Bad Lens Reviews

I was reading the February 2012 issue of a magazine for professional photographers. They had some lens write-ups. I'd like to quote some portions:

  • Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM: “since it's an L lens, you know that it offers top-of-the-line optics with eight elements…”

  • Canon 500mm f/4L IS II USM: “Though formally announced last February, … no estimated delivery date but this monster of a lens will certainly be an impressive upgrade…”

  • Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II: “The lens' tripod foot makes it easy to mount on a monopod or tripod (it also has a convenient rotating, non-detachable collar).”

I do not mention the names of the person, nor the magazine, since I'm “spitting in the soup.” Other people will say coward and I would agree if the my rant was about the people or the magazine, but the same happens all over the industry.

These quotes, somewhat taken out of context, were from a printed magazine. We are not talking about a web post, where things can easily be changed, deleted, but from a magazine that you can buy at the news stand. You can even buy the back issues if you missed any.

As I see it, this was written as filler, they needed 3 pages. Can you write something about lenses? We do not have the time or the budget to actually think, test, or verify.

  • I have personal experience with the Canon 85mm 1.2 II lens. I was able to borrow one for a weekend. Quality was good, but not wide-open. If focuses much slower than any of my other L lenses. It's very front heavy and makes the camera wobble. The sharpness is not great, at least until f/1.8. Photographers like a very thin depth of field but not the customers. Not only do they want both eyes in focus, but they also want the whole face in focus. Customers, at least my customers, consider these photos as rejects.
  • What about the new 500mm that will be shipping or be reviewed in the future? I can only say the price will almost be the double of the existing 500mm f/4. The rest? Nobody knows, not even the writer nor the magazine.
  • The new Nikon 70-200 is one of the best lens ever made with a great “buttery smoothness” that can't be be quantified but can be easily seen and make the photos gorgeous, especially people. It's the one case where “Your lens makes great photos.” Even me, I can see the difference. Why not discuss that instead? Especially since the writer claims to own one of them.

Very disappointing.