I am most likely picking up a 5D in the new year, now that the price has become human for us non-pros.
At this point, I cannot afford to buy an 85L, but I do own the fantastic bang-for-the-buck 85/1.8.
I am wondering if people have some examples in their catalogue which could be posted to show what the 85/1.8 can do on a 5D, since there is a litany of stunning examples of the 5D/85L combo.
It's a beautiful combo. Here's one that shows the bokeh signature you should expect. The bokeh of this lens is not quite as smooth as the 85L or 100 f/2, but that is really the only thing that can be criticized.
Canon 5D, EF 85mm 1.8, 1/180 @ 2.0, ISO 400, flash fill:
I had to pick up 3 extra jobs jobs just to pay for the 85L. I got a job as a paperboy, a lawnboy, and even opened a lemonade & Kool-Aid stand. You're telling me I could've had an 85mm prime that's reasonably sharp @ 1.8 with decent bokeh, for under 400 bills?
The 85 1.8 is an amazin lens. It was actually my favorite out of all my primes. I had a 28 1.8, 50 1.4 and the 85 1.8. It stayed on my 5D 90% of the time. I really like the focal length.
I use past tense because I just sold all of the ones listed above and bought the 85L. Yippee! It is being shipped to me now or will be soon. I will miss certain things about the 1.8 like the size and af speed...ok that's probably it but it is a really good lens, esp. consdering the price. I really didnt want to box it up and ship it away.
The 85f1.8 is wonderful at flower shows etc with either an 8 or 12mm extension tube. After seeing the results of trying this combo the first time, I felt like I'd struck gold.
But in a week, I have a baby and a 5D Mk II hopefully coming my way (bets are on which one will arrive first!) and am strongly considering adding an 85L to my lens list, just for that touch of something special which the f1.8 lacks (and no, I'm not talking about CA!).
Thanks Tom. Good work people.