canon 85mm f1.8

ruffdog64

ruffdog64

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I`ve been looking at getting a canon 85mm F1.8 as the F1.2 is out of my budget but the F1.8 doesn`t seem to be an L lens is the case? and if so is it any good as a lens?
 
Just because it doesn't have that red ring doesn't make it a poor lens. I haven't used either but have read that the f1.8 is sharper than the f1.2, especially wide open. For the money it appears to be a great lens.
 
I used to have the canon 85mm F1.8 & it is a fantastic lens,i am sorry i never kept it.:)
 
I love my nifty fifty. Although it's a budget lens, the quality of the images can match more expensive ones. For the price, it's a no brainier!
 
Just buy one you won't be disappointed.

I had one when I shot Canon and was my most used lens at the time.
 
Sigma 85mm is Fabio u want to spend a bit extra
 
Its an utterly brilliant lens! Just because its not an 'L' lens why wouldn't it be any good? There are some brilliant non L lenses (and some not so brilliant L lenses!)
 
Lovely lens, I've got one, Besides a little CA that can easily be sorted in post, it's mighty fine.
 
It's one of my most used lenses, absolutely fantastic. I'm even considering a second copy as we sometimes fight over it.

The 1.2L though is supposed to be magical, but ridiculously expensive, slow to focus and difficult to control.
 
domino1999 said:
Lovely lens, I've got one, Besides a little CA that can easily be sorted in post, it's mighty fine.
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It's not CA but colour / purple fringing. It manifests mainly wide open around very bright objects and mostly when not in perfect focus. Avoiding bright highlights in the frame is usually enough. P.S. 1.2 version is even worse in this respect, as most very fast primes are.
 
Had one that I used on my 7D and sold it to put towards my funds to get my 5D mkiii. Only thing I've ever regretted selling.
 
85/1.8 is the sharpest lens I had when I was a Canon shooter. That's compared to other Canon L zoom lenses. Perfectly sized too, compared to the 85/1.2 monster.
 
It's a great lens, I prefer it on FF but it does work on smaller sensors as well. Very sharp and I have found it forgiving as well so quick to get good results unlike some other lenses where you have to find the sweet spot.

A
 
Most of my favourite shots of my kids have come out of this lens on a full frame camera. I'd definitely recommend it. Might be a bit long indoors on a crop though
 
everyone says the 50mm 1.8 is the best bang for buck, its not the 85mm is
 
stumac said:
everyone says the 50mm 1.8 is the best bang for buck, its not the 85mm is
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Two different lenses at two different prices with the 85mm built to a far better standard.
 
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Is it too late to mention the Sigma 85mm f1.4?

A couple of things put me off the Canon 1.8, the fringing and the angular oof highlights. I was very happy with the Sigma and until I moved to Sony it was the best AF lens I ever used.
 
Fringing on 85 1.8 is really bad
I sold it

I have the 85l and the sigma, I use the sigma a lot more

85l is as heavy as a 70-200
 
Go for the Canon 85mm f1.8 you won't be disappointed its a great lens for the money :)
 
domart said:
Fringing on 85 1.8 is really bad
I sold it

I have the 85l and the sigma, I use the sigma a lot more

85l is as heavy as a 70-200
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The fringing isn't bad at all, you must have had a dodgy one if you sold it on the basis of fringing. All fast primes have fringing to a degree, and it disappears with a single click in LR.
 
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odd jim said:
The fringing isn't bad at all, you must have had a dodgy one if you sold it on the basis of fringing. All fast primes have fringing to a degree, and it disappears with a single click in LR.
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It's been widely reported, demonstrated and accepted that the lens displays more fringing than some other 85's.

Anyone who thinks that this could be an issue for them could spend a few minutes Googling their way to reviews and sample images.

I decided that the fringing and angular highlights added up to too many issue for me and I went for the Sigma however despite its issues the Canon lens does have its fans and it's cheaper, I think.
 
woof woof said:
It's been widely reported, demonstrated and accepted that the lens displays more fringing than some other 85's.

Anyone who thinks that this could be an issue for them could spend a few minutes Googling their way to reviews and sample images.

I decided that the fringing and angular highlights added up to too many issue for me and I went for the Sigma however despite its issues the Canon lens does have its fans and it's cheaper, I think.
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My copy only has very minor fringing, less so than other fast primes I own and use (apart from the suburb Sigma 105), certainly no more than normal for a fast prime. The only prime I prefer is the 105mm Sigma, which is just absolutely perfect!

I can't fault my 85's output at all, it gives beautiful results.
 
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odd jim said:
My copy only has very minor fringing, less so than other fast primes I own and use, certainly no more than normal for a fast prime. The only prime I prefer is the 105mm Sigma, which is just absolutely perfect!

I can't fault its output at all, it gives beautiful results.
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Then you either aren't too fussy or just don't notice or own other relatively poor in this respect primes but to say that the 85mm is in line with other good fast primes is simply wrong. There's a weight of evidence against you on this and as I said, all anyone needs to do is Google their way to reviews and example shots.
 
woof woof said:
Then you either aren't too fussy or just don't notice or own other relatively poor in this respect primes but to say that the 85mm is in line with other good fast primes is simply wrong. There's a weight of evidence against you on this and as I said, all anyone needs to do is Google their way to reviews and example shots.
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No not at all.

Its because its a bloody good lens.

...and I don't buy s**t lenses, why would I, this hobby's expensive enough.

And if you want "weight of evidence" when I get home tomorrow I could post plenty of shots in this thread confirming my (and many others) viewpoint :)
 
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Another +1 here on the 85mm 1.8. I love it on my 5D classic. Nice bokeh, fast and silent AF. As for fringing I've found it to be minor. Whether the 5D classic is forgiving in that respect I don't know. I've seen worse with my Nokton 35mm 1.4 on the M. The 85mm alongside the 50mm 1.4 is a nice setup :)
I'd like the 85mm 1.2 but as already stated, heavy and slow to AF. Not to mention a bigger jump in ££££. Unless you really want 1.2, I'd be inclined to go for the 1.8.

They hold value quite well so you would get a good return if you weren't happy with it anyway.
 
odd jim said:
No not at all.

Its because its a bloody good lens.

...and I don't buy s**t lenses, why would I, this hobby's expensive enough.

And if you want "weight of evidence" when I get home tomorrow I could post plenty of shots in this thread confirming my (and many others) viewpoint :)
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There's no need. You're happy with your lens and that's fine but when advising others I personally think it's best to take a balanced view. Yup, lots of people are happy with the lens but on the other hand plenty of people would rather buy something else. Once someone is well informed they can consider all and make a well informed choice :D
 
odd jim said:
My copy only has very minor fringing, less so than other fast primes I own and use (apart from the suburb Sigma 105), certainly no more than normal for a fast prime. The only prime I prefer is the 105mm Sigma, which is just absolutely perfect!

I can't fault my 85's output at all, it gives beautiful results.
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You must shoot situations where it doesn't really rear its ugly head, I shoot a lot of backlit situations and I shoot models wide open in bright light, so their jewellery will glow
Purple around the edge- all I'm saying is that for my style of shooting the lens just fringed heavily and yes you can correct it but then you have a grey line around an object instead of a purple line, hardly a fix at all
Fwiw the 85l isn't perfect either
I think the sigma is the best out the 3

But to the op, try the 1.8, if you get fringing then sell, if not then enjoy the lens, it's very sharp and I shot some great stuff on it
 
Yes you do get a little translucent grey / off white line where the fringing was after correction but you only see this if you pixel peep. You can't really see it in normal viewing.
 
It's a fantastic lens... Although, if you're a shallow dof junkie you may always crave the L.
 
pridash said:
It's a fantastic lens... Although, if you're a shallow dof junkie you may always crave the L.
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TBF the DOF isn't that different between the two :)
 
odd jim said:
TBF the DOF isn't that different between the two :)
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IMHO there is a quite a difference between 1.2 and 1.8 (at the times I shot it). Yes it may not be night and day but it's still large enough to perceive in some situations. 1.2 gives a much more 3D appearance for me than 1.8.

But in any case, back to the subject of the 85 1.8...its a fantastic lens. For me it's the best bang for buck prime in the Canon range.
 
its a great people lens, i love the rendering it gives. yep there are faults with it but it still gives great images
 
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