Do I "need" an 85mm lens?

sduk

sduk

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Sammy
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A brief bit amount me first, I am an amateur photographer who mainly photographs cars. I have a Sony A77 and tend to favour my 50mm prime and 10-24mm wide angle for shots and rig work. I also have the 18-135mm kit lens that I use when at car shows and I need the versatility.

I have been reading up on the 85mm prime and am wondering if it would be a worthwhile investment?

http://www.cameracentreuk.com/a-mount/sony-85mm-f28-sam-lens-1403-377-2034.php

What would be the benefit of having it?

Am I correct in thinking it would give great DOF when shooting entire car shots for example?

Or would it be a waste given the lenses I have?

Any help would be appreciated :)

Sammy
 
At 85mm for an entire car shot you would be a fair way away which will lessen the effect of the OOF background unless the car is a long way away from said background.

I had the 85 f2.8 and it's an awesome lens, I also had the 50 aswell. I now have a 35mm and for my style I prefer it.

The benefits of an 85 is that you can be further away from your subject so if doing portraits then the subject will more than likely feel alot more relaxed as the camera isn't being pointed in their face where as at 35mm you're pretty close to get the same shot if that makes sense?

That's my take on it anyway and I'm sure someone will be along soon to say I'm talking utter nonsense. :D

HTH's
David.
 
I think that much of the 85mm love is based on use on 35mm/FF cameras and personally I'd find 85mm a bit long on an APS-C camera and I'd imagine that if you wanted to fit a whole car in the frame you'd need to be a short bus ride away.

DoF wise for the same framing the background will appear larger with a longer focal length and this can give the appearance if shallower DoF but will this be an advantage when shooting cars? I suppose it depends what look you're going for.
 
thanks for the quick reply, yeah I would ideally like to use the lens for shooting cars and occasional shots of people when I am at family occasions.

This is the sort of shot/DOF I would be hoping to achieve...

http://stancewords.stanceworks.netd...loads/2013/11/lb-performance-sema-bmw-e92.jpg

http://stancewords.stanceworks.netd...013/05/lb-performance-bmw-e92-m3-rotiform.jpg

http://stancewords.stanceworks.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/e21nic5.jpg

I realise the first two were taken with a 135mm prime.

Can shots like that be achieved with the 85mm f2.8 lens or am I best sticking with my 50mm f1.8 and moving further back :)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
woof woof said:
I think that much of the 85mm love is based on use on 35mm/FF cameras and personally I'd find 85mm a bit long on an APS-C camera and I'd imagine that if you wanted to fit a whole car in the frame you'd need to be a short bus ride away.

DoF wise for the same framing the background will appear larger with a longer focal length and this can give the appearance if shallower DoF but will this be an advantage when shooting cars? I suppose it depends what look you're going for.
Click to expand...

It's not much of an issue being further away as I tend to do car shoots in open locations. I wouldn't be using at car shows etc.

Yeah the DOF is the main draw for me, just wondering if it would be more achievable with the 85mm or if it would be a waste of money. That is the look I am going for :)

thanks for the help.
 
sduk said:
thanks for the quick reply, yeah I would ideally like to use the lens for shooting cars and occasional shots of people when I am at family occasions.

This is the sort of shot/DOF I would be hoping to achieve...

I realise the first two were taken with a 135mm prime.

Can shots like that be achieved with the 85mm f2.8 lens or am I best sticking with my 50mm f1.8 and moving further back :)
Click to expand...

I notice that these shots were taken with a FF 5D.

If you do the sums it may help you decide what's possible. For example you have a camera which is as far as I know a x1.5 crop so FF with a 135mm at f2.5 for that BMW (?) shot would be 90mm and f1.6 with your camera so you'd get pretty much the same shot with your camera and a 85mm at f1.4... near as damn it anyway. I think... :D
 
sduk said:
thanks for the quick reply, yeah I would ideally like to use the lens for shooting cars and occasional shots of people when I am at family occasions.

This is the sort of shot/DOF I would be hoping to achieve...

lb-performance-sema-bmw-e92.jpg


lb-performance-bmw-e92-m3-rotiform.jpg


e21nic5.jpg


I realise the first two were taken with a 135mm prime.

Can shots like that be achieved with the 85mm f2.8 lens or am I best sticking with my 50mm f1.8 and moving further back :)
Click to expand...
The first two can be achieved with a 50mm/1.8 or 85/1.4/1.8 or even a 70-200mm f2.8 assuming you have the distance.

The third has had lens blur applied I believe.

85/1.4 is a really nice lens, smooths out BG so creamy... but you don't *need* it for the examples above.
 
sduk said:
why though? :)
Click to expand...

Oh you want an explanation :D

If you just use your 50mm and move further back, you will only increase the depth of focus so your subject will not be as separated from the background. The 85mm will make your backgrounds nice and creamy (technical).
 
I personally don't think it will make much difference as what you gain in length (and therefore more APPARENT blur) you lose in aperture. It would be spending for the sake of it IMO.
 
you could try and get a older manual lens thats 85-100mm ish ? or samyang 85 1.4
 
I used to have that lens and it's part of the sony plastic fantastic quadruplets! Very good IQ and it's a full frame lens so if you do ever upgrade.

I would however say look on eBay as mint second hand versions tend to sell for little over £100! At that price you definitely need one!
 
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