50 f/1.8 vs. 85 f/1.8

Considering you have the 18-55 range covered (albeit not as fast of glass as you want) I would grab the 85mm first. I, personally would save for the 50mm 1.4 after that and depending on what Rebel you have the body may actually be a somewhat important upgrade.

85 all the way. Amazing focus and sharp!

Right now I'm borrowing the 85 from some friends(They do this awesome "try it before buy it" program for me. haha) seeing how I like it and jazz. Still have yet to shoot some outdoor portraits with it(its been crappy here. -.-) and then I'll try the 50(1.8, since their 1.4 broke a year ago. I wanna use it mostly for distance) So we'll see I suppose!

thanks for all the impute guys!

I have both and prefer the 85 over the 50. I get better focusing with the 85, might be due to the USM. I use to go back and forth until I sprung for the 24-70 F2.8, now that is almost never off my lens unless I need something with a bit more teach and a bit faster, then its hte 85 I use. The 50 tends to stay on my backup camera for the times I want a light camera.

why does your flickr portfolio have pics taken with a 5d2 and 40d?

bespoke wrote in post #12010284
why does your flickr portfolio have pics taken with a 5d2 and 40d?

Because I am blessed to know some amazing people. The guy I intern for let me barrow his 5D2 a few times and some friends let me barrow one of their 40Ds for most of the baseball season.

Its just time for me to stop borrowing and own. (:

I have the 50mm, great lens, but 85mm is more a portrait lens.

I would recomend a 30mm on a crop, over a 50mm.

The 30mm acts more like a FF 50mm.

The siggy 30mm and the Canon 85mm f1.8, mixed in with a fastish zoom (the 17-55 or 24-70), will give you great range on a 7d or any other crop.

If you can afford it, go 7d by the way.

It is the best all round camera on the market in my personal opinion.

Do you have a camera store nearby that has lenses? Why not wonder by and try them out?

While I bought a 85/1.8 for indoor portraits on a Rebel, unless your only doing head shots of single subjects, its a bit long for indoors (unless you have the room). The 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 is a better match.

mbloof wrote in post #12037194
Do you have a camera store nearby that has lenses? Why not wonder by and try them out?

While I bought a 85/1.8 for indoor portraits on a Rebel, unless your only doing head shots of single subjects, its a bit long for indoors (unless you have the room). The 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 is a better match.

I do, but I have some friends let me me barrow their stuff. I'm currently borrowing the 85 1.8.

I have tried the 85 indoors. Holy smokes its tight. haha. I'm hoping today I'll get outside to shoot some portraits(Because I'm mainly upgrading a lens for my outdoor portraits.)

I've owned both (currently still have the 85 f/1.8). The 85 focuses way better and has much better bokeh. However, its focal length may be awkward for doing portraits unless you're able to set up at some distance from the subject. You wouldn't have to be as far away on a full frame or on a 1.3 crop.

On a crop 50 mm is going to be a more convenient focal length. However, the 50 1.8 isn't your only option. The 50 1.4 is better built and focuses better. There's also the Sigma 50 1.4, which I used to own. Of the three it has the best bokeh, but it sometimes front focuses out of the box (but is fine after calibration). Of the 50s I've owned, the Sigma was the best portrait lens after I had it calibrated. I sold it because the Canon 50 1.4 focused better in low light.

Dont bash the 50mm F/1.8, Im a pro and have a couple buddies that are either semi-pro or pro, and for us its either a F/1.8 or f/1.2

The 50 1.8 is a great lens for the money, but the 1.4 is better, especially in low light. I found its autofocus in that situation way better.

both!
I have a 50mm and a cheap 100mm 3.5 macro.
and i really like both!
but i would go for the 85mm if straight ports~
i like the longer lens for ports
the 85mm will be my next lens,
if going get a better 50mm then the 1.8, go with a sigma 50mm 1.4 awesome lens once u geta good copy
but the 1.8 is really good enough, the sigma i think, has better colors, bokeh, but the nifty fifty is no slouch

Yes, the 85 is tight inside. It's still OK for head & shoulders portraits, but general small-room shooting doesn't work. It's still great for outside distances... except large stuff like buildings.

I opted to add the 28mm/1.8 for my crop body, and it has worked out fine so far. It's very sharp, plenty wide enough, and very flexible - just compose, shoot, & PP to make a masterpiece.