Advice on lenses

MalVeauX wrote in post #17886414
Heya,

Used EF 100mm F2 USM, or EF 85mm F1.8 USM.
Used 35mm F2 (non-IS), used 35mm F2 IS, used Tamron 35mm F1.8 VC, or new Yongnuo 35mm F2.

Very best,

I just saw that the Sigma Art 30mm is 500 euro would that be good combo + 50mm 1.4 used one or wait until I collect more money for 85mm I'll be 50 euros short

scratch that its for crop sensor :facepalm:

Get the 35mm f/2 IS and 85mm f/1.8 USM lenses. Fastest autofocus and best bang-for buck in the "budget" range of lenses, one for wide portraits/street the other for tighter portraits. THe 35mm f/2 IS is very accurate at autofocusing. The 85mm f/1.8 isn't bad: it's better than the STM lenses and possibly the Sigma's, at least a new 85 is.

The Sigma's are not that great for focusing. They tend to let you down at the wrong moments in my experience with the 35 and 50 Art's. I preferred the 35mm f/2 IS to the Sigma 35 art, tbh, specifically because I'd rather have sharper images because they're more likely to be in focus than theoretically sharp on a lens test chart. The sigma's also are not that great with far distance focus, so they game the tests basically.

idkdc wrote in post #17886546
Get the 35mm f/2 IS and 85mm f/1.8 USM lenses. Fastest autofocus and best bang-for buck in the "budget" range of lenses, one for wide portraits/street the other for tighter portraits. THe 35mm f/2 IS is very accurate at autofocusing. The 85mm f/1.8 isn't bad: it's better than the STM lenses and possibly the Sigma's, at least a new 85 is.

The Sigma's are not that great for focusing. They tend to let you down at the wrong moments in my experience with the 35 and 50 Art's. I preferred the 35mm f/2 IS to the Sigma 35 art, tbh, specifically because I'd rather have sharper images because they're more likely to be in focus than theoretically sharp on a lens test chart. The sigma's also are not that great with far distance focus, so they game the tests basically.

85mm 1.8 + 35mm as combo is slightly out of my budget, would 50mm 1.4/1.8 stm + 85mm 1.8 be good combo ?

Your budget is 800 euros.

You'd be only $100 over getting brand new versions of the 35f/2 IS and the 85 f/1.8.

I like the range differences between those two lenses. When you drop in the 50 f/whatever it's pretty close to the 35 and to the 85 but some do like that.

I thought the better approach was to decide on one portrait lens and one walk around to go with your new 6D.

Based on your prices that would be:

85 f/1.8 and 24-105 STM.

deviangel wrote in post #17886727
85mm 1.8 + 35mm as combo is slightly out of my budget, would 50mm 1.4/1.8 stm + 85mm 1.8 be good combo ?

The 50's are much softer and less accurate to focus than the 35 f2 is. If you had to split the payments across several paychecks, you could always get the 35 first then the 85 next month, or you can buy used to try to fit them both into your budget. If softness is what you're going for, and you don't mind the autofocus downsides, the 50's are fine but not my first choice unless you absolutely need the focal length. If you do get 50, you pretty much need a 24 to shore up the wide side though,whereas you can scrape by without a wider lens with the 35.

Eastport wrote in post #17886753
Your budget is 800 euros.

You'd be only $100 over getting brand new versions of the 35f/2 IS and the 85 f/1.8.

I like the range differences between those two lenses. When you drop in the 50 f/whatever it's pretty close to the 35 and to the 85 but some do like that.

I thought the better approach was to decide on one portrait lens and one walk around to go with your new 6D.

Based on your prices that would be:

85 f/1.8 and 24-105 STM.

I heard the 24-105 STM is a great lens. I would second that recommendation if you can't manage to find the 35 is refurbished, buy used, or split the purchases across paychecks.

You give up a little to a lot of focus speed and gain the wide focal range.

Eastport wrote in post #17886753
Your budget is 800 euros.

You'd be only $100 over getting brand new versions of the 35f/2 IS and the 85 f/1.8.

I like the range differences between those two lenses. When you drop in the 50 f/whatever it's pretty close to the 35 and to the 85 but some do like that.

I thought the better approach was to decide on one portrait lens and one walk around to go with your new 6D.

Based on your prices that would be:

85 f/1.8 and 24-105 STM.

I will try and find 24-105 STM but new one is out of my price range. My budget is 700 euros.

I am thinking about Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and Canon 85 f/1.8 If I get them from Greece I'll get my taxes back.

I can get some cheap lens like 38-76 later on its really cheap like 30 euros.

deviangel wrote in post #17887215
I will try and find 24-105 STM but new one is out of my price range. My budget is 700 euros.

I am thinking about Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and Canon 85 f/1.8 If I get them from Greece I'll get my taxes back.

I can get some cheap lens like 38-76 later on its really cheap like 30 euros.

The 50 non art? Make sure you get a good copy. My 50 and 35 art could be calibrated, but even then I wasn't satisfied with their AF.

idkdc wrote in post #17887233
The 50 non art? Make sure you get a good copy. My 50 and 35 art could be calibrated, but even then I wasn't satisfied with their AF.

Do they miss AF a lot? How can I check if I get a good copy?

Would you suggest the Canon 50mm 1.4 as better option?

deviangel wrote in post #17887215
I will try and find 24-105 STM but new one is out of my price range. My budget is 700 euros.

I am thinking about Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and Canon 85 f/1.8 If I get them from Greece I'll get my taxes back.

I can get some cheap lens like 38-76 later on its really cheap like 30 euros.

Well, originally your stated budget was 800 euros.

According to the website you quoted, the 24-105 f/4 STM is available for 423.44 euros (or will be when it gets in stock).

And the 85 f/1.8 on the same site you provided is 355.03 euros.

and the 35 f/2 IS is 578.16 euros

and the 50 f/1.8 STM is 138.42 euros

Mix and match as you like within your budget!

Eastport wrote in post #17887270
Well, originally your stated budget was 800 euros.

According to the website you quoted, the 24-105 f/4 STM is available for 423.44 euros (or will be when it gets in stock).

And the 85 f/1.8 on the same site you provided is 355.03 euros.

and the 35 f/2 IS is 578.16 euros

and the 50 f/1.8 STM is 138.42 euros

Mix and match as you like within your budget!

Yeah my bad. I got 700 euro left lol

I am looking at the sigma thread and sample photos plus some reviews on youtube, I love how sharp it is... But I need to know if it misses focus a lot and if the 50mm 1.4 USM is better and sharper.

deviangel wrote in post #17887271
I am looking at the sigma thread and sample photos plus some reviews on youtube, I love how sharp it is... But I need to know if it misses focus a lot and if the 50mm 1.4 USM is better and sharper.

Well, I love my 50mm f/1.4 but I suspect that I am in the minority. I bought it refurbished from Canon for under $300USD and within the first two weeks had to send it back due to the dreaded focus issue. But, I must say, it's now one of the sharpest lenses I own (L lenses included) since getting it back from Canon and it is absolutely my go-to lens for shots of large groups. Will not part with it.

That being said, my daughter is just as thrilled with the 50 f/1.8 STM on the 5D classic.

Eastport wrote in post #17887293
Well, I love my 50mm f/1.4 but I suspect that I am in the minority. I bought it refurbished from Canon for under $300USD and within the first two weeks had to send it back due to the dreaded focus issue. But, I must say, it's now one of the sharpest lenses I own (L lenses included) since getting it back from Canon and it is absolutely my go-to lens for shots of large groups. Will not part with it.

That being said, my daughter is just as thrilled with the 50 f/1.8 STM on the 5D classic.

I had the 50mm 1.8 II and sold it with the 60D, I had all sort of troubles with the focus. I don't want repeat of that with the sigma, 50mm 1.8 had 2 out of 10 correct focus on pictures. If the sigma has like 7-8 out of 10 I am in WIN situation.

I love how sharp the images seem to be and the build quality and the big glass on the lens but Sharpness is most important to me and focus ofc

so its all down to

85mm 1.8 + 50mm sigma 1.4 or 85mm + 50mm Canon 1.4

deviangel wrote in post #17887238
Do they miss AF a lot? How can I check if I get a good copy?

Would you suggest the Canon 50mm 1.4 as better option?

Well the problem is that I ran into issues with autofocus in sunset conditions (this should be an easy autofocus situation!) after the return period, and when I started shooting weddings, the AF would slow down to almost a second long. Even after optimizing with the Sigma dock, which only helps with accuracy but not precision, I'd still get random shots out of focus even in good light. As the light died in the evening, it'd go from 10/20% out of focus to 50-60% oof even after slowing down from .1 to 1 seconds. Extremely frustrating!

So if you wanted to test it, you should test it in several different conditions and press its limits, although I'm not sure if you can do that when buying used in person without a return period. To add insult to injury, the old Sigma isn't compatible with the autofocus optimization dock.

I think the 50mm f/1.4 is a great lens from Canon when I was starting out. The AF is probably more predictable even if it's not as sharp as the new Sigma Art's, something not as sharp in focus is better than something sharp but out of focus. I don't use the Canon 50's now just because I like the 24-70mm f/2.8L II more and I'm waiting on the 50mm f/1.2L II to match the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 with autofocus.

deviangel wrote in post #17887306
I had the 50mm 1.8 II and sold it with the 60D, I had all sort of troubles with the focus.

There has been no discussion regarding the old 50 f/1.8 II that you mention.

We have been talking about the 50 f/1.4 and the relatively new 50 f/1.8 STM - a vastly improved lens over your 1.8 II but still about the same price as the old one you had.