p.5 #3 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
rabbitmountain wrote:
So how is this lens different from the legend? I mean optically.
It's sharper, both wide open and stopped down. I think that's good; my subjects either don't care or think it's a bad thing.
The bokeh is not exactly the same but is quite pleasant. Character is closer to the 1.2L than to the 1.8. Color fringing is improved. The image stabilization is far more useful than I expected it to be, and the only impact I can see with it enabled is that handheld images are sharper, even at faster shutter speeds.
So optically it gets a thumbs up from me.
Note that the Sigma 85 Art is sharper still, but (to my eye) has bokeh with a somewhat 'busy' character. It also seemed to miss focus more often than the new Canon, though I can't do a side-by-side comparison because I sold the Sigma.
p.5 #5 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
epkelp wrote:
I am strongly considering this lens but I am wondering if I should get the 70-200 f/2.8 first. Also I already own the 70-200 f/4.
The 70-200/4 is an excellent lens optically. At least mine was, I had the IS version. I sold it to get the 70-200/2.8ii only because I needed the low light capability. But the 70-200/4 is reportedly sharper than the 70-200/2.8v1. I am even considering picking up a used one to bring on travels to enlighten my bag
If you shoot portraits then either a used 85/1.2ii or this new 85/1.4 seems like a great idea.
p.5 #6 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
rabbitmountain wrote:
The 70-200/4 is an excellent lens optically. At least mine was, I had the IS version. I sold it to get the 70-200/2.8ii only because I needed the low light capability. But the 70-200/4 is reportedly sharper than the 70-200/2.8v1. I am even considering picking up a used one to bring on travels to enlighten my bag
If you shoot portraits then either a used 85/1.2ii or this new 85/1.4 seems like a great idea.
My primary focus is landscape photography, which is why I have the f/4 version. I would mainly be using the 85mm for family and other portraits.
p.5 #7 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
epkelp wrote:
My primary focus is landscape photography, which is why I have the f/4 version. I would mainly be using the 85mm for family and other portraits.
Then in your case I would not even consider the 2.8 v1 zoom. You add weight and cost and drop a little sharpness. So by all means put the money towards an 85
p.5 #8 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
Back to topic: I am wondering if it could be worth switching from 85/1.2II to the new lens, taking into account that current prices are 2279 for the 1.2 vs 1629 for the 1.4.
I suppose I would gain AF speed and IS and still have great bokeh. It may me worth a try to rent the new lens for one of my portrait sessions....
p.5 #9 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
rabbitmountain wrote:
Back to topic: I am wondering if it could be worth switching from 85/1.2II to the new lens, taking into account that current prices are 2279 for the 1.2 vs 1629 for the 1.4.
I suppose I would gain AF speed and IS and still have great bokeh. It may me worth a try to rent the new lens for one of my portrait sessions....
Anyone else made the switch? Opinions?
I made the switch. Setting aside the cost difference, I had to decide what I would most likely use the most and why. The bokeh of the 85mm1.2 II is unlike any other I have seen (in a good way) but the difficulty when using auto focus wide open is slow and very demanding due to the narrow depth of field. If you absolutely need that F /1.2 and beautiful bokeh the 85mm f/1.2 is the tool for you otherwise the 85mm f/1.4 IS is Very fast to focus, accurate, has nice bokeh too.The IS let's you shoot slow shutter in low light which in my mind off sets the need for the f/1.2 lens if you choose that lens just for the low light situations. I suppose your decision would best be decided by your needs/wants. I made the switch and am not regretting it. Cost was not that much of an issue. If I was buying new, I would say to seriously consider the f/1.4 IS.
Mar 15, 2018 at 11:16 PM
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p.5 #10 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
p.5 #11 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
Interesting.
So far I like the Lens. But we’ll see how it’ll perform this weekend at the wedding. Mostly concerned about AI-servo during procession & recession shots as well as moving candids. Gonna put this baby through it’s paces 💪🏼
p.5 #14 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
rscheffler wrote:
A 105/1.8 would also be cool.
But I still want a 70-135/2L IS... !!
I don't see the 105/1.8 being THAT much different from the current 100/2 (in my bag) ... although, add IS would be nice.
70-135/2L IS ... I'm in.
Currently I have the Sigma Art 50-100/1.8 (APS-C), with a similar 2X zoom range (no OS). Going back to the my Nikon 75-150/3.5 E days, that is a very nice focal length. The old "E" is of course slower, but the 70-135 range and some faster glass with IS would probably fly off shelves. The 70-200/2.8 is of course tried and true (not in my bag), but I think the 70-135 / 2 would be a winner for sure. 65-130, 60-120, 55-110 or similar 2X / 2.0 IS would be fine too.
65-125 / 1.8 ... whatever combination could make for great handling, modest (but highly useful) range, superb IQ, reasonable (i.e. no expectation of tiny) size, weight would likely work for a lot of situations. Hopefully, with a reasonably shorter MFD as well. I've always been a fan of a shorter zoom affords you some engineering options that the greater X zooms have to compromise a bit more to achieve the longer X zoom.
p.5 #16 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
For me it was the video that was the driver to switch as I wanted the IS. I was absolutely blown away by video IS performance of this lens and I beleive it is one of the strongest if not the strongest implementatation we have seen yet. According to the newly released lenstips review, the new 85 fared full 4 stops of stabilization which is more than most OIS lenses fare in these tests (regardless of mfg claims). I can easily achieve tripod like results even when panning which is even better than 35mm F2 IS that is no slouch. Strictly for stills, I don’t beleive the switch is warranted. While I consider the new 85 is better in every way from sharpness to colors and CA, and even bokeh which is very similar to the 85ii but much smoother in the corners to my eyes. These differences can only be seen when comparing side by side and in most cases I won’t be able to tell which lens was used unless there is some strong purple fringing (85ii). With that said, used 85ii is the best value in all of photography right now selling close to $1000 which is much cheaper than 85IS.
sparkeee wrote:
I made the switch. Setting aside the cost difference, I had to decide what I would most likely use the most and why. The bokeh of the 85mm1.2 II is unlike any other I have seen (in a good way) but the difficulty when using auto focus wide open is slow and very demanding due to the narrow depth of field. If you absolutely need that F /1.2 and beautiful bokeh the 85mm f/1.2 is the tool for you otherwise the 85mm f/1.4 IS is Very fast to focus, accurate, has nice bokeh too.The IS let's you shoot slow shutter in low light which in my mind off sets the need for the f/1.2 lens if you choose that lens just for the low light situations. I suppose your decision would best be decided by your needs/wants. I made the switch and am not regretting it. Cost was not that much of an issue. If I was buying new, I would say to seriously consider the f/1.4 IS.
p.5 #18 · Canon 85mm f1.4 IS L First Images. Show us your Images.
On paper and not-so-real-world reviews the lens might not be the ideal 85, but in practice I have been enjoying it very very much. The faster and more accurate AF vs the 1.2 (and Sigma in some cases, in particular outer points) make the real world application at events for instance much better. Liking the look too; it's plenty sharp as far as I am concerned and bokeh is very pleasing too (although maybe not up to the very high 1.2 standards).
