Which one is your fav/dream lens for portrait?

[John Tan]

Pls provide reason why u choose your fav lens too...Thanks.

[dEthANGeL]

135mm F2L

The performance of this lens is simply amazing after seeing it in action by many individuals. I'd choose this lens first over the 85mm F1.2L as i'm a distance shooter for protraits

[John Tan]

If have spare $$$, I will go for the 85mm f1.2L or 200mm f1.8 II L too...since I have 50mm f1.4 already...I might go for 135mm L...

[JediForce4ever]

85f1.2L for the damn good bokeh.
easier to communicate with model also.

[Stoned]

85 on a 1.3X is about the furthest I'm willing to stand from the model. In fact, most of the time i wind up using a 50mm. I like being close to the subject. The reason for the 85/1.2L? The f1.2 really does it for me because I love low light work. The DOF is also something I can't currently achieve with my current lenses.

[drumma]

Originally Posted by Stoned 85 on a 1.3X is about the furthest I'm willing to stand from the model. In fact, most of the time i wind up using a 50mm. I like being close to the subject. The reason for the 85/1.2L? The f1.2 really does it for me because I love low light work. The DOF is also something I can't currently achieve with my current lenses.

2nd this. and 35L!! a lens too long makes it really hard to communicate.

[haagen_dazs]

may i inquire how much is the 85mm L going for new and used in Singapore?
thanks

[lewong]

Originally Posted by JediForce4ever 85f1.2L for the damn good bokeh. easier to communicate with model also.

hi, how much did you pay for your 85f1.2L? Is that a lens appropriate for 30D with 1.6 crop factor?

[John Tan]

Originally Posted by drumma 2nd this. and 35L!! a lens too long makes it really hard to communicate.

Agreed...that why I'm still stuck at cheapo lens...50mm f1.4 USM...it's only 1/6 of 85mm f1.2L 's price...yet to try the speed of the mark II...if really slower than 50mm f1.4, then I might giveup the whole idea to own it...not worth it...anyone know what is the different from f1.4 vs f1.2?

[John Tan]

Originally Posted by haagen_dazs may i inquire how much is the 85mm L going for new and used in Singapore? thanks

85mmf1.2L mk I is around $3000...mk II is around $3600...

[John Tan]

Originally Posted by lewong hi, how much did you pay for your 85f1.2L? Is that a lens appropriate for 30D with 1.6 crop factor?

Yes either 35mm L or 50mm...

[lewong]

Originally Posted by John Tan Yes either 35mm L or 50mm...

Sorry what did mean? Don't get the 85f1.2 but 50 or 35f1.4L?

[haagen_dazs]

Originally Posted by John Tan 85mmf1.2L mk I is around $3000...mk II is around $3600...

how much is the used 85 L I going for?

[John Tan]

Originally Posted by lewong Sorry what did mean? Don't get the 85f1.2 but 50 or 35f1.4L?

yes if u r using 1.6x and need to get close to models...

[John Tan]

Originally Posted by haagen_dazs how much is the used 85 L I going for?

Maybe $2K+

[lewong]

Originally Posted by John Tan yes if u r using 1.6x and need to get close to models...

Hi, thought portrait uses 70 - 135mm lens work best. So 85 @ 1.6x could be just nice. what do you think?

And would 35mm or 50mm too close and may cast shadow or make the nose a little big? by the way, you think the price for 85f1.2 work the money? esp compare to 85f1.8.?

[n0d3]

Originally Posted by lewong Hi, thought portrait uses 70 - 135mm lens work best. So 85 @ 1.6x could be just nice. what do you think? And would 35mm or 50mm too close and may cast shadow or make the nose a little big? by the way, you think the price for 85f1.2 work the money? esp compare to 85f1.8.?

The f/1.2L is a very specialised lens, if you don't need the uber shallow DOF then save yourself some money and buy something else.

[lewong]

Originally Posted by n0d3 The f/1.2L is a very specialised lens, if you don't need the uber shallow DOF then save yourself some money and buy something else.

Probably so, maybe the 85f1.8 is more than enough for me. what do you think?

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by lewong Probably so, maybe the 85f1.8 is more than enough for me. what do you think?

The "normal" 85/1.8 is already very very good. For me, it's difficult to fanthom that a lens could be any better than the output that the 85/1.8 gives me. Nevertheless, there are some rare occasions when the f1.8 isn't enough, or when I need a thinner DOF. For this alone, I would like the 85/1.2. I cannot say that I NEED it per se, but it allows me to do some things I have to compromise on, ever so slightly, now. I do think though that both lenses are for different applications and you need both in your shooting arsenal if you're an 85mm fan. Do get the cheaper 85mm though before deciding to expand, not upgrade, with the 85/1.2.

[shinken]

Originally Posted by lewong And would 35mm or 50mm too close and may cast shadow or make the nose a little big? by the way, you think the price for 85f1.2 work the money? esp compare to 85f1.8.?

Got that from some local course materials? I did. But I went ahead to try anyway. For portraits, is "generally" the longer the better in terms of perspective distortion, or whatever you call it (nose getting too big on wide, models look slimmer on tele...)

But, after seeing portraits shot with the 35, I thought the distortion was extremely well controlled because of the clever framing. And I moved on to do a portrait session mainly with my 17-40.

Cast shadow? Even the features of the face would case unwanted shadow. Lighting would be a different issue altogether

85 1.2L, you gain colour, sharpness, contrast (all ps-able), larger aperture and very substantially better bokeh.

85 1.8 you get light weight and much faster focusing.

It's up to the user to decide whether it's worth it.