Advice needed aps-c long prime

[koolman]

Hi,

I am a rebel user and love indoor soft light style portraits, using window light etc.

I use a 50mm 1.4 + Samyang 85mm 1.4 MF. Both are superb.

I wanted to purchase something longer with AF (using the samyang MF requires a tripod) than can be used for candid head shoulder shots, both indoors and out no flash.

I was looking at:

canon 85mm 1.8
canon 100 2
Canon 100mm macro L IS 2.8
Canon 135mm f/2

Obviously the price range of the first 2 options is opx 1/3 then the second two.

Any of our seasoned users can give me some input ?

thanks

[AmbientLight]

My suggestion would be purchasing the 135mm f2. I shoot macros with the 100mm f2.8 IS Macro, but I don't consider it the best option as a portrait lens. In my opinion it is useable, but not the best possible option. You will also benefit from the wider aperture with the 135mm and the greater difference in focal length to your existing 85mm lens should also prove beneficial, giving you a wider range. In case you also want to use the lens for macro shots I reverse my recommendation .

[gjones5252]

I had the 100mm 2.8l macro for about a week and I purchased it for the same reason hour thinking about it.  Two birds one stone right? Well it works excellent at macro but I found the autofocus difficult to deal with in low light for portraits. During good light it was more than fast. But when it got to dusk or indoor low light it took forever and if your pictures are candid the moment will be missed.
In hindsight I am sad I returned it because I got it for about 650 and I do miss some of its features like amazing is!
However I have just ordered the 85 1.8 and it will be here Thursday. So lll have to let you know how that goes.

[87vr6]

You already have a fast 85. So from your list of lenses and your thread title, I think the only real choice is the Canon 135L. Check Fred Miranda, Canon's direct shop for refurbished lenses. Lensrentals is also a good source. Don't be afraid to buy used/refurb'd. I have more than a few time from the sources mentioned and have not been disappointed.

[distant.star]

.
Can't provide much general advice since I haven't used most of those. But I do use a 135mm f/2.0L on a T2i, so a couple of things to think about:

1. If you're using indoors, you better have big indoors. On the crop, the 135 is equivalent to 216mm on full-frame 35mm equiv.

2. the 135 is so extremely sharp, be prepared to do some retouching if you're doing portraits. If you like the soft, diffused look, you may need to do that in post.

For me, I haven't found that I could really use the 135 indoors.

[neuroanatomist]

You already have an 85mm lens, do you like the focal length and the only problem is that it's MF?  If so, the 85/1.8 would be the way to go. The 100/2 would work as well, the two lenses are very close cousins in terms of building and IQ.  Personally, I love the 135/2L, but I think it's too long for portraits on APS-C. Likewise, the 100L macro is a great lens, but with the deeper DoF (for the same framing) of APS-C, I think you want the fastest lens possible for portraits, and f/2.8 isn't as good.

[K-amps]

Depending on your budget, either the 85 1.8 or the 135L.

If you were serious about macro and occasionally wanted to use it as portrait, the 100L might be the way to go but the portraits may not be as good under low light as the 135L or 85 1.8... but acceptable.

Only you know what your preference is...

[RLPhoto]

Hi,

I am a rebel user and love indoor soft light style portraits, using window light etc.

I use a 50mm 1.4 + Samyang 85mm 1.4 MF. Both are superb.

I wanted to purchase something longer with AF (using the samyang MF requires a tripod) than can be used for candid head shoulder shots, both indoors and out no flash.

I was looking at:

canon 85mm 1.8
canon 100 2
Canon 100mm macro L IS 2.8
Canon 135mm f/2

Obviously the price range of the first 2 options is opx 1/3 then the second two.

Any of our seasoned users can give me some input ?

thanks

100mm F/2 if your strapped for cash, But preferably the 135L if you can.

The 135L is just a magic black tube with AF. On crop bodies, You'll have to deal with a minimum shutter speed of 1/200th or faster. This can be a problem because you can't bump the ISO too high on Canon Crop bodies before it look gahh. On the same token, the extra lens sharpness will allow you to be more aggressive with the NR w/o losing too much detail.

The 135L was my first L grade lens. I will never depart from it, unless a 135mm F/1.8L IS USM is released. Then, I'd part with it. 

[koolman]

Well it seems that the 135mm L scores quite high with everyone. Especially since I have the 85 samyang.

I have a friends 18-135 and I'll see if the 135 is too looooooooooooong

[K-amps]

Well it seems that the 135mm L scores quite high with everyone. Especially since I have the 85 samyang.

I have a friends 18-135 and I'll see if the 135 is too looooooooooooong

Just learn to step back (and walk through walls doing that)   

[robbymack]

any of the options you listed would be good, although I'd probably steer you towards the 85 1.8 or 135 L as others have suggested.  I think you are going to find the 135 pretty long indoors on crop.  Honestly on crop the 85 is probably your best bet, you can at least use it indoors when you have a little working space.  If you don't want to overlap a FL then the 100 2.0 is essentially the same lens with slightly longer FL and similarly priced.  If you end up with the 85 be careful not to shoot it wide open in high contrast scenes or you'll get the ugly purple fringes in the transition areas.  Stop down to 2.2 or smaller and it's really no problem, if that cant be done then just accept a little extra PP time to get rid of the purple. 

[CharlieB]

True differences of the one measly stop - 100/2 vs 100/2.8 macro... I have used, and LOVE the 100/2, but I got the 100/2.8 macro..... you'll never notice the one stop difference in DOF or bokeh.

Add to that.... get yourself a USED Zeiss Softar II in bayonet 50 or such (for Hasselblad).  Get the adapter and mount it on the 100mm lens.   Stop down to about f/5.6 and you have pure soft cream... just gorgeous results without having to work hard.

[neuroanatomist]

True differences of the one measly stop - 100/2 vs 100/2.8 macro... I have used, and LOVE the 100/2, but I got the 100/2.8 macro..... you'll never notice the one stop difference in DOF or bokeh.

Maybe you don't, maybe the OP won't.  I certainly notice the difference in DoF between f/2.8 and f/2 at 85mm and 135mm.