 Shannon Whit |
Purchasing a 50mm or 85mm I am interested in purchasing either a Canon 50mm or 85mm lens. I've been reading reviews as well as the Q&A here at BP. I'm torn and am back and forth as to what to purchase. There's the 50mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.2 and 85mm f/1.8. I know the type of lens used is based on what is being photographed. If money was no object,of these four lens which would you recommend? Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!! Shannon
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
I'd get a 50mm over an 85mm. An 85mm is a little short for me. It's in an in between area. I do have a 100mm. Most people feel a 50mm is too short because they want to do the typical portraits that you see. Short telephoto so you can back off the subject a little, and just enough to get a slight compression effect that you're used to seeing in face shots. But I like a 50mm. I've read it described as a combination of expanse and intimacy, which is why I like it. Most people's use of 50mm comes as their very first lens. Then they get a telephoto or a zoom, then get a wide angle, like a 28mm. And they kind of forget about using a 50mm So without considering price, I'd choose which ever of the 50mm had the best optical quality. I don't feel it would matter with anything that I would shoot as far as getting a faster shutter speed between f/1.4 and f/1.8
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Lynn R. Powers |
Unless we know if you have a cropped camera or a full frame camera we really don't know what would be best for you. Also we need to know what kind of photos you plan on taking. So if you give us that info it will be a lot easier for us to determine. The four lenses could be too long for your needs. Lynn
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Shannon Whit |
Thank you Gregory and Lynn. My camera is a Canon 7D (cropped). I currently own a 24-70mm 2.8L IS USM and 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM. I enjoy photographing portraits (children),, sports (son's bball and football games), wildlife and landscaping. Really, anything that's appealing to shoot. Some say 50mm while others 85mm. It's like neither is better than the other based on the different reviews. So, I came here to BP to the experts to get a real answer. Thanks for your help
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- Kenneth De Pree Contact Kenneth De Pree Kenneth De Pree's Gallery |
It looks like you have the bases pretty well covered now: 24-4000 between the two you now own. So why do you want to get the 3rd lens. Is it because the 24-70 doesn't give you as much reach as your would like, yet don't want to carry the big, heavy 100-400? If that is the case, you should consider the 85mm. I don't have it but am told it is a good lens for sports. If you want to it for children planning, etc., and are not satisfied with what you are getting with the 24-70, the 50 would seem to be your best bet. As you say, always come back to what you want the lens for, and I don't think we yet know why you want the 3rd lens.
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Lynn R. Powers |
Since you have the 24-70 f2.8 it should cover anything you want indoors for the kids. Do not be afraid to increase your ISO with the 7D. It will still give you excellent photos @ ISO 800. My 40D does and it isn't as good as your camera. I cannot recommend the 85mm f1.2. There have been complaints of slow focusing plus when used wide open at six feet you will have about 1" DOF. Even the f1.8 only gives you about 3"DOF at that distance. But it focuses instantly. It is better to close down the lens to f4 or f5.6 for close up. I do highly recommend the 85mm f1.8. It is considerably less expensive and still gives you great quality. Unless the football game photos are taken near to where you are standing/sitting the the 100-400mm lens would be the best bet aside from individual shots of the players done on the sidelines. In that case the 85mm will be best for the job.
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Shannon Whit |
Thanks Ken and thanks again Lynn. I shoot a lot of kids parties which often includes animals, go to kid events (zoo, Seaquarium, Monkey Jungle, etc.) I must have something with great shutter speed. I do lots of mom & kid pictures. My teens are in tennis, basketball and football. Tennis and football is outdoors while basketball is indoors. I also go to outdoors events -- orchid shows, food fests, flower fests. In one week I will be attending Carnival 2012 in St. Martin (in the Caribbean). I will be taking pictures of the colorful costumes, parades, food booths, market, flowers -- everything the island has to offer. In September I will be going to France for two weeks. There's the architecture, the landscape, the people, the food and I MUST bring back great shots! I know a prime lens is what I would like. I just want to purchase one that can cover a lot so I don't have to carry a bunch of lenses with me. If you would be so kind as to advise. I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks a bunch!
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- Kenneth De Pree Contact Kenneth De Pree Kenneth De Pree's Gallery |
I'll defer to Lynn and others who have more knowledge and experience with lenses than I have, but I don't think you will find a prime that covers all situations or was intended to. What is your objection to carrying the 2 lenses you already have on your trip to France? Being able to shoot 24-400 with those 2 lenses gives you far more range than you will ever get from a prime lens.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
I'm with Ken, Shannon--it would seem your 24-70 and 100-400 would cover a terrific range for almost anything you'd be shooting in your various conditions and places, while keeping the lenses you have to carry around at just 2, and giving you maximum flexibility for scene compositions. For sports (unless we're talking chess, perhaps!) I can't quite imagine shooting an entire fast-moving game on a prime lens, with no ability to zoom in and capture action up close---no ability that is, other than you running forward and backward, to recompose the scenes with a prime lens; and missing the critical shot in the process! You mention you want fast shutter speeds; when you talk about f/1.8 or f/1.4 lenses, etc., you'll get faster shutter speeds by default at those extreme apertures. As Lynn alludes to, some of those lenses do not produce their best image quality at those extreme apertures, and you could find you buy an f/1.4 lens, but never shoot at f/1.4. If you find say, the f/1.4 lens consistently delivers the best results for you at f/8, was it worth spending the extra cash to have the f/1.4 aperture? Have you explored the higher ISO values on the 7D Lynn mentions? (Not to mention the optional high-speed shutter setting, for 8 frames per second?--ideal for sports, I'd think!) Boosting your ISO will speed up every lens you own, for free; while I never shot on my old Rebel above ISO400, I regularly shoot on the 7D at 400-1200, when not in full daylight, or not using a tripod. I have the 50mm 1.4, and almost never, ever use it, preferring my ultra-wide 10-22, and my 17-85. My next lens purchase will probably be the 24-105L; I'd then likely carry just my 10-22 and 24-105 on vacations. The only other prime lens I truly love to use (and frequently do) is the 100mm 2.8 macro.
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Shannon Whit |
This is the information I need which is why I put it out there. I'm not dying to by a lens but I thought I could something better than what I currently am working with. I've read that the glass on prime is much better and the size that I originally mentioned would work well for shooting children, pets and flowers (not necessarily sports). I'm not looking for one lens to do everything. I originally was looking into a 16-35mm (maybe even 10-22mm)but then read (and heard) that a prime lens is the way to go. If the gear I'm working with will cover my needs then so be it. I'll continue to practice and do my reading and researching until my needs change...
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Prime lenses usually do have better optics. But now knowing that you already have a 24-70mm, like everyone else said, I think you'd be good with what you already have. You have to consider if the better optics that a prime lens might give you is that perceptible than what the 24-70 has, because the 24-70 is already considered a very good lens. Or if you're that picky. Most people go the opposite way and get a prime first, then get a zoom, after they've gotten deeper into photography. One of the main reasons is they want the convenience, perceived or actual, of not having to move around. Or being self conscious of getting closer to the people they're trying to shoot.
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- Martha R. Mazon Contact Martha R. Mazon Martha R. Mazon's Gallery |
I particularly like to use it for small venue concert photography where I can get close to the performers. It allows me to take pictures in extremely poor lighting and reduces the effect of distracting background elements on the stage when shot wide open. I also sense the small size is less distracting to performers than longer lenses. Similarly, when shooting family photographs, my subjects are less self-conscious when I use the 50mm versus a longer lens. I’m attempting to attach a few samples. (As a side note, an awesome BP enhancement would be the ability to search photos by EXIF info!)
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- Martha R. Mazon Contact Martha R. Mazon Martha R. Mazon's Gallery |
I particularly like to use it for small venue concert photography where I can get close to the performers. It allows me to take pictures in extremely poor lighting and reduces the effect of distracting background elements on the stage when shot wide open. I also sense the small size is less distracting to performers than longer lenses. Similarly, when shooting family photographs, my subjects are less self-conscious when I use the 50mm versus a longer lens. I’m attempting to attach a few samples. (As a side note, an awesome BP enhancement would be the ability to search photos by EXIF info!)
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