Canon EF 85mm f/1.8

[chjing]

hi, anyone used this lens before. any comments?

[drumma]

one of my fave lens. it's fast and it's sharp. however, visible CA at F1.8 and when stopped down abit, CA is not so prominent. quite soft at f1.8 also but improve sharpness at f2.2 onwards.

[chjing]

sorri, wat is CA?

[ultrazoom]

Originally Posted by chjing sorri, wat is CA?

Chromatic Aberrations.

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by drumma one of my fave lens. it's fast and it's sharp. however, visible CA at F1.8 and when stopped down abit, CA is not so prominent. quite soft at f1.8 also but improve sharpness at f2.2 onwards.

The softness wide open varies from copy to copy. The copy I had previously, which I sold just some time back, was stellar wide open. I totally regret selling it, but alas, what's done is done. BTW, do check the calibration, I thought it was soft at first too but after calibration it became really sharp. It was a case of misfocus rather than lack of sharpness.

[Russ]

Fantastic lens. Sharp, contrasty, fast ... I could not ask for more.

[Inimatad]

Sharp. Very sharp.
Just a notch below L-lens standard and "economically-priced"

[Moonstone]

Sharp and nice. Price good too.

[sehsuan]

Good lens to have when you're shooting ambient indoors.

[tamiya_model]

A lens totally worth its price if your photography requires its use...

[Virgo]

Truely an excellent lens worth purchasing. CA is quite OK for my copy when in 1.8.

However, one needs to know the capabilities before using it, and you MUST try to use it. I find that a lot of us who purchased this lens didn't use it that often and later sell it!

[Garion]

Originally Posted by Virgo Truely an excellent lens worth purchasing. CA is quite OK for my copy when in 1.8. However, one needs to know the capabilities before using it, and you MUST try to use it. I find that a lot of us who purchased this lens didn't use it that often and later sell it!

Well said, and that is true for just about most lenses. I am guilty of that on occasion too.

Back to topic, I came very close to owning this lens several times and have borrowed a friend's copy to use some time last yr, its a great lens for usage indoors and for closeup (head and shoulders) portraits...sweet on a 1.3x crop body. CA only appears in extreme situations wide open but stopped down to f2.8 and above should have all but disappeared. I love the smooth bokeh this lens produce and the ultra fast USM focusing. Good value for money too.

[shawnlim]

Fast AF and sharp

[hazmee]

I bought this lens brand new. Loved it, lost sleep over its bokeh+sharpness+colors, got bored with it, traded it away for a wide angle lens. There's nothing wrong with the lens actually. My advice: buy it only when you see its purpose suits your needs. Using prime lenses requires you to have that acquired taste for a certain focal length which brings out your creativity and style. *coming from someone who loves zoom lenses*

[drumma]

haha! interestingly, i sold my 28-75 for the 85mm.. i got bored. just wanted to try something out. and i only had the 85mm as my only lens to use for anything i shoot. like the focal length, sweet bokeh, good for concerts and low light photography..

[hazmee]

Originally Posted by drumma haha! interestingly, i sold my 28-75 for the 85mm.. i got bored. just wanted to try something out. and i only had the 85mm as my only lens to use for anything i shoot. like the focal length, sweet bokeh, good for concerts and low light photography..

Hehe... different strokes for different folks... err.. or is it the other way round? hehe.

[slacker123]

a most excellent lens in all aspects when stopped down to f/2.8

[megaweb]

I have it and I like it very much

Comment :
- Fast Focusing
- Light
- Sharp
- Value for $ if you cannot afford L lens
- Shallow DOF

Some shots taken by this lens
- Shot 1
- Shot 2
- Shot 3
- Shot 4

[canongrapherL]

Nice shots from your link!

Originally Posted by megaweb I have it and I like it very much Comment : - Fast Focusing - Light - Sharp - Value for $ if you cannot afford L lens - Shallow DOF Some shots taken by this lens - Shot 1 - Shot 2 - Shot 3 - Shot 4

[jeremyspk]

sharp lens. fast AF. nice bokeh
gd for close up.
don't own one though, borrowed from drumma once to use for indoor shoot sweet!