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Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

Started Oct 30, 2016 | Discussions thread
Dan_168 Forum Pro • Posts: 11,061
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

sanjaysubramanian wrote:

I know 85mm 1.2 is a portrait lens but yesterday I took a photo of Alcatraz from Pier 39 in SFO. (infinity focus)

Aperture f/14

ISO = 800

Shutter 1/800s

Camera 1DS Mark III and Canon 5d Mark III

The picture quality is not good. (If I use a 70-200 II lens it is way more clearer)

Is this a limitation of portrait lens ? Or is it a limitation of the 85mm 1.2 II ? Or do I have a defective piece ?

The portrait photos are outstanding nevertheless

In comparison the 50mm 1.2 takes better photos at infinity auto focus

Without the picture it's hard to say much, but in general, as an current owner of 70-200F2.8 IS II and 85L II, I would say for landscape application, the 70-200 is much better lens.

The 70-200 2.8 IS is really sharp from 70mm all the way to 200mm, from F2.8 to F11, center and edge, on the other hand, the 85L II is pretty soft at the edge in comparison no matter how much I stop it down, like you said, it's a portrait lens and it should be treated as so. I shoot with 1DS2, 1Ds3, 1Dx, they all give the similar result.

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