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Thread started 11 Mar 2005 (Friday) 11:41
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Canon 85mm f1.8

 
Vita ­ Rara
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Mar 13, 2005 06:12 |  #16

I will concur with the fans of this lens. It was my first USM lens, and my third prime. It is a jem of a lens. It focuses fast fast fast and accurate. This lens got me into candid people photography. I can fill the frame so nicely. I also use it to shoot indoor dance events. The fast focusing makes it all possible. As someone else said, this lens should be on the must have list.

Mark


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pcasciola
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Mar 13, 2005 06:47 as a reply to  @ Vita Rara's post |  #17

The 85/1.8 is one of those lenses where I take a picture and say, "Did I really get this for only xxx dollars". In low light it's amazing. It can really get you out of a jam where the lighting is very poor and you can't use a flash, like this school gym which was only lit with about 8 sodium lights in the rafters.

IMAGE: http://www.casciola.com/pics/bball_8357.jpg

Philip Casciola
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sGu
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Mar 13, 2005 10:12 |  #18

90% of shots in my basketball galleries (external link) were shot on 85mm 1.8, it is famously known as "Basketball lens", perfect focal length, fast focus, great optics, very affortable, too. However, I have yet to give it a go with portrait work.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=61967


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digitalfilm
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Mar 13, 2005 10:19 |  #19

Thanks to everyone who has posted a reply, it's made me even more confident that I have made the right choice in buying this lens.

All I have to do now is wait for it to arrive!, hopefully later this coming week.




  
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Phil ­ Hall
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Mar 13, 2005 11:43 |  #20

I have one coming from B&H on monday. It scores a 4.45 on the lense test yet is only $340.

Phil Hall


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Moses
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Mar 13, 2005 12:01 as a reply to  @ Phil Hall's post |  #21

Since many of you may have both of these lenses, I thought I would ask: If you were to get only one, which one would you choose and why?

Canon Telephoto EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens - $ 339.95

IMAGE: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/12182.jpg

or:

Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens - $ 309.95
IMAGE: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/12140.jpg

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drisley
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Mar 13, 2005 12:04 |  #22

Yikes! That is a TOUGH question.
I guess it depends on your needs. ;)


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pcasciola
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Mar 13, 2005 12:16 |  #23

Definitely depends on your needs, but I'd pick the 85/1.8 because the 50/1.4 is too short even for indoor basketball. I still have the 50/1.8 too, but I hardly use it anymore.


Philip Casciola
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roanjohn
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Mar 13, 2005 13:22 |  #24

I would choose the 50 f1.4. It's faster.........and its more versatile (for me). However, the 85 f1.8 is an AWESOME lens!!!

Ro1




  
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tim
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Mar 13, 2005 13:27 |  #25

For me the issue would be that the F1.4 lens is almost a stop faster than the 1.8. I don't have either lens though :(


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wintoid
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Mar 13, 2005 13:32 |  #26

My experience of the 50mm f/1.4 is that it isn't great at focusing in low light, especially with the shallow depth of field the wide apertures will give. It hunts a lot, and the only solution I found was to shoot at f/2.8 or less, so it didn't offer me any advantage over my Tamron 28-75 (which is probably sharper anyway).

I've got an 85mm f/1.8 on order, and from what I've heard of the focusing capabilities of this lens, I am really hoping it will give me what I was missing with the 50mm f/1.4. We will see!


Regards,
Simon

  
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Jetmech1
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Mar 13, 2005 13:47 as a reply to  @ wintoid's post |  #27

I love the 85mm 1.8 prime. It is great in low light. These pics are of my daughter playing B'Ball in a very poorly lit gym. ( I've posted them before).

John


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Citizensmith
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Mar 13, 2005 14:39 |  #28

Yup, wonderful lens. Sharp and great background blur. I like mine so much I ended up getting rid of my 50 1.8 as I was never using it.

Good for things other than people as well.

Of course it doesn't look nearly as sharp now its a small, compressed jpeg. I'm sure you get the idea though.


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Steve ­ Parr
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Mar 13, 2005 15:59 as a reply to  @ Citizensmith's post |  #29
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I just bought the 50mm f/1.8, but I'm thinking the 85mm f/1.8 would be a nice addition for taking live-band performance shots. I like the idea of a longer lens without the need for more stage lighting or a flash.

I'll probably keep the f/1.8...

Steve


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chucksberg
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Mar 13, 2005 21:24 as a reply to  @ Steve Parr's post |  #30

It will almost take pictures in the dark, and focuses well also.


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Canon 85mm f1.8
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