50 f/1.8 vs. 85 f/1.8

bubbygator wrote in post #12192028
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.

how do you like your 28 on the crop?
i was thinking about selling my 17-40 for a 30 mm range and 85mm

I used to have the 50 1.8 (plastic edition, extremely nice photos on my 40d) one day I heard a weird grinding and the focus ring fell off... wtf... it was $75 I think so I didn't feel to bad. Now I have the 85 1.8 and I've used it on my 40d and it makes beautiful photos, like others said, its more of a head shot lens indoors on the cropped sensor. On the 5d it's a monster.

bedojo wrote in post #12192144
how do you like your 28 on the crop?
i was thinking about selling my 17-40 for a 30 mm range and 85mm

So far, it's great. I went to a set of buildings I had shot for my son-in-law for a possible partnership deal and re-shot with my 28mm. I was pleased to be able to get the whole building into FOV. Here's a copy of my post in the 28mm sample forum:

I'm in love again. I just got mine. I was a little worried about how it would crop, because I've got a big gap from 28 to 85. Here's a no-PP building shot, and a way off-center 2% crop:

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I'd save up for the 50mm f/1.4, although I hear the Sigma versions is better

i love the sigma 50mm 1.4 it is my most used lens..
i opted for the cheaper 28mm f 2.8 (test show sharper then the 17-40L) so i could buy the VB mini for my wl x1600.
wanted the sigma 30mm
then canon 85mm is awesome as well, not as usable as the 50mm on the crop body, but the results are amazing, bokeh buttery smooth . (now i want the sigma 85mm)
im really happy with the sigma

Alex, did you get your new camera yet?
And what lens?

surgeonhawkeye wrote in post #12305716
Alex, did you get your new camera yet?
And what lens?

Sadly no. ): I've got a looooooooong way to go before I can buy it. I'll happily take donations. hahaha.

And I still haven't decided which lens to get. The 85 1.8 or the 50 1.4. I've played with both. I'll probably get both, its just which one to get first!

if you are going to spend that much money, get the sigma 50mm 1.4 it is better then both. i own the 85mm 1.8 and perfer the sigma 50mm 1.4 but would choose the 85mm 1.8 over the canon 50mms

Anybody said get both, yet?

on crop body, the 50 becomes a very nice indoor portrait lens, and the 85mm is way too tight. With crop factor, as mentioned, it's a 135 and it's a somewhat great mid-long for outdoors. The benefits on FF is obvious, everything goes back to normal. I'd say get both, unless you're planning on a 70-200 at some point in the future, then I'd say skip the 85...unless you really want that extra speed.

Ryan1524 wrote in post #12308769
Anybody said get both, yet?

on crop body, the 50 becomes a very nice indoor portrait lens, and the 85mm is way too tight. With crop factor, as mentioned, it's a 135 and it's a somewhat great mid-long for outdoors. The benefits on FF is obvious, everything goes back to normal. I'd say get both, unless you're planning on a 70-200 at some point in the future, then I'd say skip the 85...unless you really want that extra speed.

I will get both, but I can't afford to get both at the same time at the moment. So its more like...which to get first. Right now I'm thinking the 50. Some friends are letting me barrow their 70-200 2.8 for the summer so I'm really leaning towards the 50.

Here's a question...would people say that the main difference between the 50 and 85 mm canons (1.4 and 1.8) on a crop (or FF from that matter) is really just the focal length? Or is there going to be a difference in the bokeh (quality of the blur) between the two lenses due to the difference in the distance you might be from your subject. The reason I ask is that it seems the 50 might be more versatile in that you can use it in closer quarters and for group shots due to the wider angle. Thoughts?

Alex.K wrote in post #12309074
I will get both, but I can't afford to get both at the same time at the moment. So its more like...which to get first. Right now I'm thinking the 50. Some friends are letting me barrow their 70-200 2.8 for the summer so I'm really leaning towards the 50.

I was gonna say "I need friends like that" but then I remembered that when I was in college, my godparents gave me their old 300mm Nikkor MF lens to use with my Nikon N70. So, enjoy their generosity (I'm sure you are).

nathancarter wrote in post #12311721
I was gonna say "I need friends like that" but then I remembered that when I was in college, my godparents gave me their old 300mm Nikkor MF lens to use with my Nikon N70. So, enjoy their generosity (I'm sure you are).

Oh I am always thanking them. They're probably sick of it by now. haha. But really, if it wasn't for them, I'd be no where near where I am today in photography. They got me into sports, spoiled me with L lenses(My parents are just like, "great, thanks to them she now wants a $1,200 lens instead of a $600 lens..." haha. We do a "try it before buy it program" hahahaha. ), made me want to dip my toes into portrait work, let me use *their* strobe lights for studio stuff...lets just they are amazing people and I'm so blessed to have them in my life.

idsurfer wrote in post #12309075
Here's a question...would people say that the main difference between the 50 and 85 mm canons (1.4 and 1.8) on a crop (or FF from that matter) is really just the focal length? Or is there going to be a difference in the bokeh (quality of the blur) between the two lenses due to the difference in the distance you might be from your subject. The reason I ask is that it seems the 50 might be more versatile in that you can use it in closer quarters and for group shots due to the wider angle. Thoughts?

I'd say 85mm would be better to throw defocus areas. And when you bring either lens to FF, they'll get even better. But if your plan is to shoot indoors with more than people's faces or shoulders, get the 50. I've tried using an 85mm indoors and it was quite a pain to get anything but good headshots.

Alex.K wrote in post #12306706
And I still haven't decided which lens to get. The 85 1.8 or the 50 1.4. I've played with both. I'll probably get both, its just which one to get first!

A 50 is more versatile so I'd get it first. I've used 50s on crop for quite a time (first a 1.8, now the 1.4 in my sig) and for me it's the good focal length for portraits inside, and outside it's also very usable for full body or environmental shots (without having to shout instructions at models).