kenghor

<p>I've most of the Canon fast L lenses such as the 24 II, 35, 85, 135 and 200/2. Getting them (especially for the 85mm and longer lenses) to focus accurately, at large aperture, is often a hit and miss. Typically, u can try shooting portrait with these lenses with the eye as the point of focus. My hit rate whereby the focus is spot on, is far less than 50%. Such low hit rate is not limited to my current models of the 5D2 and 7D bodies, but also many of the previous models including the 1Ds.<br>

I don't know if this is a problem with the Canon system of is it due to the extremely narrow depth of field. But I really hope Canon could improve upon the focus accuracy.</p>

<p>I have similar banding issue on the 5D MK2 like yours.<br>

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00SOvU<br>

Still trying to determine on the exact cause.</p>

<p>I just want to highlight that there is such a problem with 5D MK2.<br /> Hopefully this gets sufficient awareness and Canon can find ways to fix it. Either with firmware or better physical design in future models to shield the EM interference (if it is indeed due to EM).</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Shot in RAW file at ISO 100. Banding appears in both DPP and LR2, both in CR2 and DNG files. So it has nothing to do with my DNG conversion or workflow.<br /> Not all the images have this banding. Only noticed them in 2 of my shots since I had it when it was launched.</p>

<p>Shot with the original firmware:<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/zeiss-001.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/band-1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Updated the cam with firmware for the black dots. I shot a series of shots in burst mode. Only this file has the banding.<br /> <img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/rokkor-011.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/band-2.jpg" alt="" /></p>

No post processing here. No slow movement either.

In fact the pic was taken handheld at high shutter speed.

The bokeh simply amaze me.

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/zf100-022.jpg">

The bokeh is very beautiful, very sharp even at f2 and very rich and saturated colour. On some instances, the bokeh looks like brush stroke from a painting. Very unique characteristic.

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/5d/018.jpg">

<p>

Shot only 1 wedding so I've not much to choose.

I wouldn't recommend the 50 f1.2 L for grab shots during a wedding event. While the lens

is good and sharp wide open, getting precise focusing is a challenge.

<p>

Using the 50mm lens for portrait shots, u have to get very close and intimate to your

subject. A 85mm L might be a better option.

<p>

And the 50L flares more compared to the f1.4.

<p>

See <a href="

http://www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm"> http://

www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm</a> on my test between

the 2 lenses.

See the full res images taken with the 35L, 50L and 85L towards the end of the review:<p>

<a href="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm">http://

www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm</a><p>

The images are selected from the sharpest of each lens and unsharpened.

All shots of the 35L, 50L and 85L are taken wide open and the sharpest images selected.

<br>None of the full size pic has been sharpened.

See the actual, wide open shots of the 50L lens.<br>

The inserts are 100% crop. A full size 100% picutre is also include to examine

sharpenss and bokeh.<p>

<a href="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-

12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm">http://www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-

12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm</a>

There's error in my earlier test.

Sharpness of the L lens looks very good wide open!

Please check the link for the updated test.

I've nearly completed my test comparing the new 50L against the f1.4.

The review may not go down well with some people. Initially I can't even bring

myself to believe my own test results. But after several re-tests, I just have

to admit the fact. Unless the copy that I'm having is a bad copy.

<p>

<a

href="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm">http://www.lens-scape.com/article/50mm-12vs14/50mm12vs14.htm</a>

<p>

PS:<br>

I've contact the photo.net staffs to make this a permanent article here but have

not received any reply.

Another vote for the R1 although the M8 and R1 are different animals.<br>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/r1/003.jpg">

<br>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/r1/019.jpg">

<p>

Good for some macro work as well:<br>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/r1/001.jpg">

Just did a wedding after being out of the scene for some years. With me, I've a 17-40,

24-105, 35mm f1.4 and 85 f1.2 to use on my 5D.<br>

I really enjoyed using the 35mm f1.4! This would be the main lens for wedding. The 85L

produces some very nice pics with nice bokeh but I didn't use it much. I switched to

24-105 during the later part of the wedding but find it just too slow at f4 inside the hotel

ballroom even though I've already on ISO 800.<br>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/5d/018.jpg"><br>

EF 35mm L

<p>

PS: I must say Canon is really the brand for wedding photography! Its high ISO at 800 and

1600 are really usable!

Actually my question boils down to:

<p>

how useful are these lenses, despite their reputation to be pin sharp wide open, when it is so hard to obtain precise focusing?

I used to have a split screen on my 1Ds. However, the split screen only works on subjects that are placed right in the centre.

And trying to determine if your subject (e.g. the eye) is in focus on your viewfinder is like a guessing game for these wide aperture lenses.

So everyone agrees that precise focusing isn't easy with these 2 lenses. You have to use the

centre focus spot, avoid recomposing etc... So what's the sucess rate of u getting the focus

spot on? And hence, how often do u shoot them wide open? And do u use them for grab

shots such as an on going wedding?

While many raved the sharpenss of these 2 lenses shot wide open, how often do u get misfocused shots?

<p>

On off centered, getting the focus right on is kind of hit and miss, especially on a 5D. The 45 foucs points

on the 1Ds helps and the focus is more accurate though.

<p>

So, for those who shoot moving subjects (such as weddings), did u miss the actual point of focus or u

managed to slip through by resizing the file and sharpening with photoshop?

Marc, have u tried weddings with LX1? BTW, I'm a great fan of yours.<p>

There's one thing which I've wanted to do with LX1 for a long time and that's using it to shoot

wedding. My cousine is getting married soon later this year and I might use this opporunity

as her backup photographer and shoot it with D-Lux3.

I've the LX2 for a week before selling it because I wanted a nicer looking DLux3.<br>

The LX2 noise is certainly better than LX1 at ISO 200 and above. LX2 is certainly worth the upgrade if u wanna shoot higher ISO. And the 16:9 LCD screen is certainly sweet! Otherwise I don't see much improvement on the 10MP file at ISO 100 files.<br>

I've kind of missed the ISO 80 on the LX2 but it is available in the Dlux 3.<br>

Some images I've taken with the LX2. <p>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/lx2/004.jpg"><p>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/lx2/005.jpg"><p>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/lx2/008.jpg"><p>

<i>The LX2 freezes, focus lock, just before the image is captured, resulting in many missed moments. I have not experienced this with the LX1, which I find to be just as quick as a manual film camera or a DSLR. </i><p>

Dont' sell your LX2 yet! Simply select the proper focusing option and u'll not have the freeze. Read the manual.

Have the LX2 for almost a week and I've never imagine myself using anyting above ISO 400

on the LX2. However, with the recent release of Abode RAW supporting RAW files from LX2, I

did some test at ISO 1600. I would say that the result isn't at bad as I've imagined. BTW, after

converting the RAW files to DNG, the average file size is 9MB. Look at the photos and be

your own judge:<br>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/lx2/1600-compare.jpg"><br><br><p>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/lx2/1600-compare-1.jpg">

<i>I especially like the real-time exposure graph in the Sony viewfinder. Not only is it really cool to look at, but it's useful too. It saves time, because I don't have to wait and review the photo I just took to see what the exposure graph tells me. </i><br>

This is my sentiment too. The live-view is really a useful feature and is not some gimmick reckoned by many when the Olympus E-330 was launched. I had the E-330 because of this feature to enable me to shoot in odd and low angles. However, compared to the R1, the e-330's live-view is like a half-baked cake. The Sony R1 live-view is really live as u get to see 100% and WYSIWYG in terms of exposure and white balance! This will allow u to make all the necessary adjustment before the photo is taken. <p>

<img src="http://www.lens-scape.com/article/r1/r1-2e.jpg"><br>

<i>The R1 really makes this shot easy! Waist level LCD allows me to shoot in low angle in a comfortable position without have to prone down. The freely selectable focusing point allows me to focus on the lady who is really off centre. The live-view allows me to adjust the tricky exposure for the scene. And lastly the APS size sensor gives me the image qaulity similar to a DSLR.</i>

Some Sony digicams looks very promising with innovative features. If they could incoroprate them into their DSLR or vise versa, they are going to producing some winners! <br>

Take the R1 for example, it is a very very good camera.

Just imagine if they use a full-frame sensor, incorporate the image stabilizer technology into the body, replace the LCD with those found in its lower end T series digicams, and improve the handling of RAW files. Vola, Sony will have a R2 DSLR killer!<br>

Or they could simply use some of the R1 features in its DSLR, like the freely selectable focusing point, free-angle live-view LCD. This will be a very delicious DSLR IMO!<br>

Competition! That's what I would like to see in the camera industry. It will drive innovation and bring price down. Sony certainly has the financial muscles and creativity to do it.