Any of you had both the F/1.8 and F/1.2 ??
I had the 1.2 II but i had to sale it because I wasn't using it allot
Now I'm thinking to buy the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM save some $$$
how is the IQ ?? are you guys happy ??
Any pictures wide open?
thanks to all
Its a cracking little lens. You can't go wrong. I made the mistake of selling mine but i am about to buy another one lol. I found it perfect on a crop body for portraits.
I use the 1.8 for about 6 months. I thought it was a really great lens, till I started using the 100 f/2. The 100 got the shots more times than not, mostly because I felt the bokeh was ever so slightly better than the 85, but sometimes hard to tell. I liked the reach of the 100 for the portrait work, and being able to get some nice tight shots while doing event photography (bands, folks on the stage, etc.).
But the 85 is a super nice lens. Consider checking out the 100 though.
gdanmitchell wrote:
I think the 85mm f/1.8 is one of the best little lenses Canon makes. It is a great performer in every way.
Dan
Except in backlight high contrast situations... And yes, I own one, love it, but it has a fair amount of short comings but is a fantastic lens for the money!
MSIGuy wrote:
Except in backlight high contrast situations... And yes, I own one, love it, but it has a fair amount of short comings but is a fantastic lens for the money!
I have a bag full of lenses including L and non-L glass, and I've never noticed a backlight problem with the non-L 85mm. In my experience it actually handles such situations with aplomb. It is simply a fine lens, regardless of the low price.
gdanmitchell wrote:
I have a bag full of lenses including L and non-L glass, and I've never noticed a backlight problem with the non-L 85mm. In my experience it actually handles such situations with aplomb. It is simply a fine lens, regardless of the low price.
Dan
He is probably referring to the relatively high level of purple fringing the lens has in those conditions when used wide open. Personally, I do not experience it very much and when I do it's easily fixed in post.
I have owned and sold the 85/1.8, the 100/2, and the 85/1.2 (II).
I have (and can't imagine selling) the 85/1.2 (I), and 135/2.
The 85/1.8 and 100/2 are both good performers and have advantages over the wider aperture 85/1.2 (focus speed, weight, and of course $$). But the 85/1.2 is in a whole 'nuther league optically. Its center-sharpness wide open is amazing, the bokeh at all distances is terrific, and of course you have the f/1.2 aperture. The 85/1.8 and 100/2 would make tons of purple-fringed edges on my 5D, and the slightly OOF bokeh did not appeal to me (they rendered very OOF bokeh just fine. IMO, it's how the near OOF looks that's important).
BTW, I saw virtually no difference between mark I and II versions of the 85/1.2 .
[edit] I forgot to mention that the colors and contrast out of the 1.2 are also a big step up over its non-L siblings.
dmcharg wrote:
Its a cracking little lens. You can't go wrong. I made the mistake of selling mine but i am about to buy another one lol. I found it perfect on a crop body for portraits.
Agreed, but you sound like Wallace (of Wallace & Gromit fame) talking about a particularly excellent slice of toast
BTW, the purple fringing on the 85/1.8 can be automatically reduced for you if you shoot RAW and check the Color Blur aberration correction in DPP. It won't completely remove it, but it does make it much less prominent. A complete removal is best done in Photoshop.
It's a lovely lens. But I still dream about having the 85/1.2L II. (Actually, I had a literal dream last night about owning the 35/1.4L, but that's a story for another thread.)
I mainly shoot weddings, and due to the f/1.8 is good for low light, many wedding photographers love it. The only reason why I will most likely never own this lens is the purple fringing. I understand all lenses is susceptible to PF, but the ones I got from the 85/1.8 was just not acceptable to me.
The only times when I will use this lens is for indoors with natural light (but low contrast) or at night with flash, at weddings. I believe many like this lens for indoor sports as well. But for my use, the 85/1.2 is a better choice.
Had the 85 1.8 and like it a lot before I bought the 85L II, it's much lighter and smaller than the 85L II, and way cheaper too. acceptable bokeh compare to 85L, AF is a huge improvement....you'll like it!
went from 85 1.8 to 85L II, wish I done it sooner before they jacked the price up from $1800 to $2000! love the contrast, sharpness and color, significantly better bokeh. AF is more than quick enough for me, and I use mine at f/1.2~f1.4 exclusively (that's what I bought the lens for). DOF @f/1.2 is VERY manageable (same DOF as my 70-200 2.8 IS II @200mm f/2.8 in MFD) and not as difficult to "master" as some people made it out to be. It's a fun lens to shoot with, my 70-200 2.8 IS II have not seen much action lately because of it though.
Here's a quick snapshot from the 85L II @f/1.4, ISO 200. Reduced contrast and desaturated in Lightroom:
