Patent: EF 85mm f/1.2L III and Others

[CarlTN]

I have to take issue with it being sharp wide open. It's not remotely as sharp at f/1.2, as for example the 135L is at its wide open f/2 (not even in the center...and at the borders the 85L is pretty soft, and suffers from coma). Also, the 85L has a fairly high vignette anywhere near wide open aperture.

My copy of the 85II L is really sharp wide open. It's sharper than my 135L wide open. My 2nd photographer's copy isn't quite as sharp as mine but it's still very sharp.

I'm really not that fussed about coma, it's very easily correctable. The point of the 85IIL is that it's a portraiture lens, hence the soft corners, dreamy bokeh and strong vignette wide open...it's an optical photoshop look...and really works wonders with portraits.

No doubt there's sample variation, I suspect you have a soft 135 and the 85 I rented was slightly soft. I fully realize it's a portrait lens. But as for coma being "easily correctable", I'm not sure how you do that.

 

[tron]

I have to take issue with it being sharp wide open. It's not remotely as sharp at f/1.2, as for example the 135L is at its wide open f/2 (not even in the center...and at the borders the 85L is pretty soft, and suffers from coma). Also, the 85L has a fairly high vignette anywhere near wide open aperture.

My copy of the 85II L is really sharp wide open. It's sharper than my 135L wide open. My 2nd photographer's copy isn't quite as sharp as mine but it's still very sharp.

I'm really not that fussed about coma, it's very easily correctable. The point of the 85IIL is that it's a portraiture lens, hence the soft corners, dreamy bokeh and strong vignette wide open...it's an optical photoshop look...and really works wonders with portraits.

No doubt there's sample variation, I suspect you have a soft 135 and the 85 I rented was slightly soft. I fully realize it's a portrait lens. But as for coma being "easily correctable", I'm not sure how you do that.

@CarlTN +1 on your coma comment.

@GMCPhotographics Vey interesting on coma correction! Maybe you know something we don't

http://www.lenstip.com/189.7-Lens_review-Canon_EF_85_mm_f_1.2L_II_USM_Coma_and_astigmatism.html

 

[CarlTN]

I have to take issue with it being sharp wide open. It's not remotely as sharp at f/1.2, as for example the 135L is at its wide open f/2 (not even in the center...and at the borders the 85L is pretty soft, and suffers from coma). Also, the 85L has a fairly high vignette anywhere near wide open aperture.

My copy of the 85II L is really sharp wide open. It's sharper than my 135L wide open. My 2nd photographer's copy isn't quite as sharp as mine but it's still very sharp.

I'm really not that fussed about coma, it's very easily correctable. The point of the 85IIL is that it's a portraiture lens, hence the soft corners, dreamy bokeh and strong vignette wide open...it's an optical photoshop look...and really works wonders with portraits.

No doubt there's sample variation, I suspect you have a soft 135 and the 85 I rented was slightly soft. I fully realize it's a portrait lens. But as for coma being "easily correctable", I'm not sure how you do that.

@CarlTN +1 on your coma comment.

@GMCPhotographics Vey interesting on coma correction! Maybe you know something we don't

http://www.lenstip.com/189.7-Lens_review-Canon_EF_85_mm_f_1.2L_II_USM_Coma_and_astigmatism.html

Thanks for the link! I think even the Zeiss Otus 55mm has some coma on full frame borders and corners, at wide aperture, but it's probably better than the 85L. I don't feel like searching for it right now. If it has .000 % coma even in the FF corners at f/1.4, I'd be very surprised.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

Apologies guys, getting my loca and coma confused....but it's not something which is much of an issue with portraiture, I've never pointed this lens at the stary night sky. With all large aperture prime lenses, one has to take the vices with it's benefits. It's not a perfect general lens but it takes some fine portraits.
I have used it for landscape work, which showed that my copy is very sharp wide open and stopped down. But it's heavy for an 85mm prime and it's max stopped down aperture of f16 is a bit short for star bursts

Not many users of this lens are that fussed by weather sealing. Adding a rubber ring doesn't really add much to it's weather sealing capacity. I've ridden my 85IIL in quite heavy rain and not had any issues:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23849425@N06/4494339793/in/photostream/

 

[vscd]

[...]this lens has really bad LOCA that's difficult to fix in post[...]

Did you try DXO Optics? I have no problem with LOCA/CA after developing it in this Raw-tool. Sometimes, if they're really harsh I also use RawTherapy for manually optimze some pictures... but normally all optical problems are gone after a stock conversion. And..no, this is no advert. But in the beginning I also thought the OOC-JPG is the final picture... but hell, there is so much more to get of your pictures. Especially with the 85LII.

 

[CarlTN]

Apologies guys, getting my loca and coma confused....but it's not something which is much of an issue with portraiture, I've never pointed this lens at the stary night sky. With all large aperture prime lenses, one has to take the vices with it's benefits. It's not a perfect general lens but it takes some fine portraits.
I have used it for landscape work, which showed that my copy is very sharp wide open and stopped down. But it's heavy for an 85mm prime and it's max stopped down aperture of f16 is a bit short for star bursts

Not many users of this lens are that fussed by weather sealing. Adding a rubber ring doesn't really add much to it's weather sealing capacity. I've ridden my 85IIL in quite heavy rain and not had any issues:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23849425@N06/4494339793/in/photostream/

Well they sure are bothered by the Sigma 35 Art not having a rubber ring...I guess if it cost $2000, then they wouldn't have a problem? lol.

 

[CarlTN]

[...]this lens has really bad LOCA that's difficult to fix in post[...]

Did you try DXO Optics? I have no problem with LOCA/CA after developing it in this Raw-tool. Sometimes, if they're really harsh I also use RawTherapy for manually optimze some pictures... but normally all optical problems are gone after a stock conversion. And..no, this is no advert. But in the beginning I also thought the OOC-JPG is the final picture... but hell, there is so much more to get of your pictures. Especially with the 85LII.

I'm surprised how good LR is with LOCA/CA...

 

[vscd]

>I'm surprised how good LR is with LOCA/CA...

Of course, this is another fine tool for those tasks. I also use LR5 for some specific pictures, but I don't like the workflow. I hate to import every picture into a tool, just to see a JPG of my RAW.

 

[CarlTN]

>I'm surprised how good LR is with LOCA/CA...

Of course, this is another fine tool for those tasks. I also use LR5 for some specific pictures, but I don't like the workflow. I hate to import every picture into a tool, just to see a JPG of my RAW.

I'm with you there, agreed! It's kind of like adobe acting like they are the government, deciding where and when your files can be organized!

 

[saveyourmoment]

Can we expext something new about a 85 1.2/1.8 this year? The 35 1.4 ii is out, so it is time fir a new high quality 85 prime.