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Archive 2007 · Battle of the cheap primes?

SchnellerGT
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p.1 #1 · Battle of the cheap primes?

The top three non-L, F1.4-1.8 primes rated on FredMiranda.com:

1) Canon EF 85 F1.8 USM (9.4 @ 173 Reviews)
2) Canon EF 50 F1.4 USM (9.0 @ 242 Reviews)
3) Canon EF 50 F1.8 MkII USM (8.6 @ 228 Reviews)

Which of these three did you buy?

May 24, 2007 at 10:11 PM

Stan43
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p.1 #2 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I had the 85 1.8 and 50 1.4. I liked both but sold them to buy the 85 1.2L

May 24, 2007 at 10:54 PM

SimonPK
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p.1 #3 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have all 3. Don't use the 50/1.8 since getting the 1.4. The 85 is by far my favorite but it's usually too long indoors (on a 30D). I keep trying to arrange situations where I can use the 85 on my kids...but the 50/1.4 is pretty nice too and gets the most use.

May 24, 2007 at 11:02 PM

SchnellerGT
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p.1 #4 · Battle of the cheap primes?

If only Canon would make a EF 50 F1.4 MkII with ring USM and modern optics and sell it for $300-400. They wouldn't be able to make them fast enough!

May 24, 2007 at 11:25 PM

EltonTeng
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p.1 #5 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I current own the 50/1.8 and the 85/1.8. Used to have the 50/1.4 as well...

May 24, 2007 at 11:34 PM

mh2000
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p.1 #6 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I've owned all 3... sold the 85/1.8... don't like the bokeh... am selling the 50/1.4 and keeping the 50/1.8... I hate the bokeh the least from that little lens. They are all sharp.

May 24, 2007 at 11:48 PM

dfresh
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p.1 #7 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I love my 85/1.8, it doubles as my macro lens with extension tubes:
This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

May 24, 2007 at 11:57 PM

mh2000
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p.1 #8 · Battle of the cheap primes?

beautiful image!

May 25, 2007 at 12:04 AM

Sailaire
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p.1 #9 · Battle of the cheap primes?

You forget the 35mm F2. - great prime, low price.

May 25, 2007 at 12:23 AM

ISO1600
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p.1 #10 · Battle of the cheap primes?

i've had all three. 2 copies of the 85 (both were great), one 50/1.4 (sorely disappointed), and still loving the 1.8mkII.

I really think that the 28/1.8 should be up on this list as well, as it just never ceases to amaze me. Great lens- tiny, light, fast focus, and good optics (for the price). The 35/2 is always raved about as well- but i have no experience w/ it.

May 25, 2007 at 12:45 AM

rjk55425
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p.1 #11 · Battle of the cheap primes?

Have owned all 3. The 85 is very sharp wide open, better than the others. Bokeh is OK in my opinion but watch the purple fringing, you can see on the edge of the white helmet. Both are wide open, 2nd is 100% crop:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

This image is copyrighted by the owner

50 1.4 was not as sharp wide open. I kept the 50 1.8 because the price is right for how little I use this focal length, a true best value lens. Just don't drop it.

May 25, 2007 at 01:14 AM

cilo
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p.1 #12 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have all three too, used them since my film camera days.

However I didn't use the 50 f1/8mkII much now, because a long time back I brought the lens and my film SLR to Whitesand, and the 50 f1.8mkII liked the dessert too much (it collected a lot of sand inside) The 50 f1.4 is much better in this regard.

the 85 f1.8 bokeh is really great. I mainly use it for portrait and the result is very good most of the time. I actually prefer the 85 f1.8 for portrait than my 28-70 f2.8L...

May 25, 2007 at 01:18 AM

Al_10D
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p.1 #13 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I bought 50/1.8 MkII first, then upgraded to 50/1.4, never looked back. Excellent lens, much better than any L-zoom at any comparable F-stops. I bought and sold 85/1.8 couple of times, tried to like it, but clearly 100mm f/2 suits my needs better. IQ wise they are practically identical, so if 85mm is the focal length you use - go for it.

May 25, 2007 at 01:33 AM

DavidJB
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p.1 #14 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I'm looking at getting the 30mm sigma 1.4, its only for crop bodies but has great performance at a great price. Seen some comparisons which have it trump the 50 f/1.4 in numerous ways (sharpness, contrast, etc).

May 25, 2007 at 02:03 AM

timbop
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p.1 #15 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have the 85/1.8 and have had the 50/1.8. The 50/1.8 I had needed to be stopped down to f/2.5 to be sharp, which was only a minor improvement over my f/2.8 zoom. The focus was slow and poor, but for $75 it's still pretty good. The 85 is far superior in AF speed and accuracy, and you really can use it at f/1.8 - i.e. it is very sharp. I have never owned the 50/1.4, but I definitely do like the images produced from it. I would probably rank them in the same order as your list for great image quality. The 85 may not be as versatile on a crop camera but, for performances or portrait photography it is excellent.

May 25, 2007 at 03:40 AM

mh2000
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p.1 #16 · Battle of the cheap primes?

the 35/2 is a very decent prime as well... I like it better than the 28/1.8.

May 25, 2007 at 04:33 AM

newmanl
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p.1 #17 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have the 50/1.4 and the 28/1.8 (which I also think should be added to the list as suggested by "ISO1600"). I use them all the time even though I also have the 17-40/4. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, but I really like the sharp, light handling of the two primes - not to mention a noticeably brighter VF in lower light.

... and I think that particularly the 28/1.8 is an underrated lens - it will always have a home in my camera bag!

So far, I have no experience with the 50/1.8 (either of them) or the 85.

Lee

May 25, 2007 at 05:16 AM

Anden
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p.1 #18 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have had all three. They are great lenses for the money. The 35/2 is another great buy.

A

May 25, 2007 at 06:21 AM

Seth Tower
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p.1 #19 · Battle of the cheap primes?

mh2000 wrote:
the 35/2 is a very decent prime as well... I like it better than the 28/1.8.

I agree. I use it far more than my two 50mm's.

May 25, 2007 at 06:26 AM

Chris_Wolf
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p.1 #20 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have the 50 1.8 and the 85 is on its way as well; I have also been thinking about the other primes. Mainly because with my first few ultra-sharp shots from the 50 at such a great price point, I quickly got addicted.

May 25, 2007 at 06:45 AM

HenkvdT
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p.1 #21 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I use both 50 f1.4 and 85 f1.8. The 85 gets more use though, great lens.

May 25, 2007 at 07:33 AM

SchnellerGT
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p.1 #22 · Battle of the cheap primes?

Which "cheap" prime makes for the best portrait lens on a crop body in your opinion?

May 25, 2007 at 12:54 PM

Leslie168
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p.1 #23 · Battle of the cheap primes?

SchnellerGT wrote:
Which "cheap" prime makes for the best portrait lens on a crop body in your opinion?

for me, that should be 50 F1.8II & 85 F1.8

May 25, 2007 at 01:17 PM

esanchez
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p.1 #24 · Battle of the cheap primes?

I have the 35mm F2 and its a great lens very sharp but a bit too wide for my 5D. I just bought a 50mm 1.4 and waiting for it to come in. I'm going to give that a try and if I don't like it I'm going to give the 85mm 1.8 a try. I will be selling my 35mm F2 if anyone reading this post is intrested....

May 25, 2007 at 02:19 PM

mh2000
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p.1 #25 · Battle of the cheap primes?

>>Which "cheap" prime makes for the best portrait lens on a crop body in your opinion?

"portrait length" is open to interpretation... but I would only really consider the 50's, 60 and 85's to fall within this classification. I like the 50/1.8 and 50/2.5 CM. For longer, the 135/2.8 SF is dirt cheap and quite good.

May 25, 2007 at 02:53 PM


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