Your Experience on Portrait Lens

[calebk]

I guess another issue is mobility. The 85 f/1.2 is a huge hunk of precision optics, and it can be a pain to carry around. If one of your requirements is not being weighed down, then the decision swings in favour of the f/1.8.

Also, the f/1.2 is slow to focus, and it is very hard to get accurate focus shooting at f/1.2; the slightest inaccuracy can lead to the eyes being soft, and the focus being on the nose tip of your subject instead.

 

[jonathan_wong]

As a Canon DSLR user, one enioys a wonderfully great flexibilility of using many alternative prime "Cult" Portait lenses apart from the L lenses. I am primarily a Nikon user but after the D80 I have not considered any more Nikon DSLR, and have picked up a Canon 30D. Nikon DSLR is going in the trend of discarding the old AFD lenses, and not able to take AIS/other lenses. The reason I bought the 30D are for the following lenese and found a new dimension. Yes I dont have any Canon lens. But any of the L primes are great. The 50mm or 85mm are great. You can also consider:

1. Yashica/Contax 50mm F1.4 (C.Y adaptor to Canon)
If you can find the old Contax 50mm prime get it. To this days this is still THE lens to have. Picture quality is hard to beat. Contax (Japan) 50mm F1.4 is still the benchmark lens today.

2. Jupiter-9 85mm f2 (M42 to Canon)
You can pick up this lens for a really cheap price. I bought it new from a Russian in China. It is a wonderful protrait lens purposely designed to have a soften image at F2 and really sharp from F4. A old Contax design. I bought the 30D mainly to use this lens.

3. Voitglander 58mm F1.4 Topcor (Nikon to Canon)
Still needs adaptor ring. But this lens is a superb lens for about $500++. I sold my Nikkor 50mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.4 for this lens.

4. Tamron 90mm F2.8 (you can get a Canon mount)
This is a macro lense but I had many good results shooting people.

5. Nikkor 105mm F2.5 (Nikon to Canon mount)
This is a fantastic and cheap Nikon lens but cannot be used on Nikon DSLR! (????) (apart fro D200 etc). Ridiculous right? Picture quality is super.
But on DSLR becomes a 150mm.

If you get a copy of Camera World (China) May issue, there is an article of Canon DSLR using the Leica Leitz 90mm F2.8. A picture of a Chinese Model wearing a Russian Red army jacket standing in a snowy background. Fantastic picture! If I have the money, the Leitz 90mm will be nice to have.

 

[Snoweagle]

OT a bit, but for poisoning purposes, here's how a 85L would look like on a 1Ds III. Super big lens :bigeyes:

Must be taken from CP Peninsula's glass display. ;p

 

[vincentong]

Hmm, after looking at the experiences here... and after much considerations, I'll probably go ahead and buy the 85mm f/1.8. Not too sure about the 50mm f/1.4. Will probably get it at a later stage.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience here..

BTW, Anyone knows if there's flare problem with these 2 lenses? Not too sure if I need to get a lens hood to go along with.. :dunno:

 

[charlesleong]

personally, i like using lens hood - gives that extra protection for the front element (or filter) just in case someone bumps you while the camera is hanging by your side. Protects from fingerprints also.

You may be able to 'bundle' the hood with the lens purchase and save some money, but that depends on your shooting preferences with hoods.

 

[xunjas]

Must be taken from CP Peninsula's glass display. ;p

2nd that~~ ;p

 

[Snoweagle]

2nd that~~ ;p

Hey the 5D with the 50 f/1.2. That'll be my setup from next mth when i do my portrait shoots! ;p

 

[xunjas]

Hey the 5D with the 50 f/1.2. That'll be my setup from next mth when i do my portrait shoots! ;p

wow.. finally FF, tt's it for u liao~~

 

[tunster]

Hm...don't know that only big aperture lens = portrait lens

I've been shooting without one. Only used 10-22, 24-70 2.8 + 18-200 for portraits. Yet to try fisheyes (no money to get). Primes are just not my cup of tea. Too restrictive in composition.

 

[Snoweagle]

wow.. finally FF, tt's it for u liao~~

:bsmilie: 1 mth to go!!

 

[Snoweagle]

Hm...don't know that only big aperture lens = portrait lens

I've been shooting without one. Only used 10-22, 24-70 2.8 + 18-200 for portraits. Yet to try fisheyes (no money to get). Primes are just not my cup of tea. Too restrictive in composition.

Used to use my 17-40 before getting my 50mm. On wide end there's some distortion so not that gd for portraits unless doing environmental portraits.

 

[xunjas]

Used to use my 17-40 before getting my 50mm. On wide end there's some distortion so not that gd for portraits unless doing environmental portraits.

yup, need to do some correction with software for the distortion..

 

[Snoweagle]

yup, need to do some correction with software for the distortion..

So now always using my 50mm for my model shoots (sometimes 70-200) and no more correction needed. :bsmilie:

 

[xunjas]

17-40mm became yr landscape lens~~

 

[Snoweagle]

17-40mm became yr landscape lens~~

Primarily landscapes and street shoots.

 

[xunjas]

Primarily landscapes and street shoots.

i using this lens nowadays for candid and fun shots..

 

[Snoweagle]

i using this lens nowadays for candid and fun shots..

I rarely take candids. Even so, i'd use my 70-200.

 

[nakashimamika]

My vote still goes to the 85L. Excellent color, excellent contrast, excellent sharpness. Amazing piece of glass. Only prob is the AF which can proved a tad slower than the 85 f/1.8. But u are moving 1kg of elements here, so no complains!