Sigma 50 1.4 or Canon 85 1.8 OR 100 2.0 for 5d mark ii

[johann3s]

The 100mm and 85mm are very close lenses.

You can do a comparison between the three lenses at how much blur. With this tool you can see the differences in background blur between the lenses, and you can select different subject sizes as well to see the effect.

How much blur - Compare the 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8 and 100mm f2

[7enderbender]

If I could have only one lens for my 5DII it would be a 50mm. Doesn't matter which one really. In fact, I'd rather get the best 50mm for my needs that I could afford before looking into anything else. Doing everything with a 50 prime is about as much fun as photography gets in my book.

If you need a bit more variety I second the idea of the new 40mm plus the 85mm. Should be in the budget.

[Knut Skywalker]

I started exactly like you with just the 5D Mark II and with it i got the 50mm 1.4. It's effing awesome. You can do everything with 50mm, its not too wide and not too tele. I love this lens. After that i got the 100mm 2.0 for portraits. But the 50mm 1.4 is still my main lens. Get a 50mm and you will be very happy with it.

[sambafan]

Shorty Forty running at $149 on most sites right now due to rebates. As others said, it's not super in low light but fun for street shooting. With the 85 1.8, right around 5 bills for a fun combo.
All in all, though, I'd go with a 50 for your first lens. I personally use the Canon 1.4 happily.

[Zlatko]

Will the 85mm be to long for portraits and group photos?

Yes, 85mm will often be too long for group photos.  You will need to really back up.  Depends on the size of the group, of course.  Sometimes 50mm is too long for group photos.  If you will only have one lens to start, it should probably be a 50 or wider, not an 85.

[Rienzphotoz]

Unfortunately i can only buy ONE because i sold everything i had to afford the 5d!

I`m stuck between a Sigma 50mm 1.4 and a Canon 85mm 1.8.

If you have already narrowed down your options between Sigma 50 or Canon 85, I'd say Canon EF 85 f/1.8
Why? 5D MK II (although a great camera) is not really known for it AF system, so pairing it with a third party (Sigma) lens, as your only lens, could end up being a bad decision due to potential front focus/back focus issues ... hence having a Canon lens paired with a Canon camera makes better sense especially when it is your only lens. Don't get me wrong, I personally have used many third party lenses (mostly Sigma ... in fact there was a point in time when I had more Sigma lenses than any other maker's) and I still have 2 third party lenses (Sigma 150-500 OS & Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC) but I found & continue to see that the equivalent Canon lens work better with a Canon Camera  than any third party lens I used or have. But if 50mm is what you'd like to have (which is a better focal length as the first lens than 85mm) go for Canon 50 f/1.4
BTW just yesterday, I ordered Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 from B&H (got a really good deal) ... expected to arrive this coming Thursday. 

[Menace]

If I had to choose between the three on a 5d II, I'd go with the Sigma 50 1.4.

Cheers

[wickidwombat]

I think the 40mm and an 85mm combo is really great i often carry just these (and my 20mm voigtlander)

the shorty forty can be had for $150
the canon 85 f1.8 can be had from $350 to $400

the sigma 50mm f1.4 is around $500

i say go with the canon 85 f1.8 and the shorty forty

[Normalnorm]

The 100 f2 is an excellent lens. The 50 would be good complement to it butI would also recommend the new Sigma 35 f1.4 for your consideration.
I starte my career with a 35 and an 85 and I was very happy for ten years with the versatility of that combo.

[sandymandy]

Id suggest 100mm 2.8L macro. Its just fantastically sharp and also enables you to enter the world of macro shooting. Negative side its more expensive. But imho one of the best lenses of all that canon offers!

[axtstern]

As a reply to the original question:

I own the Sigma and the Canon. I bought the 85mm 1.8 based on internet reviews. "The digital picture" catched me with a remark that the best thing on the 85mm L is it's ability to remind you how good the non L already is. I droped the idea of the 100mm lens as the 1.8 sounded more important to me than the 20mm more and just for the sake of a metal ring instead a plastic ring to screw the filter in I did not want to change my mind.

I bought the Sigma 50mm instead of the Canon because I liked the Bokeh of the Sigma more and someone on E-bay sold it almost new cheaper than any used Canon.

I'm selling the 85mm canon right now while it is still one of my most loved lenses, however I never use it anymore because the Sigma 50mm and the Canon 135mm L eat up enaugh real estate in my camera bag and my idea of a need to cover the middle seemes suddenly not practical.

Really be warned, if the reach, the quality and the bokeh of the 85mm is attractive, then sooner or later the lure of the 135 will be overwhelming.

That said there is something which made the 85mm interesting: It's size and shape (without the lens hood) makes it the perfect companion when using a holster pouches for DSLR with mid sized zooms.

For example your 5DII with a 28-200 or 28-300 lens in such a holster means a lot of reach but nothing fast at hand. The 85mm fits usualy perfectly into the sidepouches of such holsters and so you have the 1.8 available when light conditions are bad.

I do not share the complaints other people have about the focus of the Sigma 50mm. I love that lens just wish it would resemble more the feeling of the Sigma 30mm 1.4 However if you should buy it, it is a heavy, huge monster in relation to just being 50mm. If I know in advance that I have the need for the 50mm I usualy keep the 5d at home and take the 60d with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 as it is a much more convinient solution.  Often when carying the Sigma 50mm arround I wish to either return to my old crappy Canon 50mm 1.8 The lens hood comes with the Sigma for free and is an absolute must to control flare and IQ. As the reversed Hood covers way to much of the lens to be handeled in a convinient way you will end up carying the lens with the hood proper mounted. The result is a short prime being as bulky as the the Tamron 28-70 VC.

[bwfishing]

I love the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, but the chromatic aberrations not so much. The optional lens hood does cuts down the frencency of how often it occurs. If your buying the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens for mostly outdoor use I would recommend against it.  My outdoor prime is the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens.  It has great image stabilization which is a big plus on a portrait lens. Great Bokeh with  IQ and sharpness that is truly excellent.