Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Canon 85mm L-II f1.2 is its bokeh good for stock photo

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

Well I have several lenses for my Canon. Now I own a 5d-II and already have some lenses from my previous 1Ds-II.

I have been for at least 7 years shooting people, fashion, portrait and landscape with Canon 24-70 f2.8 I was sure it was good enough since reviews never wrote bad words about this glass.

Now I'm thinking about how using primes could improve my results. I found 24-70 not very sharp but good enough, I have the 24-105 which I have not tested yet since I only own this glass 1 month. I'm cheking picks on forums of the Canon 85 f1.2 and found some "special" feeling that my zoom does not provide me. I actually have some other L lenses but 85% are zoom and the other are not considered as razor sharp on any lens review.

What I love from images produced on 85 f1.2 are the bokeh produced at f1.2 or 1.4 I had at the beginning some rejections becaouse of the image wasn't with sharp focus, those were produced at f2.8 with the mentioned 24-70 lens. We all know how focus is important for editors and f1.2 mens maybe nice focus on eyes and maybe blurred lips or hair.... I do not have experience about how performs f1.2 on stock, how reviewers like or dislike this Bokeh images with extremely low DOF.

I'm thinking about keeping my 24-70 f2.8 or replacing for the 24-105 f4 which in some reviews seem to be sharper, or change for a 1.2 or 1.4 prime.. I have serious doubts about how changes could affect to my approved images ratio???,

Questions will probably be:

- Do you think that 24-105 performs better than 24-70?
- Do you think a prime 85 f1.2 is good for people stock images outdoor using Bokeh and low DOF?
- Do you think that 85 f1.8 is magic enough as f1.2 big brother?
- Do you have any suggestions about which could be the perfect Canon lens for stock: razor sharp definition, nice colors, low color aberration, no fringes.... ?

That's the question.. the perfect lens for people stock photographer... could be a zoom or must be a prime?

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

One extra question. Since my 5D Mk-II is really new for me bought on the last month. I would like to ask to owners whick settings are using for the "Noise reduction". Maybe better on or off and if better "on" which amount to select?

lukaszb · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 151

It looks like you have a nice portfolio and it looks like you have your favorite lens/body combo already.

To answer your questions. I shoot with Canon 5dMKII and don't use noise reduction, it's just off.

In terms of lenses I don't know anything about 85 f/1.2. What I have heard however is that it's overpriced and you can get very good results with its much cheaper brother the 1.8.

I have shot both 24-70 and 24-105 and currently only shooting with the latter. I think I had a bad copy of the 24-70 because images were consistently soft and not really usable. The 24-105 is much lighter, f/4; it's soft in the corners. It's one of those lenses "it will do" when it comes to image quality. Not super, but the quality is good enough to get the output accepted here on SS.

Perfect lens for stock? Depends what you're shooting if people or objects or something else. If you're shooting portraits I'd go with 70-200mm f/2.8 IS MKII. Very, very nice lens, and I'm glad I purchased it.

I mainly shoot weddings and the lenses I use are the 24-105, 50mm 1.4, 70-200, 100mm macro L, Sigma fisheye for some shots.

mreco · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 1146 Location: Hampshire, UK

hi lukaszb

be interested to know how come all your car images got accepted at SS

lukaszb · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 151

mreco · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 1146 Location: Hampshire, UK

doh ahh yes i see

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

Anyone that has experience using the 85 1.2 outdoors from 1.3 to f4 and got successful with editors approval rate?
As you said is overpriced but at least should be useful too if I do the investment.
Lucaszb: I wouldn't say that I have a favourite combo, it's just the equipment I have been using for the last 7 years and did not suffer any needs to compare. Results were good but I found them not very sharp. All the sharpness and color must be done on prhotoshop. I did had the feeling that not any direct images from the shoot were impressive, onl after a hard photoshop work. I see with 85 1.2 an special magic touch when I chack the other photographers samples, that drive me a litle crazy... there is something soft and sharp at the same time that makea a creamy-sharp results. If it wouldn't be for stock photography.... I would go for it, but stock photgraphy demands focus and focus.... and if I have to shoot f5,6 and f8 on the 1,2 L lens... 'm not sure about investing so huge amount of money to shoot f5,6. Anyone is experienced with this lens that could explain us if there is any huge improvement on results shooting f5,6 with the 85 1.2 and for example with 24-105 on same ligh conditions?

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

I have self test my last work and nitice that 50mm is the most common setting on my zoom lens while working. I do it just without knowing, just like driving a car, but did never check before my most usual mm settings on my zoom lenses. That will means that maybe the 85 f1.2 is a little longer than what I use to do with my regular workflow.... Now I should think first about a 50mm prime lens... any indications? I own the 50 f1.8 but is not workable from f1.8 to f2.8, it works fantastic on f5.6... but I probably would go for a f1.2 or 1.4. Any contributor here have compared the 50mm zoom lenses and have conclusion about it?

jetsetmodels · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 69

I use the 85mm f1.2 but at 1.2 for stock it's a way too shallow. I use it usually between f1.8 and f2.8. It's a great super-sharp lens.

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

Hi jetsetmodels

How nice is the bokeh at f2 ? Do you feel the results are quite better that other cheaper lenses at f2 ? I mean there is a huge $$$ difference between the f1.2 and some others like sigma or canon 85/1.8... three of them can shoot at f2... but the invested money will be seen on results?

jetsetmodels · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 69

The Canon 85mm f1.2 is superb like the Nikon 85mm f1.4.
Can't say anything about the Canon 85mm f1.8 because I don't own it. I always use proprietary lenses from Canon or Nikon because they just work and are worth every penny. When I first begun photography I've tried to save money on lenses and used Sigma, Tokina... but in my opinion they're just not that good. They're cheaper but some suffer from slow focus and blurry edges.

Keep in mind that in the end you always buy the right stuff if your not satisfied with your actual equipment. Buy the most expensive equipment you can afford. If you don't have the $$$ for it go out and shoot a wedding and buy the 85mm 1.2 next time.

Also take a look at the forum www.fredmiranda.com for further details on lenses.

Daniel

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

A wedding.... I will ink about it... I will save my money to get that gem. I agree that 85 / 1.2L is the one... Lets see how editors review images at f2... Im not sure of how rejected images will maybe can grow!

jetsetmodels · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 69

They will accept pics with f2 as long as your content is of value. Read this story about the Microstock millionaire Yuri Arcurs. Most of the time he uses his 85mm f1.2 at f2 for his stock portraits.

http://www.petapixel.com/2011/04/26/interview-with-microstock-photographer-yuri-arcurs/

Best Regards
Daniel

tonobalaguerf · Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Posts: 95

Yes "the master" actually prefer Nikon as I saw there. There's actually a curious thing about the 50mm lenses he actually prefers the 50/1.4 instead 50L/1.2

I read some negative reviews about the 50L/1.2 in several sites and did not read anything bad about 85/1.2 only about it's price.

In some other reviews talk about the Canon 50/1.8 as sharpest as the 50/1.4 ... I did purchased a 50/1.4 and test the focus, one hour later since I noticed that almost anything shooted at f2 was with right focus... it was fully out of focus even when the AF confirmation on the central point... I went back to the shop and ask for the money refund... that was my short story with 50/1.4... Maybe could have change the front/back focus with the 5D adjustments but... I did not even try

jetsetmodels · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 69

I have the 50mm 1.4 myself. Also because of bad reviews of the 50mm 1.2. Furthermore on the Canon campaign I always saw the 1Ds Mark III body with the 50mm 1.4 lens instead of the 1.2.

All my lenses are micro-adjusted. The 50mm 1.4 was really off by -15. Checkout my blog on how to build your own lens align system that works.

Daniel