choose my next lens (no really, you choose)

so after doing some rearranging of my kit, i need to buy one more lens. since i have a few portrait sessions coming up (i hate those btw), i need a longer faster lens than what i have at the moment. i know that we see these threads all the time so i decided to do some else: whichever lens gets the most votes is the lens that i will buy i figure that i can always change later on

it might help if we knew what lenses you already have and if you are using a 1.6 or a 1.3 crop camera

Lisa, you are taking the fun out of the game my lenses at the moment are 24-70, 100-400 and the 500. my camera is 1.3 of course

LOL...can't help it...I'd rather give you a "somewhat" informed opinion

I'd go with either of the 85's. I just sold my 1.2 because I wasn't as thrilled with it on the M3 as the 5D, plus I rarely used it. So if you only need it once in a while, save your $ and buy the 1.8 (we still have that one). It's a more than adequate lens on it's own at 1/4 to 1/6 the price of the 1.2 (plus it's faster AF)

hey wait, can we do a "write in?" I vote for the 50 f1.2

85L for the bokeh! From what i've seen, if i had the money it'd be mine!

Didn't you own an 85L?

All I've got on your list is the 135L. Nice lens. I don't take much for portraits, but I think it's too long, unless your shooting from the next room. Makes a great outdoor lens though.

I'm trying to decide between the 1.8 and 1.2 myself. I voted for the 85L, because that's where I'm leaning. At least this particular moment in time

i owned all 3 lenses at one point or the other. the problem is that i wasn't doing too many portraits so i didn't use them too much...

I've just got the 85L for full-frame, and it's gorgeous. The sharpness is something to behold. Takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm sure you've the skill and temperament to do that.

My 'other' vote would be for the venerable 50/1.4, taking cognisance of you being on the 1.3 crop. Plus it's 20% of the price!

blonde wrote in post #4165311
i owned all 3 lenses at one point or the other. the problem is that i wasn't doing too many portraits so i didn't use them too much...

I should have known

With 10% of the votes in, I think we can declare a winner. Expected of course. When it's someone else's money, the 1.2 is gonna win every time.

Since you've owned both; Is the L THAT much better than the 1.8? I know DOF can't be matched with the 1.8, but what about IQ...? For the price of the 1.2 you can own the 1.8 and the 135mm. I'm still stuck on which to buy. Maybe I should just wait for you to sell your new 1.2

JohnC

As much as I'd like to see you broke I have to let ya out cheap : 85 f/1.8
135L might be too long even on FF for anything more then tight head shots
And since you will probably use the 85mm at f/2.2-f/4 to get at least one eye in focus there's little point in spending so much on the L.

JC4 wrote in post #4165981
Since you've owned both; Is the L THAT much better than the 1.8?

JohnC

honestly? no it is not THAT much better. it is sharper and has amazing IQ but its AF is as slow as can be. the 85 1.8 was a killer lens IQ wise, super fast AF. it's bokeh wasn't as good and it wasn't super sharp wide open. it also has some CA problems but only in very specific shooting situations which wasn't a real problem for me.

blonde wrote in post #4165990
honestly? no it is not THAT much better. it is sharper and has amazing IQ but its AF is as slow as can be. the 85 1.8 was a killer lens IQ wise, super fast AF. it's bokeh wasn't as good and it wasn't super sharp wide open. it also has some CA problems but only in very specific shooting situations which wasn't a real problem for me.

actually, that's exactly how I feel about the two.

Yes, I would always pick the 85L F1.2 it is a prefect all round lens for me.

blonde wrote in post #4165990
honestly? no it is not THAT much better. it is sharper and has amazing IQ but its AF is as slow as can be. the 85 1.8 was a killer lens IQ wise, super fast AF. it's bokeh wasn't as good and it wasn't super sharp wide open. it also has some CA problems but only in very specific shooting situations which wasn't a real problem for me.

Well Snir, from what you've said here I'd pick up the 85mm F/1.8. I'm currently struggling to decide between the 85 and 135 myself.