Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

[Fleetie]

My girlfriend indulged me yesterday and allowed me to take pics of her. I took the 24-105mm f/4 L and the 85mm f/1.8. I soon detatched the L in favour of the 85mm f/1.8 for its far better bokeh. I used the 85mm wide open, to maximise that effect.

[CR Backup Admin]

I do lots of theatre photography with it, but I have to watch out for spotlights, it does not handle them well at all.  Notice the purple fringing on the badge of the cap at f/1.8.  My 50mm f/1.4 and 135mmL handles it better, but its still there.

85mm f/1.8



50mm f/1.4



135mmL Also has purple fringing at f/2.

[jnskyliner34]

I love my 85. I'm glad I got this over the 50 1.4 since I've read that the 1.4 isn't that much better than the 1.8. I picked up a 50 1.8 afterwards for indoors because the 85 is too tight at times.

[mathino]

Kitty with my 85 f/1.8 :-)

[Mrs. Canon]

This is a little old, from last fall.

[bvukich]

This is a little old, from last fall.

Very nice.  I'm a big fan of the subtle accent color.

[Mrs. Canon]

Thanks, this ended up being their favorite of the day.

[fotografiasi]

great lens indeed and not that pricey. A photo from my first wedding of this year that I took using my old trusty 85 1.8...

[neuroanatomist]

It really is a great lens and an excellent value!  Here's a shot from when I had the 85/1.8:


Rebel T1i, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, 1/2000 s, f/1.8, ISO 100

I sold my 85/1.8 only after getting the 85mm f/1.2L II.  The 85/1.8 suffers a bit from longitudinal CA wide open - you can see the purple/green fringing in the shot above in the backlit hair halfway down on the right side (the 85L suffers from LoCA also, but to a lesser degree).

[dstppy]

It really is a great lens and an excellent value!  Here's a shot from when I had the 85/1.8:


Rebel T1i, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, 1/2000 s, f/1.8, ISO 100

I sold my 85/1.8 only after getting the 85mm f/1.2L II.  The 85/1.8 suffers a bit from longitudinal CA wide open - you can see the purple/green fringing in the shot above in the backlit hair halfway down on the right side (the 85L suffers from LoCA also, but to a lesser degree).

NA ---

I saw this post a day or so back and decided to give my 85mm another whirl at 'picture day' for T-Ball . . .

Since starting into photography, I've had the opinion that 85 on a crop body is just too much . . . it sort of still stands.  How far back were you with your shot here?

I ask because I was going to overlook the 'professional' (in quotes because he was shooting 4-6 year olds on a tripod at 5' 4" ) photographer and take some 'getting ready' candids . . . still seemed very tight, even for how far away I was.

The 50 has been my go-to for a prime, but my 60 macro has me sort of wanting to try that as a portrait lens (heard from a few friends it was good for that).

Is this just a case of me having 'more access' (being able to get closer than you normally would) to the shot, or is there something I'm missing here?   Like I said on another thread, I'm finding myself favoring the 15-85mm over my 24-105mm L just from FOV.

Thanks

[neuroanatomist]

Since starting into photography, I've had the opinion that 85 on a crop body is just too much . . . it sort of still stands.  How far back were you with your shot here?

I ask because I was going to overlook the 'professional' (in quotes because he was shooting 4-6 year olds on a tripod at 5' 4" ) photographer and take some 'getting ready' candids . . . still seemed very tight, even for how far away I was.

The 50 has been my go-to for a prime, but my 60 macro has me sort of wanting to try that as a portrait lens (heard from a few friends it was good for that).

Is this just a case of me having 'more access' (being able to get closer than you normally would) to the shot, or is there something I'm missing here?   Like I said on another thread, I'm finding myself favoring the 15-85mm over my 24-105mm L just from FOV.

Thanks

I was probably about 6 feet from her.  I really like the 135mm (FF-equivalent) focal length for tight portraits.  Apologies for posting with an off-thread lens, but here's one with the 85/1.2 on a 7D:


EOS 7D, EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, 1/1250 s, f/1.4, ISO 100

In fact, I like the focal length so well that after adding a 5DII to my kit, I also had to add the 135mm f/2L. 

I suspect there's a reason for the 'classical' focal lengths for portraits (50mm for full-body, 85mm for torso, 135mm for head/shoulders, all FF-equivalent, of course, since these date from film days).  Those focal lengths allow the photographer to frame the subject at a distance of 6-8 feet, which is close enough for interaction without 'getting in their space' and more importantly, results in a flattering perspective (perspective is a function solely of the distance from the subject).  A longer distance, and the subject is 'too flat' and the background too compressed, and a shorter distance exaggerates the subject's features, e.g. a close portrait with a wide angle lens means a big nose). 

For a T-ball shot where you probably want the subject framed head-to-toe and maybe swinging a bat (or at least holding one), 85mm (i.e. 50-60mm on a 1.6x crop body) sounds about right - a T-ball age kid is usually about the height of an adult's torso).

[candyman]

Great photos.
I love this lens and consider to buy it (it is within my budget).
Is there any rumour that it will be replaced by a new version in the next 6-12 months? Because this lens dates from 2004.

[dr croubie]

Great photos.
I love this lens and consider to buy it (it is within my budget).
Is there any rumour that it will be replaced by a new version in the next 6-12 months? Because this lens dates from 2004.

You talking about the 85/1.8 from 1992, or the 85/1.2Lii from 2006?
Either way, no specific rumours about either of them. And there's not much wrong with the current versions, if I were you i'd buy either now, could be a long wait to a new version of either.

But in general, canon have been heard to say things like "we're done updating the super telephotos and will do the wider lenses next" and a rumoured "update to a popular lens" (which can be an efs35, or the 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 depending on what you think/hope). Still, they could surprise us with a new 85mm...

[candyman]

You talking about the 85/1.8 from 1992, or the 85/1.2Lii from 2006?
......................

I meant the 85/1.8. Wow, 1992.  ( I got confused by those 85/1.8 reviews that were done with new cameras attached and by seeing first pricelisting around 2004)

I guess you're right. You never know what Canon might do.
Better to enjoy today than waiting for something that not may come for or will take a long time.

Thanks for this reminder.

 

[dstppy]

You talking about the 85/1.8 from 1992, or the 85/1.2Lii from 2006?
......................

I meant the 85/1.8. Wow, 1992.  ( I got confused by those 85/1.8 reviews that were done with new cameras attached and by seeing first pricelisting around 2004)

I guess you're right. You never know what Canon might do.
Better to enjoy today than waiting for something that not may come for or will take a long time.

Thanks for this reminder.

Just my opinion, don't hesitate to buy it, especially if you shoot FF.  There is very little to improve on with this lens (at it's price point).  I doubt if a II version would warrant a replacement purchase, honestly.

I'm dying to go FF just so I can use this lens at 85mm instead of ~135mm (136 actually) equivalent.