have you used 85mm f/1.2L mk2 and/or 85mm f/1.8 at weddings?

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englandshottest2

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Well after having done a large amount of online research into reading up on reviews, seeing results etc of both Canon's 85mm f/1.2L mk2 and the budget yet still good 85mm f/1.8 lenses, i still am yet to find the ultimate reviews for them which to me would be how they perform at weddings.
If anybody can please give me feedback on what your experience was like using either of them at a wedding. And if you used the 1.8 and rate it, then advise what you were comparing it against.
Reason being is I plan on getting either the 1.2L mk2, or the 1.8 along with the 24-70 as that would still be a hair less in price for the two, however i do like primes, and i already have the 35mm 1.4L and 70-200 2.8L IS which makes up my permanent wedding kit and i just hire the 24-70 which i do like.
(I briefly owned the original mk1 85mm and quickly sold it for the 35mm 1.4 as i found it very slow as reported)
Thanks for advice!
 
The 1.8 has v.fast AF, is highly resistant to flare and optically pretty much perfect from f2. And pretty cheap too. Obviously there is a big difference between f1.8 and f1.2 - but as you say, you could get the 24-70 2.8 with the saving :)
 
I too have the same dilemma.I was going to buy the 85mm f/1.2,but have now decided to buy the 5D MARK II instead, and get the 85mm f/1.8.I already had the 24-70mm f/2.8 L so i'm really looking forward to seeing what they are like on a full frame body.

If i were you i'd buy the 85mm f/1.8 and put that spare cash towards to the 24-70mm f/2.8 L.
 
I've used the 85mm 1.2L for a wedding where I used it in the evening for available light canded shots. That was using a 1.6X crop body, and put simply it enables hand held available light shots in just about any light. If I was doing weddings regularly these days, then the lens would very high on my list of desirable kit, partucularly on a full frame body for the wider FOV.

It's a very heavy lens and whilst it's appreciably faster than the MK1 version, you still wouldn't call it fast - the AF motor is rotating some heavy bits of glass. It really has to be the ultimate portrait lens though - very flattering used wide open with it's razor thin DOF, but becoming bitingly sharp as you stop down and DOF increases.

It's an impressive lens in every way from the way it looks to the way it performs - it can make any busy background dissolve into fantastic bokeh.

The 85mm 1.8 is lighter, faster,cheaper, and at least 90% as good so you really have to want or need the 1.2L, but out of all Canon's L glass, this is the one which impresses the arse of me in just about every way....

Some examples...

2400244901_57c514bbbf_o.jpg


2400245043_894789e95b_o.jpg


3318151491_087a422fa4_o.jpg


3508847890_1371a6846c_o.jpg


The beast itself...

3315000020_80c1ddd9d4_o.jpg
 
Yep, I absolutely love the 85mm f1.8 for shooting Bridal Prep. You can control the background and get sharp shots in THE most demanding situations.

I've got 35mm 50mm 85mm and 100mm primes and I would not leave home without them. Although I'm more than happy to shoot on zooms, when the chips are down the primes will get the job done. :)
 
CT, were these all shot at f1.2
 
englandshottest2 said:
Reason being is I plan on getting either the 1.2L mk2, or the 1.8 along with the 24-70 as that would still be a hair less in price for the two, however i do like primes, and i already have the 35mm 1.4L and 70-200 2.8L IS which makes up my permanent wedding kit and i just hire the 24-70 which i do like.
Click to expand...

I have exactly the opposite problem I have the 24-70 and want the 85 1.2 but I could get the 70-200 2.8 IS, another lens I want/need, and the 85 1.8 for the same price!:bang:
 
onform said:
CT, were these all shot at f1.2
Click to expand...

Erm. The first 2 definitely were. The 3rd one was too I think, while the last one might have been stopped down a little - in fact I think it was, but I can't remeber how much by.
 
onform said:
I have exactly the opposite problem I have the 24-70 and want the 85 1.2 but I could get the 70-200 2.8 IS, another lens I want/need, and the 85 1.8 for the same price!:bang:
Click to expand...

Just buy an 85L between you and join forces :lol:
 
wow some good feedback here thanks. I am not the biggest fan of that much bokeh to be totally honest and find i get tired of it after a while. However its supposed to be the sharpest lens.
That makes sense on it being slow as its so very heavy.
If you find the 1.8 is fast and focuses well, which i found my other only USM did (first lens), then it would appear its the clear choice. I use my 35mm 1.4L for very low light shots and of course my 5D copes well with bumping up the ISO. I havent quite got the funds for a 5D mk2 yet and think its better and more important to have a top notch set of lenses. I plan to hire the 5D mk2 for my next big wedding and get a hands on feel for it.

Any more feedback from those who have used the 85mm 1.8 at weddings please post!
 
AAARRRHHHH if only canon made a 85mm f1.4 lens like the 50mm instead of 1.8! I would quite happily pay 500-600 for such a lens..
 
I've used an 85mm f1.8 at weddings, it's very good. Not too heavy and very fast focussing, good build quality but not L build or weight.
 
thanks for replies all. I have now decided to take the plunge and go with buying an 85mm f1.2L mk2, after nearly placing an order for the other two!
can't wait to get it, as I only have used the mark 1 briefly.
 
^^^ well, either option were to be about the same in the end :p
 
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