I sold my 1,8/85mm after I had bought the 24-70mm. 85mm is not far away from 70mm. (furthermore the closest focusing distance of the 85mm is no better than 85cm , but the closest focusing distance of the 24-70 is 38cm! )
like_this wrote: 2/135mm DC and AF-S 2,8/24-70mm @ DX.
I sold my 1,8/85mm after I had bought the 24-70mm. 85mm is not far away from 70mm. (furthermore the closest focusing distance of the 85mm is no better than 85cm , but the closest focusing distance of the 24-70 is 38cm! )
I agree, the focusing distance can sometimes be an issue, but using the 85mm is more discreet and much less obtrusive than using a wider lens like the 24-70 (you need to be closer, sometimes too close to the subject, that's the reason why I like the 70-200VR so much for portrait)
I fell more in love with my 85 f/1.4 after going full frame. It's not quite as tight as a longer lens might be, but it still out-performs most anything, for me.
I also use an old AI-Converted 105 f/2.5 for portraits and it does a wonderful job with beautiful backgrounds.
All in all, if I go to someone's home for a baby shoot or portrait, which isn't that often, I bring the 35 f/2, the 85 f/1.4 and a 300 f/2.8 as well as that 105 sometimes.
But, any lens can be a good portrait lens in a given situation. I've even used a fisheye a few times and a 500mm at other times. It depends. I don't believe that the magic 85 to 135 range is as important as some make it.
Oasisbill wrote:
105mm f/2.5. (on a D700). I find MF is fine for portraits.
+1 and the 58 f1.4 when choosing MF glass. Favorite AF lens is the 70-200 f2.8 VR
Between those two lenses, the 135 f2. I love the 90mm tamron on the crop bodies which gives the same angle of view. But of course there are differences.
I used a 135 f1.8 on a full frame Sony and it was pretty bloody excellent.
Nov 08, 2009 at 08:02 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
85mm is doing extremely great when shooting the person from head to waist. I found it a little hard to control when I use it to shoot full body due to the softness at f1.4. If i want to have a clear picture at full body shot, I must step down my f stop to 2.8 or more maybe even f4.
HapZungLam wrote:
85mm is doing extremely great when shooting the person from head to waist. I found it a little hard to control when I use it to shoot full body due to the softness at f1.4. If i want to have a clear picture at full body shot, I must step down my f stop to 2.8 or more maybe even f4.
this was exactly what i found when i tried the lens out.
i'll go w/ the 135/2 and call it day. thanks for the opinions all.
I love my 85/1.4 on film and FX. Have used the 105/2.8 before for tighter headshots, and have never tried a 135. I also use the 70-200 quite a bit for portraits, but still prefer the 85/1.4.
, but the closest focusing distance of the 24-70 is 38cm! 
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