I plan on upgrading to a 5D mkii maybe within a year or two... but I love the images I've seen from the 85mm f/1.2 mkii. Is this lens worth it on a crop body 1.6x?
I pretty much only find 1ds/1d/5d photos on this lens... and i know you can't quite get the same creamy thin DOF w/ crop bodies on this lens, but can you guys post shots from this lens on a crop body cam?
I've shot with this lens on a 20D/30D and found it gave me good results. If you know that 85mm is going to work for you on the crop body and you've got the $$$, I'd say go for it. Be aware of the slow autofocus, though. Even though it's USM, it's not anything like other USM lenses you may be used to...
Since you plan on a couple of years anyway why not buy the much cheaper 85mm f1.8 and play with it. DOF can be pretty thin with a 1.8 too and it focuses much faster.
Bokeh is very much related to how shallow the DOF is. The difference in DOF between FF and crop is about the difference you see by closing down a stop. When you use the 85 1.2 wide open on a crop, you'll get DOF equivelant to what FF gives you for about 2.0. Also the crop gives you a FOV of about 135.
The DOF on the 85 1.2 wide open, is VERY shallow. Many people prefer to stop down a little, for more margin for error and simply deeper DOF coverage.
I had an 85 I. It's lovely, but I didn't like carrying it around at all. If I'm in the mood for primes, I put a 24 1.4 (I) on my 5D and a 50 1.2 on my 40D and have at it. (The 50 delivers a ton of lovely blurry soft bokeh, even on a cropper, and at 1.2, it's not quite so unforgiving as the 85 is at 1.2... way less bulky and intimidating to folks, too. Also, the famed focus shift is really a very slight thing on my copy; about 3/8" at 2.8 at 2', worst case. Never the less, I do miss my 85 once in a while)
If you have a 40D I don't recommend it because of communication issues that many 40D's have, but if you are planning an upgrade to a 5D2, why not? It's worth it! It'll also give you a great opportunity to practice handholding it and by the time the 5D2 arrives you'll be an expert (And it'll seem like an entirely different lens on the 5D2)
Here's some photos from a recent wedding, these were wide open. I found I was able to get both eyes sharp and in focus by stepping back, and the background was still very soft and buttery though
Those above shots were pretty much out of the camera except for some WB correction and a crop (they still look a tad blue to me which I need to fix)
Everyone says DOF is razor thin, but you don't really notice it on a 1.6X camera, you can easily get one eye, if not two, full sharp from eyeball to eyebrow
p.1 #16 · 85mm f/1.2 mkii worth it on a crop body?
I absolutely love my 85L on a crop (I have a used MK 1, though). I love the 85mm focal length on a crop body, and actually if I were to go full frame I'd be bummed I'd lose a stop and a third of aperture to get the same FOV with the 135L.
Works wonderfully. If you have the 85 f/1.8 and think that you're going to get a huge bump in the f/2.8-f/4 range, you'll probably be disappointed. However, the 85L is significantly sharper at f/2, and has almost no CA at that aperture, while the 85 f/1.8 still has a decent amount. Of course, there's the full extra stop if you find yourself shooting in the dark a lot (I do...and that extra stop is invaluable).
p.1 #18 · 85mm f/1.2 mkii worth it on a crop body?
Personally, I would also consider a 2d option : For the cost of the 85/1.2, you could get a second hand 5D and (almost) a 135L. IMHO, The IQ and extra stop you get in ISO with the 5D is worth it. You would still have the 85/1.8 which is great on the 5D, and the 135L would give you the a similar DOF and perspective on the 5D then the 85L on a 40D.
p.1 #19 · 85mm f/1.2 mkii worth it on a crop body?
Fred Relaix wrote:
Personally, I would also consider a 2d option : For the cost of the 85/1.2, you could get a second hand 5D and (almost) a 135L. IMHO, The IQ and extra stop you get in ISO with the 5D is worth it. You would still have the 85/1.8 which is great on the 5D, and the 135L would give you the a similar DOF and perspective on the 5D then the 85L on a 40D.
Already have the 135L also...
2nd hand 5d is not a bad idea... i just wish there was another zoom lens (24-70) that wasn't so damn expensive. I'm hoping that the new Sigma HSM 24-70 is decent. If the tamron 28-75 f/2.8 was sharper wide open it could be an option.
p.1 #20 · 85mm f/1.2 mkii worth it on a crop body?
The 1.8 is a fantastic lens at any price; I have both, but I'll always have the 1.8. I was just using it yesterday, and was (again) amazed at how sharp it is wide open, and sturdily constructed as well. It's as good a bang for buck lens as the 50 1.8 when its fine construction is factored in, IMO.
It'll also give you a great opportunity to practice handholding it and by the time the 5D2 arrives you'll be an expert