Focal Length Conversion Probs - Need Lens

[jadams]

Hi-

Hopefully someone can help me. I need a portrait lens to use with my 1D. I am used to an 85mm lens for this purpose.

With the focal conversion, my figures say that I'm looking for a lens in the 65mm area. I want f/2.8 at least... f/1.8 down is better, and I need good quality.

I can't find anything. Does anyone know if such a lens exists? :)

Thanks for your help!
Jasper

[Rudi]

Jasper,

I don't think that you will find such an animal! :)

Your options are:

1) Shoot with the 85/1.8 anyway, and get the equivalent of 110/1.8 lens (not a bad option, you'll just have to move away from the subject slightly)

2) Shoot with the 70-200 f/2.8 L zoom, which will give you the equivalent of a 91/2.8 lens at the 70mm end. That's VERY close to your requirement of 85mm, but to me option number 1 makes more sense, if that is all that you want to use the lens for. Of course, the 70-200 is a wonderfully versatile zoom, so you might end up using it for other things...

[jadams]

Oh well, I was hoping. :(

I just bought a 50mm f/1.4 (has great reviews, and the price is good) and a 70-200 should be on it's way. The 50mm is a bit short for a portrait lens, but I'll try it anyways. At the least it should work out well for close up product photography (the specs show a VERY close min. focusing distance compared to the L version).

Hopefully I can make do with those. I may just have to get the 85 f/1.2 too. The only problem is then I'll have to buy a bigger bag. :)

I'm dying here... right now the only Canon EOS mount lens I have is the 28-70 f/2.8 L. It's a nice lens, but I feel very limited. I keep ordering things -- but they just don't get here fast enough!! The shop I usually go to has been doing inventory/vacations for quite some time and as a result doesn't have much in stock and doesn't want to order it yet.

I'm trying to be good and not get too much -- but a set of extension tubes and a teleconverter look like fun. Oh, and there's always room for new lighting!

Sadly I've been shooting film lately -- I just don't have enough equipment yet to use my 1D for a lot of my work.

Jasper

[Rudi]

Jasper,

the Canon 1.4x Extender works brilliantly with my 70-200 f/2.8 L. I am about to get the 2x Extender as well, as I am being told (repeatedly) not to think of those two as being exclusive... :)

What are you putting your film through? You don't have an EOS film body?

Personally, the 85/1.2 is too pricey for me, considering that you can buy the 85/1.8 at such a good price. But then, I shoot with the D30 (and occasionally a film body). My 50/1.4 is an effective 80/1.4, so my portrait lens is all taken care of... :D

[jadams]

So... a 1GB Microdrive, Canon 50mm f/1.4, and Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L for $1280 -- how did I do?

I've been shooting on a Nikon f100 this past week. I sold everything over the past two months to "switch" to EOS (I had a mishmash of everything under the sun) -- so I've been borrowing from a local shop. I take whatever he'll let me use from his stock. (If I shoot "samples" from different bodies/lenses for him to use, he lets me use the equipment)

He tells me that it works out good for him (if he can show the customer the difference between to lenses, they believe him more), and it's working out good for me.

I can't wait to get back to having my own equipment -- switching all the time is driving me nuts!


Jasper

[Rudi]

Still... it can't be all bad getting to try out all these cameras and lenses... :D