Upgrading around my 5D3 and Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC

I'm having a tough time deciding on a portrait lens upgrade upgrade and have been pouring over the boards. 85mm is my favorite focal length, probably because I've had my 85 1.8. I cannot afford an 85L, which I think leaves me to the 135L or possibly a Sigma 85 1.4. My 85 1.8 is OK but I am looking for improved IQ and more bokeh.

My current outfit: 5D3, 17-40, which I plan to sell; also Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC, Canon 70-200 f4 non is, and my 85 1.8. I'm contemplating two major options:

1. Sell 17-40, buy 135 2.0 used (would need about $350-400 cash), work on upgrading my 85 and long zoom over time.

2. Sell 17-40 and 85 1.8, and buy a Sigma 85 1.4 new (would need about the same amount of cash).

I do a lot of church photography where the 85 focal length works well...... first communions, confirmations, not sure but I am afraid I'd find a 135 too long. I have a small home studio, and I like doing people photography, head shots, outdoor senior photography etc.

Should I consider other options?

Thank you

Heya,

Just a few notes. You may get a very slight increase in image quality moving to a new lens from the 85 F1.8. However, "more bokeh" is not exactly going to happen immediately and is dependent on a few factors. Wider aperture will result in more significant out of focus area, but bokeh is not the out of focus area, it's the quality of blur of that out of focus area, and it's completely subjective to you. If you simply want "more blur" that will come from wider maximum aperture (F1.4, F1.2), and/or closer distance to subject (which reduces depth of field). Focal length is simply a means to change distance to subject. And longer focal lengths do have different optical effects on how things render (example: telephoto focal lengths tend to pull the background forward when you are crushing depth of field).

For cost, the 135L is easily the top pick. To note though, longer focal length means faster shutter speed required to maintain a sharp image handheld, so if you're in low light and shooting a 135mm lens, it may force you into higher ISO ranges, depending on how dark your churches and other places are. Something to consider.

Otherwise, the Sigma 85 F1.4 will actually produce "more blur" for the same composition frame up (due to wider aperture plus closer distance to subject). The Sigma 85 and the Canon 85L actually are very similar and neck to neck on a lot of things other than maximum aperture. Rest assured the Sigma 85 is a fantastic lens for portrait and low light.

I would just go ahead and rent a 135L and see how you feel about the distance and focal length. It may be too long. Or maybe it's fine.

Personally I use a manual Samyang 85mm F1.4 lens when I want shorter telephoto with fast aperture. These lenses are $200 and pretty much optically as good as the Sigma 85, just without autofocus. Sharp wide open. Decent CA control considering it's speed too. But I'm proficient with manual focus even at F1.4, with a precision matte focus screen for my view finder (available on 5Dc, 5D2, 6D). Unfortunately these view finder screens are not an option for the 5D3 without getting something custom. That and maybe you are not interested in a manual focus lens, but just to point out, Samyang has excellent manual modern lenses (85 F1.4, 135 F2, etc).

Also, how do you feel about the 70mm F2.8 end of your 24-70? Do you prefer the 85 F1.8 to the 70 F2.8 of your zoom? It's just barely over 1 stop slower and it's a bit shorter, so it doesn't render as potent out of focus blur for certain frame ups, but it's still quite good. But maybe you are really into the super shallow depth of field look. I will warn you, be careful not to get so shallow that you get one eye out of focus, one eye in focus, totally ruins a portrait for some.

I find the 85 F1.8 to be fantastic. I tend to shoot it at F2 and F2.8 pretty often. Still isolates nicely and has awesome image quality.

These are at F2.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/t7DZ​as

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/vCRe​5X

mpstan wrote in post #17858845
I'm having a tough time deciding on a portrait lens upgrade upgrade and have been pouring over the boards. 85mm is my favorite focal length, probably because I've had my 85 1.8. I cannot afford an 85L, which I think leaves me to the 135L or possibly a Sigma 85 1.4. My 85 1.8 is OK but I am looking for improved IQ and more bokeh.

My current outfit: 5D3, 17-40, which I plan to sell; also Tamron 24-70 2.8 VC, Canon 70-200 f4 non is, and my 85 1.8. I'm contemplating two major options:

1. Sell 17-40, buy 135 2.0 used (would need about $350-400 cash), work on upgrading my 85 and long zoom over time.

2. Sell 17-40 and 85 1.8, and buy a Sigma 85 1.4 new (would need about the same amount of cash).

I do a lot of church photography where the 85 focal length works well...... first communions, confirmations, not sure but I am afraid I'd find a 135 too long. I have a small home studio, and I like doing people photography, head shots, outdoor senior photography etc.

Should I consider other options?

Thank you

Not much to add to MalVeauX's excellent response, but, if you're concerned that a 135L might be too long then take your 70-200 for a shoot (and leave it at 135mm). Obviously you'll be suffering due to the relatively small max aperture, but it'll give you an idea if that focal length would work for you - and it won't even cost you a rental.

Hopefully this might also be useful: http://howmuchblur.com …f4-on-a-0.9m-wide-subject

As you can see from the above link, for shorter subject-to-background distances it's more about aperture (the 85/1.4 easily produces more blur than a 135/2). However, as the distance increases the focal length becomes more important - such that even the 70-200 at 200/4 approaches the 85/1.8. That is getting to 20m+ though, which is likely not that relevant in a church.

Summary: if you want more blur where the background is within 10m of your subject, an 85/1.4 looks like a better choice than a 135/2.

As MalVeauX noted, bokeh (the subjective quality of the blur) is a separate factor, and you'd have to compare out of focus regions on various lenses to decide which one met your tastes. Photozone (http://www.photozone.d​e/Reviews/overview#can​on_ff) do test and comment on bokeh in their lens reviews, and it looks as though they've got many of your options covered.