Canon 50mm f/1.2L

The new Canon 50mm f1.2 L lens has been somewhat controversial. Perhaps the most accurate review is that of Bryan Carnathan, who states that it is better than other lenses in this range from f1.2 to about f2.8 and has superb bokeh. If you’ll be shooting stopped down past f2.8 you may be better served by the Canon 50mm f1.4. But for wide aperture shots, this lens is the choice.

Roger’s take: Well, we could talk about this for hours, this is one of the most controversial, irritating, and spectacular lenses in the lineup. I won’t pretend to know what you’ll think of it, but our customers are evenly divided with “I love it” and “I hate it”. Here are a couple of pointers:

• If you’re not used to working with very narrow depth of field (f1.2 close up is NARROW) this lens will take some practice. Use one autofocus point only or it will focus where it pleases, not where you want.
• The plane of focus is not flat, its slightly curved. Focus-recomposing will guarantee you an out of focus shot. Just don’t do it.
• The 50 f1.2 exhibits focus-shift for near distance shots, meaning that shooting objects a few feet away between f2 and f4 the lens will probably not autofocus accurately. At f1.2 its accurate, and by f5.6 the depth of field is wide enough that you won’t see the effect.
• The 50 L is camera specific: that is a copy that is wonderful on one camera may backfocus on another. Its best used, for that reason, on cameras with focus adjustment like the 1D series or the 50D.

The bottom line: when this lens is right the shots are spectacular and the background blur is awesome, just like the 85 f1.2. But it’s more finicky and more difficult to get those shots with this lens.