Canon 85mm f1.8 - Your opinions please!

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Matt.

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I am looking at purchasing this soon and am after opinions on it. I rarely take anything other than travel photos now, and my 17-40L is permanently attached to my 40d. I'd like something longer for occasions where needed, and i'd like to try out a prime. I'm only interested in adding quality equipment to my kit list, and anything added needs to give really good image quality and be built really well. I use and abuse my kit, so the built well aspect is quite significant!

Have any of you got an 85mm 1.8, and what do you think of it?
 
I think it is a great lens, nice and compact and sharp, haven't used mine that much but every time I do, I think I should use it more! :thumbs:
 
Cracking lens, love it and wouldn't be without it, great bokeh between F2.8 and F1.8
 
The 50mm is highly rated for it quality at a low cost but the 85/1.8 is better as it has better build quality and IQ.
You wont be dissapointed, focuses faster than the 1.4 and at the price cant be beaten.
 
I use mine a lot, its a great lens about as sharp as my 24-70L and I have covered an entire days second shooting on just the 85 before
 
I really like it. It feels like it's built like a tank and has a nice weight to it. The results that you get are impressive. I've always thought that the quality was what one might expect from a L lens.
 
If you are going to try a prime, this is the one to get IMO. I sold my first one but regretted it afterwards so I bought another, its my favorite lens for portraits.
 
I'd ditch the 17-40mm f4 and buy a quality 17-50mm f2.8 for three reasons, IQ, Aperture and range. I'd then go for the Siggy 50mm f1.4 for two reasons, build quality and build quality. Oh yeah, and then I'd buy the 85mm.
 
Matt photos on the website now so you can the quality.
 
woof woof said:
I'd ditch the 17-40mm f4 and buy a quality 17-50mm f2.8 for three reasons, IQ, Aperture and range. I'd then go for the Siggy 50mm f1.4 for two reasons, build quality and build quality. Oh yeah, and then I'd buy the 85mm.
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I like the 17-40L because it's weather sealed and can cope with being abused. The 17-50 is not, and so doesn't really appeal to me (and yes i have tested the weather sealing on many occassions :lol:). If i was to swap the 17-40L for anything is would be the 16-35L :)
 
I used to have the 85mm when I made a living in this game. The only time it left my camera was when I was shooting sport with the heavy artillery. Just shoot for fun nowadays and is back on the wish list. Unbeatable for the cash.
 
On my crop camera, it makes some amazing blur wide open and it's sharp enough to add wrinkles when stopped down.

There's really nothing bad I can say about this lens.
 
Don't discount the EF 100mm f2 either if you want a touch more length. Both have similar IQ and build quality. They don't come up s/h as often as the 85 f1.8 though.
 
KayJay said:
I really like it. It feels like it's built like a tank and has a nice weight to it. The results that you get are impressive. I've always thought that the quality was what one might expect from a L lens.
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Pity it wasn`t built like a lens. Seriously though resolution is very good, build quality rather flimsy.
 
My personal findings are that it is very sharp, has decent bokeh at wide apertures, and focuses quietly and pretty fast. My only negative point is that it can be prone to purple fringing, although this can be decreased significantly in pp.
 
I'm also interested in this... How does the 85mm compare to the 135mm f2? (Obviously the focal length and build quality is different, but is it sharper?)
 
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pchidell said:
I'm also interested in this... How does the 85mm compare to the 135mm f2? (Obviously the focal length and build quality is different, but is it sharper?)
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No, also slightly slower focus and more CA.

The 135L is one of the best "bang for bucks" there is! Quick focussing, superb build quality, and fantastic IQ.

The EF 85mm f1.8 is not bad though, but not in the same league as the 135L, but then it's less than half the price.

EF 85mm f1.8

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EF 135L f2

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Matt. said:
I like the 17-40L because it's weather sealed and can cope with being abused. The 17-50 is not, and so doesn't really appeal to me (and yes i have tested the weather sealing on many occassions :lol:). If i was to swap the 17-40L for anything is would be the 16-35L :)
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The IQ of the 17-40 is nothing to sneeze at either, I'm not quite sure what the poster you quoted was thinking when he quoted IQ as being one of the reasons to trade the 17-40 for a 17-50.

The weather sealing is indeed a bonus, and with it being an f/4 lens it is far less prone to flare.

getting back to the actual discussion at hand, the 85. It's a fantastic lens. The 1.8 is very sharp and usable even at f/1.8.

Canon85mmf18wideopenon1Ds-100pcrop.jpg


That's a 100% crop, by the way - and no one ever needs images to be pin sharp at 100% in real world use. If the 1.8 is that sharp wide open, think how well it can do stopped down a little.
 
Do it. I'm a Nikon man myself, but the Canon 85 1.8 is absolutely amazing! Sharp at F1.8 with excellent bokeh, and good build quality for the price. Will be a hell of a lot faster than your 17-40 too :)
 
I've gone and bought one now, so lets hope it arrives, and is as good as you all say! :)
 
Anyone able to compare this to the Nikon version? Not to start a silly argument, just weighing up my options at the mo and this is a lens that really appeals to me.
 
85mm is a really nice lens - well worth having one.

re 17-40mm - I agree about the weather sealing importance. If OP like to shoot in the rain or get too close to the coast (like I do) this is a must. Weather sealed body would be another important thing in that case.
 
85mm is an excelent lens, used it in low light and have nothing but praise. On a crop frame a good portrait lens, on a full frame maybe a tadge short; would like a 135 F2 but for now will stand a little closer.
 
For what it's worth, I have the 17-40 and 85 as my only two lenses, and I don't miss the space in between at all. They're aimed at two completely different purposes, and complement each other well. I found that when I had only the 50, I almost always wanted it a bit shorter, or a bit longer. At least I can say I tried!
 
Eighth Avenue said:
WANT!!

I'd love to get the 1.2 but trying to justify it to my girlfriend after buying a 70-200 would be hard.

The build quality is superb, it's tack sharp and great IQ. I'm looking at a 2nd hand one for about £220 - BARGAIN!
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If you get rid of the girlfriend you can buy 2 lol...
 
I now have an 85mm 1.8! All i can currently do with it is take pictures at f1.8 and marvel at the bokeh! I'm sure i'll get past this oddness soon :P
 
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