Here is link to lenstips review of Canon 85mm 1.4L
https://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=526
https://www.lenstip.com/index.php?test=obiektywu&test_ob=526
jaell said:I'm getting mixed results. I'll shoot a burst of shots on a still subject, with a high shutter speed, and in DPP the AF point is the same in all the shots, but up to 1/3 of the shots in the burst will drift to back focus.
I'm going to have to do some AFMA to rule out just back focus issues. It's just weird when I take 3 shots in a row, with the first and third focusing right where I want, and the send focusing maybe a half inch further away--and the subject hasn't moved, and I'm shooting at 1/100th or faster, so the three shots are completed in maybe 1/3rd of a second, with the IS on, and a non-moving subject.
The shots that are on are sharp as a tack, though.
I am not sure that reviews are really all that helpful. They seem to dwell on obscure, technical definitions of image quality such as MTF charts rather than the talking about the usability of the lens or whether the it is capable of producing pictures that will sell.arthurbikemad said:I really wanted to hear great things about this lens, I sold my 1.2II in the hope the new 1.4 would be stellar, reading though right now I was half way through dialing up sales to buy one now its finally in stock here in the UK, the last straw for me with my 1.2II was a few weeks back shooting some static bikes with lots of blue, the fringing was so bad upon removal I was eating away blue from the subject to remove it, I decided the time had come to sell it on even though it's given me some classic portraits of my little girl. I think for now I will stick with my 24-70II and 70-200II and just live with f/2.8 and the rendering, perhaps I have been spoilt with the new 35/1.4 and it's truly wonderful characteristics, the new 35 defiantly has the magic, shame the 85 has some negative press so far.
Random Orbits said:I think I've been spoiled by the superlative AF performance of the 35L II and the 24-70 f/2.8 II. With those lenses, I leave the camera in servo AF and use BBF exclusively. With the the 85L f/1.4 IS, the accuracy isn't as good for static subjects with servo. I can see/hear the camera (5D4) dithering/micro hunting even when the subject isn't moving. I might have to try it in one shot for portraits instead or take a burst. Hopefully this will be addressed with a firmware update.
What I was surprised with was how WELL it worked for a girls basketball game shooting wide open. The keeper rate was lower than the 24-70 f/2.8 II but it didn't feel that much lower even though the DOF was much thinner. For sports, I use single AF point only and move it around with the joystick as needed, but it's never in the center. The look with the shallow DOF is definitely a plus in this case -- gyms are ugly.
ahsanford said:Really surprised to hear these comments -- thanks for sharing.
With WA primes, I'm almost always shooting One Shot AF in non-burst situations, so that may explain my (effectively perfect) AF experience with that lens. But I was using off-center AF points for sure, and they worked perfectly.
- A
Ian_of_glos said:Random Orbits said:I think I've been spoiled by the superlative AF performance of the 35L II and the 24-70 f/2.8 II. With those lenses, I leave the camera in servo AF and use BBF exclusively. With the the 85L f/1.4 IS, the accuracy isn't as good for static subjects with servo. I can see/hear the camera (5D4) dithering/micro hunting even when the subject isn't moving. I might have to try it in one shot for portraits instead or take a burst. Hopefully this will be addressed with a firmware update.
What I was surprised with was how WELL it worked for a girls basketball game shooting wide open. The keeper rate was lower than the 24-70 f/2.8 II but it didn't feel that much lower even though the DOF was much thinner. For sports, I use single AF point only and move it around with the joystick as needed, but it's never in the center. The look with the shallow DOF is definitely a plus in this case -- gyms are ugly.
Most of the time I would expect the 35mm F1.4 or the 24-70 F2.8 to exhibit greater depth of field than the 85mm F1.4 - so the 85mm the lens would try and adjust focus even if your subject only moved very slightly. This might explain the hunting that you are seeing, but it is a characteristic of the focal length and the aperture not this particular lens.
I am amazed that you are able to keep a single AF point positioned over the action with a fast moving sport such as basket ball. I need to use zone AF to keep my AF point positioned in approximately the right place but I also need to stop down a little to increase my chances of having enough of the action in focus.
I must admit that I had not considered using my 85mm F1.4 for sport, but now I am keen to try it out to see how it performs.
Well to be honest I bought the lens yesterday, but today has been so busy I have not even had time to take it out of its box yet.Random Orbits said:Ian_of_glos said:Random Orbits said:I think I've been spoiled by the superlative AF performance of the 35L II and the 24-70 f/2.8 II. With those lenses, I leave the camera in servo AF and use BBF exclusively. With the the 85L f/1.4 IS, the accuracy isn't as good for static subjects with servo. I can see/hear the camera (5D4) dithering/micro hunting even when the subject isn't moving. I might have to try it in one shot for portraits instead or take a burst. Hopefully this will be addressed with a firmware update.
What I was surprised with was how WELL it worked for a girls basketball game shooting wide open. The keeper rate was lower than the 24-70 f/2.8 II but it didn't feel that much lower even though the DOF was much thinner. For sports, I use single AF point only and move it around with the joystick as needed, but it's never in the center. The look with the shallow DOF is definitely a plus in this case -- gyms are ugly.
Most of the time I would expect the 35mm F1.4 or the 24-70 F2.8 to exhibit greater depth of field than the 85mm F1.4 - so the 85mm the lens would try and adjust focus even if your subject only moved very slightly. This might explain the hunting that you are seeing, but it is a characteristic of the focal length and the aperture not this particular lens.
I am amazed that you are able to keep a single AF point positioned over the action with a fast moving sport such as basket ball. I need to use zone AF to keep my AF point positioned in approximately the right place but I also need to stop down a little to increase my chances of having enough of the action in focus.
I must admit that I had not considered using my 85mm F1.4 for sport, but now I am keen to try it out to see how it performs.
You'll have to let us know whether or not you're finding some type of AF hunting/inconsistency that Viggo and I are seeing in AF servo when you get your copy in. I don't recall having the issue with the 85L II -- that is a ponderously slow lens but it is accurate. Again, I'm not having a problem in AI servo when the subject is moving, and perhaps that's because I'm expecting missed shots from time to time, but I was satisfied with the keeper rate with moving subjects.
I link the AF point to camera orientation, and pictures of offense are better than defense so the AF point doesn't have to be adjusted that quickly often. Landscape orientation when the players are crossing the court and then portrait orientation when there's a shot on the basket. I'm dealing with 8 year olds, so it's not super fast, but they are smaller subjects. I've never really tried zone AF much... I find it easier to select the AF point manually and pan especially in team sports where there are other players passing in front of my subject in the frame.
Viggo said:Will be interesting to see more people’s experience for sure!
I must clearify, mine doesn’t hunt, there’s no way of telling when shooting that it suddenly misses. I focuses quick and locks, I take the shot and it’s way off.
But, keep in mind, this isn’t like the Sigmas I used to own, and that most of you have read about, lol. I would say it works quite well, but I’m not used to having shots missed completely, the good thing is that in a burst where it misses the very next shot is sharp. Expect some weird misses and less great hitrate, but it’s better than the 1.8 and the 50 L.
Another point is that I, personally, only use Ai Servo
I don’t expect it being a faulty lens or camera, I just expected better, it being a new L and so on. Still my most used lens.
Viggo said:I must clearify, mine doesn’t hunt, there’s no way of telling when shooting that it suddenly misses. I focuses quick and locks, I take the shot and it’s way off.
Viggo said:Another point is that I, personally, only use Ai Servo
I don’t expect it being a faulty lens or camera, I just expected better, it being a new L and so on. Still my most used lens.