Haymaker

With the holiday "sales" nearly upon us, and with a case of GAS that I have been nurturing throughout most of the year, I am having a hard time making a choice of next lens to purchase. Although all photography interests me, I lean most heavily toward natural light portrait photography. My current kit includes a 77d and a 6d mark ii, 35mm f2, 50mm f1.8, 100mm f2.8 macro, and 100-400mm ii. To this I would like to add an 85mm and am hoping that there are some UHH folks with hands on experience with the 85mm f1.2 and/or the newer 85mm f1.4 IS
I have watched numerous comparison videos, but really would like to know whether the faster version or the IS version would be "best". Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

I would think that your subjects would determine which one to get...Do you need to stop subject movement or your own movement?

Haymaker

Generally shooting mostly immobile subjects and no involuntary self movement (so far)

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The most bokehlishious Canon EF 85 is the f/1.2, which is also the most expensive. It can give you extremely shallow depth of field which when used properly can result in very flattering portraits. At family gatherings I usually have two cameras, one with an EF 28-300L mounted and one with the EF 85 f/1.2 mounted.
I have no problem with natural light photography but more often than not, when shooting indoors it's not so much as natural as it is ambient light photography. There is no shame in using a flash, indoors or out. Especially indoors where you can bounce the light for optimal dispersion.
If you want second best, emphasis on best, and want to save some cash, get the 1.4, it is a good lens. Heck, the 1.8 is a good lens and a boat load less expensive. If you want the best, get the 1.2 and learn how to use it. It's an amazing lens, even without IS.

BB4A

At the risk of “telling you something you don’t want to hear”, Natural Light Portrait Photographers of some note & reputation have achieved very good results with “Old Faithful”, the EF85mm f/1.8 USM. Yes, it’s cheap, small, light, and a couple of stops slower than you might think you need... but it’s also a phenomenally great lens for the money and with the right body (I shoot with 7D Mk ii, 5D Mk iv, and 1DX bodies) I have no problem getting great Natural Light images in shoots where I just can’t see well enough to manually focus.

Please don’t take my word for it; there are numerous reviews out there on the Canon range of 85mm lenses... but here’s one that I read, before I made my first purchase of the f/1.8: https://kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/85mm.htm

PS - I’ve shot Natural Light Portrait, Boudoir, and Art Nude commissions with every single one of Canon’s 50mm and 85mm primes. My 2 Go To Lenses for these genres? The 50mm f/1.2 L USM & the 85mm f/1.8 USM. PM me if you’d like to review some examples of my work with the 85mm.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Tough choice indeed. I completely agree with both of the last two posts. The 85 f1.2L is a great lens, though heavy and expensive, and you certainly need to be concious of the DOF if you shoot wide open to enjoy that wonderful bokeh. I believe Lens Rentals once said it was their most returned lens, apparently because the casual user did not understand the DOF limitations when shooting wide open. You may find this review helpful if you haven’t read it. I lust for the f1.2, but am shooting the f1.8 currently (one of my only non-L lenses), and I have to say it is one of my more used lenses, a bargain for the $, light, and if you believe DXOMark, one of Canon’s sharpest lenses. https://petapixel.com/2018/02/20/canon-85mm-shootout-f-1-2-vs-f-1-4-vs-f-1-8/

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Sell the 100 f/2.8 macro and replace with the 100 f/2.8L IS macro. You don't need 100 macro, an 85 maybe with IS and 100-400 IS.

I sold the 85 f/1.8. A wonderful lens. I replaced with the 85 L IS, a really great tool. But, it's not getting the use I intended. You might want to rent one of the L's first, either the 100 marco or 85 IS, and see if either really adds what you seem to be lusting for. If you still think you need the 85L IS, contact me again as I'd sell mine. I bought it when it came out last year, but other things changed in my lineup afterward and the Canon IS model at 85mm is now an overlap with some Sony equipment I added in 2018.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Hay, if I were looking for one of those lenses, I would look very closely at the one with the IS if you’re shooting handheld.
I’ve used the 50 and 85, 1.2’s and the 85 1.8 a lot. The 1.8 is soft wide open. The 1.2’s much sharper.
But in really low light the IS can keep you from having to use a tripod which could be very helpful if shooting free flowing.
Also at 1.8, both the 1.2 and the 1.4 should be pretty darned sharp wile the 85 1.8 is not! At f8 with flash/strobes they’re probably all the same.
The 1.8 and 1.4 are very close in dof though I know nothing of the 1.4.
Remember that the shallowest dof is at minimum focus, so you’re right on top of the subject. If it’s a person you’ll probably never be there.
Also wide open, the faster the lens the more it fringes, so that’s annoying!!!
I’d be tempted to go with the 1.4 if it’s specs are good and it’s cheaper but I don’t know if it’s bokeh which is very good with the 1.2. Good luck
SS

Haymaker

Thank you for sharing your experiences! There absolutely is no shame in using flash, however in my case, there is also no skill!

Haymaker

Thank you for your input regarding the 1.8! I was not considering it, but with your testimonial, I may.

Haymaker

Thank you for sharing the link. I have watched it and it does not make the choice easier, unfortunately! I guess I really need to get one in my hands to know for sure. Thanks for taking time to reply.

Haymaker

So, I was lazy in my listing. I do have the 100L, sorry for the confusion. It seems my next step is to rent and get my own hands on experience. I certainly will contact you if I go the IS route. I appreciate the offer. Thank you for the advice.

Haymaker

Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts! Funny you mention fringing, I just saw a video today that mentioned "significant" CA with the 1.2 when wide open. I was unaware of that. Thanks for the well wishes!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Fear not, I've been there and it's a skill easily learned. Maybe not easily mastered but once you get the basics down, you will find flash photography really is your friend.
You need a good flash that will work for you and with you, and you need a good book on flash photography.
For the flash I highly recommend the Canon 470EX-AI. The AI stands for artificial intelligence; it's a smart flash and it's not real big and intimidating. It can be used in full manual, semi auto or full auto modes. It's not the most powerful speedlite Canon makes but it is definitely powerful enough, and, easy to learn, plus there's a zillion videos on YouTube about it.
For the book I'm going to recommend a series of books. Scott Kelby's series, The Digital Photography Book. There are 5 books in the series and they all cover flash photography. I recommend this series because they are really easy and fun to read, they don't get lost in the details and you will learn how to be a darn good digital photographer if you use them to guide you.

Haydon

If you are interested in a 85 mm, I'm with SS on choice. The new 85 1.4L with IS is the best all around if it's within the budget. Certainly the 1.2L is the king of bokeh but I've seen several tests now indicating little difference with the 1/3 stop gain in DOF. In low light situations, the IS would be a benefit for static subjects. Also, the 1.2L uses a rather slow focus by wire system that cannot compare to the 1.4L.

I'm not endorsing my own purchase choices in this thread. I use a 70-200L 2.8L II, 135F2, 100 F2.8L Macro and a 85 1.8 for portraiture but a while back I was seriously looking at Canon's 85 1.4L and spent a good amount of time researching.

Concerning flash, I'd recommend not buying Canon's new 470 auto-bounce flash. Automated processes restrict learning the principles of using light. Unless I was doing a lot of run and gun event work, I don't think I'd heavily invest in expensive speed-lights. Working in outdoor daylight environments are limiting with speedlights producing only 60 watts of power. You also have diminishing returns with modifiers exceeding 25 inches with a speed-light.

I primarily use Einsteins for studio work but for outdoor, look into a Godox/Flashpoint 600w with HSS for true versatility. That system rivals the price of a new Canon 600 EX-RT II with substantially more power and flexibility.