. I know its not nearly as impressive as the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art, but it's also much smaller and costs half as much. On paper it is the most hand-holdable lens ever made (using the 1/FL rule of thumb, a sharp picture could be had at 1/2 to 1/2.5 sec).

The 24mm IS and 28mm IS are just as good, and I, for one, welcome our new higher-quality non-L lenses. I think I'll probably pick up the 50mm when it is released. I wasn't happy with the 50mm 1.8II or 50mm 1.8 I, and I think the focusing definitely needs improvement on the 50mm 1.4 (especially when used with a focusing system like the 5D Mark I).

+100.

I've been tooting the horn of these non-L refreshes for some time. In all three cases, the non-L offers as good AF as the L, as good IQ as the L + IS + lighter + cheaper. You only lose a little speed and weather-sealing (in the case of the 24mm F/1.4L).

I'm not calling them L lenses, but calling them the 'cheaper lens option' is entirely missing the point. These lenses are stellar. Since I rarely want or need to shoot at F/1.4, I see no need to pony up for the Ls in these lengths.

- A

 

[Maximilian]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

Yessssss!!! Question is when in 2014 and how much.. Haha

31st of December, 11.50 pm HAST, maybe even later

 

[Maximilian]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

The two you can bank on are a 50mm f/1.8 IS and an 85mm f/2 IS (the source wasn’t totally sure on the aperture, but did say it would be slower than the current f/1.8).

I would love to see a 85 mm with better optical performance even without IS.
But it would be hard for me to have an aperture much slower than f/1.8.
f/2 maybe... but if it was f/2.8 I have zero interest.

A 50mm f/1.8 IS might be interesting if it really outperforms the current f/1.4 in built and optical quality.
(for a decent price)

 

[RobertP]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

135 IS yes please.
I can see me wandering around with one of these on my camera and a 2x converter in my pocket.

 

[Drizzt321]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

*sigh* Ok, new lenses, probably better optical IQ than their previous, with IS (yay?), more expensive and a lot slower. Yes, I said it, f/2.8 is slow. For a good quality prime that is. For a zoom, yea, that's pretty fast. But for the 85mm going from f/1.8 to f/2.8? Ugh.

The rumour states f/2 not f/2.8: granted that's 1/3rd stop slower, but not as bad as you're suggesting. I'd take 1/3rd stop slower maximum aperture if it meant higher resolution at f/2 and lower longitudinal CAs than the current 85mm f/1.8.

Oh. Reading fail. f/2 isn't too bad, as long as they tweak the optics to improve it some for wide-open. And keep the price reasonably affordable. And by that, I mean $600-700. Much more and it's starting to get into some L-sale/refurb prices. Granted, maybe not on the 85L, but still.

 

[deleteme]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

Finally a 50mm with a decent AF system?
The 135mm f/2 L IS would be lovely for weddings!

I agree but if their recent offerings are any guide it would be an f2.8.

 

[mwh1964]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

If the 35 f2 is represents what to be expected, then there is no doubt that we all are in for a treat.

 

[Twostones]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

I would buy these too. I hope Canon found it in their, and our, best interest to put a rubber O-ring seal on the mount. It would be a simple thing to do and would add to the popularity of the brand name. Why Canon overlooks this simple modification on all lenses puzzles me.

If weathersealing was as simple as this, all the third party lens makers would be doing it.

The rubber gasket is a bit of a placebo for weathersealing. It's important, but it's only a portion of the sealing a lens needs to be protected from dust, sand and water. A good primer on that is here: http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/02/14/how-a-lens-becomes-weather-sealed/

A guy was selling a kit to gasket-ize any EF lens for something modest, like $25, on Kickstarter, but it seems to have died despite hitting its target: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/77243737/dust-donuttm-add-a-weather-seal-to-the-mount-of-an/

I'm off-topic, sorry, but I thought I'd pass that on.

- A

When we pay for a weather sealed body it doesn't make sense to have the lens attachment unsealed. There should be a rubber seal on the mount of all lenses or a rubber seal on the body mount or you really don't have a weather sealed body. The reason a third party has not made a retro fit sealed mount available is the patented EF mount is owned by Canon. You won't see it happen if Canon doesn't do it.

 

[unfocused]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

Just my two cents, but for me, I'd find an update of the 200 mm f2.8 prime to include IS much more interesting than any of these. Unlikely, I suppose, because it might torpedo sales of the 70-200 zooms.

 

[Twostones]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

Just my two cents, but for me, I'd find an update of the 200 mm f2.8 prime to include IS much more interesting than any of these. Unlikely, I suppose, because it might torpedo sales of the 70-200 zooms.

+1

 

[RLPhoto]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

If there is a 135mm f/1.8 IS...

Shut up and take my money canon.

 

[Vossie]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

I would fancy a very sharp 50 1.4 with the same IQ as the recently announced Nikon 58mm. If it is sharper than the 24-70 ii and offers 2-stops larger aperture with fast AF, i wpuld be willing to pay the same pricetag as the Nikon 58mm.

 

[rbr]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

The 20mm f2.8 really needs an update. And while they're at it a 17 or 18 mm prime would be nice too. The 17 TSE is great, but it's bulky, doesn't take filters, lacks AF, and is very expensive. Canon needs something better than second rate zooms in that range.

 

[ahsanford]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

When we pay for a weather sealed body it doesn't make sense to have the lens attachment unsealed. There should be a rubber seal on the mount of all lenses or a rubber seal on the body mount or you really don't have a weather sealed body. The reason a third party has not made a retro fit sealed mount available is the patented EF mount is owned by Canon. You won't see it happen if Canon doesn't do it.

As I understand it, most lenses advertised as weathersealed by Canon are fully so (i.e. including that gasket you refer to) with the exception of the front element. A filter is needed for the sealing to be 'complete'.

One exception I am aware of is a longer lens like the 300 F/4 or the 100-400 (I forget which) that is weathersealed except for the gasket on the lens mount. They just didn't include it for some reason.

The point I was making previously is that a rubber gasket on the lens mount doesn't do much if all access points (switches, silding elements in the case of zooms or external focusers, etc.) aren't also weathersealed. That's why non-sealed lenses from Canon don't bother with a rubber gasket, I would assume -- it would be like having an almost water-tight hull of a boat.

- A

 

[Stone]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

I know I'm in the minority, but I find the 50mm range boring, I much prefer 35mm so no interest there. I'm very happy with my 85 1.8, adding IS won't do a thing to freeze motion, it might allow you to go up a click in ISO but then I consider it a wash. If a 135L f2 IS is released, THAT would get my attention and my money.

 

[EverydayGetaway]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

Finally a 50mm with a decent AF system?
The 135mm f/2 L IS would be lovely for weddings!

I agree but if their recent offerings are any guide it would be an f2.8.

How do you figure that? There recent offerings have been the same apertures as the lenses they replaced...

-24/2.8 replaced by 24/2.8 IS
-28/2.8 replaced by 28/2.8 IS
-35/2 replaced by 35/2 IS

Get the picture? I think Canon's original plan was to just start updating all the old Primes that lacked USM focusing and then they realized that adding IS was a good idea so they've stuck with it and now it appears they're going to carry it over into the lenses which already had USM (which is great!). I don't get why people refuse to accept new technology. If you don't want IS, turn it off...

If the rumor is right then it makes perfect sense that the new 50mm will be a 1.8, which is fine. People claiming they NEED f/1.4 are usually amateurs with a "bokeh" fetish. There's not a whole lot of DOF difference between f/1.4-f/1.8. When shooting on FF you'll need to stop to f/2-2.8 for most subjects anyway, unless you really just want one eye or one tiny sliver of your subject in focus... the internet is ridiculous. I'd buy a 50/1.8 IS with optical quality matching the other new IS primes in a heart beat, I'd even be fine with it being an f/2 lens, possibly even a f/2.8 (which it won't be).

 

[Drizzt321]

Re: IS Versions of the 50mm, 85mm & 135mm Coming? [CR1]

I'm very happy with my 85 1.8, adding IS won't do a thing to freeze motion, it might allow you to go up a click in ISO but then I consider it a wash. If a 135L f2 IS is released, THAT would get my attention and my money.

I was saying the same thing, but if the 85mm is improved optically a decent amount and only lose a 1/3 of a stop (f/1.8 -> f/2), that's not too bad of a tradeoff. Unless they jack the price up to $1k. Then they should just go ahead and give it an L treatment, even if it's not going to be the same as the 85mm f/1.2.