i need a new 85mm

I was actually exploring this option. It seems some people love shooting the a7ii and other say its just not there yet. I'm having a hard time justifying switching bodies and paying $400 just for an adapter to use one, albeit very good lens.

Not saying i wont go this route. I need to research it more. As I would likely sell of the Tamron and the 85/1.8 and just go with a native alternative.

I like the 5d series, its comfortable, its reliable. the only real downfall is its big, but so is a a7ii when you start putting on lenses like the 135L. :P

Part of me just wants to wait it out a bit longer. Part of me just wants to get a 85L and be done with it. Part of me wants to just get rid of the 5D and get an a7ii.

mike_311 wrote in post #17904302
I was actually exploring this option. It seems some people love shooting the a7ii and other say its just not there yet. I'm having a hard time justifying switching bodies and paying $400 just for an adapter to use one, albeit very good lens.

Not saying i wont go this route. I need to research it more. As I would likely sell of the Tamron and the 85/1.8 and just go with a native alternative.

I like the 5d series, its comfortable, its reliable. the only real downfall is its big, but so is a a7ii when you start putting on lenses like the 135L. :P

Part of me just wants to wait it out a bit longer. Part of me just wants to get a 85L and be done with it. Part of me wants to just get rid of the 5D and get an a7ii.

I hear you - the ergonomics on its own is almost a deal killer.

I myself decided just from almost a research perspective to try a mirrorless but the 5D3 ergonomics kill the Sony and I would never, use the Sony as a main wedding camera.

It is a weird thing that these 2 very specific lenses are better on the Sony because of IBIS and 2ndly, if things are moving slowly, that you can very easily with your eye in the eye piece, switch the lens to manual assuming you know where the switch on the lens is, and then with 2 clicks gets 12x magnification and do the slightest adjustment if required to nail the thin DoF - it is almost like magic.

It is only because you mentioned the 135 and then the 85 that I even mentioned it - and yes there are adapter to deal with.

If I were you I would wait 6 months and hope that someone comes out with a 85 IS lens - could be Tamron next week.

Just know that if that is your focal length, an IBIS camera may be exactly for you.

i dont need an 85 IS, i need an 135 IS :P

im looking for something a bit better bokeh than the 85/1.8 and less expensive than the 85L. the sigma 85/1.4 could be it but im leary of their past focusing issues.

I just took a picture for you, nothing fancy, to show you that you can handhold at 1/15th with IBIS at F1.2 (shows up through the adapter as F1.3)

1/15th is not a 100%, as you can see here it is about 95% good, but by 1/20th, 1/25th for sure, it is nearly 100%.

This was in a pretty dark room with a light coming in from the room behind. 1/15, F1.2, ISO 125. I could easily have shot it at 1/25, F1.6, ISO 320 and it would have been tack sharp. IBIS just works in a huge way for these two lenses.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Efjg​7A

mike_311 wrote in post #17904493
i dont need an 85 IS, i need an 135 IS :P

The 135L is even better on the Ar7ii - for two reasons:
- the shape of the 135 is easier to get a proper grip of
- the massive focus ring makes fine tuning it you jump into MF mode, much easier to use and it isn't that awful focus by wire

Here is a shot I took a few months ago using the 135L on the A7Rii at my daughter's hockey game. This is hockey shutter speeds but the 135L is Canon's best lens on the A7Rii because it is so fast to focus - even with the adapter.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Aznw​hx

If you find the 135L shaky you might also find the 85L shaky also as it weighs about as much as a 70-200L lens. They are tanks and really are a specialized lens. It is slow also. Started using the 100L macro recently. Honestly loving it for all sorts of photos besides Macro. Just something to consider.

Tamron's just-announced 85mm f/1.8 has image stabilization.
http://www.canonrumors​.com …e-sp-85mm-f1-8-di-vc-usd/

They have also announced a USB dock, like Sigma. Pretty exciting imo.

David Arbogast wrote in post #17908028
Tamron's just-announced 85mm f/1.8 has image stabilization.
http://www.canonrumors​.com …e-sp-85mm-f1-8-di-vc-usd/

They have also announced a USB dock, like Sigma. Pretty exciting imo.

David, you and I have the same cameras and we are looking at the same lenses.

I am potentially very interested in this lens.
I have the 85L II, which is better than the 50L which I just sold as it isn't sharp at F1.2 unlike the 85L, but I desperately want a great 50 to 85 lens that is fast, has IS, and is razor sharp wide open so I can use it handhelds at weddings on the 5DSR.

I have an order on the 85G to see if that is the lens, but the crazy Focus by wire just is not a good thing. If this Tamron was a 1.4 I would buy it immediately if it gets as good reviews as their new 45.

What would you do:
- 85L II with adapter on the A7Rii (currently)
- Tamron 1.8 VC (can use on both cameras at 1/30th)
- Sony 85 1.4 (only Sony) but get EyeAF

?

That's super-hard for me to answer Paul. Although we do share common camera and lens interests our subjects are so different...I don't do much portraiture, though that may change soon. I will say this: I am going to pre-order the Tamron and give it a try; I expect it to be very impressive. It will fit my strategic decision to stick with an all-Canon-mount lens kit.

In your case, though, I wonder if the Sony isn't the best option. It will surely be an outstanding lens and you'll have a perfect mating of Sony lens to Sony camera for the best AF performance. I would have some concern about AF performance with Tamron, or any third party lenses, for event coverage. Not suggesting Tamron will be bad, I certainly hope it will be amazing! Rather, I'm just thinking I would want to max out my odds of getting the absolute best AF performance.

It is still early, but my sense is that there won't a better combination of optical excellence and AF performance than the Sony 85mm 1.4 GM on an a7R II. That said, as a fellow a7R II / 5DS R owner I appreciate your anxiety of buying a lens you can't use on one of your bodies.

Do they have a price on the 85 yet? I saw one that was in Yen, and after looking on google at the co version rates it said it was still over $1,000. I highly doubt that is the cost. If it is, it will be a huge flop.

Myboostedgst wrote in post #17908220
Do they have a price on the 85 yet? I saw one that was in Yen, and after looking on google at the co version rates it said it was still over $1,000. I highly doubt that is the cost. If it is, it will be a huge flop.

Since the recent 35mm and 45mm lenses are at USD $600, I think the 85mm should easily be south of $1000.

Looks like that info isn't out yet. B&H is taking preorders on the new 90mm macro at $649.

The fairness of the price is contingent on the quality of the lens. It is already starting out with a couple of valuable goodies not found in Canon or Nikon's 85 1.8 offerings, like weather/dust sealed and image stabilization, and I am expecting a good deal better optical performance as well.

I see it as not just another f/1.8 lens, but one that fills a quality void between the 85mm f/1.2L II and the 85mm f/1.8 and I won't be surprised if it doesn't beat them both optically.

Myboostedgst wrote in post #17908220
Do they have a price on the 85 yet? I saw one that was in Yen, and after looking on google at the co version rates it said it was still over $1,000. I highly doubt that is the cost. If it is, it will be a huge flop.

With the 90 F2.8 VC releasing at $650 MSRP, expect the 85 to be even cheaper. I would expect it to be slightly cheaper than the 35mm and 45mm. 85mm is inherently less expensive due to the measurements and design to achieve that aperture. It's why 85's are generally less expensive across the board, just like 50's, but wider lenses that are fast cost a lot more, and of course, longer costs even more.

I wouldn't be surprised if Tamron drops it at $500 or so, and gobbles up the stabilization market.

I currently have the 90 F2.8 VC, and it's awesome. I sold my Canon 85 F1.8 because I just didn't need the extra stop of aperture and would rather have one lens doing everything where possible. Now they're re-releasing the 90 F2.8 VC and that blows my mind because the current 90 F2.8 VC is already an outstanding lens that rivals the 100L in every way, so it's crazy that Tamron has improved something even more and it's only $650. The current one even has weather sealing and all-internal mechanics, very good stabilization, very sharp wide open, fast, silent AF, etc. Stupid good lens for the money. It's quite exciting to see the 85 F1.8 VC and 90 F2.8 VC dropping again. I would fully expect them to be completely affordable, just like the 35 & 45 VC they released. They're competing nicely.

Plus, they look really nice. I like the direction they've taken with the shape and finish on the lenses, it's very different from Sigma & Canon, so they're finally looking like their own thing. Kind sony looking though.

Very best,

I was expecting them to be around the $400-600 mark as well, that's why I was confused as to the one site that said the yen equivalent of $1,000.

The Nikon 85mm F1.8G lens is amazing. It is $400 and one of Nikon's sharpest lenses (sharpest lens I have used in my admitiedly limited amount of different lenses tried). The only problem with that lens is that it has a sort of "clinical" feel to the bokeh and image. Fantastic lens, but it just doesn't have that special feel.

I don't need VC in a 85mm lens, altough I understand other people would like it and it can't hurt anything. But for me the real importance is going to be the character of the images. If it is clinical and lacks that special look, to me I won't be any more appealing than the current Nikon or Canon 85mm 1.8's.

MalVeauX wrote in post #17908315
With the 90 F2.8 VC releasing at $650 MSRP, expect the 85 to be even cheaper.

Hope you're right, but Canon Rumors is saying the opposite...85 will cost more (scroll to bottom to see prices in yen):

http://www.canonrumors​.com …0-f2-8-macro-images-leak/