Canon 85mm 1.8 or 1.2?

cosmix3

cosmix3

David Sullivan
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Hi,

Need some serious help on this, at the moment am strongly drawn to getting a 85mm for studio/portrait work, but is the 1.2L worth all the extra dosh, or is the 1.8 a capable choice, any thoughts (and sample shots) welcome, am really struggling on this :D
 
The Sigma ƒ/1.4 should be here by now.
 
In the studio I would have thought 1.8 is all you would need. You're not likely to need such wide appertures.
 
I've only got the 85mm f1.8 and i love it its a great portrait lens, however it might be a tad long on a crop sensor, i use mine on a crop sensor but i wanted that extra reach to get close up shots of musicians on stage.

Im sure some one will come along with some comparison photos at some point but i do love my 85mm, i just don't use it enough!
 
photon said:
The Sigma ƒ/1.4 should be here by now.
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Looking at Canon to be honest, but thanks.

ryanyboy said:
In the studio I would have thought 1.8 is all you would need. You're not likely to need such wide appertures.
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That is what I was thinking, but was wandering if on location I would always be wishing for the 1.2, the 1.8 for studio would be the one I think, just need some advise on if OI would miss the extra of the 1.2 :D
 
Yes, the Canon EF85 f1.8 is a capable choice, fast to focus, good image quality and lighter than the 85L, but, once you have used the 85L you may not want to change, the build quality, bokeh, feel all outweigh the price, weight and slow focussing.

I have had the EF85 f1.8, a Mk1 85L and now have a Mk2 85L. For a tight space and medium length shots it is my first choice lens on FF, for a normal head and shoulders shot though I would reach for my 135L.

On a crop, I would not hesitate to get and use an 85mm lens whether it be the EF or one of the Ls.
 
I loved my 1.8 except for a back-focus issue which eventually made me move on. Now I've a 1.2 which is also great but frankly isn't worth the money (IMHO). The narrow dof is tempting but almost every shot has something out of focus that I wish was in focus, and mine suffers from lots of purple fringing. I find I shut down the aperture more often now which takes away most of the benefit. Of course, when it works it is stunning. Looking round my office now two of the seven framed shots I have up were taken with the 1.2 (one with the 1.8).
 
ianmarsh said:
I loved my 1.8 except for a back-focus issue which eventually made me move on. Now I've a 1.2 which is also great but frankly isn't worth the money (IMHO). The narrow dof is tempting but almost every shot has something out of focus that I wish was in focus, and mine suffers from lots of purple fringing. I find I shut down the aperture more often now which takes away most of the benefit. Of course, when it works it is stunning. Looking round my office now two of the seven framed shots I have up were taken with the 1.2 (one with the 1.8).
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Thanks, can I ask about the Back focusing, is this something they suffer from? or was it a more one off with yours?

trencheel303 said:
May I ask why you are restricting yourself ?
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You can, is just me to be honest, tend to be a tad blinkered that way, all bar one of my lenses are Canon.
 
I've got the 85mm f/1.2 II and it is a special lens. It does focus very slowly and at f/1.2 it can be very frustrating with a steep learning curve. It needs stopping down for a head shot just to get the whole face in focus, unless you are going for the sharp nose blurry ears look which my girlfriend didn't appreciate :D
 
I use the 85/1.2 II - it's a great lens. Whether it's worth so much more than the 1.8 is up to how much spare money you have I guess.

One thing you want to make sure of is that you buy the second version of the 85/1.2. The first version of this lens is awfully slow to focus. It's so bad I don't know why Canon ever released it.
 
If you want to take photos with the sound of angels weeping in the background get the 1.2
 
cosmix3 said:
Thanks, can I ask about the Back focusing, is this something they suffer from? or was it a more one off with yours?
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No idea to be honest. I presumed I just got an iffy copy. I sold it on having informed the buyer of my problems but she seemed happy with it (on a crop body). Maybe it was a bad lens-body combo.
 
ianmarsh said:
No idea to be honest. I presumed I just got an iffy copy. I sold it on having informed the buyer of my problems but she seemed happy with it (on a crop body). Maybe it was a bad lens-body combo.
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Thanks :D
 
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