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35L II > If every lens could be this good

Started Feb 23, 2018 | User reviews thread
fPrime
fPrime Veteran Member • Posts: 3,727
Re: 35L II > If every lens could be this good
2

fino_nyc wrote:

I've tried both 35mm 1.4L mark I and II versions. The mark II is the fastest and most accurate Canon lens I've tried. However, I prefer the rendering of the mark I - I was going to buy it, but I needed a wider lens and bought the 24mm 1.4L instead.

Agree, mate. The 35mm 1.4L Mk II wins on all of the technical tests, but I prefer the photographic rendering of the Mk I. Wide open comparisons don't concern me, usually I shoot f/2.8 and upwards for greater DOF. And it is here that the Mk I renders more pleasingly to me. Here's a thread with examples that mirrors my use case:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62133440

To knock the 35mm 1.4L Mk I is pretty easy... yes, wide open compared to the 35L Mk II it's only sharp in the center and still has plenty of lens aberrations. And closed down to f/11 and shooting into the sun it definitely has more flare than the Mk II.

But if I shoot stopped down a few stops and don't shoot into the sun? That's where I love my 35L Mk I. I won't begrudge anyone from choosing the Mk II because it is better corrected at the edges of the shooting envelope, I'll only suggest that the 35L Mk I has more rendering magic when shot in more common use cases.

fPrime

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