35L Test

FM Forum Rules
Canon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 3 4 end

Archive 2009 · 35L Test

anthonyket
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · 35L Test

Well i just brought a 35L, its a fantastic lens and generally really happy with it, as my first shots taken with it last night attest at the bottom.

I dont normally pixel peep, but i thought what the hell.

Anyhow these shots are setup with tripod, mlu, remote trigger, 100% crop centre of image, not too scientific i know but oh well...

Should the 35L @ f/1.4 be this soft or is that just the norm wide open?
I am sure i am just over analysing it...
Thoughts?? and thanks.

1. f/2 @ 1/25 vs f/1.4 @ 1/50
This image is copyrighted by the owner

2. f/2.2 @ 1/20 vs f/1.4 @ 1/50
This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:00 AM

Dawei Ye
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · 35L Test

Definitely not right, looks OOF. Were you using Autofocus or Manual focus? If autofocus, you should redo the test with manual focus. Best way is to enter live view and magnify to 10X

If you were using manual focus, I would exchange the lens.

The 35L is very sharp wide open, as sharp as my 50 f/1.8 II wide open (50 f/1.8 II is a bit better in corners wide open). They are both only a smidge worse than the 85 f/1.2LII at comparable apertures.

Shouldn't be embarrassed about pixel peeping, we all do it

I prefer to call it "consumer quality control"

Edited on Nov 13, 2009 at 07:07 AM · View previous versions

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:05 AM

trumpet_guy
Online
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · 35L Test

I wouldn't be very happy with that performance.
Others will chime in here, but I'd try to get another copy, or at least first
verify that you are nailing the focus.

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:05 AM

philber
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · 35L Test

Add another vote for "sub-par" and "unsatisfactory". And not just a little. Results might be just a tad soft at f:1.4, but f:2 and f:2.2 should be totally sharp. Anthony, does your have micro-adjust?

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:15 AM

Yohan Pamudji
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · 35L Test

Bought new? Trade it in for a replacement. Looks like an AF calibration issue, which isn't the hardest thing to get fixed, but if it's new might as well try your luck with another copy.

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:19 AM

UCSB
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · 35L Test

I would auto focus micro adjust the lens for the body you are using. I wouldn't use a test target that has so little contrast, just pick another item. I would get a baseline MF shot, but base my final opinion on the actual AF performance.

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:35 AM

jdben622
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #7 · 35L Test

I never hesitate to shoot wide open with my 35...it's super sharp @ 1.4. There might be something amiss with your testing though...your 2nd 1.4 shot looks much softer than your first one.

Edited on Nov 13, 2009 at 07:41 AM · View previous versions

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:39 AM

hsk06
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · 35L Test

you ask for trouble testing sharpness of a new lens in dim light like that.
Will you do some tests in good light so that you can just the lens fairly.
The 35L is usable-sharp wideopen
Here is one wideopen on T1i:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

f1.8:

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:40 AM

anthonyket
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · 35L Test

Yeah it was manual focus, with the use of live view, so it was definitely in focus. I'll do another test, but i'm pretty sure i nailed the focus. on the test.

damn it...

it was second hand and no warranty left, so i'll have to send it back to canon with fingers crossed, that the bill aint too high.

Nov 13, 2009 at 07:45 AM

wickerprints
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · 35L Test

To know for sure, one needs to see 100% crops from the center and each corner. I want to say that the lens is misaligned because I get the vague impression that the focus is sharper on one side than the other.

Nov 13, 2009 at 08:18 AM

Jun Zhou
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #11 · 35L Test

try to shoot outdoor with enough light.

Nov 13, 2009 at 08:26 AM

jamato8
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · 35L Test

That 1.4 is tricky but I wouldn't be happy. Something is off. I would send the camera and lens. Just a thought.

Nov 13, 2009 at 04:47 PM

Princeli
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · 35L Test

I have a 35L currently being repaired for OOF images as well. The Canon tech suggested a way for me to test the lens, that you might want to try, to more accurately identify what's going on.

He told me to get 4 cans, preferable, the same.. ie., 4 cans of campbell's soup.
Put them in good light (I had a table set up outside!) on one end of a 5' table, and line them up at a 45 degree angle... I had each of my cans one whole can length behind the other, so from above, they made a perfect 45 degree line from a spot towards the center of the table towards the outer corner.

Next, with the camera resting on the opp end of the table, I focused on the 3rd can, wide open. I chose the 3rd from the front, using a single focus point.

Of 20 images I took, ALL of them had the 3rd can OOF, and the 4th can, though blurry, in better focus than the 3rd, and hence, it was clearly back focusing...

I HOPE TO GOD THEY FIX IT THIS TIME. THIS WILL BE ITS SECOND TRIP BACK SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW, it has never, focused properly.

I sent my 5D in with the lens this time too...

I thought this was a cool real life way of testing... which they prefered to the chart.

Nov 13, 2009 at 05:13 PM

pjbishop
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · 35L Test

By all means test the lens in good light, but the 35L should be a champ in low light, too. I wish you luck and hope that Canon fixes it for you, Anthony, and you too, Princell.

Nov 13, 2009 at 08:34 PM

Mike Tuomey
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #15 · 35L Test

i've owned 2 copies of the 35L. both needed a service trip for calibration based on my own 45 deg ruler test wide open. both came back much better, although the 2nd one, which i still own, came back slightly better than the first. i wonder whether this lens has bit of copy variation, but my sample of 2 proves nothing of course.

i second sending it in provided the prior owner will not stand behind the lens - good luck with the service.

incidentally, i had the same experience with a 50L. never a problem with any canon lens with a focal length > 50mm.

Nov 13, 2009 at 08:42 PM

anthonyket
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · 35L Test

ok just did another test this morning and results below:
as above: mlu, tripod, remote shutter release, live view @ 10x mag, (-1 ec) as it was pretty bright this morning, aperture priority, 100% centre of image crops in LR

Did the cans test, with the focus targeted on the crane, from f/2 onwards it becomes acceptable, anything below that looks very similar to f/1.4

35L f/1.4 @ 1/6400 vs f/1.8 @ 1/4000

35L f/1.4 @ 1/6400 vs f/2 @ 1/3200

35L f/1.4 @ 1/6400 vs f/2.8 @ 1/1600

Nov 13, 2009 at 09:28 PM

Jun Zhou
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #17 · 35L Test

I think your lens need a service from Canon. none of them look sharp to me. at 1.4 and 2.0. I am wondering where is your focus point.

Nov 13, 2009 at 09:41 PM

alanwarp
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · 35L Test

Jun Zhou wrote:
I think your lens need a service from Canon. none of them look sharp to me. at 1.4 and 2.0. I am wondering where is your focus point.

+1 that's not right for the 35L.

Nov 13, 2009 at 09:46 PM

Princeli
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #19 · 35L Test

I LOVE YOUR TEA CANS!!!!!

Send the lens back!!!

* Lisa

Nov 13, 2009 at 09:46 PM

Princeli
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · 35L Test

Jun Zhou wrote:
I think your lens need a service from Canon. none of them look sharp to me. at 1.4 and 2.0. I am wondering where is your focus point.

I think he said he was focusing on the crane

Nov 13, 2009 at 09:47 PM

1 2 3 4 end
FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 4 end