what should i rent? 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.4

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/28/2010 11:23:38 AM · #1

I am attending a wedding (as a relative not a photographer) this weekend and would love to walk around with a single lens...I am planning to rent either of the two lenses 50mm or 85mm.

Will the 85mm be too much zoom to walk around or its far superior to the 50mm and the benefits will outweigh the missed wider shots?

Ja-9

Nikon D750

06/28/2010 11:35:27 AM · #2

yes, I think the 85 would be to much zoom. my 50mm sometimes limits me as to how close or how much detail I want to get...personally even though it's not my favorite lens I would choose my 18-135mm lens as that gives me the better part of several worlds...if I'm seated to far away it will bring me closer, yet I can still get the wider angles of the whole party that's going on....JMO

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

06/28/2010 11:49:53 AM · #3

Vikas, I used the 85mm for all my shots on the Saturday at the DPC GTG in NYC.
DPCers in NYC

You'd be hard pushed to find a better lens. That said, I would recommend getting it a day or two before the wedding and give it a test drive. The 50 is great too of course, but somehow the 85mm does it for me. Check out Pawdrix's portfolio too (oops, his is mainly off DPC these days) as he is a big fan of the 85. It maybe too much zoom for a wedding, but it depends what you really want.

ETA. Pawdrix truly "owns" that lens on DPC

Message edited by author 2010-06-28 11:55:10.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

06/28/2010 11:51:58 AM · #4

Go with the 50mm 1.4 The 85 most likely would be too much zoom, You can always back up a bit more with the 50mm. If you start backing up with the 85mm to fit people into the frame you run a risk of having people getting between you and your subject/s. + the 50mm is faster which might come in handy in darker conditions.

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

06/28/2010 11:55:58 AM · #5

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

+ the 50mm is faster which might come in handy in darker conditions.

Uh? They are both 1.4 so there is no difference.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

06/28/2010 11:58:23 AM · #6

I used the 85mm all the time when I had my film camera, but since I don't have a full frame, I find the 85 is just too much for indoors -- I can't get far enough away.

That being said, with weddings, you're often in much larger rooms, so maybe if it's not extremely crowded the 85 might work. I think the 50 is a safer bet, however.

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

06/28/2010 12:11:52 PM · #7

Thanks everyone!

Looks like the answers here are just as divided as my thoughts on the two lenses :)

In the NYC GTG I was actually walking around with 105mm and it was alright, so I guess 85mm shouldn't be too bad and knowing that I will get to try one of the best lenses in the market is an added bonus.

I will have couple of days to try it out before the wedding day, so should be alright.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

06/28/2010 12:39:51 PM · #8

Pawdrix and Sarah have the answer to your question. That 85mm lens is amazing.
I wish Canon had an identical one.

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

06/28/2010 12:55:21 PM · #9

Originally posted by PennyStreet:

Pawdrix and Sarah have the answer to your question. That 85mm lens is amazing.
I wish Canon had an identical one.

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

06/28/2010 01:23:55 PM · #10

Originally posted by PennyStreet:

Pawdrix and Sarah have the answer to your question. That 85mm lens is amazing.
I wish Canon had an identical one.

have you ever tried the legendary 85F1.2L canon lens? They even have a version II of it now. I love mine.

Sony Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA

06/28/2010 01:32:46 PM · #11

Rent this... I've always wanted to.

Here are some wedding shots with that 50mm f/1.0

Message edited by author 2010-06-28 13:37:42.

salmiakki

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

06/28/2010 01:35:06 PM · #12

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Rent this... I've always wanted to.

Why would he? the OP is a Nikon user

06/28/2010 01:38:15 PM · #13

Originally posted by salmiakki:

Originally posted by coryboehne:
Rent this... I've always wanted to.

Why would he? the OP is a Nikon user

Ahh, Failed to notice that..

Ok, so go buy a Canon body and then rent the lens ;)

MinsoPhoto

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/28/2010 01:48:29 PM · #14

Originally posted by coryboehne:

Rent this... I've always wanted to.

Here are some wedding shots with that 50mm f/1.0

Amazing stuff. What a lens that would be.

ETA: You can buy that lens on ebay here for a mere 4,500 usd

Message edited by author 2010-06-28 13:52:35.

06/28/2010 01:54:39 PM · #15

Originally posted by jminso:

Originally posted by coryboehne:
Rent this... I've always wanted to.

Here are some wedding shots with that 50mm f/1.0

Amazing stuff. What a lens that would be.

ETA: You can buy that lens on ebay here for a mere 4,500 usd

That makes the rental an extraordinary deal compared to most of their offerings....

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/28/2010 01:57:12 PM · #16

Originally posted by salmiakki:

Originally posted by coryboehne:
Rent this... I've always wanted to.

Why would he? the OP is a Nikon user

Seriously dumb question, but IIRC there isn't an adapter for Canon > Nikon is there? IIRC it was, for some mechanical reason, impossible - right? If I'm wrong (and I hope I am..) then the lens would still be a cool choice with an adapter...

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

06/28/2010 02:38:28 PM · #17

I LOVE the 85mm, but yes, it is a bit long for certain kinds of shots. So it really depends on what kind of shots you are anticipating: if you want to get group shots, shots of people around tables, etc., I'd go with the 50mm. But if you expect to more candids, stuff like that, the 85 is sweet.

If I had to rent only one lens for this situation, though, it might be the 24-70 f2.8, also a nice fast lens, 2.8 throughout the zoom, and gives you the easy option for both wider group shots and tighter shots as well. Again, wide open on a crop-factor camera is still all sweet-spot on the lens.

Do you have a speed in light in case you need it?

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

06/28/2010 08:06:30 PM · #18

My bad I confused myself because I have the 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.8 I would still use the 50mm though for the other reason I stated.

Originally posted by salmiakki:

Originally posted by Bugzeye:
+ the 50mm is faster which might come in handy in darker conditions.
Uh? They are both 1.4 so there is no difference.

zxaar

06/28/2010 08:14:13 PM · #19

Originally posted by vikas:

Personally i would not take either of them because wedding means more people and more group shots. 50mm on APC is not wide enough. I would probably take 28mm or 35mm lense.

If i do decide that i would not be shooting people (mostly) then i would take 50mm or 85mm either of them. Plus a point and shoot for people shots.

06/30/2010 09:45:17 AM · #20

Thanks, you summed it up really well and made my decision easier!
I do want to shoot more candids .. I am sure there is a wedding photographer to do all the group shots, not so interested in posed shots either! So 85mm it is!

That 1.2 is sweet.. should buy a canon :-)

Originally posted by chromeydome:

Now a follow-up question -

Has anyone ever rented from Csirentals.com?