5D: 50 f/1.4 or 85 f/1.8

i recently purchased a 5D. i currently have a 50 1.4 that i used with my previous XSI. now that i'm on to a full frame, i'm wondering if i'm better off with a 85 1.8.

with the obvious focal length difference - which lens would work well with the full frame of the 5D. i will mostly be using this for low light party pix and portraits.

thanks in advance.

Totally depends on your shooting style. If you really liked the 50 on your Xsi, then you'll find the 85 to be comparable on your 5D.

They both would work fine on the 5D, so it comes down to the focal length differences.

If it were me I'd have a 28mm f/1.8 (or 35L, lol) and an 85mm f/1.8 (or better yet, the 135L) for indoor party & portrait work. But the 28mm and the 85mm would be a great setup fo only $800 (that includes a hood for the 28mm, which I highly recommend).

egordon99 wrote in post #7596491
Totally depends on your shooting style. If you really liked the 50 on your Xsi, then you'll find the 85 to be comparable on your 5D.

They both would work fine on the 5D, so it comes down to the focal length differences.

i guess then my question is.....which will perform better in low light conditions? i'd say the 50 1.4, but with the added ISO benefits of the 5D makes me wonder if the 85 1.8 might be better?

What do you mean by "better"? Technically the 50mm is a smidge faster, but I again I think the main (only?) difference is the focal lengths (complaints about the "fake" ring-USM on the 50 aside )

Do you want a "normal" lens? Or a short telephoto?

MacFly wrote in post #7596547
i guess then my question is.....which will perform better in low light conditions? i'd say the 50 1.4, but with the added ISO benefits of the 5D makes me wonder if the 85 1.8 might be better?

egordon99 wrote in post #7596582
What do you mean by "better"? Technically the 50mm is a smidge faster, but I again I think the main (only?) difference is the focal lengths (complaints about the "fake" ring-USM on the 50 aside )

Do you want a "normal" lens? Or a short telephoto?

better as in sharpness. the focal length, i can make work with what i'm doing.

so is it safe to say - stick with the 50 1.4?

Don't know which has better MTF results, sorry....

That said, I'm LOVING my 30/85 combo on my crop bodies, and if I ever went full-frame, I'd HAVE to get a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and a Canon 135L

MacFly wrote in post #7596596
better as in sharpness. the focal length, i can make work with what i'm doing.

so is it safe to say - stick with the 50 1.4?

Both are sharp, and both have their problems. Get the length that you "see" at, not what you can make do with.

So you have a 5D and you have a 50 1.4 and you wonder if it'll work for you. Why don't you simply try it out?

spelunker wrote in post #7597861
So you have a 5D and you have a 50 1.4 and you wonder if it'll work for you. Why don't you simply try it out?

NOW i have the 5D that i just received 30 mins ago. when i originally posted, i had not gotten it yet.

thanks for your input, or sarcasm, should i say.

I'd get the 85. I think it's sharper wide open than the 50, but it is a 1/2 stop faster. You'll get about the same angle of view as the 50 on your XTI. The bokeh is creamier on the 85 as well. the 50 1.4 isn't known for it's great bokeh. The 50 1.4 actually has a harsh bokeh if you do some comparisons.

Have fun with your new camera,


Ron

The 50 is a bit flarey a f/1.4, with an overall reduction in contrast, while the 85 retains its contrast to a greater extent at f/1.8. But both are good low-light performers, and I would choose based on the needed focal length.

Based on that, I'd prefer the 50 for party pictures, because the 85 will probably be too long to include more than a couple of tightly composed faces in the image. But for portraits, I'll take the 85 most of the time.

I bet you would like a fast 30mm lens on your old camera for those party situations.

Rick "who bought both on the same day" Denney