50L & 85L... is there room for both in the same kit bag?

Have them both and love them both.

The 50L makes a great walk around.

The 85L is amazing for making subjects isolated.

I use both at F1.2 90% of the time as well

I own both and they certainly compliment each other.

I dont have a 50l or 85l, but ive got both the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 in my bag!

They're keepers for me! 50L is probably next however

Thing is, at portrait-type distances, which you're likely to use the 85L and 50L for, the difference in field of view on the subject is only really a couple of paces forwards / backward. There are times when you can't get what you want in with the 85, but that tends to be that you can't get enough backround in rather than enough subject.

Then the 35 comes in, and that is also only a couple of paces different from the 50.

At the end of the day, you could find a situation where the 85L is too long and the 35L is too wide, but it's not going to happen all that often IMO. And then it has to be a situation where you're gonna print a poster, so can't just crop from the 35mm. Or really need f1.2 DOF.

Do you really feel you need it, or are you having gear lust? Only asking because I've pondered the 50L a lot and realized I'm just gear lusting really!
If you really need it then you really need it.


50mm is my favorite focal length tbh - if I had to shoot with only 1 prime lens from now till the end of time it'd be a 50mm

BUT, i'd rather have a 35 & 85, and the trouble is that if I bought say the 50 1.4, I'd always be reaching for the other two, so it'd have to be the 50L to complete, and it's too much money for a lens I don't really need all that much - the 135L or a 70-200 is, for me a better use of cash and will be my next lens. Once I have the money and decide which I want


I think if I did buy the 50, it's be as a walk-around lens when I want to travel light and leave both the 35 and 85 at home.. but... while I can't really see myself using the 85L as a walk around lens, the 35 can do that too, and 50mm is just a 1.4 crop down if I regret not having something slightly longer...

^ I read your entire post... and then i read your signature.. LOL

I forced myself to go out there today and use my 35L... i hardly use that lens, and I was surprised why I wasn't using it (especially at f/1.4).. I think i might delay the idea of getting a 50mm and play around with 35 more.. I probably need a 100L more than I need a 50 (for ring shots).

5W0L3 wrote in post #15511036
Does anyone here own both?.. or do you guys think they are very similar (in terms of use)?

Looking forward to hearing different opinions and arguments for and against why someone would/wouldnt own both of them.

I own both, and love these lenses. I use the 85L II in my studio, and 50L as a walk-around lens. If one can afford to purchase them both, they will enhance your toolkit and joy of photography!

On my crop I like the 50mm 1.4 and am looking to get one in my bag. I just feel with 85mm would push me to far away. Trying to sell my 10-22 right now.

I don't have much experience with the 50L but I've used the Sigma 50 f/1.4, a Sigma 35 f/1.4 and an 85L II. The 85 II is amazing, the auto-focus isn't really all that slow, in fact I feel it focuses better than my Sigma 50 f/1.4 did and significantly more accurately! My 85L II was perfect out of the box, didn't need any adjustment.

I ended up getting rid of the Sigma 50 f/1.4 because of inconsistent results and was debating between an 85L or a 50L. I ended up going with the 85L and am happy with that choice.

If money wasn't an object sure I'd pick up a 50L but for now I'm ok without it.

With your current setup you might get more use out of solid normal zoom (24-70) or something or even a wide prime/tilt-shift depending on what you shoot. I'd consider picking one of those up before a 50L but you can't go wrong with more fast primes!

Mashimaro wrote in post #15514434
I use both at F1.2 90% of the time as well

If your not shooting at 1.2 your not getting your money worth.

RMH wrote in post #15514708
I'm just gear lusting really!

We're all gear lusting when we come on this forum.

If there is not room in your bag, you can always buy a larger bag

I sold the 50L, in favor of a 35L. Didn't use the 50, all that much.

Here's another thread, for more insight.

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1265460

n1as wrote in post #15517780
If there is not room in your bag, you can always buy a larger bag

Or my bag. I have plenty of room for sure.

I have both and rarely use either.

That said, I walked the streets of NYC the other day with the 50L and liked it. Nice carry around lens.

The 85L is very special. On FF, it's perfect. I found on crop, even the 1DIV, it was too long.

I'll keep 'em both. If I had to choose, it'd be the 85 every time.

So MDJAK you agree that an 85 on a crop is going to be annoyingly to long? This is why I am thinking of replacing my nifty fifty with a 1.4.