2nd glass choice 50mm vs 85mm

hi guys, i am new to this forum as well as photography in general and i wanted to ask a question i could not find or get enough opinions on searching through the web and this forum.

i recently bought a 30d w/ a 17-40mm f/4 (first camera). I am thinking about acquiring a secondary lense. I do have the 70-200m planned in the future, but as of now i was thinking about getting a 50mm f1.4/1.8, or a 85mm f1.8. Since i am just starting to learn photography, I am not focused on anything, I want to learn about landscapes/flowers/por​traits/architect/anyth​ing and everything, but eventually i would like to focus on to fullbody/half body portraits, perhaps 75% outdoors, 25% indoors. I would also like to buy a lense i don't need to upgrade in the near future. Which one is better suited as a secondary prime lense? the 50mm or the 85mm? any other suggestions would be appreciated as well. Thanks guys!!

Since you are on a 30D I say get the 50 f/1.4. On a full-frame the 85 is awfully nice.

Since you already have the 17-40, it might not be a bad idea to go with the 85. Normally with the 1.6 crop I'd say go for the 50, but most of the people I know usually get the 28-135, 24-70, etc. as their first lens, so these lenses are more for the aperture and speed than focal length. If I was me, I'd go with the 85. I recently picked up the 5D, and with no conversion, I usually do portraits with my 70-200 2.8 in the lower half of the range, but then again I shoot alot of candids. Eventually I'd love to get the 85 1.2L, but I don't see that happening any time soon. Go to your local camera store, and try them out. Compare the shots when you get home, then make a decision. www.the-digital-picture.com has good reviews on all Canon lenses. Good luck.

should i pick up a 50mm 1.4 now? or pick up a 70-200mm f/4 L along w/ a 50mm f/1.8?
i do want the 85mm but if i want the 70-200 eventually, i think the 50 is a better choice since i will have a gap between 40-70, what do you guys think?

imitations wrote in post #2324776
should i pick up a 50mm 1.4 now? or pick up a 70-200mm f/4 L along w/ a 50mm f/1.8?
i do want the 85mm but if i want the 70-200 eventually, i think the 50 is a better choice since i will have a gap between 40-70, what do you guys think?

If your plans are to get the 70-200 f/4 then you still want something faster for your portraits. If primary use is outdoors then go with the 85 to give yourself more room to work with. I love my 85 and use it more than I ever used my 50 and I have a 70-210 lens. The gap between 40 and 70 isn't that big. A few steps forward at 40 or some slight cropping will cover that. If you go for the 70-200 f/2.8 model then the 85 could possibly wait.

JMO The 50mm 1.4 and 85 1.8 make a great combination for shooting almost any type of indoor and outdoor portait photrait shooting. Been using the 50/85 combination on my 20D for the past 5-6 months and love the results.

Mike

The 85 f/1.8 is one very nice, reasonably affordable, lens. It is optically excellent and its soo fast and accurate to focus. I have the 30D 17-40 and the 85mm and I thinks its a very nice combination. Here are a few photos using the 85.

Regards,

IMHO on the crop camera you should consider the Canon 85MM f/1.8 and the Sigma 30MM f/1.4 for primes...I rarely use my 50MM f/1.4 now that I gothe the Sigma 30MM. If you only get one lens right away and given your current lens, I would pick the 85MM over the 50MM.

JimAskew wrote in post #2324954
IMHO on the crop camera you should consider the Canon 85MM f/1.8 and the Sigma 30MM f/1.4 for primes...I rarely use my 50MM f/1.4 now that I gothe the Sigma 30MM. If you only get one lens right away and given your current lens, I would pick the 85MM over the 50MM.

Agreed. I have the 85mm and a 50mm f/1.8, and I like the field of view on my 350D much better on the 85mm. I'll probably get a 135 when I go full frame next year (hopefully)

how do the 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8 compare optically?

imitations wrote in post #2324998
how do the 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.8 compare optically?

They are both very well reviewed lenses. the 85mm is possibly sharper and has better bokeh on account of the longer focal length. It will be the next prime I get as I already have a 50 1.8 which i hardly ever use - I don't feel comfortable in the 50mm range on a crop camera.

check out these reviews:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …-1.4-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

and

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …-1.8-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

should i consider a 100mm f/2.8 macro along with the 85mm f/1.8? a friend is selling a slightly used macro for about the same price as the 85mm

If you can pick up the 100 macro, I'd pair it with the 50 f/1.4 not the 85 1.8. 85 and 100 are so close together that you won't really miss not having both.

imitations wrote in post #2325238
should i consider a 100mm f/2.8 macro along with the 85mm f/1.8? a friend is selling a slightly used macro for about the same price as the 85mm

Jon wrote in post #2325258
If you can pick up the 100 macro, I'd pair it with the 50 f/1.4 not the 85 1.8. 85 and 100 are so close together that you won't really miss not having both.

While I normally agree with Jon I chose to have both the 85 and the 100. They will be used for different purposes for me. You could use the 100 macro as a portrait lens though.

I was looking at what he has now ("just" the 17-40). With a bit more depth to his bag, there'd be no reason not to have both. I have the 85 1.8 and a Tamron 90 macro. But I didn't get the 85 until I'd got my focal lengths covered.