85mm 1.4 L IS preview

Tazz93 wrote:

brightcolours wrote:

Tazz93 wrote:

brightcolours wrote:

Tazz93 wrote:

The level of CA in those samples are completely unacceptable for a lens made in 2017.

Why? Most 2017 big aperture portrait lenses have LoCA. Few render this nicely.

No, we'll have to agree to disagree there... while it is expected to have some at this focal length and speed, I see that most of the new lenses do it better than this lens. What's worse, the $125 50mm lens looks to be better at controlling CA. The new Nikon 1.8,

The Nikkor AF-S 85mm f1.8 is known for its very strong LoCA.

It's a $500 lens that looks to handle CA better than this $1600 one.

No, it does not look like it handles it batter.

What's your point?

My point, that your example of the Nikkor being better is not right.

Are you saying the new Canon is almost as good as a lens costing 3x less.

No, it is much better. It renders MUCH better, and yet it is faster and includes IS.

Let's take it a step further, are you happy with what you've seen from the lens so far?

Except from the LoCA, very happy.

Are you planning to buy it?

At the moment it is outside my budget. When I can afford this lens, yes, I think so.

Aside from the CA, does the lens stand out for your needs? My answer is no, a fast lens that isn't terribly good wide open, isn't very useful to me.

You said aside from the CA. In what sense is this lens not terribly good wide open, aside from the CA?

I don't have a problem using my 70-200L II at 85 wide open, and my guess is it will beat or be very close to the 85L 1.4 in all categories. Even with the 85L stopped down (F8) it's a close call to the 70-200L II wide open. Either way, it adds no value being in my bag.

Tamron, Sigma, Zeiss (plural) and Sony(s) all appear to be handily stronger lenses in the handling of the aberrations. Do they win in every category, aside from the manual focus Zeiss and Sigma, probably not, but this category is a big deal to me.