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

buy what you want, I'm sure when I'm done buying glass I'll have plenty of overlap because there are some lenses I just have to have, regardless.

If you can get the results you want from the Tammy.. stick with it. However, as an owner of both lenses, I can tell you that the 85mm is capable of some things that the Tammy isn't.

If you are shooting sports of your kids indoors and can not use the flash the 85 F/1.8 is about the best, cheapest lens for that purpose. You lose the zoom but you can crop. The tammy is great but the 85mm is a killer.

forkball, can you briefly tell me some of the things the 85mm can/will do that the Tammy will/cannot? That may help me with my decision.

Thanks,
Karman

Surely you don't expect folks on this forum to talk you OUT of a lens buy! Need has nothing to do with it!

nickybegood1998 wrote in post #2061416
forkball, can you briefly tell me some of the things the 85mm can/will do that the Tammy will/cannot? That may help me with my decision.

Thanks,
Karman

the IQ of the 85 is better plus it gives you better DOF control. i struggle with keeping my 85 since getting the 24-70L but it is a better and faster portrait lens than the L and it's great for candids in tight areas.

ed rader

JNunn wrote in post #2061549
Surely you don't expect folks on this forum to talk you OUT of a lens buy! Need has nothing to do with it!

folks here will encourage you to spend, spend, SPEND !

ed rader

nickybegood1998 wrote in post #2061416
forkball, can you briefly tell me some of the things the 85mm can/will do that the Tammy will/cannot? That may help me with my decision.

Thanks,
Karman

Well one thing I can do with my 85mm that I can't do with my Tammy is indoor sports like basketball, volleyball, or hockey. The AF motor on the Tammy really isn't fast enough to track running and skating players in AF-Ai mode. The 85mm's motor is a true ring USM and it's fast enough. Also, at f/1.8 it's a bit faster and being that it starts at f/1.8 for AF it, focuses better without AF assist beams which you can't use at an ICE area venue due to reflection off of the ice surface.

I also prefer it to the Tammy for my head/shoulder portraits.

maybe consider the 100 f2. being a little further out from the tamron's long end, it would complement your tamron lens better. like the 85, it offers an extra f-stop, and faster focusing.

I've borrowed both this and an 85 f1.8 and don't believe either is better image quality than the tamron 28-75. but they definitely focus faster, especially in poor light.

DavidEB wrote in post #2062612
maybe consider the 100 f2. being a little further out from the tamron's long end, it would complement your tamron lens better. like the 85, it offers an extra f-stop, and faster focusing.

I've borrowed both this and an 85 f1.8 and don't believe either is better image quality than the tamron 28-75. but they definitely focus faster, especially in poor light.

My thoughts exactly. If you want to shoot indoor sports, you'll need that extra f-stop and the AF will help considerably. The 100mm would be more worth while when considering outdoor applications with the extra reach over your tammy and the 85mm.

Thanks for all of the info. I'm going to start researching the 100mm. You can take great portraits with it also? I'm going to do a search on this forum to see what information I can dig up.

Thanks again. I always find so much helpful information on this board.

Karman