Canon 85mm F1.8 or other

Jwar1976

Jwar1976

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Hi all,

I have a Canon 7D with a Canon Nifty Fifty F1.8, Canon EF 70-300 IS, Canon 10-18 STM, Sigma 17-70 OS & was wondering what lens for portraits would be a good upgrade for my bag ?. I do love using the Nifty Fifty & also like using the 17-70 for portraits / walkabout use, but the one thing I miss with the 17-70 is losing the F2.8 at around the 24mm range. Unfortunately my bank isn't kind enough to provide me with something like the 24-70, so was wondering if another prime would make a good edition to my bag, or perhaps something like the Tamron 17-50 which has a constant 2.8 ?.

Many Thanks
 
the canon 85 1.8 when I had shot with canon gear was one of my worst performers. Not in sharpness but in purple fringing in high contrast areas. Yes it fixable to a degree in post but I ended up buying and selling it 2 or 3 times, loved the focal length hated the issue. Settled for the 100mm macro instead.
 
Thank you very much for that useful information as I had no idea that lens had the issue until you mentioned it, and then added it into the google search only to see results before and after PP. As you say it is fixable but is a shame that it happens.
 
Hi,

I have the 85 1.8 and I found it to be an excellent lens. Yes, I can see some purple fringing sometimes, but I have to look for it and it only shows in extremely high contrast areas and when used wide open.
I feel it is (almost?) completely gone by f/2.0 or f/2.2. I always use it with the hood, though.
 
The 85 1.8 is one of the most highly rated Canon lenses, I think the poor one listed above must have been a rogue. The build quality and weight are a big jump up from the 50. I have one, rarely use it but there is no way I would let it go. Buy and enjoy.
 
It's a great lens. Love using mine and produces stunningly sharp images even wide open. The CA issue, common in pretty much all fast lenses, is very easily corrected.
 
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Jwar1976 said:
Thank you very much for that useful information as I had no idea that lens had the issue until you mentioned it, and then added it into the google search only to see results before and after PP. As you say it is fixable but is a shame that it happens.
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Pretty much all fast primes have CA, even L lenses.
 
I might be really sloppy because I've never noticed the 85 being prone to purple fringing.

I've shot thousands of portraits with mine, it's such a favourite we have considered buying a 2nd as we fight over it when both shooting.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone it seems that the 85mm is a winner after all & well within my price range. Also if I am ever lucky enough to get a FF in the future, then I will at least 3 out of my 5 lenses would work with it without any nasty vignetting in the corners. Thanks again it is much appreciated :)
 
I went for the 85mm f1.4 Sigma myself as I think it gives better bokeh and that's important with a lens like this. I just wasn't taken with the Canon's angular oof highlights.

Not sure about the above commrnt regarding the Canon lens being one of their highest rated, I've never seen that claim before. I'd have described it as a worthy performer and possibly the budget choice.
 
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It's always been a highly rated Canon lens.
 
woof woof said:
I went for the 85mm f1.4 Sigma myself as I think it gives better bokeh and that's important with a lens like this. I just wasn't taken with the Canon's angular oof highlights.

As much as I would love to have a 1.4 glass, upon looking at the prices it is quite a bit beyond my budget & for the cost of a Sigma 1.4, I could get a used Canon 85mm 1.8 & a Canon 17-55 2.8. Thank for the suggestion tho :).
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woof woof said:
One of the most highly rated?
Er, ok :D
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Yeah I think we've had that chat ;)

(I didn't say *THE* most highly rated, just highly rated though I know someone else did...)
 
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odd jim said:
Yeah I think we've had that chat ;)

(I didn't say *THE* most highly rated, just highly rated though I know someone else did...)
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I did and I stand by it pound for pound it's a really good lens and nearly all the write ups say the same.
 
MatBin said:
I did and I stand by it pound for pound it's a really good lens and nearly all the write ups say the same.
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I agree, I was talking to Woof Woof, hense why I quoted him? Or did you mean the bit that said "one of the" highest rated lens? I think it depends how you interpret that, I wouldn't say it's one of the highest rated lenses as there are loads of L primes that might take that accolade, but IMO it's not too far off!
 
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33L said:
the canon 85 1.8 when I had shot with canon gear was one of my worst performers. Not in sharpness but in purple fringing in high contrast areas. Yes it fixable to a degree in post but I ended up buying and selling it 2 or 3 times, loved the focal length hated the issue. Settled for the 100mm macro instead.
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It's funny isn't it the 85mm 1.8 was always my favourite lens but the 100mm macro I had I was never very fond of for portraits.
That's the thing with photography everything is so subjective, defenitly worth trying the lens out to see how you like it.
 
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odd jim said:
I agree, I was talking to Woof Woof, hense why I quoted him? Or did you mean the bit that said "one of the" highest rated lens? I think it depends how you interpret that, I wouldn't say it's one of the highest rated lenses as there are loads of L primes that might take that accolade, but IMO it's not too far off!
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I think everyone could agree it's one of the best value for money lens, a lot of lens for little money, only one id put before it value for money wise is the 50mm 1.8.
 
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