85 1.8 - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/29/2005 07:41:58 PM · #1

the 85 1.8 is a scarry, scarry beast of a lens.

I'm actually somewhat afraid of it.

Message edited by author 2005-12-29 19:57:48.

barndog

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

12/29/2005 08:25:59 PM · #2

This is on my wish list. I have been looking at this and the Sigma 105 macro.

You like it?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/29/2005 08:53:39 PM · #3

I love my 85 1.8

Rooster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon

12/29/2005 09:02:47 PM · #4

whoa! sounds sweet. Can we see some pix or what? Kinda jealous...

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

Olympus 12-45mm f/4.0 Pro

12/29/2005 09:04:51 PM · #5

I've used the paper's, and really, really wish I had one of my own. SOOOOO sweet! :D

seenosun

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

12/29/2005 09:07:36 PM · #6

i bought one today. It is really nice. I was using my 100mm 2.8 macro for portraits but decided the 85mm 1.8 would be a better fit. It was the 3rd Canon Lens I've bought since November so the rebates ($150 total for 3 lenses) helped knock the price down to $200. I just couldn't pass it up.

fotodude

Nikon D70

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/29/2005 09:10:27 PM · #7

my 50mm 1.4 on a subframe sensor gives me 75mm (focal) and that pretty scary to..but i have offten though and dreampted of the 85mm...i looked at it once.

i had a stroke

not really but it was nice

_brando_

12/29/2005 10:05:51 PM · #8

yeah man it's sweet...

no pics really uploaded yet, although I've shot quite a few...basically just been messing around at f/1.8 playing with the DOF and all...

my camera definately doesn't backfocus ... not a centimeter off.

Metal lens hood ... super heavy lens for the size, I actually expected something like my 50 1.8 but a bit bigger, it's a totally new beast.

Things can look totally in focus on the LCD on back of the camera, and be just out of focus though...and just out of focus on this thing at 1.8 is enough to ruin the shot...it's definately a different beast than what I'm used to, and I've used the 50 1.8 quite extensively...the 50 is much, much more forgiving, if you will.

--

That being said, and I tested this, the bokeh that the 50 1.8 produces is technically 'better bokeh' -- meaning the light will be concentrated in the middle and fade out around the edges -- the 85 is darker in the middle with more well-defined edges (which is technically worse bokeh, scientifically speaking). The worse bokeh though, looks better to the viewer -- it's like the better look is the result of an imperfection...but that's some technical stuff there.

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

12/29/2005 10:14:24 PM · #9

Originally posted by barndog:

This is on my wish list. I have been looking at this and the Sigma 105 macro.

You like it?

Honestly, and I thought long and hard about it...if I didn't intend to do headshots, I would have gotten a 105 f/2.8 macro...Bascially, anything I shoot at 100mm f/2.8 will be far enough away that my 80-200 2.8 will cover it (ie. not closer than 6').

I think that the 85 1.8 is a good lens for one thing, and that's (non-studio, available light) portraits...it's min. focus is 3' -- so no good for macro, only stops down to f/16 (which is probably more than enough), but it's rather limiting for a landscape since technically I could shoot my 80-200 just as easy, with more versatility (as far as framing exactly how I want it), out 'in the field' with whatever suitable aperture I would use (other than something lower than 2.8, which I couldn't see myself using for a landscape anyway).

So anyway, and all that said, it's a great lens but it's not that versatile...technically, anything you can shoot with it, you can shoot with a much cheaper 50 1.8 (with a closer min. focus distance) and just crop, or shoot with a nice fast zoom like the 70-200 or 80-200.

Anyway, here's a shot with a 50 1.8:

as you can see, the DOF is quite low...so yeah...I'd think twice, long and hard both times, before getting a 85 1.8 over a macro (if that's something you're into).

Message edited by author 2005-12-29 22:15:29.

muckpond

Nikon D200

12/29/2005 10:47:19 PM · #10

most of these shots were taken with the 85mm 1.8. some were with the 50mm 1.8. i'm too drunk right now to figure out which is which, but basically i love the 85mm.

i rented the one i used. owning the 50mm, i think i would buy a 100+ as my next prime and keep renting the 85 on the occasions when i need it.