Thank you for all of your replies and information ( despite some of the abuse being thrown around). I will be ordering a high precision focus screen and taking some time learning to manual focus again. I want to get the most out of my new glass purchase. Thanks again!
Simiri and lidesun, thanks as well, and I will be the first one to agree that AF is the right way to go if one is shooting sports (particularly indoor sports). I too would use AF for this, but not with an 85L (I think the EF 85/1.8 is better suited).
The OP asked about portraits, which present only a small challenge for the manual focus shooter and is a great place to begin getting some practice. Portrait work can really benefit from manual focusing because you can spend your time and attention on your subject rather than be fixated on what the AF system is doing, where that active AF point is vs. where it should be, etc. With a high precision focusing screen, you can compose first, ignoring AF points, and then very accurately focus on whatever you wish. All the while you can talk to your subject and wait for the next expression and then "click."
It is such a relaxing, satisfying way to work, and it will show in the photos, guranteed....Show more →
docnlaw24 wrote:
Thank you for all of your replies and information ( despite some of the abuse being thrown around). I will be ordering a high precision focus screen and taking some time learning to manual focus again. I want to get the most out of my new glass purchase. Thanks again!
I have no experience with the 85 f/1.2, but I do know that AF lenses are more frustrating to manually focus than lenses that are MF only, mostly due to the much shorter throw to focus from MFD to infinity as well as much looser feeling focusing ring. I'd also recommend taking a look around for some MF-only lenses if this is the route you want to take.
kakomu wrote:
I have no experience with the 85 f/1.2, but I do know that AF lenses are more frustrating to manually focus than lenses that are MF only, mostly due to the much shorter throw to focus from MFD to infinity as well as much looser feeling focusing ring. I'd also recommend taking a look around for some MF-only lenses if this is the route you want to take.
I think you should get the Ee-S and start playing with manual focus first, to see how your eye works with the Ee-S. Kakomu is correct that dedicated manual focus lenses are much easier and more pleasurable to work with for manual focusing than are AF lenses, but you might want to see if this is all workable for you before buying more glass. If you find that the Ee-S is the revelation that it is to so many others, then come visit the Alternative gear forum. There is a nearly unlimited list of glass (thousands of lenses, no kidding) that you can use to good effect on your Canon EOS camera. I have one in particular in mind for you if you really end up doing well with MF (not everyone does) and it will allow you to recover 9/10ths of the cost of your 85L
I've used the 85 @ 1.2 quite a bit on my 5d's. If there is even the slightest miscalibration of lens or body then autofocus will be frustrating no matter if it's servo or 1 shot. I got lucky with my copy and it's spot on. Inconsistencies in calibration can lead to varying results from photogs. I can shoot mine in one shot or servo with great and consistent results. Can't say the same about my front focusing 35L.
As Cogitech wrote, there are tons of lenses to choose from. I, personally, have been sticking with Nikon, because they're easy to procure, frequently inexpensive and the mount adapters are cheap and plentiful.
But, that's not all there is out there. The EOS mount is great because it has a fairly short flange to film plane distance (44mm) which means that many lenses can be adapted to the mount and still retain infinity focus. Pentax and Olympus are other popular lens brands to use. Some lenses cannot be adapted easily (e.g. Minolta, Konica and Canon FD). The Sony Alpha cameras are also well suited for adapting lenses with the Minolta alpha mount (43.5mm flange to film plane distance)
Whatever the case, if you find manual focus enjoyable, take a gander at the alt lens board.
kakomu wrote:
I have no experience with the 85 f/1.2, but I do know that AF lenses are more frustrating to manually focus than lenses that are MF only, mostly due to the much shorter throw to focus from MFD to infinity as well as much looser feeling focusing ring. I'd also recommend taking a look around for some MF-only lenses if this is the route you want to take.
The 85L is worse than most, due to it's focus-by-wire system.
Granted, focus-by-wire is not ideal (far from it), but there are many people who still use it quite successfully. But it is true that there are others who really hate it (I'm not the biggest fan of it myself). I hope I have not set up this poor fellow to hate his new lens. That was not my intention.
Cogitech, Don't go back now and tell me how hard things will be! I am willing to make an attempt with the 5D and 85L combo and MF. If I fail miserably it is only a $35 lesson, and I can just put it on my 1D 2N where it seems to acquire focus quicker and very sharp in either mode.
Markle, I have appreciated cogitech's comments and went ahead and ordered a ee-s screen to practice my manual focus skills. I used my 85L hand held, wide open last night switched to manual focus and believe I will be able to make it work well. I will not use MF all the time but believe it will come in handy in proper situations.
If you are serious about focus try MF and either rock your body or tweek the focus with a finger while holding down the shutter at 5-10fps. Because it's not about the percentages it's whether you get the shot-ever. Failing that it's 1 segment AF and AI Servo ditto lots of shots.
MF all the time without a tripod and a still subject on a 1.2 lens is the most idiotic recommendation one can make
now imagine if you were in a room full of photographers
I can't stop laughing
I really can't
you are something else, I mean it..
what is wrong with you??
If you are insinuating that other photographers would laugh at Paul because he likes to manually focus all the time, I feel confident in telling you that he probably wouldn't give a f**k. And his suggestion that it is would be a good idea to practice manual focusing, even at f/1.2 without a tripod, is sound advice IMO, and it seems like the OP agrees.
In the end, talk is cheap. On this forum some demonstrated photography skill bears weight of experience. I for one have seen enough of Paul's images to form a high opinion of him as a photography craftsman. I have read enough of his technical posts to know that he is not posting just because he likes the rattle of his keyboard.
If Paul says that MF with 85 f/1.2 is quite feasible and even desireable in some instances, I give that a considerable weight, particularly so since I have no related experience of my own.
Here's the 85L F/1.2 1200 iso on a 1DsmkIII. It's inside a club, camera at near arms length and focusing with live view. Too dark for AF. At 100% view the image holds up superbly sharp and extremely low noise. I tried gymnastics with this lens, but this lens does not track sports well with af.
AF with this lens wide open required that I develop a new talent. At close range -under 20 ft. - the depth of field is less than an inch I think. The contrast near the focal plane is so good that it can help small prints look well focused even if they are off a bit. With big prints it has to be exactly where you want it.
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