85Lii focus on 1D / 5DIII ?

futureal33

futureal33

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Hi all

I currently own a Sigma 85mm 1.4 which I have been using on a few different camera's over time, and currently on my 5Dmk1 and 5Dmk3.
The lens is great, and I regularly shoot it at 1.4 without too much worry - although find that f1.4 can result in some soft photos if the subject distance is a bit further away..
Anyway.

One of the reasons I bought it was for the improved speed of the AF vs the Canon 1.2 L - which for using on my cameras at the time 5Dmk2 and 40D, was important.

I just wondered if anyone has used the 85L II on a Canon body with decent speed AF system, such as the 1 series or new 5Dmk3?
Is it any quicker?

Feedback much appreciated!

Thanks
 
I found AF on the 1D2/1D3/1Ds3 faster and more reliable than on a 5D2. But a 50/1.4 or 70-200/2.8 always seemed faster, so while improved it didn't make it instant. None of this is scientific, of course, just based on impressions.

I too find my 85mm less reliable the farther away the subject gets, but I suspect that is as much down to my poor technique to be honest. I find double focussing works better when I remember to do it - AF once by half pressing the shutter release then once it claims focus do it again.
 
ianmarsh said:
I found AF on the 1D2/1D3/1Ds3 faster and more reliable than on a 5D2. But a 50/1.4 or 70-200/2.8 always seemed faster, so while improved it didn't make it instant. None of this is scientific, of course, just based on impressions.

I too find my 85mm less reliable the farther away the subject gets, but I suspect that is as much down to my poor technique to be honest. I find double focussing works better when I remember to do it - AF once by half pressing the shutter release then once it claims focus do it again.
Click to expand...

Do you have the Sigma 85? It must be an aperture thing because its sharp as anything by f2.8 at any subject distance, but at f1.4 and anything over say 15ft its quite soft. Less than 15ft and even at 1.4 its razor sharp!
 
ianmarsh said:
No I've the canon 1.2. I tried a sigma for a while and though it was lovely I just preferred the shots from the canon.
Click to expand...

Could you post up any examples of where the subject distance causes softness?

I've got an example at home I will post tonight, where I am shooting a couple walking down a pier, hand in hand, and in focusing on the hand in Ai Servo mode (centre focus point), the shot is perfectly in focus (you can see the sharp area of pier where they are standing, with blur infront and behind of it, but it is just really really soft.
I sharpened this shot by over 100pts in Lightroom (wayyyy more than I would ever normally sharpen) and it now looks great - just really soft without applying that level of sharpening.

Tbh I was thinking of buying the 85L for that reason alone, so if you're getting the same thing I may need to reconsider..?

Thanks for any help :)
 
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