I own the Mark 1 and it's a beautiful lens (Mk 1 or 2 actually). I can confirm that either lens is not a lens to use with live subjects, in a dark room, with no flash, and a 5d's terrible 3 FPS and marginal AF. The 85L Mk1's slow AF on a 5d is very hard to get decent shots. I tried, I failed.
Oh well. That's what they call experience. I've used it in dark rooms before, but the people were relatively stationary and then it works well. I'm tempted to get the Mk2 for the faster focus, but even that won't be like the f/1.8 which I use a lot.
Sep 09, 2007 at 10:38 AM
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jamesf99 wrote:
I own the Mark 1 and it's a beautiful lens (Mk 1 or 2 actually). I can confirm that either lens is not a lens to use with live subjects, in a dark room, with no flash, and a 5d's terrible 3 FPS and marginal AF. The 85L Mk1's slow AF on a 5d is very hard to get decent shots. I tried, I failed.
I do it all the time at weddings, especially the receptions. The Mk. II does fine ... the Mk. I struggled a bit, but it was certainly possible. Don't blame the lens (or the camera)
The aperture blades on the Mk. II are more rounded, so you get rounder, smoother OOF highlights when the lens is stopped down a bit. It's noticeable if you shoot them side by side at f/2.8 or f/4.
I see you have quite a few off center subjects which are off 5D center cross af point. Are they any accurate? I've tried and it's close to impossbile getting any subjects in focus with the outer focussing points. They would mostly hunt focus.
I have tried AI servo bursting, and would prob get 1 our of 4 shots in proper focus.
Any help on how you use the combination. Wondering if i missed anything :P
I have the mkii.
Aaron, I use the off-center points most of the time. It's important to give them enough contrast to focus on ... they definitely aren't as sensitive as the center pointed (expected, since they aren't "high-precision" x-type). In really bad light, or for subjects that are continously moving, I just use the center point, or manual focus. I'm hoping the 5D Mk. II adds more off-center x-type sensors.
Superb work Ryan. I lost a lot of shots with mine the other day but my 1D2N has been back and forth to Canon with AF problems :-(
RyanFlynn wrote:
Ansye, mine is the Mk. II.
Aaron, I use the off-center points most of the time. It's important to give them enough contrast to focus on ... they definitely aren't as sensitive as the center pointed (expected, since they aren't "high-precision" x-type). In really bad light, or for subjects that are continously moving, I just use the center point, or manual focus. I'm hoping the 5D Mk. II adds more off-center x-type sensors.
Aaron, I use the off-center points most of the time. It's important to give them enough contrast to focus on ... they definitely aren't as sensitive as the center pointed (expected, since they aren't "high-precision" x-type). In really bad light, or for subjects that are continously moving, I just use the center point, or manual focus. I'm hoping the 5D Mk. II adds more off-center x-type sensors.
Biggest thing is lots of practice, I guess
It seems that at least #5 is misfocused (front-focused in that case). Nobody's perfect.
RyanFlynn wrote:
It's not, actually. I'd be happy to post a 100% crop if you'd like.
You could post the RAW file. Otherwise, there could still be no good way to show it. It's fairly obvious to me that her sleeve etc. are sharper than her eyes-- unless you were focusing on the sleeve.
I've used it in dark rooms before, but the people were relatively stationary and then it works well. I'm tempted to get the Mk2 for the faster focus, but even that won't be like the f/1.8 which I use a lot.
