Canon 50mm or 85mm lens?
Nov 17, 2012 17:37:00 #
Hi, I recently got my 5d mark 11, which I love and I am ready for a prime lens. I am torn between the 50 & the 85, and I am taking everything from newborn to family portraits. If you had to pick just one or the other, which would it be and why?
Nov 17, 2012 17:48:52 #
Nov 17, 2012 20:50:16 #
85mm will be the better choice. Your lenss focal length has an effect on the quality of the portraits you take. Shorter than 70mm you can get subtle distortion of facial features (up-close frontal picture of a face the nose is closer to the lens and will appear to be bigger the the rest of the face.) and too much information in the background. On the flip-side longer than 135mm, visual compression can make your subjects appear flat. So, anything in the 70-135mm range is good. Better yet somewhere between 80-105mm is better, your subject will look more natural.
Nov 17, 2012 22:52:38 #
I own both, and use the 85mm f/1.8 on my Canon 5D MK II much more often, primarily because I prefer the added distance between the camera and the subject.
I started SLR photography in 1967 with a Canon FTb with a 50mm f/ 1.8 lens, and perhaps I am too used to this particular combination of perspective and f/stop.
The build quality of the 85mm is superior to the 50mm f/1.8.
I have no experience with other Canon 50mm lenses.
If forced to choose only one prime lens, I would buy the 85mm f/1.8.
I started SLR photography in 1967 with a Canon FTb with a 50mm f/ 1.8 lens, and perhaps I am too used to this particular combination of perspective and f/stop.
The build quality of the 85mm is superior to the 50mm f/1.8.
I have no experience with other Canon 50mm lenses.
If forced to choose only one prime lens, I would buy the 85mm f/1.8.
Nov 18, 2012 05:21:28 #
I Own a 5d markII and both the 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.8. While both great lens, The 85mm hands down for portraits, I love this lens!
Nov 18, 2012 09:59:58 #
I was in the same situation as you. B&H has the 85mm f/1.8 on sale for $359. The also have a new 40mm f/2.8 Pancake lens on sale for $149. So, I bought both. Haven't used the 40mm yet but I already love the 85mm. Both of these taken on my first trip out with the 85mm.
Nov 18, 2012 10:08:11 #
I like to use my 85 when I compose for shots like the one below.
I have the 50 1.8 and the 85 1.2. I went with the 85 1.2 because I shoot at 1.8-2.0 quite often. Although B&H attempted to talk me out of the 1.2 mainly because of the quality of the 1.8. After reviewing the 1.2 MTF chart I elected to go with the 1.2 anyway.
Most lenses are sharper when not stopped down all the way. The 1.2 and the 1.8 are both great lenses. I prefer the 85 over the 50 mainly because of the photo compression. Head and shoulder shots look marginally better at longer focal lengths(Generally IMHO).
In the photo below I actually decreased color contrast and added a slight blue colorcast. This type of colorization is common in fashion. Magenta is also another color cast common in fashion. Many seem to think by sharpening an image it produces a better image. On women this is almost never the case. Sharpening an image versus expanding or reducing the dynamic range of color are two different animals. Although the 85 1.2 lens doesn't make the shot, I feel that it does give me an edge.
Picture below was taken with all natural light(sunlight) under an overhang on the building. Sun was used as a hair light and created the catchlights through the hair. Concrete floor she was standing on was used as the natural kicker light.
Overall decreasing the color contrast softened the image.
I have the 50 1.8 and the 85 1.2. I went with the 85 1.2 because I shoot at 1.8-2.0 quite often. Although B&H attempted to talk me out of the 1.2 mainly because of the quality of the 1.8. After reviewing the 1.2 MTF chart I elected to go with the 1.2 anyway.
Most lenses are sharper when not stopped down all the way. The 1.2 and the 1.8 are both great lenses. I prefer the 85 over the 50 mainly because of the photo compression. Head and shoulder shots look marginally better at longer focal lengths(Generally IMHO).
In the photo below I actually decreased color contrast and added a slight blue colorcast. This type of colorization is common in fashion. Magenta is also another color cast common in fashion. Many seem to think by sharpening an image it produces a better image. On women this is almost never the case. Sharpening an image versus expanding or reducing the dynamic range of color are two different animals. Although the 85 1.2 lens doesn't make the shot, I feel that it does give me an edge.
Picture below was taken with all natural light(sunlight) under an overhang on the building. Sun was used as a hair light and created the catchlights through the hair. Concrete floor she was standing on was used as the natural kicker light.
Overall decreasing the color contrast softened the image.
85 1.2L at 1.8
Nov 18, 2012 22:01:07 #
Nov 18, 2012 23:20:52 #
pigpen wrote:
I was in the same situation as you. B&H has the 85mm f/1.8 on sale for $359. The also have a new 40mm f/2.8 Pancake lens on sale for $149. So, I bought both. Haven't used the 40mm yet but I already love the 85mm. Both of these taken on my first trip out with the 85mm.
Great shots you've captured here. Were these wolves that you took photos of? Just wondering...What is the slight 'noise' going across both photos horizontally? Were these animals behind some fenced enclosure or in the open? Both photos have some kind of "shadow" effect that shows up when taking photos of animals behind fenced enclosures. I'm not being nitpicky ~ I really like your photos! :thumbup:
Nov 19, 2012 07:32:15 #
Yes, they were taken at a wolf sanctuary in central PA. That's just one more thing I like about the f/1.8, it almost eliminated the fence altogether. The greater the distance between the subject and the fence, the less the fence will show up. Unfortunately, the tour guide had a bucket of raw meat, so the wolves were right up against the fence.
Nov 19, 2012 11:25:42 #
PhotoGator
Loc: Florida
caseyw wrote:
Hi, I recently got my 5d mark 11, which I love and I am ready for a prime lens. I am torn between the 50 & the 85, and I am taking everything from newborn to family portraits. If you had to pick just one or the other, which would it be and why?
Go with the 85mm f/1.8 but if you can afford it also get the 50mm f/1.8 for about $110
Both are fantastic but the 85mm will give you more space and it's more durable.
Nov 19, 2012 15:17:10 #
BSpillane Photography
Loc: Vernon, NJ
pigpen wrote:
I was in the same situation as you. B&H has the 85mm f/1.8 on sale for $359. The also have a new 40mm f/2.8 Pancake lens on sale for $149. So, I bought both. Haven't used the 40mm yet but I already love the 85mm. Both of these taken on my first trip out with the 85mm.
Nice Bohke, 1.8 on this?
Nov 19, 2012 17:54:41 #
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