Is it a bad thing...

...that I was using an 85L shooting at f/1.8? I did an engagement shoot yesterday and rented the 85L for my 7D. I didn't have an ND filther so I was forced to stop down to f/1.8 at 1/8000th (ISO 100, obviously). I didn't have many opportunities to shoot wide open since it was quite sunny outside but I figured it'd just be sharper anyhow. I was just really looking forward to some ultra creamy bokeh. For those of you with the 85L, how sharp is it wide open and how often do you stop down?

Example photo:

f/1.8
1/8000
ISO100

bnlearle wrote in post #12657112
I had the 85L but got rid of it -- use the 50L way more. It's an amazing lens -- I just can't find rhythm at 85mm's. Much more for me at 50mm's.

Having said that, on days like that, where you're shooting in harsh, direct sun light, I ALWAYS backlight. There's much more to work with in that direction. Then, if you like, you can shoot at f/1.2 or whatever

As far as sharpness, it's plenty sharp wide open, imo. And I use the 50L at f/1.2 all the time. Would do the same with the 85L if I still used it.

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Thanks for the feedback! To be honest, the lens (85L) is incredible but too tight on a crop body IMO so I agree 100% with you. I'm thinking about picking up a sigma 50 f/1.4. I've heard a lot of good things about it

Aressem wrote in post #12658079
To be honest, the lens (85L) is incredible but too tight on a crop body

It is. As I read your post and Bobby's reply, my first thought to both was that I love my 85 1.2 on the FF 5D2. I don't have a 50, but essentially create one by putting the 35 1.4 on my 50D. While that lens performs wonderfully on a crop, I prefer that extra bit of compression when shooting portraits that you get at 85mm. But when working with the couple, I don't like the extra distance I need to keep when putting the 85 on the crop body and rarely use that combo.

BTW, I rarely use either lens truly wide open because the DOF get's too razor thin. I prefer something more around 1.8 and the bokeh is still plenty creamy. Here I'm all the way down to 2.2 and the image is still has that quality:

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Aressem wrote in post #12657045
...that I was using an 85L shooting at f/1.8?

No.

I never use it stopped down, but that's just me - it doesn't matter what you use it at as long as you get the results - both images in this thread are great!

Nothing wrong.. the character of those awesome Canon primes is how they look wide-open. I shot a wedding this weekend with every lens wide open, not all of them were L's.
Like Bobby said, I'd even be tempted to back-light some shots and blow out the background at F1.2.
But I'm a fan of soft razor thin DOF rather than crisp and clean, so it depends on your style.

But as you found out, 85mm on a 7D isn't really all that useful. A 35L or 50L would've been more appropriate.

Again, thank you all for the feedback! My next rental will be the sigma 50 f/1.4. Most of the reviews I've read so far rave about this lens. I've had the Nifty Fifty for about 5 years now and the focal length works fine for me on my crop body so I'm excited to see the difference in build quality.