50L or 70-200 2.8L

I am about to buy the 5D/24-105 combo. I have about $1000 to spend on another lens and am having trouble deciding.

I love the 50 1.2L and plan to shoot lots of kids & portraits where this one will excel.

I really like the versatility of the 70-200 though.

What should I do?

GrendelZ wrote in post #4961689
I am about to buy the 5D/24-105 combo. I have about $1000 to spend on another lens and am having trouble deciding.

I love the 50 1.2L and plan to shoot lots of kids & portraits where this one will excel.

I really like the versatility of the 70-200 though.

What should I do?

Hard call. I have both and they are 2 very different lens for 2 very different uses.

Toss a coin

85mm f/1.2L

alt4852 wrote in post #4961725
85mm f/1.2L

Of course but thats a little out of my range. And I couldnt buy it over the 70-200 2.8 IS for that amount. Thats one reason i'm leaning toward the 50, thinking I really want the 70-200 2.8IS and can wait and get it down the road.

I am currently shooting w/ a MK III (yay!), 5D, 70-200 2.8 IS and 24-70. I used to have a 50 1.2L but got rid of it and instead replaced it w/ a .... that's right 50 1.8.

In all serious ness .. a $80 dollar lens is about 90% the IQ as 50 1.2L (don't care what people say, that's just what I see).

So to answer your question: 70-200 2.8 IS, without a doubt. It's by far the sharpest lens I have.

Nobody can possibly answer this but you. The two lenses are used for two very different purposes. That said, I recommend the 70-200 to compliment your 24-105, which should deliver close to what the 50L would anyway.

I love 50 f1.2L and it shall be a convinient lens to use under variously lighting

I vote for the 50mm. And the f/1.8 is NOT as good as the f/1.2L. I've used both quite a bit, and the f/1.8 isn't bad (it's actually pretty good), but the L blows it away, especially in terms of color/contrast.

Anyhow, the 70-200 is a useful lens, but I think the fast primes are more fun, and useful (to me).

My sample shots of 50L

50L shots

Why not get the 5D body with a 50L

Personally I'd go with the 70-200 2.8 L because you already have the 50 range covered with your 24-105 and the 70-200 2.8 L is incredibly awesome on a 5d body.

Pick up a nifty fifty because they're cheap and good.

I second the 70-200mm. Its a great lens and will almost certainly provide you with the right tools for portraiture work. I have both and the 70-200 gets used more for people shots. Also if you want to get into wildlife later, the 70-200 with 1.4 converter will be an excellent combination.

Get the 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm f/4L.

alt4852 wrote in post #4961725
85mm f/1.2L

I'd go the same way...worth saving up a little longer or finding a secondhand 85L.

Bob

TheGreatDivorce wrote in post #4962344
I vote for the 50mm. And the f/1.8 is NOT as good as the f/1.2L. I've used both quite a bit, and the f/1.8 isn't bad (it's actually pretty good), but the L blows it away, especially in terms of color/contrast.

Anyhow, the 70-200 is a useful lens, but I think the fast primes are more fun, and useful (to me).

in all seriousness though, is it worth the money for the 1.2 for out of camera color/contrast, when PP with the 1.8/1.4 versions will acheive similar results?