Canon 50mm or 85mm for weddings/portraits

amtaylor

amtaylor

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Andy
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I currently use a 50D/30D for weddings and portraits, mainly weddings and have a 24-105 f4 is L for the main lens and then a 12-24 for some creative stuff but I really could do with a fast prime for the indoor shots particularly for during ceremonies. The issue is, the 85mm seems the better lens but I'm still going to have to keep shutter speed at least 1/125 to handhold but the 50mm isn't without it's issues as the af isn't amazing but it would seemingly provide me with more usability especially on a crop sensor. Of course the 85mm would be gorgeous for the couple shots and other uses. I don't really want to buy both at least not at this juncture. I also don't want to go down the road of the sigma 50mm 1.4 with the abundant focus issues. The 85 also seems harder to get hold of, particularly second hand. I had perhaps considered the 85mm and then the 20mm 2.8 but then I would end up doing lots of lens swaps. Sorry for the rambling but I just don't know what to get.
Help!!!!
 
mastertrinity said:
buy both and sell the one you dont use often?
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I would but I can only afford one at the moment. I know they aint much but not got much photography work on at the mo and I don't have the disposable income to justify to the missus for both but can get away with one. In a couple of months I could get the other but I have a (free) wedding I'm doing for a friend next month and would like to have one to use for it but which is the question
 
fleaz said:
Consider upgrading to the 24-70 f2.8?
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Well I was in 2 minds when I got the 24-105 but I really love the extra reach and the IS is very useful. And I've had a look at the comparison and although it is an amazing lens the primes did have the edge and the extra light would be useful too
 
Which 85mm are you looking at? The 1.8?
 
fleaz said:
Which focal length do you prefer?
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Errrm, I like both. I guess though I can get lovely portrait shots with the 24-105 and my 70-200 even though they are f4, most portraits light isn't an issue. Obviously depth of field isn't the same but I can go the long end and stand back further when outside so perhaps it really is only the indoors that is an issue and then i suppose the 50 wins out. I just wish the canon 50 was a bit better or the sigma reliable enough to get a used one or a bit cheaper.
 
on a crop the 50mm will give approx 80mm
the 85 will be closer to 135mm and IMO that is a tad to much for portraiture unless you doing mostly headshots.

So I would say, go with the 50mm for a more head n shoulders, maybe 2 people portraits or go with the 85 for a more close up kinda headshot portrait.

If it was me I may be tempted to grab a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 for the same money.
 
Marac said:
on a crop the 50mm will give approx 80mm
the 85 will be closer to 135mm and IMO that is a tad to much for portraiture unless you doing mostly headshots.

So I would say, go with the 50mm for a more head n shoulders, maybe 2 people portraits or go with the 85 for a more close up kinda headshot portrait.

If it was me I may be tempted to grab a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 for the same money.
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Again good points, although most of my portraiture is outdoors so not a huge issue but I am starting to favour the 50mm. I don't really fancy another zoom that covers a range i already have and 2.8 isn't really that much more useable than f4 for the situations I'm in but a 1.4 or 1.8 will be.
 
Hi Andy, it looks as though you are using very similar gear to what I am using (Check out my camera bag). I usually use my 24-105 with the flash, and the 70-200 outdoors. I only have the 85mm 1.8 at the moment, I haven't needed any wider for my style of shooting (I have many examples of the type of portraits I shoot in my gallery, which is candid, head and shoulders).

Have you considered the Canon 28mm f/1.8? It's about 45mm on a 1.6 crop. So much closer to the full frame equivelent of 50mm than the 20mm f/2.8, and a stop faster. I have read that the 20mm f/2.8 has very strong vignetting wide open.
 
R.Y.K. LEE said:
Hi Andy, it looks as though you are using very similar gear to what I am using (Check out my camera bag). I usually use my 24-105 with the flash, and the 70-200 outdoors. I only have the 85mm 1.8 at the moment, I haven't needed any wider for my style of shooting (I have many examples of the type of portraits I shoot in my gallery, which is candid, head and shoulders).

Have you considered the Canon 28mm f/1.8? It's about 45mm on a 1.6 crop. So much closer to the full frame equivelent of 50mm than the 20mm f/2.8, and a stop faster. I have read that the 20mm f/2.8 has very strong vignetting wide open.
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I looked at the 28 1.8 but it seemed quite poor wide open from the reviews and that would be what I would mainly be getting it for. However as I was considering the 20 2.8 perhaps at 2.8 the 28 would be decent
 
85mm is the best "cheap" canon prime, better than some L zooms. Perhaps get a 5D to use with it as it would give a different perspective.

I get 2 different lenses out of it on 40 and 1Ds.
 
daugirdas said:
85mm is the best "cheap" canon prime, better than some L zooms. Perhaps get a 5D to use with it as it would give a different perspective.

I get 2 different lenses out of it on 40 and 1Ds.
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Good idea, it would also make my 24-105 and 70-200 different too but it's funds and I'm not sure I would prefer the 5d mk i to a 50d realistically as it's a bit slow now but I assume the noise handling would still be better due to the sensor resolution. I suppose 5d's aren't that much really. I will think about about it. I would like to know what experience people have had that have owned both 5d mki and 50d
 
daugirdas said:
85mm is the best "cheap" canon prime, better than some L zooms. Perhaps get a 5D to use with it as it would give a different perspective.

I get 2 different lenses out of it on 40 and 1Ds.
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Well said :) The size, weight, performance and price of the 85mm 1.8 is a great reason to own it.
 
If the 50 was as good as the 85 it would be easy but sadly buying lenses is all about compromise. Usually financial. Hmmmmf
 
I have owned the 28mm 1.8 before and I currently have the 85mm 1.8. I would say the build quality of these 2 lenses are about the same. I have not owned the 50mm 1.4. But you're probably concerned about the same things I was concerned about when I thought of buying it not long ago. The "USM" is not a true USM, feels less well built as the 85mm 1.8, fragile, bad focus ring etc etc. It's a long list. But I think one day I might just walk in to a store and pick one up and actually see for myself what it's like. Who knows, I might actually like it :)
 
R.Y.K. LEE said:
I have owned the 28mm 1.8 before and I currently have the 85mm 1.8. I would say the build quality of these 2 lenses are about the same. I have not owned the 50mm 1.4. But you're probably concerned about the same things I was concerned about when I thought of buying it not long ago. The "USM" is not a true USM, feels less well built as the 85mm 1.8, fragile, bad focus ring etc etc. It's a long list. But I think one day I might just walk in to a store and pick one up and actually see for myself what it's like. Who knows, I might actually like it :)
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What about the image quality though. How does the 28mm rack up?
 
Not as good as the 85mm, but nothing that I would consider unacceptable. It depends on where you draw the line really. The shots I got with it were all useable, sharp enough for my needs, and it didn't stress me out trying to correct in PP. But being that cost is in the mix here, I guess the best way to decide is to run your files through something like Exposure Plot and see which focal length you use the most. Then buy that lens first.

The 50mm and the 85mm are around the same price, about £280-£300. The 20mm and 28mm are more expensive, around the £350-£400 mark. The bonus of getting the 28, 50, and 85 set up is that they all have the same filter thread size (58mm). I use rubber 3 stage hoods on all my lenses, so same size thread means I buy 1 hood instead of 3. The 28mm 2.8 is 72mm thread.

Google Bruce Snell. He uses this exact set up to shoot weddings on a 5D mkI.
 
I don't do weddings or anything but I do as an amateur shoot indoor portraits in low light and use a 50mm 1.8 and the 85 1.8.
When I bought my 500D I did a fair bit of research and settled on those two and the body rather than buy a kit with a lens that would most likely spend its life in the bag.

From just over 2 metres the 50mm covers torso and head, the 85mm head and shoulders thats on a 500D.

I love the 85, it feels good in the hand, is nice and sharp, smooth/fast focus and I love the full time manual focus.

Why not see if a mate close by has one you can try out at the distances you shoot at inside?
 
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I'm surprised noone has suggested the 50mm 1.4. This will give the same FoV and DoF, roughly, as the 85mm on a 5D but with a faster shutter speed.
 
pearce_jj said:
I'm surprised noone has suggested the 50mm 1.4. This will give the same FoV and DoF, roughly, as the 85mm on a 5D but with a faster shutter speed.
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Not being funny but much of the discussion has been about the 50mm 1.4. But thanks for the suggestion all the same. It is still in the running.
 
amtaylor said:
Good idea, it would also make my 24-105 and 70-200 different too but it's funds and I'm not sure I would prefer the 5d mk i to a 50d realistically as it's a bit slow now but I assume the noise handling would still be better due to the sensor resolution. I suppose 5d's aren't that much really. I will think about about it. I would like to know what experience people have had that have owned both 5d mki and 50d
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I upgraded from the 40D to a 5DMKI. The full frame experience that the 5D offers is in a league of its own. The downsides in comparison to the 50D is that it has a relatively slower FPS and a smaller LCD.

I would get a 50 1.8, they go for 65ish on the forum 2nd hand. Its not as bad as people think. I agree the pointy bokeh isn't ideal but in most cases it's hardly noticeable.
 
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Sorry my mistake, I can certainly add a vote for the 5D though
 
On a crop body, 50mm
 
Another good idea will be that being you already have the 24-105 zoom to hand, just use it for a day, set on a fixed zoom range and see how you go with it. Like today, set it to 50mm range and shoot only at 50mm and see how it feels. Then tomorrow, set it to 85mm all day and shoot only at 85 and see how you feel.
 
R.Y.K. LEE said:
Another good idea will be that being you already have the 24-105 zoom to hand, just use it for a day, set on a fixed zoom range and see how you go with it. Like today, set it to 50mm range and shoot only at 50mm and see how it feels. Then tomorrow, set it to 85mm all day and shoot only at 85 and see how you feel.
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I like that idea. I will try that
 
R.Y.K. LEE said:
Another good idea will be that being you already have the 24-105 zoom to hand, just use it for a day, set on a fixed zoom range and see how you go with it. Like today, set it to 50mm range and shoot only at 50mm and see how it feels. Then tomorrow, set it to 85mm all day and shoot only at 85 and see how you feel.
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The look of the images at f/4 and 1.8 is very different though. One has to see the full picture I think.
 
daugirdas said:
The look of the images at f/4 and 1.8 is very different though. One has to see the full picture I think.
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I think the suggestion was to see how I faired with the focal length but yes I would have to factor that difference in too of course
 
daugirdas said:
The look of the images at f/4 and 1.8 is very different though. One has to see the full picture I think.
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Obviously :D But I wasn't suggesting that the 24-105 can be used to substitute the 2 lenses in question. The OP can't decide which focal length to purchase, this little test will at least give him an idea of how much room he's got to work with at 50mm and 85mm on a 1.6 crop. If you were unsure, wouldn't you like to check first before laying down cash to find you made the wrong choice? :)
 
daugirdas said:
The look of the images at f/4 and 1.8 is very different though. One has to see the full picture I think.
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But the differences between 50 and f1.4 and f4 and 85 f1.8 and f4 are kind of similar. I do know what effect it will have on the depth of field and also that the bokeh is better on the 85mm but I am looking at focal lenght usability as R.Y.K. LEE pointed out
 
Another lens to consider is the Canon 35mm f2. Cheaper than the 85mm and 50 f1.4.
 
CSB said:
Another lens to consider is the Canon 35mm f2. Cheaper than the 85mm and 50 f1.4.
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I would consider this but it's a bit noisy autofocusing so I'm not sure if it would be OK for shooting the wedding ceremony. Might be a bit distracting
 
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