So don't believe everything you read in the review, it's a beautiful lens with a creamy, dreamy effect which other lenses failed to produce.... sometimes in photography you don't always need a razor sharp results

:)I am not a pro, and if you are like me, hand holding camera most of the time, you can get the best result from this

The results in portraits can be beautiful though with a slightly soft dreamy effect wide open (which has been improved with practice)

In every situation, it performed like a champ and delivered some of the best results I've ever gotten from a lens

The results are amazing.

The first night I received the lens, I used it to shoot a local band in low ambient light and the results were amazing

For best results, manually select an AF point

It has quite sufficient back focus issues (on static objects with openings from 1.2 to 4.0 very consistent bad results)

Ambient light, even moonlight, lit the shots clearly and with remarkable results

one afternoon I tried to see if I could get better results and tested different micro-adjust settings but this time only using the outer points

But, what's important is that, after this adjustment, I was able to focus and get the exposures with better results

See how beautiful is the result which is almost 3D like

but if you know what you are doing and practice some, the results are unbelievable.

Thats what I did and the results were very consistent

Also, after looking at a lot of the sample pics online, I just didn't like the result as much as I liked the 1.2.

The results that can be achieved with this lens are simply mind-boggling

Update with Full Frame:For over 15 months I've been using this lens with a full frame body as well, excellent results, sharp wide open and professional image rendering!

I was not getting good results just because of the camera shake below shutter speed 200

It has quite sufficient back focus issues (on static objects with openings from 1.2 to 4.0 very consistent bad results)

I use it on a 5D Mark III, and love the results!

the 85L f/1.2) lens is to manually focus and enjoy the result only a really fast lens can deliver

I've been shooting 1.2 wide at ISO 3200 at night with beautiful results

For now, I am returning it, and maybe in the near future I will buy another one, with better results.

BUT, there will be many lighting conditions in which shooting between f/1.4 to f/2.0 will give you less than perfect results (eg. distracting bokeh, terrible color, washed out photos, or complete lack of sharpness).

HOWEVER, in practice, in most conditions it will only give best results when used as an f/2.8 lens.

For portrait shot, I get a much better result to do the upper or 3/4 body shot

You can count on one hand the number of times this lens is used at anything except 1.2 and the results are amazing

While you get great shots using full-frame, I've tried it with my Rebel T3i and have gotten some spectacular results - people deny that I'm not using my full frame with the 85mm f/1.2L II as they share about the same view perspective.-

Shooting wide open does take a lot of getting used to given the razor thin DoF, and I have made sure to use the centre point on my 5DMkII and 50D for best results

Adjust and play with F stops and Flash power- until you get the best results

If you shoot mainly above 2.8, the much less expensive 50mm f/1.4 will likely give you great results as well

It's shallow depth of field and the results of this effect are simple amazing

This is the softest L lens I own.

Plus I had my much better photographer friends telling me to go with a nice L zoom lens for the flexibile range.

Sean Reid [...]. rated this as the L lens worth its price tag

They say that amateur photographers embark on an equipment journey...beginning with cheap starter lenses, then to "L" zooms and eventually all roads lead to the elite prime "L" lenses- the 35mm, the 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, etc,

I'm in the process of acquiring a full set of fast prime "L" lenses

It seems to do exactly what it purports to do and then some...it really makes some truly lovely pictures (and yes all that wonderful L color and contrast is there too)

I had a Sigma 50mm 1.4, two tamron sp 35mm and 85mm 1.8, all made for high megapixel wars, but none, no other lens besides the 85mm 1.2 L lens will give u the rendering, the bokeh, the 3d look, the beautiful L lens colors, transition from bokeh to sharpness, the amount of light u can capture with this lens, its superb

Chromatic abberation is rather harsh for an L-lens (even harsher than the 1.8 and 1.4 non-L lenses) and the vignetting on a full-frame sensor is kind of disappointing