Should I Keep My 85mm F/1.8?

I just ordered my 70-200mm f/2.8 and a few weeks ago, i purchased my 24-70 f/2.8. The 24-70 hasnt left my camera since. I've been using it for everything lately. I bought my 85mm because i didnt have any fast glass at the time and i needed a good portrait lens. and from what i can tell, the 70-200 and the 24-70 are just as good as the 85mm when it comes to portraits.

so, what im wondering is, should i keep my 85mm in case that i'll use it for portraits again someday? or should i sell it and buy a 50mm f/1.4.

I'd say keep it; on my 5D I still use the 24-105, 70-200 f2.8 IS and the 85. The 85 gets used only for portraits but it's very handy with the small size and large aperture. The 70-200 is also great for portraits but the size & weight make it less convenient.

I have a 70-200 2.8 and the 85 1.8 is next on my list if that helps. I want faster glass with better focus then the niftey 50

Well, you said you like the portraits done with your 70-200 and your 24-70 as much as those taken with your 85, so why bother? I mean, some people will see a big difference in these lenses depending on the needs, but if you don't, I don't see any interest in keeping it.

Bear in mind that you gain more than a stop with the 85, so if you still need a low light lens, it will be better than your zooms.

I am not sure you will see a big difference between the 85/1.8 and the 50/1.4. In terms of DoF and bokeh, you can expect more or less the same. The 50 will have an edge in low light. IQ is the same and superb with both.

Have fun

If you don't use it, lose it. There's no sense in keeping it around if it's just going to sit in the bottom of your bag.

awad wrote in post #2339041
I just ordered my 70-200mm f/2.8 and a few weeks ago, i purchased my 24-70 f/2.8. The 24-70 hasnt left my camera since. I've been using it for everything lately. I bought my 85mm because i didnt have any fast glass at the time and i needed a good portrait lens. and from what i can tell, the 70-200 and the 24-70 are just as good as the 85mm when it comes to portraits.

so, what im wondering is, should i keep my 85mm in case that i'll use it for portraits again someday? or should i sell it and buy a 50mm f/1.4.

On this forum the answer has to be both, keep the 85/1.8 and get the 50/1.4 both sharper and faster than the zooms.

i say keep it.

I want to upgrade to a 70-200 IS L, but I also plan on getting both the 85mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.4

I too like the portraits that come off the 70-200 IS L, but shooting potraits isnt why I would be buying a 70-200 L lens. Its just nice to know the lens can do it.

Im a huge fan of zoom lenses, but after getting my 100mm Macro, im leaning towards primes for IQ reasons now. Two different lenses, two different animals.

I had my 70-200 2.8 first, but got the 85 1.8 recently. I wanted to lighten my load a bit. I will be keeping the 70-200, but the 85 is much easier to work with when doing portraits over long periods of time.