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?

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.....

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

[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.

good to hear, sam.   keep us posted.

-erik

Looking forward to it as well, Sam.

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.

Sorry to hear it Sam.

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

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

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.

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.


Sorry about the news Sam.

I remember when I first received the lens at work (for obvious reasons ). 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

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

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.

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