DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Lens Confusion
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 02/14/2012 09:40:09 AM · #1
Ok so i'm looking at picking up a new lens and somehow confused myself on what to get.
Im looking at either getting the
Canon 85mm 1.8 or the canon 70-200 F/4 NON is lens
I know they are 2 different classes but not sure if on the 70-200 i can get the same effect like the 85mm.
my current lens are. KIT 18-55, 50mm 1.8, Just sold my 55-250mm.
thanks
 02/14/2012 11:39:29 AM · #2
you can get the same focal length but the difference is the speed. The 85 1.8 is much, much faster than the f4 lens. What do you plan on using it for mostly?
 02/14/2012 01:31:34 PM · #3
mostly just family type photos.
Some sports, some hiking, i know the 85 or the 70-200 is limited indoors just because of space.
I don't have a huge budget of this stuff.
 02/14/2012 01:35:14 PM · #4
the 70-200 f4 l is a great lens but about £900

the 85mm 1.8 is about £300

the 70-200 is a much more useful lens if you have limited lenses, and the iq is cracking on it
02/14/2012 01:59:06 PM · #5
I'd go for the 70-200, it is slower but it has a nice range and you have a fast 50 for tighter indoor stuff.
 02/14/2012 03:31:25 PM · #6
Why did you sell the 55-250??

If it's because your not using that focal length then go with the 85 prime. Otherwise the 70-200 NON is is a great great lens for not much dosh..... and far more flexible then the 85. It's got nothing close to that butter smooth background like the 85 but you can get nice blur with the f4 if your fairly close and the background is a long way off in the distance.
 02/14/2012 04:20:54 PM · #7
I sold the 55-250 one the image quality did not wow me and the rotating filters were annoying. the lens spins everytime you focus
 02/14/2012 09:23:19 PM · #8
Well, in terms of LOOK, there's a decent chance you can get similarly blurred backgrounds with the F4. You'll just have to shoot at 200mm and be as close as possible to your subject. This is because depth of field isn't simply dependent upon aperture but also focal length and focus distance. I can't swear to this, but I'm thinking you've got a chance of getting close to replication. This was shot at F9, for instance... but the depth of field is pretty thin due to focal length (500) and focus distance

I agree that the 70-200 will be more versatile, but the 85 is also just a great fun lens. It's enjoyable to shoot with. You might want to consider what the AF speed of the two is if you'll be doing much sports work with it.
 02/14/2012 09:35:58 PM · #9
the 85 is simply an amazing lens. the 70-200 is next on my list but i love the 85mm/1.8
 02/14/2012 10:07:39 PM · #10
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:
Well, in terms of LOOK, there's a decent chance you can get similarly blurred backgrounds with the F4. You'll just have to shoot at 200mm and be as close as possible to your subject. This is because depth of field isn't simply dependent upon aperture but also focal length and focus distance. I can't swear to this, but I'm thinking you've got a chance of getting close to replication.


DOF is independent of focal length, strictly speaking. It's a function almost entirely of the physical size of the aperture and how close you are focused. F/stop is the ratio of the diameter of the aperture to the focal length of the lens. A 25mm aperture on a 50mm lens is f/2, and 25mm on a 200mm lens is f/8. So the 200mm lens at f/8 has roughly the same DOF characteristics as the 50mm at f/2, since both use a 25mm aperture.

This will fudge somewhat depending on aspects of how close you are to the subject, but the principle obtains. So your intuition is correct.

R.
 02/15/2012 03:20:32 AM · #11
The 85mm f/1.8 was one of the nicest lenses I have ever owned and I regret selling it every time I need to shoot a portrait. However, in your situation I would get the 70-200. The 85mm is really limited and with your current lenses you might want to add some reach for those times you can't get close to your subject. I have also owned the 70-200mm f/4, so I can vouch for its quality.
 02/15/2012 08:57:38 AM · #12
Well i ended up ordering the 85mm 1.8 canon.
Ended up getting a great price IMO from BH used section.

So ill have to wait a little bit for the 70-200
 02/15/2012 11:34:33 AM · #13
Originally posted by mitchamus:
Well i ended up ordering the 85mm 1.8 canon.
Ended up getting a great price IMO from BH used section.

So ill have to wait a little bit for the 70-200


Congrats on your purchase. If you're ever interested in doing some macro, the 85's take extension rings decently. I've got a number of entries that were shot in that method before I got a dedicated macro. and , for instance.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/19/2024 05:23:57 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/19/2024 05:23:57 PM EDT.