Hands on experience with Canon's 85/1.8 and 100/2

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trencheel303

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The 85mm 1.8 is one of Canon's most highly regarded non-L lenses I think. Everything about it is superb - compact and light, very fast & silent AF, superb IQ and bokeh to match.

Can't comment on the 100mm as I haven't used one.
 
I hope someone replies to this as I'm looking at these two as well.
 
There is little or no difference in image quality between the 100mm f2.0 and the 85mm f1.8. I have used both and they are almost identical. The only thing you have decide is which length you prefer.
 
it's a tough one... but, I would also quite like an extension tube (for both my lenses) and with the money saved by buying the 85 I could get a 12mm. hmm decisions decisions.
 
The 851.8 as others have said is a cracker of a lens..here's a little sample(Danni)..wide open ;)

p922474886-4.jpg

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Interesting that that picture seems to show some quite strong blue fringing on the foreground OOF - not something I've ever noticed with it.
 
it will do as it's an old design and as far as I know neither the 85, 100 nor the 50 has any aspherical elements to combat this.
 
I've never seen this mentioned about this lens before nor have I noticed it on my own shots. That's not to say it's not there of course.
 
pearce_jj said:
Interesting that that picture seems to show some quite strong blue fringing on the foreground OOF - not something I've ever noticed with it.
Click to expand...
If i remember correctly,that foreground fringing is the result of my bad attempt at cloning something out.:lol:.think it was a handrail or something..
Nice lens though..;)
 
it's one of these things that only becomes a bother on contrasting objects, among other dependancies. That's why we have an option to pay for the L costing X times more... let's not forget that a lot of Canon's primes date back to the very early days of the EF mount as well.
 
I'm not sure I buy it though. The old 135mm F2.8 suffers wide open, but I've never seen fringing like that with this lens except when viewed at 100% (as noted in Ken Rockwell's review).
 
I have pondered this question. The 100 2 seems to be a bit of an enigma. It's not as popular as the 85 1.8, but I don't know why and I just have some nagging doubts. But nothing to base them on! The 85 1.8 is known to have some odd CA characteristics that are not usually a problem and may be down to sample variation, but reports of various colour fringing issues are not uncommon.

However, the 85 and 100 are not the same lens at all - completely different optical designs.

All this is history for me now, as it was a lens I wanted for crop format shallow DoF portraits. Now I'm on full frame my attention has shifted to the unquestionably wonderful 135L 2 :love:
 
Yeah, I have a sneaky suspicion a 135 f/2 L might worm its way into my camera bag some day... :suspect: not for a while though, after this that's it, I need to start being sensible with my money. :help:
 
If you can stretch to the 135L, you won't be disappointed. As a head & shoulders portrait lens on FF it's perfect. The extra reach means you can stop down more than you would with a shorter lens and still get decent background blur. It also means that subject - background distance can be shorter too. You're not in the subjects face either.

Not that I've tried an 85 or 100 though.
 
trencheel303 said:
just a small update to this thread.

in the first place, the 135 is a little out of budget for the time being, and a little too long for what I think I need, although I understand it is a very nice lens.

Secondly, I have found out that Kerso can supply me with a 100/2 for cheaper than Amazon can get me an 85/1.8, so now the decision is even harder.

:thinking:
Click to expand...

So how much cheaper can Kerso get you the 85mm F1.8 then? :D

I had the 85mm for a while. I had nothing before or since to compare it too - but as a lens it's quality was stunning. I found it to be sharp even wide open and an absolute joy to use.

You can mull over which lens to buy until well after the cows are home. With this lineup I would recommend you deside which focal length you would prefer to have and buy that one!
 
the thing is, I don't even know which focal length I'd prefer :bonk: :thinking:
 
Has anyone yet had chance to compare the Canon 85mm f/1.8 against the new Sigma 85mm f/1.4?
 
The Sigma hasn't even hit the shelves yet? It's one of these "I'll believe it when I see it" lenses...
 
I thought that might be the case, but at least one online retailer is showing it as "in stock" - or they were last time I checked. I see it's now changed back to "pre-order".

Back to waiting..
 
well at the mo I only have a 17-40, but I very much liked 50 on a crop sensor. :thinking:
 
maybe this will help, just tried my 85mm 1.8 on my new full frame 5d, the results

4954437050_d585566118_b.jpg


200% thats right, 200 not 100% crop
4953862101_8291408943.jpg
 
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at what f/ number was that taken? there is a distinct lack of vignetting that I can see.
 
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