•Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

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Archive 2006 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Ola H.
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p.67 #1 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

My point is that if you like the lens, you could send it in to get it calibrated (preferably with the body for reference despite that you don't want them to touch the body) and hopefully get perfect results. Or do you think its not a calibrational issue?

Feb 27, 2007 at 11:55 AM

eeprete
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p.67 #2 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Ola H. wrote:
My point is that if you like the lens, you could send it in to get it calibrated (preferably with the body for reference despite that you don't want them to touch the body) and hopefully get perfect results. Or do you think its not a calibrational issue?

It's not a calibration issue. Calibration can be done to adjust a lens on an individual basis. This is a more widespread issue affecting most users the same way. The more one stops down, the more it backfocuses, between about F2 and F5.6. I am on my second copy of the 1.2 lens, and while this is better, it still does it occasionally.

Feb 27, 2007 at 01:36 PM

ward1066
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p.67 #3 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Lets put it this way. The lens isn't perfect but it is a very nice lens. I shot with it for around a month and didn't notice the backfocusing issue. If you shoot a lot at less than a meter, stopped down you may notice some focusing issues. If you MF at these distances then its not a problem. I like the ec-s screen for these fast primes.

Feb 27, 2007 at 01:44 PM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #4 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Depends on what you use it for. If you bought it to use it between f/1.2-f/2 or at relatively far distances, no. But if you shoot pretty tight (headshots, etc.) stopped down to f/2.8 or more you'll likely have trouble with it.

I've had mine calibrated once. Wide-open, it's more accurate than any lens I've ever owned. But stopped down, it's useless. My lens is currently at Canon again to try to resolve the issue, but I suspect they won't be able to do anything with it.

Feb 27, 2007 at 01:49 PM

John P Mulgrew
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p.67 #5 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

I use mine for basketball and have now used it twice, I'm liking this lens a lot. I am also grateful that I am NOT a pixel peeper, guess you can find bad things in everything if you try hard enough. This was at 1.6 1/800 1600 ISO AI Servo on the N, not the best lighting. I did have some back focusing on a couple of shots but I think it was more my fault then the lens. I really think I'm going to love this lens!!!

also used it after the game for a group pic of the kids in blue, f/5 1/60 came out nice!

Feb 27, 2007 at 02:11 PM

ghuff
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p.67 #6 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

For the benefit of posters in this thread that have not kept up with the 50L "hands on" thread, my first 50L was calibrated 3 times by Canon Irvine. Once was even done with the body...and they still could not make the AF perform correctly at all ranges (close and far). So, that lens was sent back to the dealer...and exchanged for another one.... that had the same issues, which I sent back also. I have since tried 3 more copies and all seem to have the same issue, more or less. Backfocus under certain conditions.

One might think that I am negative about the lens, but I am not. As others have pointed out...optically it seems to be a good lens and if you can manually focus under certain conditions, it is good.

I liked the lens and will buy another as soon as Canon fixes the issues...but for now I don't own one.

The lens is not a fiasco, but so far I think Canon's handling of the situation has left some things to be questioned.....

Feb 27, 2007 at 02:24 PM

eeprete
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p.67 #7 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Just for kicks, I took my lens out of the bag last night and shot with it a little. It did well, even at 2.8. I've found this copy of my lens to be pretty darn sharp. Not as sharp wide open as my last one, but very close. I've found 2.2 and 3.2 to be most tricky on this copy.

Here is a 2.8 shot. Notice an almost equal amount in focus both in front of, and behind my daughters eyes.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Feb 27, 2007 at 02:32 PM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #8 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

eeprete wrote:
Here is a 2.8 shot. Notice an almost equal amount in focus both in front of, and behind my daughters eyes.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

What Ed is leaving out is that he had to focus on the fingers to get the eyes in focus.

Feb 27, 2007 at 02:34 PM

Josef Isayo
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p.67 #9 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

I use mine more than all my other lenses, including the 85L II.

Feb 27, 2007 at 02:46 PM

eeprete
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p.67 #10 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Sam Bennett wrote:
eeprete wrote:
Here is a 2.8 shot. Notice an almost equal amount in focus both in front of, and behind my daughters eyes.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

What Ed is leaving out is that he had to focus on the fingers to get the eyes in focus.

haha... nah, not that bad Sam... believe it or not, I think I focused on the nose and prayed for the best.....

Feb 27, 2007 at 03:00 PM

urbahn
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p.67 #11 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

pcho wrote:
roli_bark wrote:
I've read several people posting here, that this lens is a Fiasco.
Not sure how to relate to this.

I reutrned mine. Sometimes the focus is good and sometimes it back focuses. When I increse F stop, it back focuses even more. My dealer had the same problem when they tested it.

Look at picture below, I focused my sons left eye and the right eye is in focus and yes I checked the focus point in breezebrowser and the centre focus point was on his left eye.

Make your ouw judgement

Perry

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Feb 27, 2007 at 04:05 PM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #12 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Jan, he was focused on the eye on the right-hand side of the screen. That doesn't look off to you

Feb 27, 2007 at 04:07 PM

pcho
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p.67 #13 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

urbahn wrote:
pcho wrote:
roli_bark wrote:
I've read several people posting here, that this lens is a Fiasco.
Not sure how to relate to this.

I reutrned mine. Sometimes the focus is good and sometimes it back focuses. When I increse F stop, it back focuses even more. My dealer had the same problem when they tested it.

Look at picture below, I focused my sons left eye and the right eye is in focus and yes I checked the focus point in breezebrowser and the centre focus point was on his left eye.

Make your ouw judgement

Perry

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Isn't the DOF razor thin wide open at close ups? The photo seems fine to me, but the AF had to take some decision what part to focus sharply. My experience is that when I'm complaining about a lens it's mostly me overestimating DOF.

Sam Bennett wrote:
Jan, he was focused on the eye on the right-hand side of the screen. That doesn't look off to you

Thanks Sam and Jan as Sam said I focussed on the right of screen and his left eye. This is not the only picture that displayed this kind of a result.

Also my Dealer did similar test and concluded there was something wrong with the lens. It was not just me. Believe me I did the test on a chart with camera on a gitzo tripod and was using cable release. Took pictures at different F stops then I did similar test with 4 other L lenses 35L, 85L, 135L and 300L and they were all perfect except the 50L. No one wanted the 50L more than I and I kept convincing to myself that the lens was OK for over a month until I kept getting inconsistant results. In the end I had to give it up.

Perry

Feb 27, 2007 at 08:11 PM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #14 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Apparently my 50/1.2L is back from Canon (2nd trip) and waiting for me at the shop. Not sure if I'll have time to grab it tonight, but I'll let you guys know.

Feb 27, 2007 at 09:28 PM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #15 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

So, Canon acknowledged that "something was wrong" with the lens and that they subsequently fixed it. In brief tests around the store at f/2.8 it appears to be focusing correctly, but I'll have to wait a bit until I can do a full test.

Feb 27, 2007 at 11:18 PM

John P Mulgrew
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p.67 #16 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

[Well, if you don't have the lens, then why defend it.]

Guess it's also true if you don't have the lens then don't slam it.

Feb 28, 2007 at 01:03 AM

hahr
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p.67 #17 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

good to hear, sam. keep us posted.

-erik

Feb 28, 2007 at 01:48 AM

eeprete
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p.67 #18 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Looking forward to it as well, Sam.

Feb 28, 2007 at 01:50 AM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #19 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Hate to break it to you guys, but the lens appears to be performing only marginally better than before. It seems to be better in practical shots, almost identical on the test chart, but still no where as accurate as the 50/1.4.

Going to do some more practical stuff, but I'm about 85% sure I'll be returning it tomorrow.

Gary - FWIW, I did tests at 3ft and 5ft and it didn't seem like the lens was starting to front focus. Don't think I have time to throw together a more formal setup.

Feb 28, 2007 at 01:58 AM

ghuff
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p.67 #20 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Sorry to hear it Sam.

Well, maybe someday this issue will get all straightened out by Canon.

Feb 28, 2007 at 02:02 AM

ward1066
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p.67 #21 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

What did the work order say? Did they do anything besides adjust best focus?

Feb 28, 2007 at 02:04 AM

pcho
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p.67 #22 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Sam Bennett wrote:
Hate to break it to you guys, but the lens appears to be performing only marginally better than before. It seems to be better in practical shots, almost identical on the test chart, but still no where as accurate as the 50/1.4.

). I brought my camera to work, got my secretary into the office, shut the door and took pictures of her at f1.2, focusing on the eyes. Downloaded to computer and the eyes were blur. Took more pics at f5.6 and f8 and her eyes were blur as well, Then I put flash on camera and repeated test. Results, eye were blur again . Thats when I felt my lens was backlfocusing.

Perry

Feb 28, 2007 at 02:12 AM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #23 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Sounds like they were pretty vague on the work order. I'll ask to see it when I go in tomorrow.

Feb 28, 2007 at 02:27 AM

Sam Bennett
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p.67 #24 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

Didn't bother with the work order, but it sounds like they didn't give specifics.

Anyway, the lens has been returned. I have a 90mm TS-E on order and bought a new tripod/head/angle finder for some macro stuff I'm getting into. I'll try again with the 50L if/when Canon releases a statement about the problem and fixes it.

Mar 01, 2007 at 09:25 PM

AlpineMan
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p.67 #25 · •Hands-On• EF 50/1.2L

So is this back focusing problem common to the 50mm f1.2L?

Mar 01, 2007 at 10:08 PM


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