Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/01/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]There was a strange little side comment on here about ultra-fast lenses which said that the Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens had very poor contrast. I disagree. I have owned several Leica 1.4 lenses (50mm and 35mm) and currently still use the 50m Summilux and also own and use the Canon 50mm 1.2 as well as the mentioned 85mm 1.2. None of these lenses is as good as a slower version of the same length. But that is not the point. They are made for a purpose, and in the case of the Canons, they perform beautifully. I have used the Canon 50 and 85mm lenses at or near 1.2 with good results and at 2.8 or so on down with terrific results. For years I regularly used the Canon 50mm 1.2 as my standard 50mm travel lens when on assignment for National Geographic because it was so small and light but still fast. Never did I nor anyone else ever notice or comment on low contrast for the 50 or the 85. I would not want anyone to believe that these two Canon stalwarts are anything but superb optics, which they are. Fred Ward