My 2 cents. I appreciate the original post so I can make up my own mind regardng the new 85L. It doesn't look like the 85L is worth the price for "ME". I don't think any short tele is worth that much, to many options much cheaper that are just as good in the real world.
I don't need a 2000.00 dollar lens to take close up of a bride's flower arrangement.
If you're talking long tele or wide angle, for me it's a different story.
Ira, forgive me for saying this but it seems you held a bias against this lens before even posting these examples. I have both of these lenses (well Mk 1 of the L) and I really think you are doing a disservice to the lens by using the street shots as examples or comparisons. The 'L' has a look and a feel to every shot when it is stopped down and used for what it was intended - low light captures. It's not an argument you are going to win. Both lenses perform well and have their specific uses.
IraGraham wrote:
I am light harted and tongue & cheek as well and mean no ill feelings. I am not angry, just poking fun at all of the hype over how much better the 1.2 is supposed to be. I often hear, " you don't know because you don't have one". Well I purchased one today. Where is "Lars" now??
Hmmm... OK.
IraGraham wrote:
And what are my needs? How are your needs any different? Please come off of your soap box and explain to the little people like me, who just can't appreciate the finer things in photography.
OK, maybe not angry, defensive perhaps? The tone contained above is unlikely to lead to any constructive discourse. If you are truly interested in having a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of these 2 fine lenses, might I suggest that you not convey such an attitude in the future. It certainly doesn't reflect the thoughts of the person 'described' in the first quote above.
Figured out why the images don't show, privacy is blocking Web Bugs...
But...I'd love to give that 85L a try, have a brandy new baby grand child
due near the end of May, that would be very cool, while I have the 85 f1.8
I'd like to see this legendary lens myself, just for a while
G2
FWIW - I bought an 85/1.2L shortly after the new "Mk II" version was announced. I also have the 1.8. I'm keeping both for now. The 1.8 is a very good lens, plus it's AF is very fast. But there's something about f/1.2 and bokeh and all that which makes the biggun worthwhile. Two different animals with some overlapping capabilities.
The bottom line is this: The 85L is ONE WHOLE STOP FASTER than the 85 f1.8. If you never shoot more open the f2, then I think you're missing a large part of what the 85L is about. One stop is a lot. The difference between the 2 lenses at f1.8 is that the 85L is closed down a stop and is better corner to corner than the f1.8 lense, plus throughout the range I think the 85L is barely sharper and has slightly better color rendition. Your first example was not truly representative of the lense differences because the lighting had changed AND/OR the settings were actually different between the shots. The car on the right shot is overexposed and the brick is clearly brighter, not to mention that the focus point is slightly different. Not because of a lense difference but because something else had changed. To accurately compare lenses you need a controlled environment, not two handheld snapshots in differing conditions.
The 85 f1.8 is a great lense no doubt, but if you need or want that extra stop the 85L is the only option. Simple. Bokeh at f1.2 is divine by the way, and MUCH softer than at f1.8!
Im sorry, im not one to say what your needs are. i just felt like you were not happy with the 1.2 and had already made your decision that the 1.2 was not as good as everyone says. Looks like maybe you have changed your mind with the most recent 1.2 shots. enjoy
Not sure I see any point at all in the original comparison photos or indeed this entire thread. Seems like the only reason for the 85 f1.2 (any variant) is the 1.2 max appeture for shallow DoF, better low light performance and majic Bokeh. Nobody is going to be buying the 1.2 because the lens might be sharper than the 1.8, that would be a total waste of the entire cost delta. The comparison photos don't demonstrate the 1.2 advantages in any meaninful way. If these photos are typical of what you use the lens for, you should definately return the 1.2 and be happy with the 1.8.
By the way, the FD 85 1.2L is much better than any of the EF 85's (well m maybe I want the EF version as well. Now I'm ducking for cover!!!)
