Need Fast Portrait Lens Comprable to Canon 85mm 1.8

Im looking for a fast but relatively inexpensive prime portrait lens to use on my Canon 6D. I've read that the Canon 85mm 1.8 is a good option but I'm just wondering if there is anything else out there (Tamron/Sigma/etc) that compares or may be better. Sharpness is the most important thing in this lens. I want something tack sharp that also has 1.8 or faster. Recommendations?

Everything I would recommend is higher in price. The EF 135 f2.0L or the new Sigma 85 f1.4 Art come to mind but they are quite a bit more expensive.

The EF 85 f1.8 is a great lens especially for the price. Even if you end up getting one of the higher prices lenses, it would still be worth having.

I may go with the EF 85mm then. It seems to be what I'm looking for.

if you don't know exactly what you want it's a good starting point. terrible MFD on the 85 tho so it's not very versatile

One other to look at in similar price performance range, is the EF 100mm f/2 USM

It is in fact better optically, (less CA) and the same top notch AF speed.

Sadly, an updated design is long overdue for this lens, but Canon seems to be convinced we don't know better.

I have tried the new Sony FE 85/1.8 ($600) and it is way better. Let's hope Canon wakes up.

The Canon 85 F1.8 is a very good lens and a bargain for what it costs. I use it outside more than inside, and it has never disappointed me. It is sharp, with very fast and accurate AF.
I recommend buying it from a vendor with a good return policy. This is the only lens that I have ever had to return, since the first copy front focused more than I could live with. Others might have been OK with it. I bought it when none of my camera bodies had microadjust.

JM Photos wrote in post #18394736
Im looking for a fast but relatively inexpensive prime portrait lens to use on my Canon 6D. I've read that the Canon 85mm 1.8 is a good option but I'm just wondering if there is anything else out there (Tamron/Sigma/etc) that compares or may be better. Sharpness is the most important thing in this lens. I want something tack sharp that also has 1.8 or faster. Recommendations?

Samyang 85mm F1.4. Manual in every way. But awesome sharp and dirt cheap.

What are you considering inexpensive?

Very best,

I love Samyang products as they have always served me well. But since I will be using it for portraits on pets mostly, I would need AF. I feel like I may lose out on too many shots having to MF everything.

If you need AF and want a fast prime and have a lower budget in mind, then there isn't too much beyond the 85 1.8 lens. There are some macro lenses that might work as well, but AF might be slow with moving animals.

JM Photos wrote in post #18396511
I love Samyang products as they have always served me well. But since I will be using it for portraits on pets mostly, I would need AF. I feel like I may lose out on too many shots having to MF everything.

The 85 F1.8 has faster AF than pretty much any other 85mm I can think of, so that's probably the way to go.

Just be mindful, big dogs for example have deeper faces than humans, so shallow depth of field on a tightly framed head-shot will produce either eyes in focus and everything (including muzzle, etc) out of focus, or nose in focus and eyes out of focus, etc. Small animals and full body portrait will be fine, but those tight head shots, just be mindful F1.8 may not be the way to go there. Don't be afraid to stop down.

Very best,

I'll second the vote for the 100mm f/2.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/V1tN​sS

ChrisAttebery wrote in post #18396591
I'll second the vote for the 100mm f/2.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/V1tN​sS IMG_0262 by Chris Attebery, on Flickr

I've been looking into the 100 f/2 and am starting to lean that way now. I saw lots of reviews on the 85 1.8 that said it had terrible CA. After looking at lots of sample photos here, I noticed lots of green and purple CA around faces and hair and whatnot. I know it's easily fixable in post, but I'd rather not if I can avoid it. the 100 f/2 looks promising!

Longitudinal CA may not be that easy to fix in post. In any case it is one more annoying step that needs to be fine-tuned for each image.

100/2 is a great lens for the money. Better than 85/1.8, worse than 135L.
I did some comparison of both on different cameras to have same AOV, with pictures in full resolution if you want to see:
https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=17711873