85mm 1.2 vs 1.8

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Ellekes

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Vicky
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Hi all,

I'm looking into getting a new lens. I want the 85mm, but am unsure as to the differences (except from the obvious aperture).

85mm 1.8 is well on budget and seems to be a great lens. I currently have the 50mm 1.8 and am very happy with that, albeit a bit too short (hence the 85mm).

The 85mm 1.2 sells for 6 times the previous and that what confuses me. Apart from the difference in aperture, is there a difference in quality between the two? Or what I really want to know is, if I'll end up regretting not waiting out to invest in the 1.2.

Last, if there is no significant difference in quality, is there someone out there who has a 1.2 and would be willing (and able) to post a picture taken at 1.2 vs one taken at 1.8?

Sorry, I am asking a lot, but I promise, if ever someone is waiting for my expertise :D, I'll help out immediately :p

(Oh, and by the way, there is a 1.4 Samyang lens, which is well within budget. But I don't feel comfortable getting an off-brand lens. or am I mistaken in that?)
 
This was asked the other day in this post click hope that helps?
 
85mm f/1.8 should be enough for most applications and has a faster AF. f/1.2 is for specialist applications, it has ultra-shallow DOF, , higher chance of operator focusing error, slow AF and huge price tag. If you are happy with 50mm f/1.8, then 85mm f/1.8 will blow that away completely.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

I think I'll stick with the 1.8. My main area is kids and I find it difficult to keep them still enough for 1.8, so 1.2 would be way to much of a stretch as it is. Saves my money for an additional flash, a batterygrip, a light meter, a...... :D

Hell, for what I save, I can even buy my 70-200 2.8!
 
Ellekes said:
Thanks for all the replies!

I think I'll stick with the 1.8. My main area is kids and I find it difficult to keep them still enough for 1.8, so 1.2 would be way to much of a stretch as it is. Saves my money for an additional flash, a batterygrip, a light meter, a...... :D

Hell, for what I save, I can even buy my 70-200 2.8!
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But the f1.2 is a gorgeous hunk of glass that you will never regret buying.

However the advice given is sound - get the f1.8 and have 90% of its capability.

Graham
 
The 85mm f1.2 is a wonderful lens you can isolate your subject from the BG at 100 paces and it's super sharp even wide open add to that on a 5DmkII,( 5D less so,) you can shoot in pretty much darkness.. But it is a Bst@rd to focus at 1.2 and I think you would be hard pressed to justify the price tag unless you are specifically after those qualities

OH and the samyang 1.4 is manual focus only!!
 
Ellekes said:
Thanks for all the replies!

I think I'll stick with the 1.8. My main area is kids and I find it difficult to keep them still enough for 1.8, so 1.2 would be way to much of a stretch as it is. Saves my money for an additional flash, a batterygrip, a light meter, a...... :D

Hell, for what I save, I can even buy my 70-200 2.8!
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good plan! I have the 85 1.8 and I absolutely love it. I read a review of the 1.2 which said something like "if you don't know if you need it or not, you don't".

It's very specialised, and has flaws that the 1.8 doesn't. But if it's what you need, then you have no choice. If it's not, save yourself a chunk of cash and blow it on something else :D

Chris
 
chris321 said:
It's very specialised, and has flaws that the 1.8 doesn't.
Chris
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This is very true as well. I shot an event on Monday night and shooting into the light at performers on stage showed very marked CA. And not just fringing either - some of their hair turned blue!

Light just barrels into the lens as there is so much glass. But you just got to love it to be able to shoot at f1.2 and be sharp there.

But a specialised lens it certainly is.

Graham
 
onform said:
OH and the samyang 1.4 is manual focus only!!
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The EF mount version doesn't even give you focus confirm.

I hear, however, that if you use the Nikon F-mount version with a focus-confirm adapter (one with an appropriate chip) you can get focus confirm on Canon EOS bodies.

A fairly thorough review (on a Nikon body) here

It's also stop-down metering only with the Samyang IIRC.

It's an interesting lens for specialist applications - use it wide open with a hand held meter and the camera in manual mode on Full Frame makes most sense to me.

For most everything else, I'd get the Canon f/1.8 for only a few pounds more. It's a great lens.
 
Ellekes said:
I have just ordered the 1.8 and hopefully by this time next week, I'll be able to post the first results, .....:D
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I have this on my 7d and find it amazing.1.8 is sharp but 2.0 and it is tack Sharp. I love it at 2.8 though when taking pics of my kids being kids. You'll love it!
 
Apart from being faster, the 1.2 also has a completely different optical design than the 1.8 and should be significantly better at full aperture. Spherical abberation for instance - the cause of the 'haziness' seen on many fast primes when used wide open - shouldn't be a problem on the 85mm f/1.2 as it uses a ground and polished aspherical element to overcome this. I guess the problem with a lot of Canon's cheaper fast primes is that they're all archaic now... the 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 28mm f/1.8 to name a few, all consist of standard spherical elements and wide open none of them are spectacular. Ken Rockwell describes it quite well; the sharpness is there, but it's hidden under a veil of haze, due to the outdated lens design - most of Canon's affordable primes are from back the film days.
 
trencheel303 said:
Apart from being faster, the 1.2 also has a completely different optical design than the 1.8 and should be significantly better at full aperture. Spherical abberation for instance - the cause of the 'haziness' seen on many fast primes when used wide open - shouldn't be a problem on the 85mm f/1.2 as it uses a ground and polished aspherical element to overcome this. I guess the problem with a lot of Canon's cheaper fast primes is that they're all archaic now... the 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 28mm f/1.8 to name a few, all consist of standard spherical elements and wide open none of them are spectacular. Ken Rockwell describes it quite well; the sharpness is there, but it's hidden under a veil of haze, due to the outdated lens design - most of Canon's affordable primes are from back the film days.
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I agree about 50mm, 28mm, 35mm, but have to disagree about 85mm. The only issue with 85mm 1.8 wide open is blue fringe. 1.2 version has more fringe by the way. 1.8 is a fairly new design (20 years old or so). Mine is tack sharp wide open, once focused correctly.
In some cases softness wide open can be used to ones advantage / creativity. It has to have certain qualities, which is why Leica can charge $$$$.
 
fair enough. I was just going off by what I have read (the way primes of the common focal lengths are built interests me greatly) and by review upon review showing test photos. I know you actually own a 1.8 and are impressed with it though :thumbs:
 
The f/1.8 sounds like it would suit you better as the 1.2 vs 1.8 are only comparable in focal length.
 
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