Help decide 85mm 1.8 or 135mm 2.0

Ok I am trying to decide on which lens to purchase primarily for outdoor portraits. The two lenses I am looking at are the canon 85mm f1.8 lens and the rokinon/samyang 135mm f2 lens.

Which would you suggest getting and why? I know one huge difference is the rokinon/samyang is manual focus. Would the manual focus be too much of an issue?

I have both, the 85 only comes out in the rare circumstance that the 135l is too long. The 135 is superior in every conceivable way? Sharper, better bokeh, less CA, and its built like a tank

Oops misread. In that case I would get the canon, autofocus is critical with today's mediocre viewfinders. But save up for the 135LL.

Gumby1220 wrote in post #17744199
Ok I am trying to decide on which lens to purchase primarily for outdoor portraits. The two lenses I am looking at are the canon 85mm f1.8 lens and the rokinon/samyang 135mm f2 lens.

Which would you suggest getting and why? I know one huge difference is the rokinon/samyang is manual focus. Would the manual focus be too much of an issue?

Heya,

I do a ton of outdoor full body portrait. 85mm is my go-to for most of it. I don't have a 135, but I have a 200 F2.8L that I use a lot too. It really comes down to your subject and how far you want to be away. In wide open space, I can get down and get far back and I love the output of the 200mm outside. But when I don't have that space or I need to be closer regardless, the 85 does the job.

I use manual lenses too, they work fine, I use a super precision matte screen in my 5D for my manual focus, and it nails easy. I often shoot with a manual 85mm F1.4 (Samyang) at F1.4 and it nails focus just fine. My 200 F2.8L is autofocus, but I can manual focus it just fine too when needed (and I often do).

If I had to have ONE of these, I'd go with the 85mm simply because it's more versatile and I can get away with slower shutter speed, etc, tighter spaces, etc. Even though I like the look the 200mm gives more. I know it would not get into the spaces my 85 can, an I'm more interested in getting the shot, versus not getting the shot.

** I just noted you're on APS-C, the 135L on APS-C is like using 200mm on full frame. Just keep that in mind. It's very, very long for portrait. It's still a nice setup. But it's very, very long.

On APS-C, I generally use 50mm and 85mm tops myself, even outside. 50STM & 85 F1.8 are awesome outdoor on APS-C.

Very best,

Thanks for the replies. Hmm two suggestions for the 85 right off the bat. Looks like I have some more thinking to do along with looking into a precision screen if I go the manual focus route of which I have to say I am a bit skeptical about the manual focus. I would hate to have shots not come out sharp due to improper focusing.

Also I do plan on saving for the 135L at a later time either way I go. The images I've seen from that lens are amazing.

Gumby1220 wrote in post #17744242
Thanks for the replies. Hmm two suggestions for the 85 right off the bat. Looks like I have some more thinking to do along with looking into a precision screen if I go the manual focus route of which I have to say I am a bit sceptical about the manual focus. I would hate to have shots not come out sharp due to improper focusing.

Also I do plan on saving for the 135L at a later time either way I go. The images I've seen from that lens are amazing.

Heya,

It comes down to practicality, and if you shoot outdoor, you know your own experience. So go with what you think.

The 135L is legendary. The Samyang 135 F2 is better than the 135L. All the measurements show it superior pretty much by a few smidges. I'd happily take the Samyang 135 myself. The only reason I don't have a 135mm anything is because I have an old 200 F2.8L that serves me very well (and doubles with a 2.0x TC as a birding lens from my kayak; doubles as an astro lens on my tracker, etc).

To me, the only reason to get the 135L is for it's AF. Otherwise, as a dedicated outdoor portrait photographer, I'd want the Samyang 135 for me. That's just me though.

To give you an idea about manual focus (this is camera dependent). Some cameras are really good with outer points and you can quickly move to your outer points if your used to your camera, and focus and compose that way. I do a lot of manual focus and I get nearly all my shots even at F1.4 manually. I like not having to choose an outer point to AF from (none of my cameras have good outer points though). I can freely compose while focusing and not worry about chopping off a hand or foot fooling with autofocus points and tracking eyes, etc. For me, it was liberating to shoot manual focus. When I use my AF lenses for portrait, it's weird for me, because I either have to focus and recompose (which can easily lose shots) or use outer points which are not nearly as accurate as center point on my slew of cameras. If I had a 5D3 maybe I would think differently, but I don't, so outer points for me are not nearly as useful. I'm frankly better at manual focus than my camera is at AF with outer points while composing.

Very best,

I do prefer the 135L, but switch to 85/1.8 indoors. That's now on FF. With a 1.6 crop camera I think you are right to give the 85mm the precedence (I did so too).

Shooting mostly my grandchildren, I use AI Servo set to fastest tracking to capture the moment, and even that gets fooled sometimes. I remember how many potentially good pictures of my own children I missed with manual focus in film times.

I have the Vivitar 85mm 1.8 manual focus and I love it.


I also have the vintage Samyang 135mm 2.8 but haven't had a chance to use it since upgrading to full frame. But I loved it on my crop.


Here's a couple from the vivitar, focusing is a breeze.

Thank you this post is full of info. So you're saying I can manual focus accurately with out a precision screen (of which I am unable to find one for my current camera but they do have one for the 6d of which I'll be upgrading to in a couple of months) by using the outer focus points as a reference?

Also thanks to everyone else replying everything is helping and making me think a bit more in depth on the decision.

Gumby1220 wrote in post #17744388
Thank you this post is full of info. So you're saying I can manual focus accurately with out a precision screen (of which I am unable to find one for my current camera but they do have one for the 6d of which I'll be upgrading to in a couple of months) by using the outer focus points as a reference?

Also thanks to everyone else replying everything is helping and making me think a bit more in depth on the decision.

The viewfinder on your current camera is too small and dark for good manual focus.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17744398
The viewfinder on your current camera is too small and dark for good manual focus.

Well that sums it up then get the 85 and once I upgrade my body get the 135. Thank you guys for the replies and information to help me along the way.

Gumby1220 wrote in post #17744402
Well that sums it up then get the 85 and once I upgrade my body get the 135. Thank you guys for the replies and information to help me along the way.

Heya,

Just for a point of reference, these are 85mm on APS-C:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nkWz​dB

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nXMk​7w

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/qjqs​tu

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nr6e​zE

Yeah those are some good shots, I'm just afraid especially if my view finder is too dark for accurate manual focus that I'll have more throw aways then keepers and may lose a lot of I'll say potentially good shots

I'm not saying its impossible, but you are likely going to be shooting very shallow depth of field shots with inadequate viewfinders. Ever the bigger and brighter viewfinders on full frame cameras are not well designed compared to those on film cameras Just turn the AF on your favorite lens for a day and give it a try.

But I just did some autofocusing with my camera off and seems like the view finder might do just fine manual focusing. although I don't have anything near the reach of a 135. so I'm not sure if that will play a factor in making the view finder darker and/or more difficult to autofocus

Gumby1220 wrote in post #17744416
Yeah those are some good shots, I'm just afraid especially if my view finder is too dark for accurate manual focus that I'll have more throw aways then keepers and may lose a lot of I'll say potentially good shots

Heya,

You'll do fine with AF. You may just do some compose-recompose shots, or use outer points for composition and focusing at the same time. Get used to that part. All bodies can do it in good light. Some bodies are just better at it than others. Only some Canon APS-C's can take precision matte screens. And only some 1D & full frames can too (not all, Canon is weird). But if your body can get a precision matte screen, manual focus is easy then even on APS-C. I don't think your body can take the screen though. But again, your'e good to go with AF. The 85 F1.8 will work very well. If you find it really long, consider the 50 STM or Sigma 50 F1.4.

Very best,