Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens

Product Description

Can Ef 50mm F12 L Usm Lens , Drift Innovati Hd170 Stealth Acti Camera , Panas Ic Hdc Tm80k Hd Twin Memory Camcorder , Gopro Camera Chdsh 002 Hd Hero2 Surf Editi , Flip Minohd Video Camera 4 Gb 1 Hour , Product Description The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens is a peerless standard lens for Canon digital SLR cameras. The lens is suitable for any shooting situation, with a lens coating and construction type that are optimized to minimize the ghosting and flare that frequently occurs when lenses are used with digital cameras. The lens also offers an ultra-large aperture that produces a narrow depth of field and the type of soft background blur so loved by photographers everywhere. The high-performance, weather-resistant lens delivers all the superb image resolution and contrast you expect in a Canon L Series lens.
Specifications

• Focal length: 50mm
• Maximum aperture: f/1.2
• Lens construction: 8 elements in 6 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 46 degrees (with full-frame cameras)
• Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual
• Closest focusing distance: 1.48 feet
• Filter size: 72mm
• Dimensions: 3.4 inches in diameter and 2.6 inches long
• Weight: 19.2 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year

This review is from: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras (Camera)
I'm a professional wedding and portrait photographer who has been using this lens extensively for about 3 1/2 years. Combined, I use this lens for about 70 weddings/portrait sessions per year and am intimately familiar with it's image quality and nuances.

Let me start off with the weaknesses.
- The lens loses edge sharpness on a full frame quicker than longer focal length, or slower aperture lenses. Don't even think about shooting a full width group shot at anything faster than F2.0.
- Purple fringing will be apparent when shooting at large apertures under harsh lighting conditions. This is even more true at longer subject distances. Shooting that backlit portrait subject at 20 feet? Expect ugly edges.
- Close up performance is relatively weak. This lens employs what's called a fixed rear element design vs a floating rear element. The fixed rear element design results in superior bokeh and background blur, yet somewhat weakens the closeup performance of the lens. At moderate to longer distances, the lens is super sharp. Near minimum focusing distance (much closer than what you would use for portraits), images are not as sharp.

And honestly, I'm struggling to come up with anything else. The whole "focus shift" issue is so overblown its hilarious. Whatever tiny effect their may be (in 3.5 years I've yet to confirm it - seriously), it is VASTLY overshadowed by the fact you're using an F1.2 lens and focus accuracy by the user and camera is critical. You absolutely cannot have sloppy technique when focusing this lens. It requires precision or you're wasting your time.

Now, for the strengths of this lens - the reason why anyone would buy it.
- Image quality below F2.0 is the best of any AF 50mm lens you can buy from any brand - period. Take that to the bank.
- Bokeh, contrast and color saturation from this lens are outstanding - far better than other Canon 50mm lenses. The bokeh is far smoother and less busy than the 50/1.4 at similar apertures. The color and contrast are also superior. In harshly backlit environments, the 50/1.2 L delivers vastly superior image quality than the other 50s.
- Build quality is top notch - typical of Canon "L" lenses. This lens has been dropped multiple times (repaired once). It's even sustained a drop that completely smashed the lens hood. To this day it focuses smoothly and is razor sharp. Believe me when I say this thing is built to last.
- Focusing is reliable. This lens requires zero microadjustment on my Canon 5dII bodies and is worlds more reliable than my Sigma 85/1.4 with accurate focusing.

So there it is. In short, you have a less than perfect lens from most objective standards. If you are looking for clinical sharpness (ie: resolution charts), go elsewhere. If you are looking to shoot at F2.8, there are better choices. If you want the best fast 50mm for Canon you can buy, this is the ticket. It's very expensive, but it's a golden goose and it will retain it's value very well over time. Right now the retail price of this lens is $300 more than when I bought it. I expect that trend to continue in the future.

Why get this lens over a 35/1.4 or 85/1.2? That's like asking why buy a screwdriver when you could buy a hammer or band saw. These are high end professional tools with very specific usages. Each focal length has a very nuanced perspective and image rendering that is unique. If you need 50mm, then a 35 or 85 won't do. FWIW, I do have a Sigma 85/1.4 (and before that a Canon 85/1.2) and while both of them are from a strictly objective standpoint sharper, I use the 50/1.2 three to four times as much as I use the 85s. The perspective is just more comfortable and natural for me. You can move closer to your subject than you can with telephotos without getting the exaggerated perspective distortion that you get with wide angle lenses. For me, 50mm is the golden focal length and this lens is the best 50 you can get.