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Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

Started Oct 30, 2016 | Discussions
sanjaysubramanian Junior Member • Posts: 37
Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

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

Canon EF 85mm F1.2L II USM Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
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M Stewart Contributing Member • Posts: 985
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality
1

Did you need to use F/14? for foreground detail?  What's it like at say F/8, or F/5.6?

Mine is critically sharp at F/1.2  - when used on my Eos M - Canon adapter, and focused via the Eos M Live-view facility.  Real sharpness is more difficult when focused via phase type AF on my DSLRs.

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M. Stewart
Milton Keynes, UK

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Lemming51
Lemming51 Forum Pro • Posts: 15,278
samples, comparisons?

at same aperture.

How focusing to infinity?  AF on a distant object, manually on a distance object, or simply turning the focus ring to |___∞ ?  Note that with the last option it is possible to set focus "beyond" infinity so that nothing is in focus.

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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.

(unknown member) Contributing Member • Posts: 724
Try it not stopped down so much.
1

Say f 5.6 -f 8

OP sanjaysubramanian Junior Member • Posts: 37
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

Uploaded comparison files between 85mm1.2 II and 70-200 2.8 II(at 85mm)

ALL photos are taken at ISO 800 , f16

Unfortunately I could get a chance to go back to SFO to do the Alcatraz experiment but I would be grateful if you guys could give me your thoughts

https://goo.gl/NHFSh3

warmly

sanjay

Paul Alivisatos Junior Member • Posts: 43
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

Your post caught my attention, as I am just about to buy this lens.

It can be focused well for landscapes and produces lovely landscape images. There are some good examples here by a member of the photography-on-the-net community:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/member.php?u=264995

I think you can see what it is good for as a landscape on this Flickr search:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=85%201.2l%20II%20landscape

It does seem the best ones have a special quality that is probably different from a clinically sharp and clear one...

Paul

OP sanjaysubramanian Junior Member • Posts: 37
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

I saw the pics here

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=18114445

They look good at this size on screen. However it will be interesting to how they will look on a 24" X 36" poster print...I mainly do those

thanks

sanjay

Dan_168 Forum Pro • Posts: 11,061
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

Paul Alivisatos wrote:

Your post caught my attention, as I am just about to buy this lens.

It can be focused well for landscapes and produces lovely landscape images. There are some good examples here by a member of the photography-on-the-net community:

I personal opinion is quite opposite regarding using the lens for landscape, I like the 70-200 F2.8L II MUCH MUCH better than the 85L II when it comes to landscape. to me there is no comparison between the two lens as far as edge sharpness is concerned. Of course not saying th e85L is " bad" for landscape but just saying between the two I would take the 70-200 2.8L IS II anyday when I go out for landscape shoot.

OP sanjaysubramanian Junior Member • Posts: 37
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

So guys, my question is - since I have 4 months left on my warranty - does it make sense to send my 85mm 1.2 II to Canon for focus-calibration ? My gut feel is NO - but I would invite you guys who are more knowledgeable and experienced than me

sanjay

This is my photography page by the way - nothing outstanding - I am just a natural art thief

https://www.facebook.com/slrpixels/

AJB123 Junior Member • Posts: 47
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

Someone asked earlier what you meant by "infinity focus", and whether it was AF on a distant object, manual focus on a distant object, or turning the focus ring to the infinity mark or endstop.

Apologies if you've already answered and I just missed it!

OP sanjaysubramanian Junior Member • Posts: 37
Re: Canon 85mm f1.2 II infinity focus quality

sorry I did not clarify

yes AF on distant object...From say Pier 39 seeing Alcatraz....so 2 miles as the crow flies ?

Marco Nero
Marco Nero Veteran Member • Posts: 7,582
EF 85mm f/1.2L USM should focus well to infinity...

It's unlikely to be defective - but it's the ONE lens that seems to show you that you need to make a Microfocus Adjustment your lens - assuming your shots aren't sharp to begin with.  It's an amazing lens so I carry it almost everywhere.  I do shoot landscapes with it as well.
.
The 85mmL lens (and the 50mmL) at f/1.2 will reveal ANY shortcomings with your camera's focus settings because the DOF is so thin.  If your camera is not calibrated perfectly (for your lens), you may need to make a Microfocus Adjustment.  The 85mmL is often mistaken for being soft or out of focus by people who have only shot with a wide DOF.... because they don't realize their camera needs a very minor calibration.
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To test, mount your camera ON A TRIPOD and then take two identical pictures of something several feet away: Take one with the OVF and one with the Live Preview on the LCD.  Compare the two.  The one taken with the LCD (Live Preview) should be accurate.  If there's an issue with your lens, this picture will be blurred or out of focus.  Now take one with the OVF (optical viewfinder).   If it is slighjtly soft or blurred compared to the first picture, then your camera needs a Microfocus Adjustment.  Consult your manual or look at YouTube for instructions.  This lens should be sharp otherwise.  Infinity focus ought to be very reasonable at even f/2.5.  My examples are taken with an EOS 6D.
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Your problems (according to your post) appeared to be at f/14.  I'm not certain but I would assume that minor diffraction may be on the rise at that aperture.
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Some examples from my own EF 85mm f/1.2L below:
.

f/7.1

f/2.5

f/1.2

f/1.2

f/5.6

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Regards,
Marco Nero.

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OP sanjaysubramanian Junior Member • Posts: 37
Re: EF 85mm f/1.2L USM should focus well to infinity...

Very good points. thanks a ton. Quick question. Does your landscape photos look clear when u blow it up to say 24 X 36 posters ?

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