When shooting with the 50L and my 5D mark 2, It just isnt sharp... I've done all the AFMA stuff, using tripod for portrait work, and the only way to get it sharp is by manual focusing and using LV which i cant do when shooting fashion, seniors, ect... Any thoughts?
chrislambeth wrote:
When shooting with the 50L and my 5D mark 2, It just isnt sharp... I've done all the AFMA stuff, using tripod for portrait work, and the only way to get it sharp is by manual focusing and using LV which i cant do when shooting fashion, seniors, ect... Any thoughts?
What apertures are you using?
From my experience using it on a few bodies, if you shoot any where in the f/2 to f/4 range, it will be garbage (completely unusable). It sharpens up at other apertures, but I'd rarely call it good.
Others have had better luck. If your lens is bad, send it back and don't try to fix it with MA.
chrislambeth wrote:
ill get some pics up soon. But i have done the AFMA with the print off focus scale thing.
I am not saying that this method doesn't work, but it is tedious and often not very accurate especially at f/1.2. I would look into this, likely the MFA number is not the best chosen.
From my experience using it on a few bodies, if you shoot any where in the f/2 to f/4 range, it will be garbage (completely unusable). It sharpens up at other apertures, but I'd rarely call it good.
Others have had better luck. If your lens is bad, send it back and don't try to fix it with MA.
James, did you try more than one copy, or have that copy checked by Canon? I ask because mine isn't like that at all - it's very sharp from maybe 1.6 or 1.8 to 4, then exceptionally sharp up till diffraction kicks in.
chrislambeth wrote:
When shooting with the 50L and my 5D mark 2, It just isnt sharp... I've done all the AFMA stuff, using tripod for portrait work, and the only way to get it sharp is by manual focusing and using LV which i cant do when shooting fashion, seniors, ect... Any thoughts?
chrislambeth wrote:
When shooting with the 50L and my 5D mark 2, It just isnt sharp... I've done all the AFMA stuff, using tripod for portrait work, and the only way to get it sharp is by manual focusing and using LV which i cant do when shooting fashion, seniors, ect... Any thoughts?
Sorry, but the AF in the 5D2 is not that good. I am using the 50L on the 5D3 and works great. Same with the 35L. With the 1DS3 it was good but not nearly this good. The 5D3 AF just has a higher hit rate than any other Canon DSLR I have used (havent used the 1DX though).
I mean if the lens is sharp using manual focus with LV then its not the lens obviously.
When used with a high degree of skill and care, 50L sharpness can best be described as "adequate" - never breathtaking. Center sharpness is generally good across the board at closer distances. Peripheral sharpness is never particularly good at anything but very small apertures.
Use this lens for center-mid frame subject isolation at close to moderate distances. It's fairly weak in most other metrics.
Of all the lenses I own, this is one of the trickiest to use well yet one of the most rewarding when you get it right.
I've owned mine for about 5 years and probably taken 80-100k pictures with it.
Just for the the hell of it, try using the center focal point...spot metering with the "spot" where you want the focus to be (eye... nose...or other object), and shoot it wide open...remember, 1.2 up close has a VERY thin focal plane...so don't even breath if you are hand holding when you take the shot...
chrislambeth wrote:
When shooting with the 50L and my 5D mark 2, It just isnt sharp... I've done all the AFMA stuff, using tripod for portrait work, and the only way to get it sharp is by manual focusing and using LV which i cant do when shooting fashion, seniors, ect... Any thoughts?
Wellum, by process of elimination, if you can get it in focus using manual and not in AF, then the AF is probably off.
Yes, you can compensate with the body but it's probably a good idea to get the lens calibrated too.
chrislambeth wrote:
When shooting with the 50L and my 5D mark 2, It just isnt sharp... I've done all the AFMA stuff, using tripod for portrait work, and the only way to get it sharp is by manual focusing and using LV which i cant do when shooting fashion, seniors, ect... Any thoughts?
Send the camera and lens to CPS. My 50L is glued to my 5dii. Great lens
I need to take mine out today and really test it, it SUCKS at f/1.2. I sent it into Canon and they said it's up to specs. Tried mine on the 1DsMKIII and MKIV when I had them and now on the 1DX. Screw MA, it's the damn lens!!! My first copy was so sharp at 1.2 but I sold it to help fund something else.
John P Mulgrew wrote:
I need to take mine out today and really test it, it SUCKS at f/1.2. I sent it into Canon and they said it's up to specs. Tried mine on the 1DsMKIII and MKIV when I had them and now on the 1DX. Screw MA, it's the damn lens!!! My first copy was so sharp at 1.2 but I sold it to help fund something else.
Nops, it is not the lens. I had AF issues before I didn't correctly MFA this lens. After I found the best MFA number, it is edge on with my 5D II. You might need to run it a few times in FocalPro at f/1.2, but then you will get it right most of the time. It is one of my most favorite lenses.
