50 f/1.8 vs. 85 f/1.8

Alright your portrait photographers!
I'm looking at upgrading/getting new gear(Since all I have at the moment is the Rebel and 18-55m kit lens...)
Some on here recommending that I get new lenses before a new body. The lenses at the moment being the 50 f1.8 or the 85 f1.8. And then once I can make more moola I can save more to buy some zoom L lenses, ya know?

ANYWAY!
If you had to choose between the 50 f1.8 or the 85 f1.8 which would you choose? And why would you choose said lens.

I want to hear your opinions and thoughts!
Thanks y'all!
-Alex

search digital rev @ youtube and you'll see who won the "bokehlicous" lens...then you decide.

Just remember crop factor when you make your purchase.

The 85 f/1.8 (85 x 1.6), for example, becomes the equivalent of a 135mm.

IrishK wrote in post #11914061
Just remember crop factor when you make your purchase.

The 85 f/1.8 (85 x 1.6), for example, becomes the equivalent of a 135mm.

yeah, I uhm...didn't even think about crop factor. Didn't even know what it was until I was talking to a friend about buying a new lens.... heh. I'm still a little sketch on it.(Sometimes it takes me a while do understand a lot of techie stuff when I can't experiment with it. ha)

You mentioned a new body. Ignoring what someone on here said for the time being, what were you thinking of upgrading to?

IrishK wrote in post #11914202
You mentioned a new body. Ignoring what someone on here said for the time being, what were you thinking of upgrading to?

I have no idea! I asked the people here what they recommended. I'm wanting to go pro so....gosh I just don't know.
When it comes to stuff like this I'm kinda like, "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it." I'm not a techie person at all...

The reason I asked is because if in the not so distant future you are planning to upgrade to a full frame camera, like a 5D, 5D Mark II or 1Ds, then you will want to buy lenses that make sense for that format and your photographic needs.

Since you're in the market for a EF 50 f/1.4 and using a crop body, I would recommend that instead of the 85 f/1.8.

I'm not going to knock the nifty fifty f/1.8 and have the hammer legion members on my case, but I don't think you will be doing your pictures justice considering where you are at right now.

I couldn't agree with IrishK more....well put.

IrishK wrote in post #11914395
The reason I asked is because if in the not so distant future you are planning to upgrade to a full frame camera, like a 5D, 5D Mark II or 1Ds, then you will want to buy lenses that make sense for that format and your photographic needs.

Since you're in the market for a EF 50 f/1.4 and using a crop body, I would recommend that instead of the 85 f/1.8.

I'm not going to knock the nifty fifty f/1.8 and have the hammer legion members on my case, but I don't think you will be doing your pictures justice considering where you are at right now.

After I made this thread, I did more research and decided on the 50 1.4(instead of the 1.8. I'm not a fan of the whole "plastic" thing if I wanna go "pro"[aka getting a /bigger/ body])

And I just started looking at camera bodies. And right now I'm REALLY looking at the 5D mark II.

And thanks so much for the help, IrishK! I'm really, really, leaning towards the 50 1.4 right now. (:

Alex.K wrote in post #11913641
ANYWAY!
If you had to choose between the 50 f1.8 or the 85 f1.8 which would you choose? And why would you choose said lens.

I've got both and hands down it's the ef85 f1.8. I now see you're considering the ef50 f1.4, but I'd still take the 85 over it. I rarely use the 50 and only bought it for price. I have both crop & ff and prefer the 85 focal length over the 50. On a crop body it comes in around 135mm which is perfect for portraits, plus 85 on a ff is a very nice length as well. The ef85 f1.8 is a very nice, sharp lens and I don't think you'd regret it. My workhorse is still the ef24-70 f2.8L, but the 85 has made some very nice portraits.

yep i'd pick up the 85mm if you can afford it.

The 85mm f1.8 is an amazing lens but it is a little bit long for indoor use on a crop body. If you are doing more outdoor work then I would go with the 85 f1.8 over the 50 1.4 . The focusing on the 85mm is incredibly fast and it is very sharp.

D Thompson wrote in post #11915545
I've got both and hands down it's the ef85 f1.8. I now see you're considering the ef50 f1.4, but I'd still take the 85 over it. I rarely use the 50 and only bought it for price. I have both crop & ff and prefer the 85 focal length over the 50. On a crop body it comes in around 135mm which is perfect for portraits, plus 85 on a ff is a very nice length as well. The ef85 f1.8 is a very nice, sharp lens and I don't think you'd regret it. My workhorse is still the ef24-70 f2.8L, but the 85 has made some very nice portraits.

agree... have the same gear.

oh man...now I'm so torn.

I'm thinking I'll be doing more outdoor stuff since I really don't own a studio. Maybe I'll just save a lot and buy both(the50 1.4) at the same time. haha.

Alex.K wrote in post #11915838
oh man...now I'm so torn.

I'm thinking I'll be doing more outdoor stuff since I really don't own a studio. Maybe I'll just save a lot and buy both(the50 1.4) at the same time. haha.

why not get the 85 and the 50 1.8, then you have to primes for not as much investment.
the 50 1.8 does amazing photos for the price. Then you can save for a 28 1.8, thats the next lens in the bag for me