Canon 50mm 1.2 disappointment

[bmauter]

I feel like with enough practice I can conquer the focus problem.

I haven't heard what you all thought about the chromatic aberration (if that's what it really is). Have a look at the little girl's left eye. Look at the white center. It has a magenta ring around it and a cyan center. The other eye has some of the magenta around the white speck too.

I also took a picture of the truckbox on the back of my pickup on a bright sunny day. The bright aluminum versus the black tinted window produced a magenta aberration all along the border.

Initially I dismissed the truckbox picture because maybe I overexposed. It's at ISO100, 1/2000s, 50mm, f/1.2 with +1/3ev. However, I don't think I overexposed the picture of my daughter in the original post. So what's up with that?

Is this something the camera is doing? Is light spilling out of the photosites on the sensor and wrecking the blacks? Why am I only seeing it with this lens? Could the lens need adjustment that might help both of my problems out?

Seriously, thanks a bunch guys.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by bmauter

I think the Live View mode of the 40d or 50d would be helpful if I clicked over to manual focus. I could then zoom in on the preview window and really nail focus that way.

Yes!

Originally Posted by bmauter

Also, because I have the Xti, the only 'precise' AF point is the center. I've tried the other 8 AF points, but I'm not having much luck there either. I used to be a fan of focus and recompose. Now I compose, choose my AF point, focus and then capture.

Same with my 5D and 5D2. I'm a fan of focus and recompose too.

Originally Posted by bmauter

I always considered the trifecta of primes to be the 35, 50 and 85. The 135 being considered in that group is new to me, especially with an APS-C body. With the 50, it's like I'm shooting an 85.

Back in the SLR days, Canon 135 and Nikon 105 were their respective best portrait lenses.

The focal length of 50mm may be right for your cropped body but the 50 f/1.2 L may not be a good choice. Maybe it is time to think about 85 or 135 instead.

[bmauter]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

The focal length of 50mm may be right for your cropped body but the 50 f/1.2 L may not be a good choice. Maybe it is time to think about 85 or 135 instead.

That's what the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L is for. Good grief that thing is heavy though.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by bmauter

That's what the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L is for. Good grief that thing is heavy though.

You can say that again. No, my 70-200 f/2.8 L IS can't replace my 85 f/1.2 L II. It is the lens's signature and not the focal length that is important to me.

[bmauter]

Still no comments on the weird colors in high contrast areas? I've attached cropped versions of the previous pictures so they fit within the forum rules.

See the magenta/blue colors in the eye? See the magenta edge along the truckbox?

What is that? Is this something that indicates the lens needs attention? The camera?

Thanks,
-Brian

[LoveDSLR]

Chromatic aberration.

Check out:
Canon 50mm f/1.2,
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 USM L - Test Report / Review

[SandeeWig]

Originally Posted by bmauter

Also, because I have the Xti, the only 'precise' AF point is the center. I've tried the other 8 AF points, but I'm not having much luck there either. I used to be a fan of focus and recompose. Now I compose, choose my AF point, focus and then capture.

By this are you saying you compose with what you want in focus directly over a focus point, or that you compose and choose the autofocus point nearest the detail you want most in focus?

Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question...

0.05 feet is a tad smaller than 5/8 of an inch. I agree that's thin, but it still seems doable. If I tell the camera AF to focus on an eye, then it should be able to nail it (and eyelashes) and even remain in focus if I cause a small amount of movement when I squeeze the shutter.

In looking at your image, to me it looks like the ear is more focused than any other part of the image. My guess is that the baby moved more so than you did. Have you tested on a still object? I mean, taking a breath can cause a person - let alone a baby - to move more than 5/8 of an inch.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by SandeeWig

By this are you saying you compose with what you want in focus directly over a focus point, or that you compose and choose the autofocus point nearest the detail you want most in focus?

Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question...

Focus and compose implies you just use the center focusing point to lock focus (e.g., the eye) and compose.

Generally you don't have to recompose by selecting one of the focusing points.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by bmauter

Still no comments on the weird colors in high contrast areas?

Again, that kind of fringing is characteristic of very fast lenses. Stopping down a little will help control it. You should see the purple fringing the 85/1.8 and 85L throw out on highlights.

I know it's kind of hard to take, but L lenses still have to obey the laws of physics just like other glass, despite the pricetags.

[crunch]

IMHO, unless you NEED f/1.2, you'd be better off with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 (or heaven forbid, a Sigma 50mm f/1.4!). The simple reasons being it's lighter, better CA control, and costs a fraction, for a lens that's 95% as good.

Since you already have the f/1.2, all you need is practise