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maximage
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Registered: Jan 24, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 139
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Review Date: Oct 17, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,495.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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sharpness, weight (good balancing on pro bodies), amazing background blur ability. super-bright view through viewfinder is addictive - F2.8 zooms look dark like hell compared to it. Great build quality
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Cons:
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price (but large aperture is never cheap). lens front extends during focusing, although not much.
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Literally a 'canon ball', this thing's diameter is even larger than that of big zooms like 70-200IS or 100-400IS. But that's what it takes to make a bright lens like this. At F1.2 it's already plenty sharp. Many people said its aF is very slow. It's slower than the faster IF or RF designs such as 135/2 or modern zooms, but it's very useable. It's made to be slow yet accurate, as the DOF at F1.2 becomes so shallow. A focus limiter would definitely boost AF performance. Need to be careful when you mount the lens as the rear element flush with the metal mount. Image is tack sharp with silky background. Has to be seen to be believed. Worth every yen...
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 Oct 17, 2005
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mauriceramirez
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Registered: Jul 16, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 2972
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Review Date: Oct 12, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Size and weight make for a nice feel handholding w/1d2. Incredible low-light work opens up. Really "personalized" type of portrait look. Beats the 70-200 in every way and it's not even that obnoxious color. Compact enough to fit well in a hipbag.
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Cons:
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Hood turns on lens. AF is too slow for fast-moving subjects. Mounting needs to be done rather carefully. Manual focusing takes some getting used to as the lens locks up w/o power.
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Wow. This lens settles *all* of my switching regrets. And my old EF 85mm f1.8 is not even close to it in sharpness and especially contrast and flare. So I don't see any need for it, the 135L, or the 70-200IS L at all now. On the 1d2 it's not even that slow of AF. And the rubbery build really compliments the body. It's not a fair comparison, but I prefer using this lens over every other Canon lens, even the 35L and the 16-35L, because I can do so much more with it for overall every day usage.
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Oct 12, 2005
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Ed te Pas
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Registered: May 23, 2003
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 884
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Review Date: Sep 20, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,400.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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My most creative lense
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Cons:
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none
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You get what you are paying for. This is my most fav. lens to get isolated shot, when doing candids. I'm using 2 cams and this one is always on 1 of them.
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Sep 20, 2005
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Anden
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Registered: Jun 21, 2004
Location: Sweden
Posts: 6608
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Review Date: Sep 8, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fast!!! and sharp. Fantastic colors and contrast.
The bokeh is amazing. Smooth and creamy.
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Cons:
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Heavy (adds stability though). Slower focus than the 85 1.8.
Price maybe? No it is worth every dollar.
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I´ve had 2 85 1.8 and also a 135L for portraits.
They are not in the same league when it comes to lowlight-shooting.
It is a huge difference between 135L @ 2.0 and 85 @ 1.2.
The added weight also adds stability. I use mine around 1/50th and get good results. Had a hard time using the 135L under 1/160th.
Stopped down to 2.0-2.5 the amazing color and contrast starts to show. Sharpness is good to very good wide open. The contrast is a little lower.
I love this canonball. It is the last lens I will part with.
This lens + 5D and 35L, thats all I need.
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Sep 8, 2005
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Brent Ward
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Registered: Jan 22, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 3422
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Review Date: Sep 6, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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This lens lets you shoot images that are just not possible with a normal lens.
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Cons:
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Autofocus is sluggish, but is still usable.
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Sep 6, 2005
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Thouse
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Registered: Aug 3, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 827
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Review Date: Aug 30, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,175.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Optics are out of this world; build is typical L; light-sucking ability is unreal; colour and contrast are superb......I can go on and on and on with how great this lens is!!
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Cons:
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None for me!!
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Having had the very good 'cheaper' cousin (85F1,8), I found that with my DRebel, I just wasn't using this focal length all that much. Once I switched to a 1D, 85mm suddenly seemed to work much better for me. I also decided that I am a prime person so my dream trio of primes are 35L, 85L, and 135L. I picked up a great condition used 85L and was immediately drawn to the heftiness of this lens!! It is quite a chunk of glass. I find that while the AF is slightly slower than the f1,8 version, it doesn't bother me at all! The quality just exhudes from this lens.......contrast and colour are the best I have seen (and yes, I have owned a 135L). People often describe shots taken with this lens as magical and once you start using it, you quickly realize what they mean. It is as good as you read about..........
The one thing I must mention with the 85L is that there is a learning curve in getting consistantly good shots with the very narrow DoF wide open and even stopped down a bit. I am still in the learning mode but that is half the fun! It is a fun lens to learn and when you do get a great result, it is well worth the expense. Highly highly recommended!!
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Aug 30, 2005
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3ABX03
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Registered: Dec 26, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 5
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Review Date: Aug 28, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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DOP,build quality,1.2
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Cons:
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non
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Amazing lens. Nothing to compare with. If you can afforded gat one.
http://www.pbase.com/3abxo3/85_12
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Aug 28, 2005
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Edwingoh
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Registered: Aug 18, 2005
Location: China
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Aug 21, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,200.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Good [email protected] and Bokeh are very good....Nice Portrait lens...
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Cons:
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Slow AF...but for me, the AF is ok.
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I brought this Big lens on last June. Before i have it, i have EF 85mm F1.8....after shooting around 300 shots....the color and sharpness are really good ! Although this is a heavy lens, but with 1DMk2, good balance. The AF is slow but it is acceptable. I really like the bokeh of this lens...wash away the background. This also a good for low light Shot....just like my 135 F2L, very nice lens.
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Aug 21, 2005
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DaveClarkOne
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Registered: Aug 1, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Aug 20, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,499.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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As sharp as the eye can see. Build quality. Shoot anywhere lens. Compact
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Cons:
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A bit weighty, but well balanced.
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This is the ultimate, sharp/lowlight portrait lens. Depth of field comes out better than artists with paint brushes in hand. The only qualm was that the first one had "variable" friction with the manual focus ring (would turn with uneven friction). The second one purchased has a consistent, very light, focus mechanism.
I'm overall very satisfied with the RESOLUTION that matches my 135L. The 85L will shoot where others won't, with unmatched bokeh. I highly recommend if you shoot people. It is large, stubby even, but not objectionally so. Its photographic limits are only your own skill at using it.
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Aug 20, 2005
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nsbca
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Registered: Aug 2, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 385
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Review Date: Aug 4, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Fast, sharp and great bokah.
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Cons:
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Slow AF
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Positivly the best aestetic affects of any lens I have ever used. I sold mine to buy a 85/1.8, 100/2 and a 70-200/2.8 L. I should have never done that. The 85/1.8 doesn't come close to the satifaction I was getting with the 1.2. Buying a new one this week.
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Aug 4, 2005
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luckyrwe
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Registered: Jun 24, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Jul 22, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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EXTREMELY sharp images, be sure to be spot on with the focus however. Fast AF, the ring just has a long way to go is all.
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Cons:
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This lens is amazing. I shot some grab shots and they came out sharper than any other lens I have. I may sell my 24-70 and 70-200 is prime lenses are indeed this good.
I owned the 85/1.8 for ONE DAY before not being happy with it. Once you go L you never go back. I posted some test results on a board, email me at astcell at gmail dot com if you wish to see the link.
Anyone who says the 85/1.8 is better is suffering from sour grapes. This lens is amazing. it is definitely my new favorite.
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Jul 22, 2005
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andy1100xx
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Registered: Dec 19, 2004
Location: Thailand
Posts: 303
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Review Date: Jun 28, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Beautifil image quality, low light capability, build quality.
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Cons:
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none
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I purchased this lens for the low light ability but it is the 'feeling' you get in the images that has really suprised me and completely blown me away. Difficult to explain but very noticable.
I have had mainly L zooms and a few of the 'cheaper' primes to date (50 1.4, 85 1.8), but this is something else altogether and will probably lead me to now get the 35 and 135 L's.
Not a lens for every use (slowish zoom etc) but suits my shooting style perfectly and exceeded my expectations.
Definately my favourite lens.
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Jun 28, 2005
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A.Tan
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Registered: Feb 6, 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 415
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Review Date: Jun 18, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,350.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Extremely sharp! Wonderful bokeh, Solid construction, quiet motor.
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Cons:
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Slow AF
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Great lens, I can get really sharp images even at f/1.2!
The bokeh is really so much nicer than my other L lenses including the 135mm f/2L.
The AF is slow but it is fine for me because it's really not a sports lens.
This lens is highly recomended.
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Jun 18, 2005
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macfly
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Registered: Jun 10, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Jun 15, 2005
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Recommend? |
Price paid: Not Indicated
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well, as a follow up.....it seems that that third visit was in order. took it back to B&H today and exchanged it for now my third copy of this lens. this one hopefully will be it. the focus ring is much smoother and does not have the same sticking / frictiony feeling as the last one. hope i can now get out and use this thing some more. like what i have seen so far. im really amazed that Canon has so many QA issues though. for a lens of this price one would think they went over them with a fine tooth comb before letting it out of the barn.
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Jun 15, 2005
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cjac
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Registered: Dec 12, 2004
Location: Belgium
Posts: 2530
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Review Date: Jun 15, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Stunning quality : sharpness, bookeh, build quality
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Cons:
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Price - but worth every penny as you get what you pay for ; weight (you know it when you buy it) ; relatively slow AF and minimum focusing distance.
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A stunning lens, second to none - by far - for portraits and any 85mm work that doesn't require ultra-fast AF.
I don't understand people complaining about price or weight as you know it when you buy it, and quality ALWAYS costs more, and is heavier ... and it's worth every penny.
Some might argue that there is not a huge difference between the 85mm f/1.2 and the f/1.8 when shooting at f/2. Maybe right - but who cares ??? When you own this gem, you'll be using it mostly at f/1.4, giving you the most incredible bookeh, not to mention the speed.
A must have.
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Jun 15, 2005
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macfly
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Registered: Jun 10, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 2
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Review Date: Jun 14, 2005
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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i got bit by the bug and finally decided to pick this lens up...so far i am loving what it can do but am not seeming to do well on quality control. the first one i got seemed fine and then after a day i noticed a nice big speck of dust sealed inside the rear elements. back to B&H it went and they nicely replaced it. this one is clear of dust but now i have a question about the focus ring mechanism. i know its a fly by wire kind of deal but i notice that there seems to be a difference in how smoothly it rotates...it seems like every full turn has a point where it gets "sticky" for lack of a better word...like friction increases for about 60 degrees of rotation and then goes back to being lighter...is this normal or am i in need of a return visit?
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Jun 14, 2005
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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130
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269444
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Aug 23, 2017
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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95% of reviewers
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$1,379.02
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.70
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8.50
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9.5
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