I have noticed that the 85L's ability to quickly lock focus is highly dependent on the camera body's AF unit. Rebel XT? Just give up. 5D2, it'll happen eventually. 1D3, not rapid but it gets the job done.
So the question is: Does the 85L lock focus faster with the new AF unit in the 5D3/1Dx? If so - how much quicker? Have the new camera bodies reduced your frustration with the cannonball?
kezeka wrote:
So the question is: Does the 85L lock focus faster with the new AF unit in the 5D3/1Dx? If so - how much quicker? Have the new camera bodies reduced your frustration with the cannonball?
Absolutely!! I went from 5D2 to 5D3 and it's a world of difference on that lens. I now use "outer" AF points with impunity and have been very happy with the speed, accuracy, and sensitivity (focus in low-light). World of difference from 5D2.
Yes. My 85L II focuses faster on my 1DX. This was a failry common comment on a recent thread on 1DX/5DIII. I can't remember which specific thread.
OTOH, I never had much problem or frustration with the 85L II AF performance on the 1DIII, 1DsIII and 1DIV, either. Maybe not quite as fast, but completely acceptable. It depends a lot on how you have AF set up. In low light, I gravitate towards the centre AF point, and that was just fine on the Mk III bodies. Finally, it depends a great deal on your expectations. It's no speed demon for initial acquisition, but generally it tracks quite well in AI Servo, if you can stay on target.
Don't have an issue with AF speed on the the 1D X at all. I think the focus speed is rather quick on the 1D X. I'll find out about the 5D III after this weekend, but I expect it to be as quick as the 1D X. The 85 II is only slightly slower on the 1D IV. and
My 85/1,2 & 50/1,2 and other fast lenses focus a bit faster on my 1DX. But more important is that they also have a lot better and more accurate focus on that body
Russ Isabella wrote:
Fast enough that I've not yet had cause to think about AF while using the 85L II on my 1Dx for shooting NCAA gymnastics. It's become a non-issue.
To me it's less a question of speed than accuracy. With lesser bodies, such as the 5D2, I had to be lucky to get an in-focus shot, but with the 1DX / 5D3 it's right on. Whether it's faster or not I honestly can't tell you.
This is all incredibly helpful! I'll have to grab an eval copy of the 5D3 and see if it is conducive for my shooting style sometime in the coming months. I was hoping to skip the 5D3 and hold out a few more years for the mkIV but this may be what breaks that camels back.
Also - I was under the impression that the 50 1.2 was always the faster focusing lens of the two.
kezeka wrote:
Also - I was under the impression that the 50 1.2 was always the faster focusing lens of the two.
Yes by far. But it's also probably the most polarizing lens in the Canon lineup - and I don't say it only because I'm one of the "haters" - I really feel that for every lover there's a hater, which is unparalleled. The 85L - not so much; it's uniformly loved, except for the AF speed.
focus accuracy should be the same, but speed should be a tad faster on the 1dx, just as focussing an 85L was faster on previous 1D's compared to 5DII. Reason is the slightly higher voltage of the battery (and no, a battery pack for the 5d3 doesn't change this).
With lenses that focus already fast the difference is much, much smaller but the 85L is kind of a strange beast. That said, I think it's fine on the 5D III. I use it as a portrait lens for, mostly, non-moving objects. When I need more speed I pull out the 70-200.
stanj wrote:
To me it's less a question of speed than accuracy. With lesser bodies, such as the 5D2, I had to be lucky to get an in-focus shot, but with the 1DX / 5D3 it's right on. Whether it's faster or not I honestly can't tell you.
I went from 5D2 to 5D3 and it's a world of difference on that lens. I now use "outer" AF points with impunity and have been very happy with the speed, accuracy, and sensitivity (focus in low-light). World of difference from 5D2.