85 1.8 or 135L?

Hey all,

I would like to ask, if you have to choose one prime lens for some sports where the FL can be covered in 60-150mm [not 70-200], which lens will you use, EF 85mm f1.8 or EF 135 f2L?

I want to shoot soccer tomorrow, and my 70-200 f2.8L IS is giving me soft or not tack sharp results as i want or expect, so i feel i will dismiss it and use a prime lens, but not sure which one, i have 300 on one body covering some long distances, but i want something for short/near distances, i also may start to shoot basketball in near future as new sports experience, i did it before once or twice and the results were awful and i just started with no experience with my gear, now i am more experienced and i can use my mkIII at higher iso, before i was scared or worried to go above ISO800 but now i don't fear to use up to ISO3200-6400, in the stadium of football i can be around ISO800-2000, but indoors i can't tell until i test, and i will use either 70-200 or some of the primes, but for soccer match, if you have the choice, what you will choose over 70-200, 85 or 135?

Short answer...take both...switch between half's and see which one works better for you. BUT if I could only bring one, I'd go with the 135. My favorite spot to shoot soccer is along the side line around six feet from the baseline. You'll want the 135 to get shots saves by the goalie and the 135 will fill the frame better then the 85.

Since switching lenses means you may end up missing something, it would have to be the 85 and then crop if required. It has worked for me in the past and would continue to do the same.

I think even a 70-200 is kind of short for soccer. I would try to diagnose why I was getting soft shots with the zoom first before giving up and going with the 135. 85mm isn't worth considering for soccer - too far down from the 300mm such that I think you would hardly ever pick it up. Just throw ins for the most part.

Conversely 85mm is better for basketball than 135 if you are shooting one lens. 85mm and 135mm on two bodies is good for basketball

OK, thank you very much for your replies, i didn't go to the game today because i was so tired, hope tomorrow i can go for another game, and i feel i will go with 135L, but i have a pocket that i can put 85mm for backup and may switch when i feel the action and play slows down a bit.

Do you own the 85 and 135 or just asking? Otherwise, I may suggest the 100 f/2 depending on your FL needs, its a strong lens in its own right.

sadler21 wrote in post #13589561
Do you own the 85 and 135 or just asking? Otherwise, I may suggest the 100 f/2 depending on your FL needs, its a strong lens in its own right.

Oh no, i don't want to buy another lens, hehehehe
Yes, i have both lenses.

My 135 is better than my 85,although the 85's good.It's a matter of what lens is the best focal length for what your shooting.

canon rookie wrote in post #13590438
My 135 is better than my 85,although the 85's good.It's a matter of what lens is the best focal length for what your shooting.

As i said above, i want to leave my 70-200 in the bag and use another lens, i don't have another better zoom lens for that range except 100-400, but this lens i don't like to use for nigh football games, so i only have primes to use, 135L or 85 1.8 or even 100 2.8macro, i feel to go with 135L as well, but i was thinking that maybe to use 85mm and crop it if the game action come closer to me, 70-200 can have all focal lengths, i sometimes use 70mm when the action playing is near me and i want wider, another time even 150mm or 200mm is not enough to get, so i have 300, to use only primes it may limit to specific FLs, in fact i will check my 70-200 if it has some problems with focus or sharpness or whatever.

Tareq wrote in post #13581626
Hey all,


I want to shoot soccer tomorrow, and my 70-200 f2.8L IS is giving me soft or not tack sharp results as i want or expect, so i feel i will dismiss it and use a prime lens

Trade up to the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II. It is noticeably sharper than the original and will cover lots of focal lengths. BTW, I own the 85, the 135 and have owned both versions of the 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

How sharp at f/2.8 ? How much can you crop with the II?

Well, my old original 70-200 could never turn this:
.

Zivnuska wrote in post #13591657
Trade up to the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II. It is noticeably sharper than the original and will cover lots of focal lengths. BTW, I own the 85, the 135 and have owned both versions of the 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

How sharp at f/2.8 ? How much can you crop with the II?

Well, my old original 70-200 could never turn this:
.

and crop it to this:
.

The 85 f/1.8 is also a good lens and the 135 f/2.0 is a great lens.

Images shot with a 1D Mark IV at 200mm f/2.8 at ISO 3200.

Phil

Well, i wish to get 1D Mark IV.

I got a price of 70-200 f2.8IS II in my country, it gets low price now here New, just i need to sell my mk1 first, the only problem i have now is that i found buyers for good price to it [around $1300-1500] but then i don't have $700-800 more to add to get the new one, sure if i get that new one then i will forget about 135L and 85, but for now i can't, also why i wish to get 1D Mark IV is that i can use my old 70-200 mk1 with MKIII and use mkIV with 300 then i will be very happy, but 70-200 mkII is very closer to afford than 1D Mark IV.

I understand.

Zivnuska wrote in post #13592799
I understand.

Ok, thanks!