However, fortunately, he does not act as a beautiful object: it is also one of the best goals very open on the market (in addition to Canon 85mm L USM f / 1.2, the only competitors in this area are of Leica lenses, the prices seem prohibitive, however).
One of the best course, but not THE best in all areas. In fact, if you want a good goal to do everything, a goal that you intend to keep permanently mounted, it probably is not appropriate. Here, in my experience (over two thousand photos), + and - of this goal:
The pros:
- Beautiful Portraits: Extra-Large, faces are strongly softened and the background is completely blurred - your wife will be thrilled!
- Possibility to take a photo in the dark hand lifted without camera: f / 1.2, no less, is two times more light than f / 1.4 and EIGHT times than f / 2.8! This lens allows for example to take a photo without camera shake at night on a lighted spot or in a dimly lit bar.
- Big beautiful shots: it is not a macro lens, but short and wide aperture, depth of field is so tenuous that it is possible to easily isolate a detail and blur the rest.
- Vivid colors and contrast marked whatever the picture.
- Objective lightweight weather resistant: It is possible to photograph under a fine rain for example, but provided, however, to use a filter.
- And beautiful object, even if it is not important :)!
The -:
- Development difficult point as soon as a large aperture is chosen, it is preferable and sometimes mandatory to focus manually. However, the mechanism is so pleasant surprises we quickly make updates to manual focus even small aperture ...
- Going against the day and especially in the fuzzy regions, chromatic aberrations quickly point their nose (sometimes severe purple or green fringes).
- Piqué acceptable to very open, but far from that produced by a 70-200 L IS USM f / 2.8 or f / 4.0.
- Fixed Focal Length (which has to travel to find the perfect frame - but it is a + for myself :)
The use I do:
This is the goal that I always kept in the evenings in the steps I take with my wife in Paris in the evening in the gardens to photograph the strange flowers that inhabit them, and museums (this may -be even the ideal lens to photograph works in museums: discreet, no need flash and superb rendering every time).
For everything else (landscapes, monuments, sport, etc.), this goal does not seem appropriate. The development is too slow and too small framing possibilities.
CONCLUSION:
That is a goal that I can never divest myself even if, for example travel, I use more often the 17-40 f / 4.0 L USM and the 70-200 f / 2.8 L IS USM. I'm not sure it can be for you but I hope my experience has helped you make a decision :)
Note: I am using a Canon 30D and 1D Mark III. This becomes a 80 mm on the first housing and a 65 mm on the second. I use it mostly on the former.