i need a new 85mm

I have the 85mm f/1.8 and I'm happy with it. Its sharp enough wide open, and I often stop it down to f/2.2-2.5 just to get a tiny bit more DOF and push the sharpness further towards the corners. For the price of the 85mm f/1.2L you can get the 50mm f/1.2L (which I also own and love) and an 85mm f/1.8.

I have the 85/1.8 its a great lens, but it doesn't provide the look i want.

mike_311 wrote in post #17890311
with the 85 ART rumored to be coming out i'm a bit leery of getting one just yet.

I was like you and decided not to buy any 85mm till Canon or Sigma released something new, then I came to realize that the current Sigma 85mm f1.4 and Canon 85L ii are already very amazing lenses. There's no point in always waiting for a new lens to be released when the existing ones have excellent IQ and you could be out shooting now.

I got the Sigma 85mm f1.4 today and it has blown me away. I couldn't recommend it more and if something new does come out, you can just sell it and upgrade if you feel the need.

One more vote for Sigma 85mm f/1.4. Awesome lens as it is, and if something better/with IS eventually comes out, you can always resell and upgrade.

maybe i read these forums too much but i'm leery of sigma focus issues. my canons are spot on, i've seen enough to know that i'd be happy with either a canon 1.2 or sigma 1.4 but i dont know if the canon is worth the premium i'd have to pay.

it would mean selling off my 135L and with the sigma i'd get to keep it.

should i be concerned with a second hand sigma 1.4 and focus issues?

Mind you, this may or may not be relevant to your case because apparently there are copy variations (but apparently, so is the case with Canon), but I got a second-hand Sigma 85mm and have never experienced any focus issues. In fact, all Sigmas I have are so great I am seriously thinking of using Canon bodies with just Sigma lenses. I am very happy with them. Maybe I have been lucky.

if concerned about second hand, I would go the amazon marketplace, which has used stuff which can be returned. I ran into a few broken second hand lenses last year, and it was no issue getting a refund from amazon. Absolute top notch service, and got some sweet deals. 135L for 675 was especially good.

mike_311 wrote in post #17892863
maybe i read these forums too much but i'm leery of sigma focus issues. my canons are spot on, i've seen enough to know that i'd be happy with either a canon 1.2 or sigma 1.4 but i dont know if the canon is worth the premium i'd have to pay.

it would mean selling off my 135L and with the sigma i'd get to keep it.

should i be concerned with a second hand sigma 1.4 and focus issues?

I have 4 lens in total, 3 Canon and 1 Sigma. 3 of those lenses are micro adjusted which is my two Canon primes and my Sigma 85mm.

With the Sigma lenses and their AF, needing micro adjust isn't a huge thing or much of a hassle as long as its consistent at that value. It's the Sigma lenses that have eratic focus at all different values and are still unresponsive after using the dock that you have to worry about.

I tested mine in store at different distances wide open and had no issues at all which is why I didn't mind purchasing it. If you do plan to get one just take your body and try it out in store. Newer bodies like the 6D and 5D3 do work a bit better with the Sigma's AF as well.

someone local to me has one I'm going to go look at this weekend. i'll bring along my camera give it a test.

85mm f/1.2 L II USM Currently being offered refurbished at Canon USA for $1,439.00 with standard 1 year warranty.

I would suggest the 85mm 1.2 or if that is too expensive, then the 100mm f/2 would work great. It has better bokeh than the 85mm 1.8 and it's easier to handle than the 135mm f/2.

mike_311 wrote in post #17894165
someone local to me has one I'm going to go look at this weekend. i'll bring along my camera give it a test.

How did it go, did you end up getting it?

I got tied up last weekend. plus i'm having second thoughts about a 85/1.2 instead.

i wish there was another option between the 85L and the sigma.

mike_311 wrote in post #17904264
I got tied up last weekend. plus i'm having second thoughts about a 85/1.2 instead.

i wish there was another option between the 85L and the sigma.

Tamron are meant to be releasing an 85mm f1.8 VC soon so would that be something you're interested in?

let me offer an alternative

i was in you situation not to long ago

i had the 85L & 135L and I just wasn't using them - but I used the 135L at indoor hockey games occasionally because there SS=1/1000

i shot weddings then with 5D3s and sports / wildlife with a 5D3 & 7D2

for weddings i became a 24-70 F2.8 & 70-200 F2.8 IS with a fast short FL prime when it got dark

if i had some short weddings that were outdoors in good light, i would bring out the 85L to get a few shots (they are incredible and it made me more sad that I wasn't using either of these magnificent lenses

the Sony A7Rii was announce - IBIS, amazing sensor, Metabones adapter with good AF promised (but we weren't going to know until launch)

i got one of the first cameras with the single goal of using the 85L and 135L with this camera - except on day one these were the two lenses that didn't work

Metabones has updated the firmware a number of times and both these lense work fantastic - like native glass - the 135L can be shot at 1/20th and it will be sharper than it will ever be on any canon body - especially if you jump into Magnification mode and do a tiny manual adjustment to nail the focus exactly where you want

i would highly, highly recommend you go down to your camera store, test out either the A7Rii or the A7ii with a Metabones adapter and your 135L - it will put a smile on your face to be able, even with your hands, shoot at 1/20th with IBIS stabilizing the lens - it is like magic

I have 2 5DSRs now and a 7D2 and an A7Rii
- I only us IS lenses on the 5DSRs, usless I'm using a tripod, and I have moved shooting my 85L & 135L exclusively to the A7Rii