85mmF1.2 or 135mmF2 for portraiture

[adamdewilde]

wat sort of advise is that.. u should say buy both!!! :bsmilie:

Can, but then I would get into trouble by his wife, or girlfriend..

Singapore is to small a place,

 

[Danntbt]

Fell in love with the 85L after trying it out the other day....

...despite its lethargic AF, it rocks...as well as weight like a rock...just had to get it, settled on a 2nd hand copy today(UT code)...the above image was taken with a 16 year old lens (UF code)...at Cam.X, did not have time to try out much yet today, but looks like it gonna be on my Cam body for a long time.

I do not earn from my photography except occcasionally...but I do not shoot for the sake of shooting, to me results is as important as the process of taking the shot, after all the picture is the end product of photography, unless one see photography as a social activity, where the main intention is the outing and socializing. In fact it works better sometimes to journey in solitude rather than in a group depending on how you approach your subjects.

 

[John Tan]

Hi, can anyone who have experienced with these 2 lenses give a feedback and comment on them? Contemplating between these 2, use for portraiture and occasional weddings.

Which would you recommend?

Many thanks.

Use 85mm L for both portrait and wedding....if 50L have no focus issue, I rather use 50L...135L is way too tele for 1.3 and 1.6 cam, it a bit tight for wedding when use on FF as there is a min focus distance...

 

[John Tan]

Thanks for all your comments, very informatic indeed. But for much lesser cost for the 85F1.8, will the quality suffer much? I mean, price gap is hugh, but justifiable improvement? I really don't know.

if the 85mm f1.8 can produce similar shot like the one I post below, then it better for u to go ahead...

 

[Halfmoon]

Anyone with sample shots of 85mm 1.8 to compare???

 

[adamdewilde]

Sorry, I searched all over, couldn't find any shots with the 85 @ 1.8

Closest I came was 50 @ f/2
Then it was the 85 @ f/11 LOL

For portraits that is...

Adam

 

[Halfmoon]

Sorry, I searched all over, couldn't find any shots with the 85 @ 1.8

Closest I came was 50 @ f/2
Then it was the 85 @ f/11 LOL

For portraits that is...

Adam

Thanks bro... I think we should compare the 85L with 85 1.8 side by side and see the value and is it worth......... If we can get 2 similar shots/ subject, it will be the most ideal!!

 

[The Oracle]

Go for 85 f1.2 if financially rich enough. Never regret it. However, 85mm f1.8 is not too bad but the sharpness at wide open is not as good as the f1.2 as it seem softer.

 

[Will03]

i have used both lenses as well..

if u have the cash... then 85 1.2 is defintiely the lens to go for.. (esp for weddings and portraits)
in terms of color reproduction and of cos the v shallow DOF..
these were all shot wif a 85 http://www.pbase.com/will03/ana
however.. i am sure most users will agree that the 85 1.2 though is the fav lens.. it may not be the easiest lens to shoot wide open...

as for the 135.. its defitnitely a great lens, and I used it alot when I travel..this was shot with the 135 http://www.pbase.com/will03/image/75292541

i guess there are 2 things to consider.. when deciding betw these 2 lenses..

first.. do u need the extra stop of the 85 ? if u will onli be shooting at f2 with the 85, then the 2nd thing to consider is the distance between you and the subject..
personally, i find that 135 is a bit too far for weddings.. unless you are on a FF.

it will be best if you can borrow the lenses and test it out.. to see which one serves your needs more...

cheers

 

[louisgce]

Personally, I feel the price of the 85L is overkill.

If I really have that much money to spend, I rather going to get the 28 f1.8 + 50mm f1.4 + 85mm f1.8 + 135mm f2.0L!!! This 4 add together not even the price of a 85mm 1.2L. 4 againts 1, I think it is a lot fun playing with 4 lenses......

Bokeh??? Please lah.... only minor minor different only mah. And if you accidently drop the 85L..... SIAO!!!

I will get the 85mm L if I straight toto this thursday......

 

[Deadpoet]

Personally, I feel the price of the 85L is overkill.

If I really have that much money to spend, I rather going to get the 28 f1.8 + 50mm f1.4 + 85mm f1.8 + 135mm f2.0L!!! This 4 add together not even the price of a 85mm 1.2L. 4 againts 1, I think it is a lot fun playing with 4 lenses......

Bokeh??? Please lah.... only minor minor different only mah. And if you accidently drop the 85L..... SIAO!!!

I will get the 85mm L if I straight toto this thursday......

there we go again ....

 

[louisgce]

there we go again ....

Of course I'm not rich and not a professional photographer.
Do you mean you buy a LENS just for doing "only" portrait???:sweat: :sweat:
are you sure or not??

 

[Deadpoet]

Of course I'm not rich and not a professional photographer.
Do you mean you buy a LENS just for doing "only" portrait???:sweat: :sweat:
are you sure or not??

Actually, I do.

But then, 95% of my non-travel photos is portraits. 75-80% of the time when I am shooting portraits, I use the 85 1.2L. For per frame shot, this is the cheapest lens I own.

Btw, I am not a professional photographer. After shooting nearly 20 years, I know what I like to shoot, and I get the equipment that brings me the kind of images I want to shoot.

Elementary.

If you are still unsure of your direction, a specialised lens is definately not a good idea, and really, the lenses you listed are really not best suited either. If we were to stay with L lenses and FF, I would say get 24-70 2.8 and the 70-200 4.0, gives you most flexibilities, and go forth to develop your likes and style.

Btw, when EOS first came out, I got the 28-70 and 80-200 and used them for nearly 12 years before I bought another lens. That is when I decided to go back to prime, as I did when I shot with the FD system

You just need to get the equipment that delivers what you want. What other people say is irrevelent, including me. But then, I jsut have to put my 2 cents in.

 

[louisgce]

For per frame shot, this is the cheapest lens I own.

:bigeyes: :bigeyes:
:sweat: :sweat:
Doesn't quite get what you mean brother....

 

[Deadpoet]

:bigeyes: :bigeyes:
:sweat: :sweat:
Doesn't quite get what you mean brother....

I paid about US$1600 for the 85 1.2L. Over the last 3 years, I must have shot in excess of 40K frames, of which approx 30K frames was with the 85 1.2L. That amounts to approx US$0.053 per shot.

My second most used lens today is the 50 1.4 which cost me US$350. I used it about 10%of the time, which equates to about US$0.075 a shot.

You get the drift?

 

[Danntbt]

I totally agree with Deadpoet, you get what gives you what you want from the equipments...its not a matter of earning from the equipments or not, but 85L definitely not a lens you would go out and buy before knowing what you want with it. I find it to be a fantastic tool for non-human subjets too. I am looking at it from an artist point of view as I teach Art for a living, and I find the ability of the lens to isolate subject matter just simply fantastic. At the end of the day, who are we to call another person crazy for being willing to spend on something they could or are willing to pay for.....so 135L or 85L? I am saving up for the 135L but meanwhile the 85LMKI is a dream to use for me...perhaps a MkII when I could afford that too.

 

[Halfmoon]

I paid about US$1600 for the 85 1.2L. Over the last 3 years, I must have shot in excess of 40K frames, of which approx 30K frames was with the 85 1.2L. That amounts to approx US$0.053 per shot.

My second most used lens today is the 50 1.4L, which cost me US$350. I used it about 10%of the time, which equates to about US$0.075 a shot.

You get the drift?

Sorry, is there a 50 1.4 L??? It make perfect worthwhile shots for you.....

Lens can invest, I feel, but only if you know what you want and buy what you need, and not what others tell you to buy. For me, I am not so keen on investing in digital body yet, and now, price is still high for good bodies.....

I can understand for lens comparison, and things like this at times, but a good/ BEST lens sometime might not be what you need most.... or suits you..... asking for feedback is a good way to know the lesns...


So basically, depend on your budget, interest and how much you willing to pay....

 

[spartacus.ret]

Bokeh??? Please lah.... only minor minor different only mah.

then you must have seen rather bad examples! the best ones i've seen are

 

[BarryHii]

For comparison between 85L f/1.2 II vs 85mm f/1.8 go here:
http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/85mm/index.htm

To sum it up, with 85L f/1.2 you will get the f/1.2, is it worth 5 times the 85mm f/1.8, only you can decide.

Here's a sample photo taken by 85mm f/1.8, in fact this was the first casual test shot taken with this lens when it arrived, the lighting was far from perfect and I didn't do any brightness correction and use the standard +3 sharpening in my Canon 30D. As you can see, at f/1.8, it's already very difficult to get the whole face in focus due to the shallow depth of field.
Overall, I was quite pleased with this lens and think that f/1.8 is all I need.

Also, look at all these shots taken with 85mm f/1.8 and ask if you need more than that:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bokeh_/discuss/72157594175065903/

Regards
barry

 

[Deadpoet]

I think we have OT enough on the merits and justification for the 85 1.2L. For those people who do not believe the price of the lens is worth it, good for you. That is all I have to say.