85 1.8 and 70-200 4L

85 1.8 and 70-200 4L are, probably, the most popular telephoto lenses around here. Can somebody post comparison pictures (100% crops, unprocessed), the same subject taken with each lens at 85mm and, say, f/4 or f/5.6? And it would be absolutely fantastic also too see the same picture taken with 75-300.

Thanks a lot in advance

msvaldi,

I have both lenses and love them both with the edge to the 85/1.8 for sharpness. But I've never shot a comparison. So I'm midly interested, even though the results won't likely change my habits since I use the lenses for very different settings.

If nobody posts an example before the weekend, I'll give it a try.

I'll try to grant your request as I have both lenses in quetion - when I get the chance.

Without a doubt though, the 85 f1.8 will be sharper. This lens is super super sharp from 2.8 and beyond.

Ro1

Thanks, guys I cannot wait to see the pictures

I have an idea actually. Why won't we start a few "sticky" threads for various lenses, where people can post their opinions and test shots? Questions regarding lenses are being asked all the time

A thread for each lens is too much, but we can make one for wide angle, one for telephoto and another one for universal zooms, like 28-135 and 24-70. What do you think?

You can view Pbase.com's Camera Database for pictures from certain lenses. What I really like about it is that there are also lens shots on film bodies.

I have both these lenses and they are both awesome!

I dont have exactly the same picture, but I took these pictures within 10 minutes of each other, both at F4, and the quality is VERY similar.

70-200F4L @70mm

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Your wish is my command

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In preparation for the assignment, I read Norman Koren's "tutorial" on lens testing here and quickly decided to leave lens resolution testing to pros like Norman. My approach was more utilitarian and perhaps reflective of real-world shooting experience.

I downloaded a resolution chart, snipped out the horizontal resolution part, pasted it onto the back of Photoshop Magazine, clipped it onto a box of Ilford Galeries Smooth Pearl Paper, propped up everything on a convenient spot in our sunporch, attached my 10D to a sturdy tripod (as instructed), mounted the 85/1.8 followed by the 70-200/4.0, and fired away (RAW captures) ignoring all advice about mirror lock up and other niceties. I then RAW processed, added a little sharpening (controversial, I know), and cropped out the resolution chart.

Here are the 100% crops. The uncropped image is in the lower left corner. Except for the 85mm @ f/1.8 (which ain't bad), I think the results are about the same for both lenses. Surprising to me!

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Thanks a lot, guys, for posting the pictures! I think that even if 70-200 is a little bit sharper, one would not notice the difference in the real life shots. Now I have to decided which one is better for me.

Maderito, great test!
That pretty much shows what I have found in real use.
The two lenses are almost exactly the same sharpness, however the L lens controls fringing better (although it's not that bad at all on the 85mm)