Wanted: Canon 50mm f1.2L lens

[Francis Pullen]

i know it's unlikely that anyone is selling one of these lenses as they're so bloomin' good, but I am in the market to buy!

New price is around £1235, so looking to pay a realistic second hand figure.

Any offers.....?

[Francis Pullen]

Just bumping this to the top again - still want one 

[TURTLEC]

Not many of these about 2nd hand whic tells you that anyone that has
one is holding onto it.

Playing devils advocate - do you actually need a 50mm f1.2 lens at 1200 quid
which even 2nd hand is likely to be 800+ ?

You could buy the 50mm f1.4 for less than 250.00 and its sharp, light and has great quality
for about 20% of the price. The F1.2 is less than a stop faster so thats not a huge gain.

I will defer to those who know more than I do and who will say that the 1.2 IS a better lens,
and would notmally accept that 'L' series glass IS better, but the question I'd ask in this
case is whether it is 5 times better!!!

In fact even the 1.8 is a cracking good lens when you consider its less than 90 quid.


Just think on what else you could buy with the extra you'd save.

[Kevin Mullins]

I can safely say that the 1.2 is probably twenty times better than the 1.4.  Image quality, CA, weather sealed, super super fast etc.  HOWEVER - I would definately check out the 1.4 first because if it is suitable for you then its a no brainer.  I'd also check out the Sigma 1.4 - thats a brilliant little lens too and the one I use.

[Cass]

is any of this lot any good to you Francis? I'm not a canon user so have no use for it but haven't got around to ebay yet!
http://bppa.ws/forum/index.php/topic,19753.msg279293.html#msg279293

[Mark Ashworth]

I have an 85mm 1.2 Mk2 if you are interested?

[TURTLEC]

- I would definately check out the 1.4 first because if it is suitable for you then its a no brainer.  I'd also check out the Sigma 1.4 - thats a brilliant little lens too and the one I use.

I agree Kevin , my main point was that if the 1.4 is perfectly agequate for all your requirements then there is no need to spend all the extra cash. The 1.2L is a great lens but only if you actually have a compelling need for that bit extra, or a very large wallet.

The Sigma is also another great alternative

[David Bell]

The Sigma is also another great alternative

The Sigma 50mm F1.4 is the sharpest lens I own (even versus all my L lenses), and very sharp even at F1.4. At F2 it is so sharp it becomes lethal. Couldn't be happier with it. I bought it on the basis it is optimised for sharpness at F1.4 and by many accounts on the web it whips the Canon 50mm F1.4. Ensuring focus when close-in at F1.4 requires caution, so I can imagine that at F1.2 is is even trickier. I would love the new 85mm F1.2 - the look it gives is just amazing.

I hope you find your 50mm F1.2. I am sure I'll pick one up at some point in the future.

Just in case you don;t know of this company, you could always keep an eye out on their second hand listings:

http://www.apertureuk.com/canon_auto_focus.html

[Francis Pullen]

Thanks everyone for your comments, knowledge and recommendations as always 

I used a 1.2 a week or so ago and was astounded by it's performance, but had nothing else to compare it to at the time, but I'll be checking out the Canon 1.4 and the Sigma which I know is highly regarded.

Mark, I saw your earlier posting for your 85mm, but I'm really after a wider field of view on full frame.

[Iain Gomes]

Thanks everyone for your comments, knowledge and recommendations as always 

I used a 1.2 a week or so ago and was astounded by it's performance, but had nothing else to compare it to at the time, but I'll be checking out the Canon 1.4 and the Sigma which I know is highly regarded.

Mark, I saw your earlier posting for your 85mm, but I'm really after a wider field of view on full frame.

Francis you are more than welcome to borrow my 50mm 1.4... let me know. 

[Francis Pullen]

Iain, thanks for your very generous offer. I'm hoping to try the Sigma and Canon 1.4 tomorrow, but if it all falls through I'll be in contact. What a great bunch of people there are here 

[TURTLEC]

I know a guy who does have the 85mm f1.2 and he swears by it as a great lens.

He also swears AT it quite a bit because at f1.2 there is absolutely no margin
for error in terms of focusing etc . He reckons it actually took him a few weeks
of practice to 'learn' how to best use it.

He know says he cut off his arm before he'd part with it

[Andrew McDonald]

got the 50mm 1.2 which as Kevin says is fabulous... its transformed the QA of my images, especially for ceremony etc.

the 35mm 1.4 is also a fantastic lens.

The 1.4 isnt in the same league, regardless of what people say, however if you're in the market by a new one, enjoy it and reap the benefits

andy

[William]

Francis, have you thought about the Zeiss 50mm f1.4, which is tack-sharp when wide open and might be better than the Canon or Sigma.

I use the 100mm Zeiss for maybe 90% of my work.  With this lens, we can choose aperture only for depth of field because it seems equally sharp all the way from wide open down to f11. 

Most lenses, except for Zeiss and Leica, need to be stopped down before you get sharp pix.

[Francis Pullen]

Thanks Colin and Andrew - yes when I briefly used the f1.2 the DOF was as expected pretty minimal and would take some 'training' for consistent use at that aperture.

William, I hadn't even considered the Zeiss f1.4 - another one to try - thanks for the recommendations everyone.