trouble deciding next lens purchase

I am starting to get more opportunities to get shoots doing a lot of headshots and some portraits. i am selling my 28-135 to help fund my next lens purchase. basically i need a great portrait lens that is affordable. other than buying a camera bag and a 3rd party grip. another lens is my next big purchase.

i am torn between the 85 1.8 and the 70-200 f4. obviously the 85 is a better choice but i occasionally shoot sports at school for fun and would need the reach to be able to do soccer and tennis although i dont have to shoot sports since its only for fun and i have my 30 and 50 for basketball of course.

any other lens suggestions that are under $700 for portrait photography. i also shoot natural light and plan to continue shooting that way as lights become a whole new investment and i prefer to have great performing glass because i also love the look of good use of natural light

85 1.8 is a great lens given what it costs.

I agree. +1 on the 85.
The bokeh will be nicer on the 85. Since portraits are your main aim for this purchase, I'd get that one first. The 85 makes a great indoor basketball lens also, the extra reach is nice.
And you're right the 70-200 is better for outdoor sports such as soccer and tennis, but you said this next lens is for portraits first and foremost, and the 85 is the better choice.
One of those situations where you just want both, amirite?

I would go with the 85mm, you can use for portraits, and it also works great for indoor basketball, that is what I use, a big step up from using your 50mm, which is what I was using. For your price range, the only 70-200L you could get is the non is f/4, which is great, I own one, and would work great for outdoors, but you won't be able to use it for basketball. Another option is a 70-200 f/2,8 Tamron or Sigma, which you could also use indoors. Where I shoot, even f/2.8 is very difficult for basketball. I always have to be at f/2.0 with my 85mm...With the 85mm, you can always use it for your tennis/soccer, just have to zoom with your feet!!!

yea i want both, but i understand the 85 is smarter but i am good friends with all the athletes at my school and the love when i get shots of them playing since noone else does. i might see if they can buy prints from me to fund a 70-200.

as far as 85 for basketball on a crop it seems kind of long i guess i can use it for when they take 3 point shots or are pushing towards the basket. i plan on using my new 30 a lot of basketball as well as occasional portraits and headshots since it takes great photos even though i have to get really close to my subject most of the time i think they would be ok with it. i usually sit on the court directly under the basket

i think yall are right though although i can take a decent portrait with a 70-200 f4 its not going to compare to the 85. so 85 1.8 is going to be my next purchase since i just do not see any other quality lens in my price range.

mark2009 wrote in post #12842398
With the 85mm, you can always use it for your tennis/soccer, just have to zoom with your feet!!!

Just be careful you don't "zoom" yourself right onto the field.

well at the end of the game i run on the field for celebration shots

Brian_R wrote in post #12842496
yea i want both, but i understand the 85 is smarter but i am good friends with all the athletes at my school and the love when i get shots of them playing since noone else does. i might see if they can buy prints from me to fund a 70-200.

as far as 85 for basketball on a crop it seems kind of long i guess i can use it for when they take 3 point shots or are pushing towards the basket. i plan on using my new 30 a lot of basketball as well as occasional portraits and headshots since it takes great photos even though i have to get really close to my subject most of the time i think they would be ok with it. i usually sit on the court directly under the basket

i think yall are right though although i can take a decent portrait with a 70-200 f4 its not going to compare to the 85. so 85 1.8 is going to be my next purchase since i just do not see any other quality lens in my price range.

Actually the 85mm on a crop is kinda the standard for basketball, the 50mm, and especially the 30mm, you are to far away. I just looked quick a found a shot I took last year with my old XSI,,,,with the 85mm for indoor basketball, you want to be on the baseline to capture the action....bottom photo with a 50mm.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

yea i sit on the baseline under the basket, obviously there arent a lot of dunks in division II basketball but i get great shots sitting on the line when they do a layup, i also get pretty good shots from the corner but not as many as under the hoop if i had the 85 i would shoot from the corner with it and under the hoop with the 30. one of my shots with the 50.

+1 on the 85

Wow. Those shots are excellent.
Especially the first one, so perfectly in focus and nothing too important cut from the frame!

thanks guys. after thinking about it for a while i am going to go for a 85 1.8. it will do great for basketball from the baseline and corners of the court and will make a fantastic portrait lens.

im pretty excited to get this soon i hope once my 28-135 sells. using the 30 and 85 for next season basketball is going to produce some amazing quality shots i hope, just hope my 30 does good with poor gym lighting :P

Maybe stupid question, but I've never shot sports with primes. How do you manage swapping lenses in the middle of the action?

i would do it during timeouts. pro sports photogs use two cameras for that reason so they dont have to swap lenses they swap cameras. because im sitting on the floor i would keep my lens ready between my legs or get a friend of mine to assist and hand it to me ready to go to swap that way i dont have to leave a lens unattended so it doesnt get stepped on

85 seems to be the way to go for portraits and would be great for tennis or basketball, but soccer really requires a longer lens. The field is too long and wide to be able to get everything that you want with an 85, unless you just hang out next to one of the goals. But some of the best shots of soccer players are in midfield. You wanna get shots of the header challenges in the middle and dribbling down the wing.