Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM or......

The Greek

The Greek

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Canon 85mm f/1.8 on a FF body for Portraits?

Finding the Canon 50mm f1.4 a little short for my style of shooting, feel like I'm in the subjects face all the time. Have been using my 70-200 f4 but need something faster.

Looking to replace my 50mm f1.4 which I would be sad to see go as its an awesome lens, super sharp and and fast focus, so its important its replaced with the right lens.

Value your opinions. :thumbs:
 
I have the 85mm on my 5D and love it for portrait shots, head shoulder etc
.. I too found the 50mm not long enough on FF. Got mine calibrated few months back and its lovely and sharp, even wide open its impressive !

Look on the 5D owners thread, i took some shots recently of the kids and nephews and posted them on there, AF was fast enough ! :-)
 
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leeboy22001 said:
I have the 85mm on my 5D and love it for portrait shots, head shoulder etc
.. I too found the 50mm not long enough on FF. Got mine calibrated few months back and its lovely and sharp, even wide open its impressive !

Look on the 5D owners thread, i took some shots recently of the kids and nephews and posted them on there, AF was fast enough ! :-)
Click to expand...

Thanks Lee, do these lenses need calibrating or only some?
 
I bought a 100mm f/2 over an 85mm a few months back as I originally wanted that little extra length on a crop.

I now have it on a 5D and it's even more fantastic somehow. It's an awesome kit of kit. Razor sharp wide open and when stopped down just as good.

Can be picked up for really good money too, a real hidden gem IMHV.
 
I've got the 85 1.2 and the 100L, along with 50mm1.4 for my 5dmk3. They're all really good lenses, but personally I (on full frame) prefer the 85mm. On crop I preferred the 50mm. It's a great focal length, but obviously it depends on what sort of room you have to move about in. Also, I've noticed the 35L is really good detail wise on the 5d when cropping heavily in Lightroom, so that's a good option too (although not strictly what you want :D)
 
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I have the 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 85L, 100L, 135L...

I think the 85 range would be your best bet.

Sigma 85/1.4 would be the bang for buck, speed and bokeh. The Canon 85L is 1.2 but much slower to focus. The 85/1.8 is much cheaper and fast focusing and "only" £300.
 
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Thanks to all that replied.

Think I have narrowed it down to a Canon 85mm (new) or the Sigma (used), Although I use to have the Canon 100mm f2 on a crop body and it was one of my favorite lenses.
 
The Canon 100L 2.5 macro is a lovely lens to use for portraits. A bit longer, but portraits fit with it's macro capabilities.

Best,
Dayve
 
Another vote for the 100mm f2, cracking lens, though have not used the 85mm personally.
 
Yes I have considered the 135 L, and would buy one without hesitation!!

Unfortunately I have Christmas budget Mrs Greek would like me to stick to (£400) so its a choice between the Canon 85mm f1.8, 100mm f2 non macro or a used Sigma 85mm f1.4. Unless anyone else has any suggestions on a good portrait lens for a Canon 5d II
 
Another vote for the 100 f/2. I had the 85mm f/1.8 and its a nice lens but mine seemed to suffer quite badly with CA/PF. Easily fixed in LR but my new 100 f/2 is so much cleaner straight out of camera (raw).
Its also much more usable wide open and seems slightly better built. Its actually become my main walkabout lens on my 5DMKIII, as well as taking over head and shoulder shots from my 70-200 f/4 IS.
The 85 seems more common but the 100 f/2 is a real hidden gem that more people should own, IMO of course :-)

I got mine from DigitalRev for £360 last month but Panamoz have them for £310 at the moment.
 
Thanks Dave, Have to agree its a sleeper.
The one I use to own and regret selling was pin sharp on my canon 40d, so would expect similar results on a FF if not better. The only reason I haven't bought another is, I keep reading reviews great reviews on the 85mm.
 
Its funny but the 85 is the lens ive most regretted buying in the past. I just never loved it like i have most of my other lenses. It seemed more a specialist lens, which i suppose it is, and was too long to use as an everyday lens on my 40D or 60D so just didnt get used much.
Since going FF, and getting over the shock of losing the reach ive been used to for the past 7 years with crop cameras, i find 100mm is just right for me as a walkabout, although of course i have to shoot in a different way.

I tried another 85 just before getting the 100 and it seemed like a different lens on FF. I was tempted to get it but at the time i was also thinking about getting in to gig photography so went for the slightly longer lens.

You mention replacing your 50mm so i guess 85mm on FF is going to be closer to what your used to on a crop with the 50mm. If you were finding that a bit short maybe the 85 will also feel a bit short.
Just a thought.

As you have a 70-200 i guess you can get/already have an idea of what FL is going to work best for you.
 
Your right about getting over the shock of losing reach, my 70-200 is a walkabout lens on my 5d Lolll. Much preferred on the 40d, glad iv kept that body as a backup for wild life and sport.

We did buy an 85mm f1.8 the other week from Amazon at a very good price, for our
Sons Christmas present. Might wait until after Christmas and have a go with that before I make my mind up on which one to buy, price wise, there's nothing in it between the two.
 
Thats more or less identical to me. With my 60D (that ive kept for now) my 70-200 was my zoom lens for getting shots from a distance away, but on the 5D i have been using it more as a general lens walkabout lens.

Ive also suddenly become more interested in primes. I dont really want an L's just yet, im still getting used to having this large expensive brick of a camera to carry around ;-), maybe thats why im using my primes more, to keep the size down.

There's something about a nice small prime on the 5DMKIII that just feels "right"
 
Well, thanks to Pete (pwal1) I am going to be the proud owner of a Canon 100mm f2 AGAIN!
As I have already said, this is the lens I have missed most and regret selling.

As for the Canon 85mm f1.8, is it the perfect portrait lens? I guess I will never know.
 
The Greek said:
Well, thanks to Pete (pwal1) I am going to be the proud owner of a Canon 100mm f2 AGAIN!
As I have already said, this is the lens I have missed most and regret selling.

As for the Canon 85mm f1.8, is it the perfect portrait lens? I guess I will never know.
Click to expand...

No, the 85/1.2 is the "perfect" portrait lens :p
 
Have you considered moving closer to the subject. Would save you some cash lol
 
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