OT: Got my dream lens! 85mm f/1.2L

[dendronepthya]

I've wanted the Canon 85L for quite some time and finally pulled the trigger when the latest fall rebates were announced. It is massive and heavy, but I sort of like that. I haven't had a chance to take many portraits with it yet, but I did take it out to take some nighttime shots.

First off, this is what it looks like on my 5D II.

I took these next 3 handheld in next to no light, so I got some shutter speed hand shake going on. With a tripod I'm sure these would have come out much better.

f/1.2
1/100s
ISO 640

f/1.2
1/80s
ISO 2000

f/1.2
1/15s
ISO 3200

 

[tyoberg]

Fast glass is sweet. I've got some manual Nikkors--a 50mm f/1.2 and an 85mm f/1.8 that are favorites of mine.

 

[Hookup]

when I pickup my jaw, i'll have to comment further... nice frigg'n glass... i have envy...

 

[Tremont]

Nice one.

I forgot to mention that my recent short was shot almost entirely with the 85mm L. The only shots where it wasn't used were the shots with the sun in the frame (200mm).

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1729395

Try doing some portraits at f1.2 imo. You will be blown away - the lack of DOF really produces a nice effect.

 

[dendronepthya]

I love your time lapse videos. The one with the airport at night is amazing. I haven't had a chance yet to take a good shot with the 85 yet. Last night was just a torture test of walk-around hand held shooting in near impossible conditions. I'm looking forward to taking some nice portrait style candids in better light.

 

[t5Nitro]

100% amazing piece of glass.

The lens is difficult to learn at 1.2.

 

[lowbudget]

nice so the lower the f stop the less light you need to shoot?

 

[dendronepthya]

Yes. A lower f-number represents a larger aperture allowing more light in. Once you get f-numbers in the 1.0-1.8 range, you can take some really nice low light photos.

 

[brent ward]

I love this lens. It's my most used next to my 90ts. Natural light portraits are the best with it, but shooting portraits at 1.2 takes some practice.

 

[lowbudget]

thank you for the clarification.

 

[dendronepthya]

Portraits are definitely a challenge with this lens especially at minimum focus distance. I'm getting a lot of "one eye in focus, the other eye out of focus" when I shoot f/1.2. Still, the one eye that is in focus is incredibly sharp!
Here is a 100% crop from a shot I took at my office.
f/1.2
1/160
ISO 100

I've seen some pics professionals took using this lens and the sharpness blows this picture away.

 

[Tremont]

I need to start shooting people (with cameras) more.

Self Portrait at f1.2 under natural lighting @ ~5 feet distance:

 

[Wolverine]

I need to start shooting people (with cameras) more.

I'm glad you added the clarification. :lol:

 

[brent ward]

Here's one with the lens, all natural light @ I think f2.

I think this one was wide open at 1.2

 

[Rhizo]

Congrats on the sweet glass!

 

[t5Nitro]

Yea, I think the lens really shines at f/2 for being closer up unless that's the effect you want.

 

[dendronepthya]

Yeah, this lens stopped down even a little bit will give unbelievable sharpness. I'm just dazzled at how sharp the lens is wide open. Not a whole lot will be in the plane of focus, but what is is sharp. What I really love about this lens is its ability to gather light. I'm a total sucker for huge aperture lenses now. Ever since I got a 50mm 1.4, just about every lens I've picked up since has been a large aperture prime.

 

[t5Nitro]

I want to have all three in my bag some time: 35L, 85L, and 135L.

 

[dendronepthya]

Gotta love the holy trinity! If they ever put that new IS system into the 135L (and possibly made it an f/1.8) I'd be all over it! My worry is that the 135 and 85 are so close together in focal length. Some say that they are more complementary than they seem, but I have a hard time picturing it.

Here are three completely random photos from this lens:
Something random from my boss' office. I can imagine this lens being used quite nicely for product shots.

Dad at lunch:

Sunset outside my greenhouse:

 

[t5Nitro]

There you go. Getting the hang of the lens quick.