50mm 1.2L Date Codes

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bensassophotog
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p.1 #1 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

I am in the market for a canon 50mm 1.2L and would love some help on the date codes.

I know that some have the infamous focus issues and want to make sure I end up with a sharp and well working copy.

Can someone let me know which date codes are safe to buy? I tried the Google machine but ended up with answers that were all over the place.

Thanks!

Nov 29, 2012 at 04:08 PM

Beni
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p.1 #2 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Are there any which don't display the focus shift? I understood that it was a design issue due to not having a floating element and not a manufacturing error.

Nov 29, 2012 at 04:36 PM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #3 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Yes all the 50/1,2 lenses have focus shift. From the first to the last one. Not a big deal for me when shooting, but all have it.

Nov 29, 2012 at 04:47 PM

mttran
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p.1 #4 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Lars Johnsson wrote:
Yes all the 50/1,2 lenses have focus shift. From the first to the last one. Not a big deal for me when shooting, but all have it.

+1, an optical bending light effects @ stepped down aperture like many others fast lenses under 50mm from canon, nikon, pentax, zeiss....that makes your focal plane to be different than your optical plan when using off center AF sensor(s). The focus shift was caused by your body with lesser AF but not from the lenses...

It has been discussed here: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1168807/2#11149305

I have tried UW and UX, both works as expected. No complaint from me.

Nov 29, 2012 at 10:50 PM

mttran
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p.1 #5 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Let use this SLRGEAR 24mm f/1.4 usm II MTF model: http://slrgear.com/reviews/zproducts/canon24f14l2/ff/tloader.htm

to illustrate the aperture light bending effects of your image plane to be shifted after your focal plane has been set:

1) AF sensor(s) read the default optical plane for AF. Using the above GUI to see your f1.4 optical plane at wideopen and remember your focus plane position.

2) Let say you want to shoot at f2 and use off center AF for your shot. Using the above GUI to see your f2 optical plane position. This optical plane position is your final image

3) Compare your focus point from last two optical planes (f1.4 and f2) to see why your image is in backfocus. The closer to the center the less bending effects you will get.

Who to blame now: Lens or Body...i would say the BODY. Some bodies have on-board fast lense database to offset the bending effects, but most don't and we do have a long list of canon fast lenses from 14 to 50mm.

Edited on Nov 30, 2012 at 12:20 AM · View previous versions

Nov 30, 2012 at 12:03 AM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #6 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

I bought one in early 2008 and it's been the friggen bee's knees!

Nov 30, 2012 at 12:17 AM

big country
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p.1 #7 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

i have a UV date code and i use it more than any other lens when shooting portraits & weddings.

Nov 30, 2012 at 12:27 AM

bensassophotog
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p.1 #8 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Sweet. Thanks for the help guys. I just bought one and will be using it on the 5d II but I use my center focus point so I should be good to go!

Nov 30, 2012 at 12:33 AM

mttran
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p.1 #9 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Congrat, now you can laught it off all of those 50L nonsense news.

Nov 30, 2012 at 02:10 AM

saneproduction
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p.1 #10 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Exactly 50L is my favorite lens. Don't let the Internet scare you

Nov 30, 2012 at 02:28 AM

misterOphoto
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p.1 #11 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

If you're still curious about Date Codes:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx

Nov 30, 2012 at 03:39 AM

dwweiche
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p.1 #12 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

mttran wrote:
Let use this SLRGEAR 24mm f/1.4 usm II MTF model: http://slrgear.com/reviews/zproducts/canon24f14l2/ff/tloader.htm

to illustrate the aperture light bending effects of your image plane to be shifted after your focal plane has been set:

1) AF sensor(s) read the default optical plane for AF. Using the above GUI to see your f1.4 optical plane at wideopen and remember your focus plane position.

2) Let say you want to shoot at f2 and use off center AF for your shot. Using the above GUI to see your f2 optical plane position. This optical plane position is your final image

3) Compare your focus point from last two optical planes (f1.4 and f2) to see why your image is in backfocus. The closer to the center the less bending effects you will get.

Who to blame now: Lens or Body...i would say the BODY. Some bodies have on-board fast lense database to offset the bending effects, but most don't and we do have a long list of canon fast lenses from 14 to 50mm.

I thought traditional focus shift was an optical phenomenon whereby you focus once (you can use center point), do not refocus for any subsequent shots, but just stop down and continue to shoot, you will see depth-of-field increase, but also shift. In some instances, I think dependent on distance to subject, the shift could cause your intended target to be outside the plane of sharp focus.

Nov 30, 2012 at 03:51 AM

dwweiche
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p.1 #13 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

This is what I am referring to:
http://diglloyd.com/articles/Focus/FocusShift.html

Nov 30, 2012 at 03:55 AM

mttran
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p.1 #14 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

dwweiche wrote:
mttran wrote:
Let use this SLRGEAR 24mm f/1.4 usm II MTF model: http://slrgear.com/reviews/zproducts/canon24f14l2/ff/tloader.htm

to illustrate the aperture light bending effects of your image plane to be shifted after your focal plane has been set:

1) AF sensor(s) read the default optical plane for AF. Using the above GUI to see your f1.4 optical plane at wideopen and remember your focus plane position.

2) Let say you want to shoot at f2 and use off center AF for your shot. Using the above GUI to see your f2 optical plane position. This optical plane position is your final image

3) Compare your focus point from last two optical planes (f1.4 and f2) to see why your image is in backfocus. The closer to the center the less bending effects you will get.

Who to blame now: Lens or Body...i would say the BODY. Some bodies have on-board fast lense database to offset the bending effects, but most don't and we do have a long list of canon fast lenses from 14 to 50mm.

I thought traditional focus shift was an optical phenomenon whereby you focus once (you can use center point), do not refocus for any subsequent shots, but just stop down and continue to shoot, you will see depth-of-field increase, but also shift. In some instances, I think dependent on distance to subject, the shift could cause your intended target to be outside the plane of sharp focus.

What you said ...works wells for an old film system where focus system and lens aperture can be controlled separately by the user. Our DSLR does not work that way. DLSR AF system performs it function while lens at wide open and our image sensor recording image right after the aperture stopping down. Below is a sample to illustrate the camera and lens sequence. Please, note the black square as our focus point.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Our AF focal plane stay the same where image focal plane has been flattered out by lens stepping down to f2.8. This DSLR focus shift phenomenon is a bit different than older film system

Edited on Nov 30, 2012 at 06:01 AM · View previous versions

Nov 30, 2012 at 04:56 AM

dwweiche
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p.1 #15 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

I think we are losing something in translation, and talking about two different phenomenon. The focus shift I am referring to is not related to an "old system" no more than yours. In fact the Diglloyd link has examples at center point AF with a 1Ds3 and 50L f/1.2. The pictures show the shift.

Not saying the field curvature issue you are showing isn't real. I can see how it could throw off focus using outer points, but what I am calling "focus shift" is not what you are illustrating.

Nov 30, 2012 at 05:08 AM

mttran
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p.1 #16 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Asummed our DSLR has only one AF point (no more than one AF sensor) then the focus shift phenomenon might be easy to explain in both Diglloyd case and the case that i present here.

Too bad, our current Canon DSLR has more than one AF sensor(s) and all of them reading the object focal plane then reporting to AF firmware at the same time. At this point who knows what canon AF firmware is doing and which AF main sensor has controlled the focal plane. I hate to say this... when the focal plane has shifted at an angle, all light break loose by canon AF firmware since we don't know which sensor has the best contrast to wrap on (even only one AF sensor was actived). As long we have our focal plan that in parrallel with our image sensor then we can rely on center AF point to do its jobs. Another word, Diglloyd case spells posible different phenomenon: AF sensor shifting malfunction of canon AF firmware when shooting image in an angle with a busy background. I don't trust canon AF whenever we have multiple bright contrast points or busy background suround our main object. It always spells "trouble"

To prove my point, i have never experienced 50L focus shift with any canon DSLR when using center AF sensor.

Nov 30, 2012 at 05:51 AM

saneproduction
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p.1 #17 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

Sorry, but in real use all this debate is worthless.

Nov 30, 2012 at 06:40 AM

Lars Johnsson
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p.1 #18 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

mttran wrote:

To prove my point, i have never experienced 50L focus shift with any canon DSLR when using center AF sensor.

The 50L like many other lenses have focus shift when using the center AF. And Diglloyd also show this. He have a lot of tests and articles about it. But most of them are in the paid section.

Edited on Nov 30, 2012 at 06:46 AM · View previous versions

Nov 30, 2012 at 06:45 AM

mttran
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p.1 #19 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

saneproduction wrote:
Sorry, but in real use all this debate is worthless.

Yes, it is - when it can be fine tuned with Eg-S after AF for best 1/3 dof

Nov 30, 2012 at 06:46 AM

saneproduction
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p.1 #20 · 50mm 1.2L Date Codes

EG-S has kept me from the 5D3... EG-S FTW

Nov 30, 2012 at 06:53 AM

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