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Canon FD 55mm F1.2 lens pics

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mpgxsvcd

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I think its good for $200 but its stretching things a little for $300 which is what I paid for. I still like it and while I haven't done any extensive testing comparing it to my FD 50mm f1.4, it seems like it produces better images. While its pretty chunky when paired with a m43 camera, it goes well with my GH1 and it hasn't left the camera since I got it a few days ago. I'll post some pics once I get around to uploading my latest shots.

That said, the more legacy lenses I get, the more I really appreciate the 20mm pancake. That is an absolute gem of a lens. I would trade all my legacy lenses for a 50mm version of that pancake (as long as its just as fast or faster than the 20mm).
 
Thanks for posting, doesn't look bad at all. Try to get some in the daylight and post maybe? :)

Of the horse closeups it seems only f/1.4 and f/2.5 photos were not shaken. The shake may look like softness unless you magnify the image.

--
-niko-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neekohfi/
 
Did you ever try to get a nice bokeh on an portrait with a complete person?
 
I am not sure why I would use the 55mm F1.2 outdoors. I would have to stop it down to at least F2.0 in bright sunlight. Then I might as well use my 14-45mm which is always sharp.

I bought the 55mm F1.2 to take F1.2-F1.7 photos in very dark indoor places. It is not a perfect lens but it will take low light pictures better than any other $200 lens I have ever seen.

I can't believe anyone would pay $700+ for the Noktor when the Canon 55mm F1.2 can be had for as little as $131! From the pictures I have seen from the Noktor it is a piece of junk when compared to the Canon 55mm F1.2 S.S.C

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190379958670&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
neekoh_dp said:
Thanks for posting, doesn't look bad at all. Try to get some in the daylight and post maybe? :)

Of the horse closeups it seems only f/1.4 and f/2.5 photos were not shaken. The shake may look like softness unless you magnify the image.

--
-niko-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neekohfi/
Click to expand...
--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums
 
+1 The 20mm is the highest quality lens I own. I would pay a mint for a 30mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, or 55mm version of it. I would probably buy them all if they made them.
leafinsectman said:
I think its good for $200 but its stretching things a little for $300 which is what I paid for. I still like it and while I haven't done any extensive testing comparing it to my FD 50mm f1.4, it seems like it produces better images. While its pretty chunky when paired with a m43 camera, it goes well with my GH1 and it hasn't left the camera since I got it a few days ago. I'll post some pics once I get around to uploading my latest shots.

That said, the more legacy lenses I get, the more I really appreciate the 20mm pancake. That is an absolute gem of a lens. I would trade all my legacy lenses for a 50mm version of that pancake (as long as its just as fast or faster than the 20mm).
Click to expand...
--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums
 
After initially not being too happy with it (at least when shot wide open), I'm beginning to really like this lens. It suffers during the day and sometimes at night when there's bright lights but it can produce some really nice pictures depending on how you use it. I think its brilliant when shot indoors without a lot of light. And its not all that soft wide open if you're happy to apply some sharpening in PP. Here's some pics from the last couple of days.

This one was shot at either f2 or f2.8. I forgot which one, possibly f2.





This one was shot wide open. Not too bad considering it was sunny.





A bunch of chopsticks shot at f1.2 indoors. This turned out sharper than I expected.





Some flowers shot at either f2 or f2.8 on a sunny day.





And a couple more.







 
Good to see that the sensor could make use also of the extra light from f/1.2 over f/1.4, despite the angle of incidence implied by such a bright aperture.

--
Just my two öre,
Erik from Sweden
 
Heh, ISO 100, 1/4000s and I may have to use f/5.6 in bright sunlight and snow on the ground. What I meant was some portrait etc. daytime next to the window etc. It may still be low light for the zoom lenses, but not the f/1.2 and you could still use short enough shutter times for handheld shots. That would also probably improve the perceived contrast (and easier to set the focus) and maybe show other characteristics of the lens. It's also difficult to judge darkness and be impressed by it merely by numbers.

I liked the series and the lens seems good, I guess I'm just always wanting more even if I'm not out to buy it. :)
mpgxsvcd said:
I am not sure why I would use the 55mm F1.2 outdoors. I would have to stop it down to at least F2.0 in bright sunlight. Then I might as well use my 14-45mm which is always sharp.

I bought the 55mm F1.2 to take F1.2-F1.7 photos in very dark indoor places. It is not a perfect lens but it will take low light pictures better than any other $200 lens I have ever seen.
neekoh_dp said:
Thanks for posting, doesn't look bad at all. Try to get some in the daylight and post maybe? :)

Of the horse closeups it seems only f/1.4 and f/2.5 photos were not shaken. The shake may look like softness unless you magnify the image.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Well spotted, Erik. I didn't notice that. That is not the case with my FD 50mm. f/1.2 and f/1.4 look and meter the same, even if I can see the blades close the aperture down. That's definitely useful.

leafinsectman, nice pics!
 
leafinsectman said:
I think its good for $200 but its stretching things a little for $300 which is what I paid for. I still like it and while I haven't done any extensive testing comparing it to my FD 50mm f1.4, it seems like it produces better images. While its pretty chunky when paired with a m43 camera, it goes well with my GH1 and it hasn't left the camera since I got it a few days ago. I'll post some pics once I get around to uploading my latest shots.

That said, the more legacy lenses I get, the more I really appreciate the 20mm pancake. That is an absolute gem of a lens. I would trade all my legacy lenses for a 50mm version of that pancake (as long as its just as fast or faster than the 20mm).
Click to expand...
100% agree!!! I don't have this FD lens. I have a Pentax 50mm 1.4 and incoming an OM 50mm macro, but I much prefer the 50mm length. I hope someone comes out with a sharp, fast 50mm for m43 that AFs. It'd be great if it could also support a (reasonable) close focus (doesn't have to be macro).
--

I refuse to wed myself to any of these vendors. I'm just having fun taking pictures,
and watching the technology develop.
 
Some people asked for outdoor portrait samples. So here you go. Please note that these were taken at F2.0 with the exception of the side view mirror one. I think that one was F1.2. I tried to get the portrait picture of my daughter to take at F1.2 but 1/4000 shutter speed wasn’t anywhere near fast enough with that much light.

I can’t believe anyone would even consider spending $750 on the Noktor. This $200 Canon 55mm F1.2 S.S.C will blow it away for less than ¼ of the cost.

http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums/canon-fd-55mm-f1-2#page=2

























--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums
 
Nice shots and cute daughter.
You did not seem to use the fill flash on the last two pictures.

--
Tod Yampel

Duck Club member
 
Yea I snapped these pictures on a whim. I really didn’t have time to try any different settings or use the flash. In the last picture my daughter looks surprised because she saw my son’s bus drive by. We missed the bus because I was snapping the pictures! :)

The pictures were so sharp that you can actually see me shooting the picture in the reflection in my daughters eyes.

100% crop





Cropped from this jpg picture




tyampel said:
Nice shots and cute daughter.
You did not seem to use the fill flash on the last two pictures.

--
Tod Yampel

Duck Club member
Click to expand...
--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums
 
mpgxsvcd said:
I just got the Canon 55mm F1.2 lens and I just love it. For only $200 I think it is a great choice for m4/3s. It isn't as sharp as the 14-45mm or 20mm pancake wide open.
Click to expand...
Not enough to totally assess the bokeh quality (no highlights) but it looks very very smooth.

OTOH the CA is very ugly and the sharpness doesn't look as good as what I get from the Konica AR 57mm F1.2.

I might as well note that my Konica costed about the same (~ 180USD+shipping+taxes), even though it has a small spot of lost coating the size of a pin head. It doesn't affect quality but it allowed me to buy it for about half of what it usually sold for...
--
Duarte Bruno
 
Can you post some samples from the Konica 57mm F1.2 here? I have the F1.4 version and I was very disappointed with it. It was just too soft. However, the one I bought wasn’t in the best shape either. I think it was only $45.

I saw this picture in your profile. This looks pretty good but I would also like to see a color one.


duartix said:
mpgxsvcd said:
I just got the Canon 55mm F1.2 lens and I just love it. For only $200 I think it is a great choice for m4/3s. It isn't as sharp as the 14-45mm or 20mm pancake wide open.
Click to expand...
Not enough to totally assess the bokeh quality (no highlights) but it looks very very smooth.

OTOH the CA is very ugly and the sharpness doesn't look as good as what I get from the Konica AR 57mm F1.2.

I might as well note that my Konica costed about the same (~ 180USD+shipping+taxes), even though it has a small spot of lost coating the size of a pin head. It doesn't affect quality but it allowed me to buy it for about half of what it usually sold for...
--
Duarte Bruno
Click to expand...
--
GF1 & ZS3 Sample movies
http://www.youtube.com/user/mpgxsvcd#play/uploads
GF1 Pictures
http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums
 
neekoh_dp said:
I didn't notice that. That is not the case with my FD 50mm. f/1.2 and f/1.4 look and meter the same, even if I can see the blades close the aperture down.
Click to expand...
Interesting.

If pixel vignetting was the cause, only the f-number should matter, not the focal length or the optical formula with the exit pupil location, for the centre of the frame.

So if one lens shows a difference between f/1.4 and f/1.2, and another one doesn't there seems to be another cause. Maybe the part of your lens blocked by the iris at f/1.4 wasn't used anyway? Can you see the rear pupil shrink when going from f/1.2 to f/1.4 when looking from the rear end?

--
Just my two öre,
Erik from Sweden
 
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