topic Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal? in EF & RF Lenses

Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

marrasander — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:27:19 GMT

Hello Canon Community,

I recently purchased a Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM lens and have been noticing a significant amount of chromatic aberration in my photos. This occurs even in well-lit conditions and is particularly evident around high-contrast edges.

I am attaching a raw, unedited snapshot that I took with this lens to illustrate the issue. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could take a look and let me know if this level of chromatic aberration is normal for this lens model, or if it is possible that my lens is defective.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Best regards,
Sander

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

kvbarkley — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 19:25:19 GMT

Ken Rockwell says there is some, but this seems excessive.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/50mm-f12-continued.htm

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

Waddizzle — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 20:12:39 GMT

What camera body?

Are you using any filters?

Can it be removed by applying lens correction?

Has the posted image been cropped from its original size?

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

shadowsports — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 20:10:46 GMT

Agree with kvbarkley. The CA on the edge of the sleeve and tie does seem excessive. Have you run the image through DPP? Do you have a lens profile downloaded?

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

Waddizzle — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 20:17:22 GMT

“ I am attaching a raw, unedited snapshot that I took with this lens to illustrate the issue. “

The posted image seems to have been edited or modified in some way. It doesn’t contain EXIF data and it has a resolution of 999 x 771 pixels

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 21:48:47 GMT

Well I don't have to rely on Ken Rockwell or any bodies guesses since I own this lens and have for years. I can tell you mine has virtually no CA. While it may not be the sharpest 50mil on the market it has plenty of IQ

Some samples I just shot, just for you. The last one is an extreme blow up. The middle one shot at f1.2.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 21:50:55 GMT

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 21:55:43 GMT

However the fix is simple with Photoshop. But you sample has more issues than just CA.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

Peter — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:35:22 GMT

Looks like my EF 50/1.2L USM. Axial chromatic aberration. Worst at f/1.2.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

marrasander — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:35:33 GMT

Camera is a Canon EOS R5.
No filters used.

I try to remove it in LrC with Lens Correction Color, but that's a pain and often creates lots of artefacts by removing magenta/orange/green color in places I don't want to be removed.

Yes, the image I posted is just a screenshot of a portion of the photo in 100% zoom. I just wanted to illustrate the issue. I just wanted to know if this much CA is normal for a Pro lens like the 50mm f/1.2 L USM.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

marrasander — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:37:51 GMT

The image I posted is not edited, It's only a screenshot on 100% zoom where CA was most evident.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

marrasander — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:40:29 GMT

Thank you for taking the time to shoot some samples just for me.

The CA problem I have with my lens only manifests itself in certain light conditions, especially backlight with high contrast subject. There are also lots of other cases where I have no CA at all.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

marrasander — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 07:42:37 GMT

Yes it looks like the CA problem here is very similar to mine. I guess that's a normal behaviour of this lens than.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 14:13:11 GMT

"I guess that's a normal behaviour of this lens than."

And, you would guess wrong. You saw my samples form my 1DX and ef 50mm f1.2L. It shows very little CA at any aperture and is quite sharp. Not the sharpest but sharp enough.

I actually sold my Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art in favor of this ef 50mm f1.2L. The Sigma Art is the sharpest lowest distortion 50mm lens I have ever owned or seen and may be the best 50mil made but it ain't got f1.2. One thing for sure is nobody needs two 50mm lenses. 50mm is a difficult FL to live with and is more of a specialized FL for sure.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 14:18:03 GMT

When you import to your computer do you not have a lens correction preset? I use Lightroom and I have an import preset that does some basic edits automatically. This is required for every and any lens not just or simply the ef 50mm f1.2L.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

marrasander — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 15:06:12 GMT

I don't apply presets during importing, I usually remove CA or apply lens correction during editing in the Lens Corrections section in LrC, it's easier in my case since I shoot with 3 different lenses in every session so it's never the same profile to all photos. Besides, the CA issues I have with the 50mm lens manifest only in certain lighting conditions.

This kind of behaviour is so strange to me, a lens that is so sharp and clean and sometimes so hazy and full of chromatic aberration.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

Peter — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 15:31:38 GMT

What if you turn off everything in post, ebiggs1? Do you see the CA then?

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:54:19 GMT

Peter my copy of the ef 50mm f1.2L doesn't have excessive CA. Photos can be used as is, however I have a lens correction preset for every lens I own, or perhaps nearly all since I have such a large lens inventory, in Lightroom.

If you have DPP4 you can do lens correction there too.

Re: Excessive Chromatic Aberration in Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - Is This Normal?

ebiggs1 — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:59:06 GMT

"... it's easier in my case since I shoot with 3 different lenses in every session so it's never the same profile to all photos."

Lightroom calls the proper profile for each lens individually. It is not a single profile. It is tailored to each lens specifically so the number or difference in lenses isn't a factor. It should be the very first thing you do in post editing.