50 f1.4 vs 85 f1.8.....

[pwp]

I've been doing a lot of senior photo shoots, and also some general portrait work over the last few years and I was thinking that a prime lens might be in order for better DOF and results....

When you say better DOF what do you actually mean? A shallower DOF or deeper DOF or a particular bokeh look? Your 70-200 is a fantastic portrait lens, it's the go-to lens for portrait shooters across the planet. I'd suggest looking at the exif data on your portrait shots and see what focal length is your most used for what you consider the best results. PS Bridge or Lightroom will sort these for you. That might help aim you towards a well informed decision for a 50, an 85 or a 135 or just to stay with what you've already got.

Looking at your current lens list, I see a gap at the wider end if you're looking for quality. You'll pick up a good pre-owned 24-105 for the $amount in your budget.

-PW

[bholliman]

I'll order the 50mm 1.4  next week.

Canons 50 1.4 is a very good lens and excellent value.  It will be a very nice addition to your kit now and will still be useful after you buy a FF camera body.

[mjbehnke]

I've been doing a lot of senior photo shoots, and also some general portrait work over the last few years and I was thinking that a prime lens might be in order for better DOF and results....

When you say better DOF what do you actually mean? A shallower DOF or deeper DOF or a particular bokeh look? Your 70-200 is a fantastic portrait lens, it's the go-to lens for portrait shooters across the planet. I'd suggest looking at the exif data on your portrait shots and see what focal length is your most used for what you consider the best results. PS Bridge or Lightroom will sort these for you. That might help aim you towards a well informed decision for a 50, an 85 or a 135 or just to stay with what you've already got.

Looking at your current lens list, I see a gap at the wider end if you're looking for quality. You'll pick up a good pre-owned 24-105 for the $amount in your budget.

-PW

PW,
I'd like to have a shallower DOF. I know I can't get much with Crop, but using a faster lens should help, correct?
Also as I mentioned, I'll be leaving the crop world and heading towards FF around the end of the year, as I save up for the 5D3. Once I go FF, I will no longer have the 15-85, as it's for Crop bodies only. If I can collect enough, I could get the 5D3 with the 24-105 as a kit. Until than, I'd like to have a little shallower DOF in my photos.

Thanks,
Matthew

[Nishi Drew]

I've been doing a lot of senior photo shoots, and also some general portrait work over the last few years and I was thinking that a prime lens might be in order for better DOF and results....

When you say better DOF what do you actually mean? A shallower DOF or deeper DOF or a particular bokeh look? Your 70-200 is a fantastic portrait lens, it's the go-to lens for portrait shooters across the planet. I'd suggest looking at the exif data on your portrait shots and see what focal length is your most used for what you consider the best results. PS Bridge or Lightroom will sort these for you. That might help aim you towards a well informed decision for a 50, an 85 or a 135 or just to stay with what you've already got.

Looking at your current lens list, I see a gap at the wider end if you're looking for quality. You'll pick up a good pre-owned 24-105 for the $amount in your budget.

-PW

PW,
I'd like to have a shallower DOF. I know I can't get much with Crop, but using a faster lens should help, correct?
Also as I mentioned, I'll be leaving the crop world and heading towards FF around the end of the year, as I save up for the 5D3. Once I go FF, I will no longer have the 15-85, as it's for Crop bodies only. If I can collect enough, I could get the 5D3 with the 24-105 as a kit. Until than, I'd like to have a little shallower DOF in my photos.

Thanks,
Matthew

Well, not being able to go shallow on a crop body is a myth, while indeed you can get shallower with larger formats with wider fields of view. I can get nice and shallow with a 25mm F/1.4 on a micro four thirds camera, which is about a 50mm F/2.8 equivalent with the sensor being smaller than APS-C. But, I also have a 5DII and being able to shoot wider and with shallow depth of field certainly is nice, but the big advantage is really being able to shoot stopped down and still get good subject separation. That said, my favorite is a 35mm F/1.4, but for what you do the 85mm is good, I don't like Canon's 50mm, purple fringing and bokeh could be a lot better. But personally I would go with Sigma's 85mm 1.4, sharper, far less CA, and bokeh on level with the 85L, but even a good used deal is double the price of a used 85mm 1.8

[stipotle]

I've been doing a lot of senior photo shoots, and also some general portrait work over the last few years and I was thinking that a prime lens might be in order for better DOF and results....

When you say better DOF what do you actually mean? A shallower DOF or deeper DOF or a particular bokeh look? Your 70-200 is a fantastic portrait lens, it's the go-to lens for portrait shooters across the planet. I'd suggest looking at the exif data on your portrait shots and see what focal length is your most used for what you consider the best results. PS Bridge or Lightroom will sort these for you. That might help aim you towards a well informed decision for a 50, an 85 or a 135 or just to stay with what you've already got.

Looking at your current lens list, I see a gap at the wider end if you're looking for quality. You'll pick up a good pre-owned 24-105 for the $amount in your budget.

-PW

PW,
I'd like to have a shallower DOF. I know I can't get much with Crop, but using a faster lens should help, correct?
Also as I mentioned, I'll be leaving the crop world and heading towards FF around the end of the year, as I save up for the 5D3. Once I go FF, I will no longer have the 15-85, as it's for Crop bodies only. If I can collect enough, I could get the 5D3 with the 24-105 as a kit. Until than, I'd like to have a little shallower DOF in my photos.

Thanks,
Matthew

If you are that sure that you are upgrading to a 5D3, then you might reconsider the 85 f/1.8 as an investment - that you would rather have that focal length on a full frame. Also - if you find you want a wider prime with full frame, the shorty forty is only $150 away.  (Granted f/2.8 isn't f/1.4, but it's a great lens)

[timmy_650]

I would vote 85 f1.8 and if you want a bit wider you can pick up 50 f1.8 for cheap. I have a nifty 50 and 100 2.8L and I really like the 100 but i do a lot of outside pictures. If you don't have much room, I would go with the 50 f1.4

[Dylan777]

No comment on 85 f1.8, never own one...

My vote is 50mm(=80mm to FF) for portrait. I used to have this lens prior 50L. On my copy, sharpness starts from f1.8 - f2.

I feel 85mm(=136mm to FF) might be to tight for indoor. I tried 135L on my 5D III few weeks ago, it was little tight for indoor.