85mm Replacement lens?

Hi all, I absolutely love this lens but it is just to tight on my 1D Looking to get some feed back on what lens I should replace it with. Thinking about 35mm or 50mm. Prime only. Thanks

what are you shooting with it? Budget?

would like to use for portraits and around the house indoors. Birthday parties etc...

From reviews ,I think my best bet is the 50mm for length, now as to which lens. 1.4 or 1.8

If you go wider than 85 you are inviting perspective distortion in portraits. Its the distance that causes it, not the lens, but using the 50 will get you closer which causes it.

What 85mm are we talking about? There really is more than one.

50 1.4 is built much better than the 1.8 and the USM focus is much better.

You said the magic word, "indoors". I use my 35L for that and it does a stellar job.

i am using the 85mm 1.8

85/1.8 too "tight?" Rent a zoom , say 24-70 or so. Use it a week and you will know the answer. We do not know what you shoot or how you want it to look.

Decided to give the 40mm a try )

You did not specify what you want a portrait of 1 person or a small group (parties you did, bit not shooting distance range). 1D? Full Frame. Nice Camera. As I am sure your aware on a Full Frame 35mm (24 on a crop body) is about as tight min wide) for small group portraits. Really most of the time for that you want a bit wider 24mm (17mm on a crop body) is more realistic.

Classic Test try to shoot a couple from a across a regular 4 person restaurant table (around 3 feet way give or take). You really need the 17/24. Of course a Good zoom 16-17 to X would work really well and give you more flexibility. There are many including L and third party.

britt777 wrote in post #15888918
Decided to give the 40mm a try )

really? what do you currently have?...

i'd go for a tamron 28-75mm f2.8 before i'd settle on an f2.8 wide prime...

Spend $100 or $130 for the 50mm or 40mm primes. Cheap experiment, if it doesn't work out, they are easy to sell!