Which Prime lens

Hi there, I am a Press Photographer that does Portraits, Corporate and some close up work for intrest purposes.

I have seen some of the arguments for the 50mm 1.4 and the 50mm 1.8.

The advise I'd like to ask is:

What lens should I buy for portraits that are to be extremley sharp? I do band photography and want something that is reliable. It will go on to my D60 camera with the 1.6 factor. I would like to get in close to spiders and detail shots may be with extention tubes.

The 85mm 1.8, has been thought about, but not taken up.

Im not asking for much am I? only loads!

50 1.4 or the 1.8 would be good. Although if you do band shots in a bar/club like I do 50mm may be to close so you may want to look at the 24mm prime. Could go the cheaper route and start with the 50 1.8mm and the extension tubes like you mentioned. This would be the cheaper route, to see if that focal length is right for you. But I would go with the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro instead of the 50+extension for the macro end. It will work for band photos although may be to close. Im always at the stage so I use the the Tokina 12-24. I prefer it over the canon 10-22mm which I also have. But when I want a closer facial shot I pop the 50mm f1.4 on. Also theres always renting which can help you narrow everything down further.

I don't know about using extension tubes or how it would be on macro, but for all the other types you mentioned I would suggest the 35L. on the 1.6 factor.
Lot of good reports on the 50 but I have never used it. I do have the 35L and keep it on the camera most of the time.

I'd go with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 and the Canon 85 1.8, then you have a wide prime (essentially the normal lens on a 1.6 crop cam) and a longer portrait prime.

I loved the 35L for this type of stuff. I'm taking my 50 1.4 to the Boot Camp Clik show tonight in Boulder.

The 85mm f/1.8 is a GREAT lens and works wonderful for portraits. If it's too long for you, I recommend the 50mm f/1.4 if you like good bokeh. OOF highlights on the 50/1.8 are not too great since the 1.8 uses a 5-blade aperature. So, 85/1.8 if it's not too long, 50/1.4 if the 85's too long.

Both of them have bad bokeh.

The 1.8 doesn't focus reliably, so if I were shooting with results and deadlines I'd choose the 1.4

The 50 f/1.4 and 1.8 have bad bokeh? bad meaning bad, or bad meaning good?

Boot Camp Clik, ahhh real music A far cry from todays hip hop (if I can even call it that anymore)

Meaning the outside edge of the background circle of confusion is much brighter than the middle.

Ahhh, I see. I have a friend who really doesnt understand, if you were to break it down in dummy terms, to my friend, how would you

I've taken images that people swore were shot with L glass with my 50mm f/1.8. In fact until I got my 17-40L I used my 50mm f/1.8 as my walkaround lens (had to be very creative with my compositions and actually got some of the best shots of my life) because the sharpness and colors were simply astounding compared to my kit lens and other cheap glass (my 20D is my first Canon).

You didn't mention your budget so I'm just throwing that out there in case you need to be seriously frugal...if you have the cash certainly look at the other lenses mentioned above.

thanks all. It does seem the 1.4 is the lens to get. A 1.0L would be brilliant. But!! as Moriarty said Budget needs to be concidered.

I wonder how different putting the lens onto a times two convertor will look? may b the best of both worlds...

Franko515 wrote:
The 50 f/1.4 and 1.8 have bad bokeh? bad meaning bad, or bad meaning good?


Boot Camp Clik, ahhh real music A far cry from todays hip hop (if I can even call it that anymore)

I'll be posting some shots from the show in the Performing Arts forum later on. Be sure to check for it.

And, yes. BCC is a breath of fresh air in midst of the current stale and rather sad state of hip hop. I've been a loyal fan of BCC ever since Who Got The Props.