Canon 85mm F1.4L is
Jan 7, 2018 08:18:01 #
After 1 month of use, my final verdict on this lens is ... just OK. Reviews indicated it was softer than the Sigma at 1.4 and Tamron at 1.8. The sigma does not have VC/IS /OS however. Tamron does but at 1.8 not 1.4
AF speed and accuracy - Canon was good. Which was 70% of the reason i bought it.
Sharpness - not a winner. In fact, cropped photos of long range subjects showed a mushy result. Portraits are ok. Shooting a volleyball match with a still subject cropped was very mushy. 85mm with both lenses at the same aperature had me liking the 70-200 just as much.
Contrast and other IQ items are a matter of taste and so wont go into it here but I was Ok with all that.
A 200mm shot at 4000iso indoor sports (1/800ss) 70-200 2.8 was better than the 85mm cropped at 1.8 at 1600ISO. IS off and on comparisons. (And mushy is different than camera shake and AF miss)
Net: I will keep the lens as the IS at 1.4 and fast accurate AF is still better than the competition but man this lens could have been a killer. Instead, its just ok. And for $2k, just ok means its a bit disaappointing. Its still a winner for low light portraits. I will post a few shots in a different thread for comments.
AF speed and accuracy - Canon was good. Which was 70% of the reason i bought it.
Sharpness - not a winner. In fact, cropped photos of long range subjects showed a mushy result. Portraits are ok. Shooting a volleyball match with a still subject cropped was very mushy. 85mm with both lenses at the same aperature had me liking the 70-200 just as much.
Contrast and other IQ items are a matter of taste and so wont go into it here but I was Ok with all that.
A 200mm shot at 4000iso indoor sports (1/800ss) 70-200 2.8 was better than the 85mm cropped at 1.8 at 1600ISO. IS off and on comparisons. (And mushy is different than camera shake and AF miss)
Net: I will keep the lens as the IS at 1.4 and fast accurate AF is still better than the competition but man this lens could have been a killer. Instead, its just ok. And for $2k, just ok means its a bit disaappointing. Its still a winner for low light portraits. I will post a few shots in a different thread for comments.
Jan 7, 2018 09:10:26 #
I would have expected sharp pictures with a prime 85mm L lens. F1.4 is probably not going to be the sharpest aperture, though autofocus is important for that--if it focuses where you want it. I don't expect much from high ISO pictures--400 is getting soft in my opinion. Even with film, full frame, I never liked 400 ISO at all, popular as it was. And I wonder why you would use an 85mm for sports other than chess matches. OK, maybe volleyball (up close). You say it is a winner for existing light portraits, and I would think that 85mm is ideally made for that, perhaps even a bit soft wide open. If you were shooting with the 70D (APS-C), at high ISO and high crop, some mush is expected, but you say the zoom was better, so that is disappointing. I have never rented lenses first, but maybe I should if I were buying an expensive one.
Jan 7, 2018 09:37:35 #
Thanks for the feedback. Agree with your points.
...and I would never use this lens for high iso on a 70D. My 5Dmkiv at high iso has had good results even at 80% crop...not super sharp obviously but not indiscernable mush either.
I will do a more controlled test at 85mm on my 70-200 and 85mm to test for equivalemt sharpness. I know my 70-200 will win on AF speed but i would expect the sharpness on the 85 to be at least as good as the 70-200 and the 85 stopped down from 1.4 to 2.8. If not, wow. Canon's home base of best lenses as a reason for choosing their ecosystem could be legitimately a debate going forward vs hallowed ground :-)
Perhaps the IS design forced some tradeoffs...only 85mm 1.4 lens on the market with IS so it would seem the design task was not trivial.
...and I would never use this lens for high iso on a 70D. My 5Dmkiv at high iso has had good results even at 80% crop...not super sharp obviously but not indiscernable mush either.
I will do a more controlled test at 85mm on my 70-200 and 85mm to test for equivalemt sharpness. I know my 70-200 will win on AF speed but i would expect the sharpness on the 85 to be at least as good as the 70-200 and the 85 stopped down from 1.4 to 2.8. If not, wow. Canon's home base of best lenses as a reason for choosing their ecosystem could be legitimately a debate going forward vs hallowed ground :-)
Perhaps the IS design forced some tradeoffs...only 85mm 1.4 lens on the market with IS so it would seem the design task was not trivial.
Jan 7, 2018 09:37:46 #
Thanks for the feedback. Agree with your points.
...and I would never use this lens for high iso on a 70D. My 5Dmkiv at high iso has had good results even at 80% crop...not super sharp obviously but not indiscernable mush either.
I will do a more controlled test at 85mm on my 70-200 and 85mm to test for equivalemt sharpness. I know my 70-200 will win on AF speed but i would expect the sharpness on the 85 to be at least as good as the 70-200 and the 85 stopped down from 1.4 to 2.8. If not, wow. Canon's home base of best lenses as a reason for choosing their ecosystem could be legitimately a debate going forward vs hallowed ground :-)
Perhaps the IS design forced some tradeoffs...only 85mm 1.4 lens on the market with IS so it would seem the design task was not trivial.
...and I would never use this lens for high iso on a 70D. My 5Dmkiv at high iso has had good results even at 80% crop...not super sharp obviously but not indiscernable mush either.
I will do a more controlled test at 85mm on my 70-200 and 85mm to test for equivalemt sharpness. I know my 70-200 will win on AF speed but i would expect the sharpness on the 85 to be at least as good as the 70-200 and the 85 stopped down from 1.4 to 2.8. If not, wow. Canon's home base of best lenses as a reason for choosing their ecosystem could be legitimately a debate going forward vs hallowed ground :-)
Perhaps the IS design forced some tradeoffs...only 85mm 1.4 lens on the market with IS so it would seem the design task was not trivial.
Jan 8, 2018 12:37:49 #
Jerry Coupe
Loc: Kent, WA
It could be possible that you have a bad copy of the lens. Have you considered returning it for a another copy. I would expect great results from an 85mm F1.4.
Also, did you try doing any lens adjustment to the camera body. I am not sure if the 70D allows for micro fine tuning.
And maybe one last suggestion, if you have a good camera store in your area, take the lens to the store with a memory card and ask if you can taake a couple of shots on a demo body with your lens and your card inserted. This could confirm if the lens if not right, etc.
Also, did you try doing any lens adjustment to the camera body. I am not sure if the 70D allows for micro fine tuning.
And maybe one last suggestion, if you have a good camera store in your area, take the lens to the store with a memory card and ask if you can taake a couple of shots on a demo body with your lens and your card inserted. This could confirm if the lens if not right, etc.
Jan 8, 2018 18:56:44 #
Jerry Coupe wrote:
It could be possible that you have a bad copy of t... (show quote)
I may try the demo body idea.
I have seen reviews that claim what I am saying here but better to check.
(And I did the micro-af adjustments in all my bodies ao I dont think its that).
Thanks.
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