Wait or buy now?

I am looking at the Canon 85mm 1.8 after reading several threads on here. I am looking to get a prime and based on my most likely shots, it seems like the best option.
The question is, I have found the price $359 about everywhere to be the price up until 2/2/13 based on an instant rebate. Does Canon do these rebates often? Should I wait and see if there will be a better price after 2/2? I don't want to miss the price if it will go back up for awhile. But I am not familiar as a new DSLR owner how their prices fluctuate.
Any advice? Should I just bite the bullet and buy the lens, or should I wait a few weeks, as I plan on getting the lens soon?

Get it now, I just bought the same lens, does not get much better priced.

the Canon rebates have been going on since October of last year, they just keep extending them. its possible they will get extended again. if in doubt, buy now and regret later

I pulled the trigger. I ended up going with Beach Camera as they had the tiffen UV filter and a cleaning kit included in the price with free 24 shipping for the same price. I got the T3i bundle through them and they were cheap and prompt on filling the order, so I am optimistic it will be the same thing this time as well.
Now I have to find a way to keep myself from going crazy while waiting for it.

sirquack wrote in post #15552119
I pulled the trigger. I ended up going with Beach Camera as they had the tiffen UV filter and a cleaning kit included in the price with free 24 shipping for the same price. I got the T3i bundle through them and they were cheap and prompt on filling the order, so I am optimistic it will be the same thing this time as well.
Now I have to find a way to keep myself from going crazy while waiting for it.

Do some tests, but you may find that filter makes a nice coaster.

congrats, its a really great lens for the money.

be warned, 85 is great on FF, kind of difficult on crop. If you can wing it, borrow from a friend to see how the 85mm FL looks on your camera. even if you can borrow a 55-250...

Charlie wrote in post #15552227
be warned, 85 is great on FF, kind of difficult on crop. If you can wing it, borrow from a friend to see how the 85mm FL looks on your camera. even if you can borrow a 55-250...

it looks no more different than a 135 on a FF. its long, but great for portraits!

You could have found on in the sale thread for about $100 less. Congrats on your purchase! It's a lens I want for sure!

gonzogolf wrote in post #15552128
Do some tests, but you may find that filter makes a nice coaster.

I rechecked and it is a Zeiko's UV filter. So hopefully it is better than the tiffen!

Charlie wrote in post #15552227
be warned, 85 is great on FF, kind of difficult on crop. If you can wing it, borrow from a friend to see how the 85mm FL looks on your camera. even if you can borrow a 55-250...

Thanks for the input Charlie. I actually have the 55-250 and I ran it out to 135 and looked to see where the lens was on that focal length. I am a martial arts instructor and at the focal length, I get almost perfect full frames of my students at a distance in low light. So that part of the reason I decided on the 85 over the nifty fifty. At 50MM on my 18-55 I was going to have to crop quite a bit even with the effective 85mm focal length on my crop sensor.
And add that to the additional positives I have seen about it being perfect for portrait and landscapes and it really was an easy decision to make. Now I am just so excited for it to show up tomorrow. I am almost thinking I need to take a day off with all the new snow to just run around all day and see what it can do for me.

sirquack wrote in post #15552397
Thanks for the input Charlie. I actually have the 55-250 and I ran it out to 135 and looked to see where the lens was on that focal length. I am a martial arts instructor and at the focal length, I get almost perfect full frames of my students at a distance in low light. So that part of the reason I decided on the 85 over the nifty fifty. At 50MM on my 18-55 I was going to have to crop quite a bit even with the effective 85mm focal length on my crop sensor.
And add that to the additional positives I have seen about it being perfect for portrait and landscapes and it really was an easy decision to make. Now I am just so excited for it to show up tomorrow. I am almost thinking I need to take a day off with all the new snow to just run around all day and see what it can do for me.

that's good to hear, but you would actually only zoom out to 85mm to do the comparison. 85mm will always be 85mm. For what you do, an 85 should be good; my son takes martial arts, and that would be a good FL to capture in low light. It's a phenomenal lens, my advice only came due to your limited gear on your sig .

edit: and yes, buy now.

Charlie wrote in post #15552459
that's good to hear, but you would actually only zoom out to 85mm to do the comparison. 85mm will always be 85mm. For what you do, an 85 should be good; my son takes martial arts, and that would be a good FL to capture in low light. It's a phenomenal lens, my advice only came due to your limited gear on your sig .

edit: and yes, buy now.

Thanks for your comments Charlie. I guess I got too excited. 85mm is still workable compared to the 50 which is way too far away until I am almost on top of the action.
And with the extra light absorbing ability of the f/1.8 I hope to be able to use a much faster shutter speed and catch people getting tossed on their heads! LOL

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sirquack wrote in post #15552369
I rechecked and it is a Zeiss UV filter. So hopefully it is better than the tiffen!

I'm willing to bet that it's Zeikos - not Zeiss. The two are very different.

sirquack wrote in post #15552369
I rechecked and it is a Zeiss UV filter. So hopefully it is better than the tiffen!

gonzogolf wrote in post #15552128
Do some tests, but you may find that filter makes a nice coaster.

I think what gonzogolf was referring to is many regulars here, myself included, regard all UV filters as a waste of time, and money. They serve no purpose other than to drain your cash.

Oh heck, now I went and started it

Congrats on the 85, enjoy it.