85mm prime portrait showcase

GR3Z

GR3Z

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Graeme
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Im in the market for a new lens as I've just upgraded to full frame i am considering the sigma 85mm prime and wondered if you'd like to share your portraits using this lens as im sick of trawling through flickr.
on my shortlist are the sigma 85mm f1.4 and canon 85mmf1.2l. Thanks in advance.
 
I have the 85 f/1.8 which I used loads at weddings and love it. I would not say no to the sigma or L so good luck trying to decide. That's the worst part about lens shopping for me.
 
Pretty much every one of my portrait photos are taken with the 85mm it's my favourite lens. I currently use the sigma 85mm 1.4 but I used to use the Nikon 1.4. Take a browse through my galleries in my website as they are pretty much all shot with these two lenses.
 
jamesoliverstone said:
Pretty much every one of my portrait photos are taken with the 85mm it's my favourite lens. I currently use the sigma 85mm 1.4 but I used to use the Nikon 1.4. Take a browse through my galleries in my website as they are pretty much all shot with these two lenses.
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Wow some fantastic portraits you have there, very inspiring, I'm definitely swaying more and more to the sigma, have you had any AF accuracy issues?
 
Hi Graeme,

I was sceptical about the Sigma at first only because I had a sigma lens previously that was poor but the 85 1.4 was great value. I've since moved to the 85L just because I wanted one in the first place. My honest opinion is that I cant really tell much difference they are both tack sharp and give you that extra something that only a decent prime can. Obviously the auto focus is quicker with the sigma but I don't use it for fast moving objects so not a problem for me.

I wouldn't give it too much further thought its cracking value for money.
 
Livin The Dream said:
Hi Graeme,

I was sceptical about the Sigma at first only because I had a sigma lens previously that was poor but the 85 1.4 was great value. I've since moved to the 85L just because I wanted one in the first place. My honest opinion is that I cant really tell much difference they are both tack sharp and give you that extra something that only a decent prime can. Obviously the auto focus is quicker with the sigma but I don't use it for fast moving objects so not a problem for me.

I wouldn't give it too much further thought its cracking value for money.
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I been struggling to decide on what to go for, I fancied the 24-70 II, but because of the expense It's a hard one, I've just borrowed a 24-105 of a friend and the image quality and versatility has impressed me, so I'm thinking I could get the sigma85 & 24-105
For the cost of the mkii 24-70
 
I think I'm going to plump for an 85mm prime & I was keen on the Sigma, mainly because I was previously considering the 50/1.4 from them.

Since though, having read a lot of reviews, it appears that the Canon 85/1.8 is a cracker & very sharp wide open. It's also a bargain at £300.

Have you looked at it, Graeme?
 
The 85L is lovely, but looking at the best bang for buck the Sigma and Canon 1.8 would be the two I'd be mulling over with probably the Sigma winning.
 
Go for the canon 85mm F1.8, its the hidden gem of the canon range
 
definitely go for the 85 1.8. It is sharper than the 1.2 in part of the range, and the parts where it's softer absolutely do not justify the extra £1300 the 1.2 costs.

The 1.8 is one of the best lenses Canon make, it deserves an L badge.
 
The thing with the Canon 85mm f1.8 is the number/shape of the aperture blades leads to angular bokeh at some apertures. If that's what you're after then it's ok but bokeh is important with a lens like this and although I do have legacy lenses that give angular bokeh with the 85mm I wanted smooth and therefore went with the Sigma f1.4 and I have to say that it's an amazingly good lens and possibly the best lens I've ever owned. It's better than their 50mm f1.4 which I also own.

It's well worth a look IMVHO.
 
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London Headshots said:
definitely go for the 85 1.8. It is sharper than the 1.2 in part of the range, and the parts where it's softer absolutely do not justify the extra £1300 the 1.2 costs.

The 1.8 is one of the best lenses Canon make, it deserves an L badge.
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+1

for £250 it is an absolute steal. Mine is super reliable and delivers real gems every time it is on the camera.
 
Got my Canon 85mm 1.8 delivered today, don't know what took me so long to get it.
 
You will love it. All my favourite pics have come from that lens. Had to sell it though to claw some money back, hoping maybe to have one again.
 
I'm a Nikon shooter so I can't comment on the relative merits of the Canon lenses, but my 85mm f/1.8 is definitely my favourite lens for portraits by some margin.
 
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