Do I need the 85mm if I own the Tamron 28-75?

I'm just trying to talk myself out of buying the Canon 85mm 1.8. I recently purchased the Tamron 28-75 and I just love it but I have always wanted the Canon 85mm. I like to take portraits of my kiddos and their various sports but I'm thinking I could do that with the Tamron too right?

Someone help me save some money unless there are other reasons that I need to purchase this lens.

Karman

maybe you should just shoot with the tammy and if you later find that you need that extra 10mm or that extra stop or so, then get it.

I would stick with the Tamron if I were you, but then I like to save every penny I can for better things, if it would me I would stay with the Tamron & use the money to get something totally different.

Unless somebody points out a reason to get the Canon 85mm I would say the 2.8 to 1.8 isnt that great, it would be better in low light but the DOF would be very shallow.

Nick

Thanks all. That's what I needed to hear. I will save my pennies for something totally different. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

Thanks again.
Karman

nickybegood1998 wrote in post #2058033
I'm just trying to talk myself out of buying the Canon 85mm 1.8. I recently purchased the Tamron 28-75 and I just love it but I have always wanted the Canon 85mm. I like to take portraits of my kiddos and their various sports but I'm thinking I could do that with the Tamron too right?

Someone help me save some money unless there are other reasons that I need to purchase this lens.

Karman

Well... If you want to save some money on the deal, why don't you skip on the 85mm f1.8, and get a 50mm f1.8 instead. You should always have at least one fast lens in your bag for when the lighting gets bad.

For shooting kids (click, not bang ) I like to use my 70-200mm f4 L and stay back a ways. That way I can let the kid play more naturally, and I can get good shots without having to chase them around. My favorite shots are the ones where they are just doing their thing and I am able to capture it. I'm not a huge fan of posed shots of children. To me they just lack reality. Maybe that's just because I'm so used to chasing a 2 y/o around.

Personally, I'd talk myself out of that one. Just got the 100 mm f/2.8 macro ! Wife wasn't around to talk me out of that one. Fun lens ! I do like my Tamron. Just posted a few pics on this forum. I'm sure a few 1.8 owners will chime in soon. Good Luck !

Thats not a bad idea, the 50mm 1.8 is quite a cheapy, although I was put off by the test results here:

http://www.slrgear.com …ct.php/product/​150/cat/10

At F1.8 its very soft at the edges, ok for a portrait though, but you would notice it on other things, from F2.8 it seems better.

Nick

Nick_C wrote in post #2058069
Thats not a bad idea, the 50mm 1.8 is quite a cheapy, although I was put off by the test results here:

http://www.slrgear.com …ct.php/product/​150/cat/10

At F1.8 its very soft at the edges, ok for a portrait though, but you would notice it on other things, from F2.8 it seems better.

Nick

At f1.8 the DOF is razor-thin. I don't have a DOF calculator handy, but at a close enough range to get a headshot, if the nose is in focus, the ears probably won't be. I don't shoot it wide open unless I have to. When you need fast though, it's that or put the camera back in the bag.

His gear list says he already has the 50 1.8.

I'm a huge fan of the 70-200 f/4 so if you are starting to get an itch to upgrade, this is a good one to consider.

I'm also becoming more interested in primes, and the 85 f/1.8 and 50 f/1.4 and sigma 30 f/1.4 are featuring strongly in m,y current 'want' list.

Saralonde wrote in post #2058093
His gear list says he already has the 50 1.8.

Doh! I should have caught that. I normally look before I reply.

In that case, you really should know already if you need the 85mm f1.8 or not. Do you use your 50mm wide open very often, and find that it just lacks reach? Or do you just find that you need more reach period? 85mm compared to 75mm isn't really a big deal. You might want to look into a longer zoom if you need more reach.

Saralonde wrote in post #2058093
His gear list says he already has the 50 1.8.

Well spotted!

Nick

I have an old M42 50mm F1.8 but dont use it that often as its MF only, its not bad though, but like the Canon 50mm 1.8 it benefits from stopping down.

Nick

Thanks for all of the responses. I do own the 50mm 1.8 right now and I do like the lens but I just keep reading how everyone is raving about the 85. It's just a want thing over a need thing. I think my Tamron 28-75 will do and I will just set my sights on something else. I have also been doing lots of reading on the Canon 200mm and the 100mm.

For now, my hot little pennies will stay in my hot little pocket.

Karman

You need some willpower mate! all my pockets have burn marks in them too! lol..

Nick