STUNNING Optics

shawnphoto wrote:

sneakyracer wrote:

This lens is so so good. I use it almost 100% of the time at f2. This lens lives on my EOS R while I am on motion picture sets. It really substitutes three L primes (24, 35 and 50) and it is better optically (and with faster and more accurate AF) than any of those EF lenses wide open.

Here is the one big problem with this lens that nobody mentions. It has substantial focus breathing up close. This is a bummer because it does limit the amount of background blur you can get with that huge f/2 aperture. You can get pretty close with the lens but the focus breathing keeps the maximum magnification low at around .18x while the RF 24-70 gets .3x.

It just sucks that such an expensive lens isn't really hitting 70mm in a lot of portrait scenarios. I'm actually thinking about selling mine as much as I like it for the fast aperture and high image quality. It's huge and I feel that due to the weight and bulk and intimidation factor (I have had more than one customer mention that the lens is huge), it might not quite add up.

I agree that the close focus and 0.3x magnification of the new RF24-70/2.8LIS is a very nice feature for all around photography.  I always used my EF24-70/2.8LII as almost exclusively an event people photography lens (no IS for non-moving objects, not an awesome close focus distance) while the RF24-70/2.8LIS is now a superset being an outstanding event lens and useful all around.  If I could only have one or the other, I would probably choose the RF24-70/2.8LIS.

That said, I don't consider a 0.18x max magnification as a useful feature for portrait or candid people shots.  That's too close (10 inches from the front of the lens at 70mm FL).  Once you get to reasonable people shot distances, the focus breathing is much more mild. Given that it isn't an issues for portraits and people in my usage model, I consider the RF28-70/2L as the new ultimate event/candid/people lens. It's more useful than primes in the cases where you have very little control over where you stand and want maximum framing flexibility along with a whole new category of DOF control for this class of lens.

I'll note that I've seen beautiful shots of landscapes and other stationary objects with the 28-70/2L by people who are carrying it around for general purpose.  It certainly seems like a valid use even though it's not how I use it (or ever intend to use it).

shawnphoto wrote:

gimp_dad wrote:

shawnphoto wrote:

sneakyracer wrote:

This lens is so so good. I use it almost 100% of the time at f2. This lens lives on my EOS R while I am on motion picture sets. It really substitutes three L primes (24, 35 and 50) and it is better optically (and with faster and more accurate AF) than any of those EF lenses wide open.

Here is the one big problem with this lens that nobody mentions. It has substantial focus breathing up close. This is a bummer because it does limit the amount of background blur you can get with that huge f/2 aperture. You can get pretty close with the lens but the focus breathing keeps the maximum magnification low at around .18x while the RF 24-70 gets .3x.

It just sucks that such an expensive lens isn't really hitting 70mm in a lot of portrait scenarios. I'm actually thinking about selling mine as much as I like it for the fast aperture and high image quality. It's huge and I feel that due to the weight and bulk and intimidation factor (I have had more than one customer mention that the lens is huge), it might not quite add up.

I agree that the close focus and 0.3x magnification of the new RF24-70/2.8LIS is a very nice feature for all around photography. I always used my EF24-70/2.8LII as almost exclusively an event people photography lens (no IS for non-moving objects, not an awesome close focus distance) while the RF24-70/2.8LIS is now a superset being an outstanding event lens and useful all around. If I could only have one or the other, I would probably choose the RF24-70/2.8LIS.

That said, I don't consider a 0.18x max magnification as a useful feature for portrait or candid people shots. That's too close (10 inches from the front of the lens at 70mm FL). Once you get to reasonable people shot distances, the focus breathing is much more mild. Given that it isn't an issues for portraits and people in my usage model, I consider the RF28-70/2L as the new ultimate event/candid/people lens. It's more useful than primes in the cases where you have very little control over where you stand and want maximum framing flexibility along with a whole new category of DOF control for this class of lens.

I'll note that I've seen beautiful shots of landscapes and other stationary objects with the 28-70/2L by people who are carrying it around for general purpose. It certainly seems like a valid use even though it's not how I use it (or ever intend to use it).

I agree with everything you said for the most part. I do think the effect of focus breathing is noticeable for headshots though. It's a small nitpick but the lens is

Yea. I can certainly believe that.  Head shots aren't my thing but I did have a family member who was desperate for a headshot back when only two RF lenses were available (RF24-105/4LIS, RF35/1.8IS).  I used the EF85/1.4LIS with my R which I think has an even worse magnification.  However, because I could shoot at F1.4 and crop a little it had a very good result in terms of background blur (it was an outdoor shot so a lot of blur was particularly helpful). This probably reenforces your point.

punishing in size and weight as well. I really hope that they can make the mk II reach to 80mm and eliminate the focus breathing while keeping the dimensions the same.