Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM - too niche

AlephNull wrote:

neil holmes wrote:

AlephNull wrote:

There is an answer - get both the 135 and the 85

I did.

For less money if you want both you can get the 135 f2 L and the Mitakon 85 1.2 manual focus lens in EF mount.

I would love to have both the EF 85 1.2 L ii and EF 135 f2 L but am very happy with the 135 and an old FD 85 1.2 L. (used adapted on mirrorless).

Nope. Manual focus doesn't work for me, cheaper or not.

Some people (not pointing at you in particular) seem obsessed with cheaper - like there is something wrong with buying the right thing if there's something else that's cheaper (whether it's a good substitute or not).

A lot of the time I'd rather get the right thing. I don't mind saving money if something is genuinely just as good, but cheaper, but I won't overlook a shortcoming just because it's cheaper.

Hope that doesn't sound as inarticulate as it seems

Nah it's fine.

We each choose for different reasons......for many cost will be the biggest factor though and if someone can not afford both but wants both, a compromise like getting the 135 and 85 will work for many.

I have the old FD 85 1.2 L as it was the one to adapt to various mirrorless systems at the time (and I could not have afforded the EF version ......my FD was made AFTER some of the first version EF 85 1.2 L lenses though......it is a nice enough lens that I will likely keep mine (currently not fully working and needs to be fixed).....I do sometimes thin I will get either the EF 85 1.2 L ii or a Zeiss Batis 85 1.8 if I have the spare cash.

For me, the Canon 135 was a compromise.......it is a wonderful lens and one of my favourites but it is not the best 135 available to me.......best would be the Zeiss APO.....I could have got that but then would not have been able to get some other lenses I wanted.

Best AF for me would have been the Sony Zeiss 135 1.8 but that would have meant I could not adapt it to M4/3 (or used it on my Canon 7d when I had that) and it is a screwdrive lens that would need the LA-EA4 adapter which also has a few things I don't like so much.

There are others too I could have got.....Leica, Nikon DC....even Samyang and clones (which is supposed to be a bit sharper than the Canon and cheaper but manual focus).......I went with the Canon because it is great value and makes nice images......I am glad I went with it.

I have the two wide TS-Es because I made other choices....might sell the 24 as it is too good really for how often I use it since I prefer the 17.....no way I could have the 17 and 24 TS-e AND a Zeiss 135 APO.....not for a hobby anyway.