Should I change my 50mm 1.8 to 85mm 1.8?

J

joescrivens

Suspended / Banned
Messages
15,052
Name
Joe
Edit My Images
Yes
Ok I have the plastic nifty fifty and it's great, no complaints. Only thing is I recently bought a sigma 30mm 1.4 which I love. I also have a 17-50 2.8 tamron.

Now I'm finding the 30mm and the 50mm to be so close that I'm wondering if I would be better off with an 85mm 1.8 instead of the 50mm. Especially since I can get the 50mm focal range with my zoom, although not at 1.8. I've done some tests and the 50mm prime is sharper than the zoom for sure, but not so much that it's worth having both I think.

I also have the 70-300 IS, but the min aperture is 4 so not great for portraits.

I'm using all these on a 1.6 crop (7d) so I know that these lengths are longer for me. To be honest it's all about the 30 and the 50 being too close but having a 30 and an 85 prime seems to make more sense with the standard zoom covering the ranges inbetween. I hear the 85mm 1.8 is a great lens and I expect the image quality to be better than the 50mm.

Does anyone think I'm making an error?
 
yeah I could do, but I was thinking why have a lens if I'm not going to use it, in which case I would sell the 50mm to put towards the 85.

What I don't want to happen is the other way round. I get the 85 and then still use the 50 since the loss on the 85 would be considerably higher. It's a more costly mistake I suppose
 
I replaced a 50mm with an 85mm F1.8.
My main reason was actually AF. On my 5D, the 50mm was more than a little hit and miss. In my opinion the differences (excluding the obvious focal length) are:
- My 50mm was not really spot on until stopped down to F2.5. My 85mm is spot on from F2.0 and only slightly worse wide open. Being fair, I really rate the optics in the 50mm, so unless you're working close to wide open, I don't think you'll see much in it.
- The AF on the 85mm really is awesome fast, quiet and accurate.
- The 85mm is a good deal heavier in % terms against the 50mm, but that's mainly because it seems to be made of real plastic, not something from Kelloggs.
 
I have the 35mm f2, the 50mm f1.8, and the 85mm f1.8 and I never use the 50mm - in my opinion, there's nothing sufficiently distinct about the focal length to warrant using it over the superior IQ and bokeh of the 85mm (which is superb).

Plus it's noisy as hell, and given that it's been knocked once or twice, I'm just not confident enough about the build quality to use it. Considering you've got the Tamron - easily as good as the 50 in my book - I wouldn't think twice, the 85mm is a beautiful lens.
 
thanks for the replies.

Breaker are you using it on a crop or full frame?
 
The 50 1.8 on my 50D makes a nice compact unit, my similar ranged zoom creates a much bigger camera. I also find the discipline of having a 50mm lens enjoyable.
Personally I'd keep it if I didnt need the funds it would generate. (But I am a horder!!)

Matt
 
I've just picked up an 85mm 1.8 for my 5DII, it is a fantastic lens. I have the 50mm 1.8 as well but will probably be selling it shortly. Go for it, you won't regret it.
 
daugirdas said:
After getting 85mm you might not want to use 50mm f/1.8 ever again... The difference is that obvious. 35mm would be another great prime, if there was a good affordable version.
Click to expand...

well I have the sigma 30mm prime and that is awesome
 
joescrivens said:
thanks for the replies.

Breaker are you using it on a crop or full frame?
Click to expand...

FF - but I'd pretty much stopped using the 50 while I was still on a 20D crop.

It was a smashing lens for the money, and I took some beautiful shots, but it doesn't compare. Honestly, it introduced me to how pictures can look when you've got the right glass - I remember being blown away when I switched for whatever crappy telephoto I'd picked up with my first DSLR to the 50 - and that's probably why I've never sold it. However, when I stand it next to the 35 or the 85, there's no competition.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top