50mm or 85mm for Street Photography

Hi guys.

Im having a little headache today because i really dont know what i should go on.

I own a 16-35L and the 135L as main lenses for my 6D. I love that combination, but wish something in between to complete my magic trio.

The problem is i dont know if the 50L will dissapoint me. I was thinking buying it but since my last thread here the input for the 85L was quiet big.

The 50L will be possible in a few weeks when it comes to my budget. The 85L is more expensive but if this would be the way to go id save a month or two more.

Now, i do alot of street photography, portraits and still subjects.

Which lens suits more in terms of focal length and AF-speed?

35mm for streets.....so 35L/S35 or just use your 16-35.

Alternatively use your 135L for stealthy street shots.

Why do you think x100s is considered to be one of the best streets camera atm?

kin2son wrote in post #16092967
35mm for streets.....so 35L/S35 or just use your 16-35.

Alternatively use your 135L for stealthy street shots.

Why do you think x100s is considered to be one of the best streets camera atm?

Hmm yeah so i would use the 16-35, but i really often recognize i need a bit more focal length when i use the 16-35.

I think the f/1.2 would be also a good way to go because i like fast lenses.

My main question is should i go for the 50 or the 85?

50 then.

85 is a dedicated portrait length and not streets friendly imo.

But seriously the difference between 35 & 50mm is closer than you think, and shooting streets @ f1.2 is well....not streets anymore, as all you can see is bokeh.

35L/S35 is still what I'd recommend if you want fast aperture.

kin2son wrote in post #16092982
50 then.

85 is a dedicated portrait length and not streets friendly imo.

But seriously the difference between 35 & 50mm is closer than you think, and shooting streets @ f1.2 is well....not streets anymore, as all you can see is bokeh.

35L/S35 is still what I'd recommend if you want fast aperture.

Yeah i know 50mm isnt that long too, but i just find the 35 too wide.

Tried a 50mm 1.4 in a store and i think its a good focal length. And no i dont want to shoot the street at 1.2, more the people and the things ^^

I just was wondering if the 85mm would work on streets because its sharper, but has slower AF and is bigger, heavier.

street is a very wide brush.

how do you shoot street? do you get up close? do you snipe from afar? do you want to shoot from the hip, or do you want to compose in the viewfinder for every shot? etc.

if you were to go with an 85, I would really recommend the sigma 85 1.4. It's actually sharper than the 85L @ 1.4 and beyond, focuses faster, and still makes that "magical pop" that the 85L does. The only thing you get for the extra $1100 is 1/3 stop of light and a red ring.

If you go with the sigma 85, the 50L is then the more expensive lens.

Another option if you want to figure out how much you'd like a 50mm is just to buy an old Olympus Zuiko 50 1.4 with an adapter for $80ish. They've got great optics, are very small, and many people feel like using a manual focus lens allows for much more creative focusing.

The only combination I take on the streets, if I go digital and want IQ SOOC, is 5D+50L.

For street photography... neither 50L or 85L.

Get 50/1.4 and 85/1.8. They are smaller, more unobtrusive, less intimidating and much more appropriate for street shooting. Faster focusing, too. You can get both for less than the cost of the 50L.

Other good choices for street shooting with full frame camera would be the 40/2.8 you already have, and 28/1.8... both especially for their small size.

I recently went street shooting with a another POTNer who had a 35L - we swapped lenses. With the 35, I felt compelled to get closer than I wanted and ended up cropping many of the images. The 85L seems a bit slow, but would provide more reach. If you like the framing, the 50 (1.2 or 1.4) seems like the way to go.

Btw, he now owns the 50L.

For street, I favor a 35 and 85 combo. Shooting street with low DOF makes for an interesting style. The 85L II is slow for autofocus. So Al Servo paired with my 5Diii makes it work quite well. I preset my autofocus point to be at eye level. And I pre-focus at about 15 feet or near the subject before I take the shot. So with the 85L, you have to prepare your shot to get a high keeper rate.

I have the Sigma 50. That is a very good street lens, but not as sharp as the 85L at wide-open, but AF faster and you don't have to prepare your shot. I use this if that is the only lens I bring. If I have the 85, I bring the 35 for variety because the 50 picture style is close to the 85.
If I don't need wide-open shallow DOF and feel very lazy, I use my 24-70. Great for kids and action.

If you need a lens to compliment your 16-35 and 135L, go for the 85. Try 85 1.8 first to see if you like that focal length. That has fast AF, low DOF, and is sharp. Cheaper also. However the 85L is magic.

I can vouch for the 85mm F1.8. Fantastic autofocus and razor sharp lens. The F1.2L is probably in another league, IQ-wise, but, but the size and focus speed don't seem very practical for street shooting.

Don't think it's a matter of sharpness more about how "in your face" you want to be. I'd go with the 85mm

Personally, I love wide angle ( 35mm ) street photography. You get the person along with the environment into the photo. Gives it a real personal feel rather than the old stealth feel.

I prefer the Sigma 35/1.4 for street, but I love the 50/1.2L as well . . . and it's my go to lens at night. This is the type of shots I get wide open with the 50/1.2L:

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