Pretty new to photography

[Apnea]

I am currently using the 20D with the kit lens. The kit lens can take some really good photos under the right circumstances. Unfortunately for me, it didn't hold up well for low light situations. Add that with the stock flash and I was getting some really harsh portraits.

Finding this forum has been a godsend for me!

I decided to find new glass and the 85mm 1.2L was going to be my choice. I loved the images that this lens was capable of and it being a good lens in low light was a definate.

Then I started reading about how the 85mm 1.8 was an awesome lens for the price. So I went ahead and ordered the 85mm 1.8 and the 580EX.

Will this lens hold up well in low light situations?

I am mainly interested in an everyday lens that is good with portraits and low light environments.

For what I need, does it seem like a good choice?

[peterdoomen]

Apart from the fact that I don't see the point buying a 85 f/1.8 when you have the 85 f/1.2, yes the 1.8 is a very good portrait lens. Tried it once myself and know that it is used as a portrait lens by many photographers here at POTN.

I would buy a different focal length (100mm or 135mm f/2.0, 50mm f/1.8 or faster) so that you can cover more situations where foot zoom is not easy.

P.

[SuzyView]

You didn't actually buy the 85 1.2, right? You were just thinking about it.

I have the 85 1.8 and it is my favorite. It handles speed and light amazingly well and the images are crystal clear. I can't say enough about the cost for the quality. Many of us love it and with the 20D it is actually more like a 110mm reach. I think you are making the best decision with the 580 and the 85 1.8. You will be happy with that combination. Post something so you can prove me right!

SuzyView
20D, 10D, EOS 3, 550EX, and great stuff

[Apnea]

No, I was going to purchase the 85mm 1.2L. Then I decided to go with the 1.8 instead. That way I could also get the 580EX. So I only have the kit lens and (according to UPS.com my lens will arrive tomorrow!) the 85mm 1.8.

Aside from distance, what all does the 85mm bring to the table that the kit lens does not?

SuzyView, I will most definately be posting pictures here. :D

[In2Photos]

No, I was going to purchase the 85mm 1.2L. Then I decided to go with the 1.8 instead. That way I could also get the 580EX. So I only have the kit lens and (according to UPS.com my lens will arrive tomorrow!) the 85mm 1.8.

Aside from distance, what all does the 85mm bring to the table that the kit lens does not?

SuzyView, I will most definately be posting pictures here. :D

The 85mm 1.8 will give you much more than the kit lens. You are correct that the kit lens will provide good images under the right cicumstances. The 85 should yield better low light performance (duh, we know, right), sharpness, faster AF, better bokeh, and most importantly, consistency. You should be able to get more quality photos, most of the time, rather than some of the time.

[dmp-potn]

Hello,

No, I was going to purchase the 85mm 1.2L. Then I decided to go with the 1.8 instead. That way I could also get the 580EX. So I only have the kit lens and (according to UPS.com my lens will arrive tomorrow!) the 85mm 1.8.

Aside from distance, what all does the 85mm bring to the table that the kit lens does not?

SuzyView, I will most definately be posting pictures here. :D I bought the Digital Rebel a few years ago with the kit lens (EF 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6), and the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM was my first lens upgrade. I decided on it because I wanted to find out what the camera was capable of with a better lens, and I had read that the 85mm f/1.8 provided performance that is similar to the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM when both lenses are set to 85mm and f/2.8.

I actually borrowed a friends 70-200 and took a few comparison shots. There was little difference in sharpness between the two lenses; however, the 70-200 seemed to have a bit better contrast. Still, the 85mm performed quite well considering the price difference.

Main differences between the 85mm and the kit lens besides focal length, lack of zoom, and wide aperture are the metal lens mount, full time manual focus, and USM motor. The lens is one of the fastest focusing lenses that Canon makes, and auto-focus is much more accurate (was in my case anyway) than the kit lens. I had a much higher keeper ratio with this lens than the kit lens, which is impressive since the depth of field in my 85mm shots was generally much smaller than images with the 18-55 due to the longer focal length of the 85mm combined with larger aperture.

I've found that the 85mm f/1.8 is rather soft wide open, but sharpens up nicely when stopped down to f/3.5. It stays sharp down to about f/11, but begins to get soft at f/13 and is almost unusuably soft past f/16. Of course, the point of the lens it to use it for low light shots, so this is not a major drawback.

Since critically sharp images are not as important for portrait work as they are for landscapes, etc., I think you'll be quite happy using the lens for portraiture with available light (even wide open) or with the 580EX (in which case, you can expect very sharp images at f/3.5 or f/4.0).

Folks also use this lens for indoor sporting events (at closer distances), where it's focal length and shallow depth of field help to isolate subjects from an otherwise busy background.

Hope this helps.

[ron chappel]

The 85/1.8 is a stunningly good lens for what you want in my opinion.

Yes the 85/1.2L is better but only by a tiny amount.You made the right choice by putting the money into other gear:)

[SuzyView]

Hey, David, I couldn't have said it better. I use the 85 1.8 for sports because you really can isolate the one or two people you are trying to get and the photo always looks dead on for the subjects so the viewer knows exactly what is going on. I mainly use it for baby portraits because you don't have to get terribly close to get a wonderful shot, and sometimes I do want softness in the final printed photo.

[Apnea]

Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! I now feel assured in my decision.

Is this lens good for the run of them mill normal family gathering type photos? If my wife were to pick up the camera and wanted to take some shots at a birthday party indoor/outdoor sometime, would she have a hard time with it?

Her photography depth is centered around disposable cameras. :cry:

[In2Photos]

Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! I now feel assured in my decision.

Is this lens good for the run of them mill normal family gathering type photos? If my wife were to pick up the camera and wanted to take some shots at a birthday party indoor/outdoor sometime, would she have a hard time with it?

Her photography depth is centered around disposable cameras. :cry:

If you are wanting to tkae group photos you may want something wider unless you have lots of room to back up.