View Full Version : Canon 85mm 1.2L
Well it finally turned up courtesy of UPS this morning. First impressions...:love:
It's heavy!- heavier than the 40D, and nearly as heavy as the 40D with the battery grip attached and with both batteries fitted.
The lens hood instead of being the usual bayonet affair clips onto the lens and actually rotates with the focusing ring in manual focusing mode. ( Not in AF)
Manual focus on this lens is a curious electronic arrangement which requires the camera to be turned on - no power = no manual focus!
Focusing is slow - the system has some heavy glass to move around. Whilst it's slow, it seems to very positively attain focus when it gets there, and in Servo Mode it seems well capable of keeping focus on a subject moving at a moderate speed, but an action lens this definitely isn't.
This lens isn't about speed though, it's about light gathering power, paper thin DOF, and creamy bokeh. I'm not expecting this to be an easy lens to use, especially wide open at f1.2, when you're really going to have to nail the focus to avoid a disappointing blurry image, but I'm looking forward to getting to grips with it. :woot:
Congratulations mate, really looking forward to seeing some shots! :thumbs:
CT its a fantastic lens, I love it, use mine in manual focus 90% of the time.
Lets have some lens porn.
OK then - porn it is.... with apologies to the more sensitive.. :D
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2400184395_1c793fb71f_o.jpg
That Munkeh hasnt got any troosers on!
However the DOF.. thats about 8mm and the bokeh very very ... well very
tazza-oz
09-04-2008, 13:05
Beaut lens m8 :thumbs: hope to see some pics soon from you :woot:
Wow that is Rizla paper thin DOF :eek: and what gorgeous bokeh :love: Looks like you've got yourself a stunning piece of glass there CT :thumbs:
HIMUPNORTH
09-04-2008, 13:10
I have one too and reserve it for the human species where it seems to perform brilliantly. Sadly it lives in my bag too much due to laziness on my part.
antonroland
09-04-2008, 13:10
You lucky man!:thumbs:
Enjoy it and post some examples soon!
*swoons*
can i have a play?
LOL. Watch this space - I've just been and nailed a coupla guys doing the gardening.:D
They had a bit of a sweat on - brushing up the leaves...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2400245043_894789e95b_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2400244901_57c514bbbf_o.jpg
They had a girl with 'em but she wouldn't have it any price - squealed and ran off! :lol:
They do that for me to, I hope you enjoy the lens, I love mine, especially the shallow D of F gives great results :thumbs:
They had a girl with 'em but she wouldn't have it any price - squealed and ran off! :lol:
That bokeh is amazing :eek:
Wow! That is some lens although your focusing will need to be spot on!
:eek: *Gasp* :eek:
Coincidently Ive just come in from trying to snap a few Robins with my 85mm 1.8. (dont ask).
I really, REALLY lurve my 1.8 and am really happy with it .... or was!
Darn it CT! youve just gone and given me lens envy!
My poor little 1.8 now it just feels like a shabby, cheap wannabe!
Jealous me ... not a bit! *cough* ;)
I never knew you had the 85mm 1.8 Glo! :eek:
It probably does 90-95% of what this lens does without the weight, and it will certainly be more of an action proposition with it's faster AF, so I wouldn't feel too bad Glo. ;)
The 85mm 1.8 lived on my camera until I bought the 70-200mm a few months back.
I came across this shot this morning which was the 1st shot I ever took with it, (excuse the halos, tut!)
So, I thought Id try it out on my cheeky Robins... who then decided not to be so cheeky & went into hiding :bang:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f93/Glorsclaws/Copy-2-of-Picture-270137.jpg
That's pretty - must be a Linnet! :D You do get some exotica in your garden Glo!
Robins are a bit of a challenge with an 85mm lens unless they're particularly friendly
Snake Man
09-04-2008, 14:33
Looks fantastic. Any chance of seeing a picture of it on your camera?
you wouldnt think it would be heavy, being rather 'small', would ya?
Lol! the 'Linnet' turned up about last Feb, I seem to remember Ven said it probably wouldnt survive! :(
I was practically hand feeding a Robin in the garden on Sunday.
After it came down several times just inches away, I went & got the camera out, only managed the one shot before he scarpered. Didnt turn out too bad but I missed the focus on the eye. :thumbsdown:
Looks fantastic. Any chance of seeing a picture of it on your camera?
It looks just like this except it's on a 40D which is much the same size.
http://www.bluesviews.com/Assets/images/CD%20Art/30D%20and%2085.jpg
Snake Man
09-04-2008, 14:44
^^^ I can see why it weighs more than the camera. It's huge!
CScottMcQueen
09-04-2008, 14:51
I was playing with this lens at focus, its a lovely piece of kit and must admit a touch of jealousy on my part :)
But can't agree more its a heavy weight for the size of it!
Awesome lens, that DoF is insane. Lovely background blur too :D
digitalfailure
09-04-2008, 16:46
congrats on the new toy m8 :clap:
That's a lovely bokeh :)
Must be staff lens porn day today, my 400 L turned up........ 3 doors off target, but at least they got it in the right street.
Canon Bob
09-04-2008, 17:12
Mark my words CT, you'll be watching telly through the viewfinder for the next few weeks. The fly-by-wire focussing takes a little getting used to but it's sheer bliss to use.
Bob
LOL. I gotsta make an effort and put it down - it's sort of welded itself to me face at the moment. :D
:) So you are enjoying it then, having fun at 1.2 :)
It appears that this lens just sucks the life out of batteries. I shouldn't be surprised really with those long slow AF times. I guess it's an 'all or nothing' lens on all fronts!
digitalfailure
10-04-2008, 13:53
maybe the 1 series batteries would handle it better :eek:
maybe the 1 series batteries would handle it better :eek:
*cough* :schtum:
digitalfailure
10-04-2008, 17:48
Go on....you know you miss all those focus points.....and the feel, and the speed and the weather sealing and the........shall I stop now :D
I might miss the weather sealing if it ****es down on Sunday. :lol:
digitalfailure
10-04-2008, 17:55
I'm sure it doesn't rain at the bar :D
LOL Dedicated as ever DF! :D
digitalfailure
10-04-2008, 21:11
LOL Dedicated as ever DF! :D
Well, you should know me by now......If I don't touch the camera, I can't take a bad shot :lol:
Hee hee - it's really been "Lens Day" today hasn't it!
This looks like a stunner CT - better get yourself some more batteries as it sounds like you'er going to need 'em!
Canon Bob
10-04-2008, 21:54
It appears that this lens just sucks the life out of batteries. I shouldn't be surprised really with those long slow AF times. I guess it's an 'all or nothing' lens on all fronts!
I've read about this before but it only affects 40D's !
On a 5D or 30D then battery life doesn't suffer much more than any other lens and similar to an IS lens.
There are a few tricks....read this from POTN as a work around http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=483247....WimG's posts specifically.
Bob
The lens is fine on my 5D as i haven't noticed a reduction in photos i can take from one battery.
I've read about this before but it only affects 40D's !
On a 5D or 30D then battery life doesn't suffer much more than any other lens and similar to an IS lens.
There are a few tricks....read this from POTN as a work around http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=483247....WimG's posts specifically.
Bob
Well that's interesting Bob thanks mate, although opinions do seem to be divided. To be fair they weren't fresh batteries, I'd been using them for about a week anyway, but I'd normally have expected them to last longer, and I must have taken more than 40 shots just messing about with the new lens -as you do.
I will do some tests though with fresh batteries and let you know how I get on. Nothing could put me off this lens though. :love:
robbiemc
11-04-2008, 10:33
40 Shots? Blimey, that's going to be an inconvenience. Hope you get it sorted as it would be awful to not want to use the lens due to this odd battery issue.
hopefully you will get more than 40 shots
antonroland
11-04-2008, 10:42
You evil person you...:rules:
Will just have to settle for the 1.8 for now...
:sulk:
:lol:
Venomator
11-04-2008, 11:00
Nice one Cedric ... :thumbs: ... some impressive images from it so far too ... ;) ... and the bokeh is simply to die for ... :suspect:
You've got THREE gardeners ... :eek: ... how the other half live eh ... :thinking:
:D
:p
LOL. Sorry to disappoint Rog, but me and 17 other people pay for the gardening for these flats. Sorry to spoil your image of me wandering around in the East Wing looking for subjects for the 85mm. :lol:
Venomator
11-04-2008, 11:38
:lol:
:p
After seeing your pictures i went looking to see how much the f/1.2 costs , er er er no I can't afford it, I did just find one on ebay for £835 though and only 5 miles from me, luckily while my finger was hovering somebody beat me to it, phew:D
LOL. Narrow escape then Wack! :D
wow the bokeh is real nice
LOL. Narrow escape then Wack! :D
In more ways than one, I can just about get away with changing bodies as long as they're all black:nuts: but she'd notice Goliath's eye stuck on the front of one
malla1962
13-04-2008, 10:59
I have not noticed any more battery drain with this lens on my 1 series body's;)
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