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canon lens question
ok pros and simi pros alike heres a question for you on the cropped sensor of the rebel xt witch would you recommend for shooting portraits... 50mm 1.4 $ 319.95 or the 85mm 1.8 $ 333.95 considering i will be shoot mostly portrait head shots using natural light or speed lights. i own a 28-90mm 4-5.6 (that at 28 mm can only be shot at 4f (i knew i shouldn't have bought a referb.) and i have a 75-300 4-5.6 im starting to upgrade glass so after i buy this portrait lens im probably going to get a 70-200 4l Dec 05 08 10:22 pm Link 85mm check this to see what they do, its on FF but you can siumply adjust slightly in positioning or think of what the cropped effect will do. http://stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/Tu … ective.htm Now if you are looking into the 70-200, maybe that is a better deal to start, that and th 50 1.8 which sells for under $80 and is quite sharp and a great deal. -- Stephen Eastwood -- http://www.PhotographersPortfolio.com Dec 05 08 10:25 pm Link Stroke Of Light photos wrote: 85mm F 1.8 Dec 05 08 10:28 pm Link Another vote for the 85. Dec 05 08 10:32 pm Link hmm ok that's what i thought you guys were gonna say i used to have a 50 1.8 and loved that little f er till my gf knocked off a table at a location shoot and it snapped in 2 and im just getting caught up enough to buy another one.. i am thinking the 85 1.8 and then maybe a 50 1.8 as well then the 70-200mm 4l after i can afford it Dec 05 08 10:33 pm Link i like the 100mm F2 or the 135mm F2 L on the rebel XSI i have. the 24-70mm F2.8L and the 135mm F2 L would be a good combo. Dec 05 08 10:36 pm Link 85 1.8.... Dec 05 08 10:37 pm Link Dec 05 08 10:37 pm Link StephenEastwood wrote: I agree with Stephen and the 50 f/1.8 is a great start! Good or not even good, but more accurately; your use of lighting is one of the most important things to even make use of your lens. Dec 05 08 10:38 pm Link Sophie Madison wrote: 50mm is too short for headshots , 100mm is about the shortest , with 135mm to 200mm being normal. a 50mm will elong-gate features if its too close or at the wrong angle. Dec 05 08 10:41 pm Link 85mm most def! Dec 05 08 10:55 pm Link Definitely the 85. Dec 05 08 11:00 pm Link another vote for the 85 Dec 05 08 11:02 pm Link Sophie Madison wrote: I agree. Dec 05 08 11:05 pm Link Depends what you mean by portraits. If you mean head & shoulders then yes, probably the 85 f/1.8 or maybe the nifty fifty; if you really mean tight headshots then go for the 100 f/2 as the 85 is a bit short for such tight shots. However, as Eastwood suggested, the 70-200 might be a more versatile and useful lens in the long run, and the f/4 non-IS version is remarkably affordable. Since buying my 70-200 I have only used my 100 f/2 once when I needed the wider aperture for a particular situation. For headshots/beauty I now always use the 70-200. Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano Dec 05 08 11:30 pm Link are you shooting full frame? then go 85... if shooting a crop sensor get the 50 Dec 05 08 11:34 pm Link Stefano Brunesci wrote: Ditto this Dec 05 08 11:37 pm Link It all depends on how close you like to get to your models. I like the 50mm because it's good for indoor stuff when you don't have any room to back up. On the crop sensor, a head shot with the 50mm means you'd be standing about 5ft from the model. Dec 05 08 11:43 pm Link i love the 85mm 1.8 $ 333.95 85 x 1.6 = 136 mm - 1.8 arp great d.o.f and bokeh 50 x 1.6 = 80 mm 1.4 not much diffferent d.o.f and bokeh but will let a bit more light in though not much more.... ive used the 85mm and i love it.. 50mm will get you closer to the model and allow you to use a little slower of a shutter speed. 85mm will need a bit faster shutter speed to make up for camera shake i think, are they IS? i dont recall. IS isnt too neceassary for 50mm but definitely consider that when u make ur selection with the 85mm. the 85 will show camera shake more then then nifty fifty. id say the 50 would be a good choice. Dec 06 08 12:24 am Link The 85 is outstanding for its size/price and produces better images than any L-series zooms and its size doesn't scare subjects. Be aware that when shooting tight portraits with that lens around f1.8-2.5 the dof is only a couple inches and many prosumer bodies may not get the focus where you need it with good consistency. In my experience, the 1 series bodies are quite consistent with that lens. For only $100, also add the 50 f1.8 so you can shoot with a slower shutter speed and when you don't have the room to back up a bit and still compose more than a headshot. Note: The 135 F2L is simply amazing but probably too long for a 1.6x crop factor. Dec 06 08 12:47 am Link Quick question, is the 85mm f1.8 an internal-focusing or does the front element extend or retract when focusing? Dec 06 08 08:02 am Link Stroke Of Light photos wrote: Note: If you're using an 85mm on a Canon Rebel, it'll turn into a 105mm 1.8 lens, especially if it's stationary. Dec 06 08 08:09 am Link I also agree- if you are only getting one lens, then I would go with 85. But it sounds like you already plan on getting a 70-200 in the future. If that's the case then the 85 would be a redundant mm (though faster). So, if that's the case, I totally agree w Mr Eastwood. Get the relatively cheapo 50 1.8 now and save your money to apply toward a70-200. You may then be able to get the 2.8 instead of the f4. Dec 06 08 08:53 am Link If you are doing mostly headshots then I would prefer the 85 vs. the 50 Dec 06 08 09:29 am Link I also have the 85mm f/1.8 and love it. Dec 06 08 09:33 am Link Stefano Brunesci wrote: Same here... I use my 70 - 200 99.9% of the time and love it Dec 06 08 09:36 am Link I think a lot of people are missing the fact that the OP is using an APS-C sensor, thus the 50mm lens would be roughly an 80mm and the 85mm would be a 136mm. For studio headshots with an APS-C sensor camera, I would prefer the 80mm lens (that is - the 50mm f/1.4). On a full frame camera certainly I would prefer the 85mm f/1.8. Dec 06 08 09:38 am Link I think the 85mm 1.8 has already won hands down. Before I made my decision, I too chose to look at online "reviews" and discovered the Canon 85mm 1.8 was the one Canon lens in terms of build quality and optics that should have deserved an "L" rating, but for some reason did not make the cut. Many reviewers thought that this lens was simply an "L" lens without the red band! It's definitely one of my favorite Canon lenses! And IMHO definitely deserves an "L" designation..... But moving on to your original camera and crop factor.... and upgrade potential.... Later, when and IF you upgrade, the 50mm will remain a 50mm, i.e. normal view for 35mm full frame, whereas the 85mm will become a true 85mm... IMHO, with portraiture, and 35mm format, the optimal focal length is 85mm to 135mm. BINGO!!!! You have that nailed! Plus, a great lens to boot! IF you decide to stay with your cropped framed sensor, say, 1.6x, 85mm * 1.6 = 135! I forget how many BLADES the lenses offer, but that is yet another consideration if you are concerned with BOKEH quality... One of my VERY favorite sites when deciding upon a Canon lens is http://www.the-digital-picture.com Hope I am not breaking any rule by recommending a site, but I trust this site, and have found it to be very useful for me as a Canon user. Also, as a final note, I heard of some back focus, design flaws with the 50mm lens, but not sure if that were with the 1.2 or 1.4, or even with the 50mm 1.2 or 1.4... it may have been with the 85mm?????? Whatever! I avoided the lens in question, but can't remember now which it was. OH, one more thing, instead of the 70-200 4.0, you MAY want to hold out until you can afford the 2.8.... Trust me.. you will NOT be sorry you did! Dec 06 08 09:49 am Link Case AVP Photography wrote: This comparison is often misunderstood. Your focal length does not change. Dec 06 08 09:51 am Link Both the 50 and the 85 overlap your current lens. Look at the EXIF information for your best portraits and see what focal lengths you shot them at. That will tell you which one is better suited to YOUR style of shooting. If you're on a limited budget, I'd suggest against buying a lens that overlaps your current zoom. Get something that gives you new capabilities. The 70-200 f/4 is a great value and gives you a range of focal lengths you don't already have. The 100mm f/2.8 macro is also a great lens that works well for portraits & headshots on an APS-C camera (and macro photography is a lot of fun). You might want to consider going to someplace like rentglass.com and renting any lenses you're considering buying. This will give you a week to try them out and see which one is going to work best for you. Dec 06 08 09:52 am Link I had the 85 1.8, as soon as I got the 70-200 I stopped using it. depends on your shooting style but maybe it would be best just to save up for the 70-200? Dec 06 08 09:59 am Link Natalia Drulle wrote: I have both and to quote you "depends on your shooting style" Dec 06 08 10:15 am Link 95% of my portfolio is made with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 - its a wonderful lens! Dec 06 08 10:20 am Link Daniel Weisser wrote: I agree . only about 50 % of mine but I shoot other formats also.. Dec 06 08 10:25 am Link Stroke Of Light photos wrote: don't bother with a prime thats old school like me I found a 22-105 fine when I had a 1.7 I rarly wend that low a 2.8 is fine as all the photo shoppers know you can allways soften parts of a photo Dec 06 08 10:27 am Link with or without the crop factor, the 85 1.8 is considered a portrait focal length lens. if you get too close with the 50 1.4, you'll start to get some distortion, starring in the center of the image, which usually is the nose... the longer focal length of the 85mm forces you to back off a bit... m-a Dec 06 08 10:30 am Link Stroke Of Light photos wrote: I bet you will find that your 75-300 only shoots at f4 at 75mm also, not at 300mm Dec 06 08 10:36 am Link The 85/1.8 is probably the best single lens choice, but is limiting if you also want full length shots in a smaller studio. Ultimately, you should also move to the 70/200 f2.8 which would make the 50mm/1.4 a better combination. Dec 06 08 10:50 am Link Sungoddess Studios wrote: What????? Dec 06 08 10:54 am Link Photogenic Memories wrote: I think he means it will only shoot at f4 and not smaller Dec 06 08 10:54 am Link |
