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Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
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Review Date: Nov 26, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,850.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Produces isolation with beautiful backgrounds in a way no other lens can quite match.
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Cons:
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Heavy, slow to focus on all but the 1Dx and likely the 5D3. Flimsy hood. Cameras must be on to retract the front element to put it away.
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I had not considered adding a review for the 85L II while I was using it on a 5D and 1D4, slow AF and inconsistent AF were a problem for me, particularly with portraiture. I mostly used it as a walk around lens. I know that seems odd, but I found that quite mundane still life scenes could be made far more interesting with the lenses ability to isolate an interesting element of the scene.
The 1Dx AF (and I assume the 5D3 AF) have changed all that. AF is much faster and more accurate. AI-servo is definitely useable now, which allows me to use it at parties and receptions in a way that used to produce 20% keepers for me, but now well over 50%. Hand held wide open with people moving around was not a strong suit for this lens in my hands. It is now with the 1Dx.
As an aside, I would highly recommend using Tape's FocusTune software to set MA for this lens. I never could quite settle on a correct MA with the FocusAlign alone. There is no doubt now and MA is clearly +2 compared to the uncertain +5 to +7 before (1Dx). I haven't reset MA on the 1D4 yet. The 5D front focuses a bit.
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Zeiss Makro-Planar 50mm f/2
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Review Date: May 31, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,189.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Amazingly sharp wide open, Manual focus is not even the slightest drawback
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Cons:
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Nothing except the lens cap clasps protrude of the side of the cap. One accidental touch and its gone.
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My rating of 9 reflect the stupid lens cap, otherwise it absolutely blows away any other 50mm I have ever used.
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