Canon® Canon 50mm F/1.2L

The Canon 50mm f/1.2L is better than comparable lenses when used in the f/1.2 to f/2.8 range and has superb bokeh. Key features include:

• Excellent for wide-aperture shots

• Requires autofocus microadjustment

• L-series build quality

Superb Bokeh. The Canon 50mm f/1.2 L has been somewhat controversial. is perhaps the most accurate. He claims that it’s better than other lenses in this range from f/1.2 to about f/2.8 and has superb bokeh.

Alternative. If you’ll be shooting stopped down past f/2.8 you may be better served by the , but for wide-aperture shots, this lens is the choice.

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…

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 (f/1.2 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; it’s slightly curved. Focus-recomposing will guarantee you an out of focus shot. Just don’t do it.
• The 50 f/1.2 L exhibits focus-shift for near distance shots, meaning that shooting objects a few feet away between f/2 and f/4 the lens will probably not autofocus accurately. At f/1.2 it’s accurate, and by f/5.6 the depth of field is wide enough that you won’t see the effect.
• The 50 f/1.2 L is camera specific: a copy that is wonderful on one camera may backfocus on another. It’s best used, for that reason, on cameras with focus adjustment like the or the . If you don’t use autofocus adjustment, your images are likely going to be back or front focused.

The bottom line: when this lens is right, the shots are spectacular and the background blur is awesome, just like the . But it’s more finicky and more difficult to get those shots with this lens.
March, 2013