Canon 85 1.8 vs 100 2 - which do you prefer for portraits on FF?
I'm moving up to the 5DIII (from a 50D) at some point in the near future and have settled on a 2 zoom/2 prime setup for now. 17-40 for landscape, 70-200/4 IS for portrait/landscape. Probably the 35/2 and trying to decide between the 85/1.8 and 100/2. Both cost around the same. Both get good/great reviews. Only nit I've heard about the 85 was the purple fringing.
Any thoughts on which is preferable? I'm not planning on the 100/2.8 macro or 135/2 by the way.
Any thoughts on which is preferable? I'm not planning on the 100/2.8 macro or 135/2 by the way.
Eyal
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Even worse is that I'm seriously considering it. Divamum does swear it has magic pixie dust...
I do worry about 135 being a bit long but can play with my 70-200 and see what that focal length feels like when I get the 5D...
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Now as for portraits, as Andy said the 135L is magic, but for the price, the Canon 85 1.8 is very nice.
Remember one can never have too many lenses.
Sam
Not into macro. I do have extension tubes but have used them maybe twice in the past 3 years.
Only thing really holding me back from the 85 is concerns about lateral CA.
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On a 5D MKII it yields some of the smoothest bokeh that I have seen. Easily one of Canon's best portraiture lenses for head shots and head-and-shoulder. If you have the room, it's also nice for full length too.
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If you put a gun to me, I'd go with the 100 f/2. But you know what? Almost JUST because I hate to be mainstream. That, and the little extra reach is so much better for single headshots. 85mm is right there up next to the "forehead zone" (anything wider than 70mm) when it comes to professional headshots and such.
Honestly the best thing you can do is either rent, or try in the store, before you buy. See how the CA and vignetting are on the 100 f/2. I found them to be virtually a non-issue, unless you plan on photographing birds against a white sky, or against ten thousand twigs. But for the low-light candid photojournalism and general portraiture that I love to do, the 100 f/2 is great. Even though the 85 1.8 is probably just as great, or even more practical for general shooting.
=Matt=
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I think if you can use the focal length, the best choice would be the 135L. The 100 macro is also really good, but it's only 2.8.
Off topic, but the 24mm 2.8 is AMAZING on FF for the price. It's sharp as a tack. I use that for landscapes when I'm using FF.
I don't recall significant CA with my 85 f1.8. It is not a good lens for shooting IR however as it will bloom IR.
But then CA is easily removed with the lens profiles in Lightroom 3 or 4, or Adobe Camera Raw.
I prefer the 85 due to its shorter lens barrel, lighter weight, and smaller size. A great piece of glass for the price. And I own the 135 f2 L and love it also.
Unless CA is really bad, it is quite easy to remove in Raw rendering these days, and if one looks carefully, you will find some CA even in excellent L lenses. I have some cheaper Tamron lenses that do not demonstrate much at all too. Go figure.
Modest amounts of CA are pretty much a non-issue these days.
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I did/do have a 50 that I don't use much anymore - was mostly shooting portraits with the 17-55/2.8 at 55/2.8 or the 70-200/4.
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I shoot the 135mm f/2L on a 5d2 and simply love it. Rent it and see for yourself. People will ask you how you got that shot. You'll want to see if it works for *your* style of portraiture (or if it leads you to a style of portraiture you like better than what you do now). It's too pricey to buy on speculation but it's too good not to try out.
A great choice, unless of course the 85 1.2 is in the room.
I'd love to hear from people who have shot both the 135mm f/2L and the 85mm f/1.2L (as would the O.P. I suspect). Sorry for the mini thread hijack.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=106&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=118&CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0
An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
Gonna let this decision go for a while as it now appears I'll be waiting a few weeks at least for the 5Diii. Will report back after I play with the lenses
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