Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Review by a Full-time Photographer | Is it Worth the Price?

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

IS THE CANON 50MM 1.2L USM LENS WORTH THE PRICE?


You all know that the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is the one lens I can’t live without. But if someone were to ask me, “Which lens takes the most beautiful photos?” it would be the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM. I wanted to share a few of the reasons that this lens is so special, because if I wasn’t such a zoom lens girlie, this one would be my #1. It’s a truly incredible, versatile lens with amazing low-light capabilities and stunning bokeh. I’ll dive more into the details below, but I’m sure you can already tell this review is definitely a rave!


  1. IT’S THE BEST LENS FOR LOW LIGHT IN ITS CATEGORY

With a 1.2 ultra-wide aperture, you can’t get any better than that. As a wedding photographer, this lens has saved me multiple times in low-light situations. It can find and pull light from any situation, even when there isn’t any! Once the sun goes down at a wedding, I typically pop on a flash (I use the Canon Speedlite 580EX II and/or the Speedlite 430EX II) to use with my zoom lens on my Canon 5d Mark IV, and then I’ll use my Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM with my Canon EOS R because it doesn’t need a flash! Having that blend of flash photos with naturally lit photos gives my photos variety for my client. This combination has become my go-to for weddings. It’s the best low-light set-up I’ve ever had. I actually kind of hate using my 24-70mm with the EOS R because I find the photos to look a little too sharp and digitized. It’s hard to explain, but the softness that comes along with the 1.2L lens when you’re shooting with the aperture wide-open just seems to work perfectly with the natural sharpness of the EOS R.

2. IT TAKES ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL PORTRAITS

If you’re a portrait photographer, you need this lens. With the beautiful bokeh that this lens is capable of, you can create the most dreamy, emotive portraits. When I take my wedding couples out into a field or up on a hillside for portraits, I focus on using this lens for close-up portraits and I use my zoom lens for wider shots. Beginner photographers always ask me, “But how do I get that blurry, dreamy background in my photos that I see on Pinterest?” The answer is, this lens! Now, it’s definitely not a cheap lens at $1399, but I promise you it’s worth every penny. If you’re really on a budget, I recommend buying a used version from KEH Camera or eBay (just make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller on eBay with great reviews)! And just between you and I, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens is very similar, but substantially cheaper. It’s a great starter lens and will get you super excited to eventually upgrade to the f/1.2L lens. Sometimes, I even find myself missing my 50mm f/1.4 lens because I captured some incredible photos with it. But I know the 1.2L lens is much better in many ways, but still. Something about that f/1.4 lens was special! And it’s amazingly only $400!!! You can find it on Amazon here!

3. IT’S SURPRISINGLY VERSATILE

While it is a fixed focal length which can be limiting, in my opinion 50mm is the perfect length for versatility. I used to own the Canon 85mm f/1.2L lens, which is an incredible portrait lens (and I was so sad to sell it!), but I found it to be a bit too zoomed in for my liking. I noticed myself having to back up far too often to get the shot that I wanted. It was amazing for headshots, but that was about it so I ended up selling it, sadly. 50mm is closer to what your eye naturally sees, so it’s just a bit more intuitive. Plus, it’s just wide enough to capture a small group of people as well, so for that reason, it’s also ideal for weddings. You have to be quick on your feet and ready for anything at a wedding, and I find the 50mm to work perfectly as a designated portrait lens that’s also capable of more complex situations. I’ve spent the last 10 years perfecting my 2-camera wedding set-up and I couldn’t do it with the 50mm f/1.2L. I’ve even tried a 35mm fixed focal length, but it didn’t give that same dreamy, portrait feeling that I’m always looking for when it comes to photographing the couple. And when I needed a 35mm vibe, I would just use my 24-70 mm zoom lens to get wider shots.

4. IT’S A GREAT EVERYDAY LENS

You can really use this lens for any kind of photo shoot that you’re asked to do. I’ve used it for events, musicians, portraits, weddings, fashion, food photography… the list goes on. It comes with me to every shoot because this is really the lens you need to impress your clients. Sometimes with a zoom lens, it can be hard to create those expensive-looking photos since you’re limited by the aperture of f/2.8L. If you shoot with the wide open f/1.2 aperture on the 50mm, you can create some images that will truly wow your clients. It makes everyone look beautiful and gorgeous, and it doesn’t distort features in the way that a zoom lens can. I tend to shoot closer to the f/1.4-2.0 range because sometimes the f/1.2 can be a bit too soft. However, if that’s what you’re going for, you’ll love this lens.

5. FOR THE PRICE, IT’S AN INCREDIBLE DEAL!

When this lens first came out, the original RRP was $2499. With the introduction of the new RF line of lenses, the price of L series lenses has gone down quite a bit. This is great news because $1399 is actually an amazing price for this lens. While the new RF lenses are supposed to be incredible, the RF 50mm 1.2L is substantially more expensive at $2299 (almost $1000 more)! Not to mention, if you are shooting with a Canon camera with an EF mount (like the 5d Mark IV), then you’ll have to buy an adapter for the RF lens, which is another $129. Plus, there are so many options out there for buying used gear. For expensive gear, I nearly always buy used to save a few hundred dollars. However, if you have the money to invest in a new lens, it’s always worth it. You can go into it knowing that you’ll have years of shooting with it without a problem. And if someone dropped it or got it wet without telling you before you bought it, you wouldn’t have to pay the consequences when suddenly the autofocus or other mechanisms within the lens stop working and you end up spending $500 for Canon to repair it.

SO, IS THE CANON 50MM F1.2L WORTH THE PRICE?!

I’ll always have to say yes on this one. Especially because there are options out there to buy it a little bit cheaper if you’re on a budget. I would honestly die for this lens because the photos it takes are so dang gorgeous. Is that going a bit too far? Maybe! But it’s hard to put into words just how magical this lens is! My sister-in-law pretty much shoots exclusively with the 50mm 1.2L and her work just always looks so beautiful. It’s a great lens for creativity too, as the focal length adds a bit of surreality to your images. While 35mm is technically what your eye actually sees, 50mm is a tiny bit more zoomed in, adding a level of intimacy that we aren’t used to seeing with the naked eye. But it’s not so zoomed in that it’s difficult to work with, like the 85mm f/1.2L lens. It’s a perfect lens for a beginning professional because it automatically takes your photos to a new level. I’ve included a ton of sample photos below so you can decide if this lens is for you!

WHERE TO BUY

If you do decide to take the plunge, here are some options for where to pick one up:

CANON 50mm 1.2L USM Lens


Amazon
KEH Camera (for used options)
eBay (for used options)

CANON 50mm 1.4L USM Lens

(the budget option that is also a great lens)

Amazon

CANON RF 50mm 1.2L USM Lens

(if you want to splurge and/or prefer an RF Mount Lens)

Amazon

CANON EF-EOS R Mount Adapter

(I use this to attach my 50mm 1.2L to my Canon EOS R)

Amazon

Hope that helps! Feel free to leave any questions/comments below. Best of luck in your photography journey! Thanks so much for stopping by! And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

<3 Myles Katherine






Review of the Pentax PC35AF-M with Sample Photos in Boston & Salem, Massachusetts

 

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

To be honest, I have no idea where my Pentax PC35AF-M came from. It just showed up in my camera collection one day. I think I might have picked it up in a thrift store but I’m not sure! For years, I kind of skipped over it, choosing other cameras instead when I’d pack my camera bag. Recently, I was cleaning out my office and stumbled across it again. When I opened the lens cover, I realized the lens was a 2.8F lens. It made me wonder why I hadn’t given this camera a chance yet! So I loaded it up with a roll of 35mm film and took it with me on a recent trip to Boston & Salem, Massachusetts. I even took it with me to a few fashion shoots I had in Portland, Oregon but somehow I lost that roll of film. I’m pretty devastated about that because I’ve never lost a roll of film. Maybe I’ll come across it one of these days. Or maybe I somehow shot over it and will end up with a roll of double exposures. I sure hope so!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PENTAX PC35AF-M

The Pentax PC35AF-M is a 35mm point and shoot autofocus compact camera produced by Asahi Optical Corporation in Japan. It was originally released in 1984, which doesn’t sound that old for a vintage camera, but these days that means it’s 40 years old! In my opinion, they seem to hold up very nicely because of their solid build. The PC35AF-M was a follow-up to the original version of the camera, the Pentax PC35AF. The only difference was a motorized film-advance. The PC35AF was Pentax’s first autofocus compact camera, which is pretty amazing considering how well these little cameras have held up.

INITIAL THOUGHTS

So far, I’m pretty impressed with this camera. It doesn’t look like much but it seems to be becoming a bit of a cult classic in the camera community. It’s still relatively affordable though ($50-200) and I’d recommend scooping one up while you can. You can find them on eBay and places like Mercari. The lens is incredibly sharp for the price and it has quite a heavy, sturdy body for its size. I think this camera still flies under the radar though and I’ve heard of people picking them up in thrift stores for next to nothing. Hopefully you’ll be one of the lucky ones that finds one this way!

FEATURES

If you’re a fan of compact, easy-to-use 35mm point and shoot cameras, this one definitely won’t disappoint. The shutter button makes a strangely satisfying electronic sound and the photos are quite sharp for the price point of this camera. The autofocus system is different than others when it comes to point and shoots, in that you have a bit more control over the subject distance. If you partially depress the shutter button, it shows you in the viewfinder which subject distance it’s choosing. If you decide to change subjects, you can remove your finger from the shutter and redepress the button for the new focusing distance.

I love that is has a pop-up flash. There’s a fun little red button on the side that you pull down and the flash just shoots right up! It gives you a bit more control over the flash, rather than it just popping up on its own when you’re in a low light situation like some other point and shoots. When I was in Boston, I’d bring this camera out with me every night. Since it had a flash and a 2.8F lens, it does pretty well in most lighting conditions and makes a fun nighttime camera.

This camera also has a self-timer, a back-light feature, an ISO switch and automatic film advance. The battery compartment tends to pop open but I just make sure to tape it and I don’t have any problems. It just takes two AA batteries which is super nice. It’s such a pain when I pick up a camera that takes some weird, hard-to-find battery.

The only downside for me, personally, is that there is no multiple exposure feature. There is a rewind switch on the bottom of the camera though, so you could always rewind the film and shoot over it for that effect. I just prefer to have a built-in multiple exposure option.

SIZE & WEIGHT

This camera is great as a grab-and-go or for street photography. It’s somewhat inconspicuous, though maybe a bit too large to fit in a pants pocket. I had no trouble fitting it in my coat pocket, but it does leave a hefty and questionable lump! To me though, this camera is small because I’m used to dragging around giant cameras. It’s surprisingly heavy for it’s size, 12.2 ounces. The older version of the camera, the PC35-AF, weighs a little less though because it doesn’t have that motorized film advance.

ISSUES & FAULTS

Overall, I haven’t noticed anything terribly faulty with it. I did have an issue with the most recent roll of film I shot with it, though. For some reason, I was having trouble getting the film to wind back all the way after I was done with the roll, so when I opened the back I ended up light-leaking a few images. It doesn’t really bother me because I love light leaked photos, but I do want to figure out what happened. I plan on paying more attention the next time I use the camera so I can fix it!

As I mentioned previously, the fact that it doesn’t have a multiple exposure option is an issue for me, but that’s not a dealbreaker for everyone.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you come across a Pentax PC35AF-M, definitely don’t leave it behind. With such a sharp lens, this makes a great addition to any camera collection. Plus, the fact that it is so sturdy and substantial leads me to believe that these little cameras will last quite a while. Not to mention that it comes with a built-in springloaded lens cover that helps to protect that 2.8 lens. I haven’t experiemented with the back light feature yet, but I think it’s really going to come in handy if I ever remember to use it!

WHERE TO BUY

eBay

KEH Camera

Poshmark

Here are a few of my favorite film options:

Kodak Gold 200

Lomography Color 400

Lomography Color 100

Kodak Portra 160

Kodak Portra 400

Kodak Colorplus 200

I’m going to think twice before leaving this camera behind now. I like to keep at least one 35mm point and shoot camera in my bag at all times and I think it’s going to be fighting in the battle with my Contax T2, to be honest. My Contax isn’t always the most reliable. Plus, if I lose it while I’m traveling I’m out quite a substantial amount of money. Luckily, the Pentax PC35AF-M is affordable and more easily replaced.

I’ve shared a few of my favorite images from this camera so far, but I’ll be sure to add more to this post as I use it more!

Thanks so much for stopping by! And don’t forget to stop by my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :)

<3 Myles Katherine

SAMPLE PHOTOS (click to enlarge):

 

Contax T2 35 mm Camera Review with Samples Photos | Is the Contax T2 Really Worth the Hype?

 

(By using the links and/or codes below it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Here we go - the famous Contax T2. I was one of the lucky ones and picked up a Contax T2 before they became one of the most sought after point-and-shoot 35 mm cameras out there (thanks a lot, Kendall Jenner)! I think I paid about $500 for one in near mint condition, but now they’re going for anywhere from $750-2000 depending on the condition. The question is -

Is it Worth All of the Hype?

The Contax T2 has a lot of amazing features that many of my other 35 mm point-and-shoot cameras do not have. It has a sturdy and beautiful titanium body, a SUPER sharp and crisp Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 38 mm f/2.8 lens and features such as aperture priority, flash, exposure compensation and manual and automatic focus controls. It has many of the features you’d expect in a larger, professional camera, but is small enough to fit in your pocket. When it first came out in the 1990s, it was created to appeal to the professional and luxury camera market. And personally, I have yet to come across a 35 mm film camera that can create images as sharp as the ones I’ve gotten with the Contax T2. It makes sense that once the secret was out, this camera blew up. There’s a reason all of these celebrities are using this camera and it’s because they want the best and this is it. It automatically makes everything look high fashion and amazing because of the sharp lens. Plus it’s small and inconspicuous, yet beautiful to look at.

But is it Worth the Expensive Price Tag?

Personally, the Contax T2 is a missing a key function that I NEED in a camera - a multiple exposure function. While, yes, you can rewind the film and shoot over the images you’ve already taken, I prefer to have more control over my multiple exposures. Because of this, I don’t end up using the camera very often. It’s just a personal preference that I’ve discovered about myself as a photographer over the years. However, my Contax T2 was having a bit of trouble at one point with the battery connections and would occasionally lock up in the middle of taking a photo. Because of this, I’d shut down and restart the camera and it would accidentally shoot over the same frame, causing accidental double exposures. I’ve included a few of these images below. However, they were not planned and don’t necessarily count as a positive attribute of the camera. Since then, I’ve figured out a loophole for stopping the camera from freezing mid-shot, by pushing down the shutter button very slowly but firmly. I’ve been meaning to send my Contax T2 off for service, but when I discovered that it was a minimum of $400 to repair it, I decided to hold off for the moment (Nippon Photoclinic was the only professional camera repair store I could find that I would trust with my Contax T2). Plus, I don’t really mind these accidental double exposures. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Contax T2 is expensive to repair. The camera itself isn’t getting any younger either, as they were initially released in the early 1990s and are now around 30 years old. The reality is, if you DO want to try this camera out, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. They aren’t going to last forever and in today’s world, they’re probably just going to get MORE expensive. If you’re desperate to try it out, I recommend keeping an eye on the Ebay listings for a few weeks to get an idea of the price point they’re going for. Sometimes, one will pop up that might fly under the radar and end up getting yourself a good deal. You can also set a price watch on Amazon and watch for fluctuations in price. KEH camera also gets them in every once in a while and have a thorough testing and rating system for their used items.

Would I Purchase a Contax T2 Today?


Probably not. It’s an incredible camera but without a multiple exposure function, it’s hard for me to justify spending that much money on a camera I just wouldn’t use very often. However, I am glad that I had the chance to experience the camera because it is pretty amazing. I love how sharp the photographs are and I especially love how small and easy it is to travel with. It packs a lot into a tiny little camera body. Plus, the titanium body is truly beautiful and makes the camera feel and look expensive when you’re holding it in your hand. As a Japanese camera brand, you can expect attention to detail and quality. Even the protective camera case it comes with feels soft and amazing in your hands. I’ve considered selling my Contax T2 many times, since I don’t get around to using it very often. Even with the battery issues I’ve been having, I could still probably sell it for more than I purchased it for. But there really is something special about the Contax T2 so I’m finding it hard to let it go. If you have the money and are willing to invest, you won’t be disappointed by the camera quality and sharpness of the photographs. Just make sure you get one that doesn’t have any previously known issues and that comes from a reputable seller. I think the Contax T2 is worth all of the hype, as long as you’re not breaking the bank to purchase it. Sure, there are other high end 35 mm cameras out there that are more affordable, but I have yet to come across one that beats the quality of the Contax T2.

Where Can I Buy a Contax T2?

Amazon

Ebay

KEH Camera

I’ve included a few of my favorite images I’ve taken over the years with my Contax T2. I also posted a review on my YouTube channel, so be sure to check that out too!

Feel free to leave any questions or comments below. Thanks so much for stopping by!

<3 Myles Katherine

(click to enlarge images)