Do I need the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM?

[RGF]

I have the 17-40 f4L, the 24-70 f2.8L and 70-200 f2.8L IS II
Used on both the 7d and 5d mark II.

Will the 85mm f/1.8 give me noticeably better bokeh or any sharper images because it is a prime lens? I cannot afford another L lens at the moment.

Thanks!

The 85 mm will give you several things

1. a lighter lens - the 70-200F2.8 is heavy
2. 1 1/3 stops
3 perhap slight improvement in IQ
4 Make you picture much better because you have the lens you want. The makes the photographer happier and happy photographers take better pictures

So go for it

 

[Saurus]

Check ou this review...

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-85mm-f-1.8-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

He says: "I didn't find myself using the 85 f/1.8 very much after getting the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens. Although 1 1/3 stop slower, I found the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens to be far more versatile.

The bottom line is that the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens is simply a very nice lens at a reasonable price. "

 

[AudioGlenn]

I've been considering getting an 85mm since I sold my 50 (which I liked for portraits on a crop) but found that my 70-200 covers that need quite well. Every time I start to consider it again, I read something somewhere that reiterates how redundant it would be to have both the 70-200 and an 85mm. If or when I do get around to making that purchase, I'll have to go for the L. 2 stops of light might be worth it for me but it really isn't a big need right now.

 

[timmy_650]

I would use the 70-200 most of the time. The weight doesn't brother me, Only if it was too big for the place but that is rare for me.
Personally I would say save your money and save up for the 24-70 2.8 II.

I was looking at the 85 and 40 mostly bc i want a new toy. If you want a new toy it, will be a new toy and fit the bill.

 

[CanNotYet]

First question: What do you shoot?
If it is mostly outdoors, landscapes, outdoor sports etc. I would say stay with 70-200 2.8
If you do portraits and/or indoor sports (or similar) with bad lighting and need for fast shutter speeds, get the 85 1.8.

 

[Albi86]

I have the 17-40 f4L, the 24-70 f2.8L and 70-200 f2.8L IS II
Used on both the 7d and 5d mark II.

Will the 85mm f/1.8 give me noticeably better bokeh or any sharper images because it is a prime lens? I cannot afford another L lens at the moment.

Thanks!

Canon 85/1.8 is a good lens but old and far from superlative for today's standards. It only gets sharp around f/2.8, and wider than that you're also going to be cursed by CA and fringing. Bottom line: in your kit it will be an unremarkable addition.

If you want a portrait prime to expand you possibilities - which means one that you can comfortably use wide open - buy the Sigma 85/1.4.

 

[bholliman]

I'd ask why there is no 50mm, but that's just me.

I will echo RL's comment... 50 f/1.4 is affordable, even slightly cheaper than 85 f/1.8, and will do great portraits...

+1 to RL and RS's endorsement of a 50mm prime.

I have the 70-200 2.8 II, 85 1.8 and 50 1.4 for use on my 6D and 7D. My 50mm gets more use than the other two for low light situations and shots of our 11-month old around the house.

That said the 85mm is a terrific lens, light and fast with nice bokeh. Since I added a 135L, I've used the 85mm less often, but still recommend it highly.

The 70-200 2.8 II is of course extremely versatile. I use it for events where I don't have time to change primes. It also gets plenty of landscape and short range wildlife use. After my 24-105L, its my 2nd most used lens overall.

For me, I enjoy having the flexibility of owning 50, 85 and 135mm primes in addition to a 70-200 2.8. If I had to choose 3 of the 4 however, I would probably sell the 85mm first.

 

[coryparris]

Images shot with wider apertures pop off of the background more. I shoot mostly primes and love the 85 1.8. Small, light, very quick to focus, sharp, and lovely bokeh. The only knocks on this lens are the CA, which is easily removed in LR, and it sucks up dust so much that I have to have the innards cleaned once every couple years. I own 2 85 1.8's.

 

[mdmphoto]

I have the 70-200 f/2.8L IS "I" and I love it. It is versatile, sharp, impresses civilians, and so on. I also have the 85 1.8, which is rather discrete or even nondescript. It takes great portrait shots, and because of the wider aperture, comes in quite handy indoors for available-light portraiture. I owned the 85 before the 70-200, but I would buy one anyway just for that extra 1 1/3 stops that will help me get some shots that would be otherwise unavailable to me. Fringing and other aberrations are easily fixed, usually automatically, in current versions of most modern editing software.