50mm F1.4 vs 85mm F1.8

[sumball]

Besides the focal lenght and the half stop light, which one give better OOF color rendition (aka bokeh)?

50mm F1.4?

[Garion]

Bro...I had also asked this question before lah...u got do search anot?

Its here: http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=141263

I think both lens give excellent bokeh, from what I've seen. The choice boils down to what you want to use it for. e.g for general portraits the 50mm f1.4 is great, whereas the 85mm excels in head and 'head and shoulders' shots. Personally I prefer the 85mm f1.8...a wonderful lens for the price you pay. AF is lighting fast and accurate especially on 1 series bodies. But my advice is try before you buy, if possible. Only you know which focal length suits you more.

[miniUltraman]

personally I feel 85mm 1.8 give astonishing bokeh due to its focal length. 85mm focus faster and quieter (Ring USM) than 50mm 1.4 (Micro USM) and better build than the 50mm. Like Garion mentioned 85mm is great for head and shoulder shots unless you are in an open field. I feel that 50mm is a more useful focal length for me doing indoor. I have gone thro' your pain too... choosing between the two. Now I have the 50mm on my camera 80% of the time. Very sharp lens... Love it so much! I find it more useful than my 17-40L
Hint : buy both (like I did).... you will love them both

[sumball]

Sorry Steven, Please accept my apologiers as I did not do a search before posting this up as I do not what should I key in for the word to search, 50mm? 85mm? Or 50mm F1.4 vs 85mm F1.8? Everytime I do the search, it gives me pages of result with non-related topic.

I know 85 F1.8 is great but since I have the T90 F2.5, I am just thinking it is just an overlapping there, therefore I am considering the 50mm F1.4. Not only for portrait but for general walk around lens also.

[megaweb]

85 f1.8 vs T90 f2.5 ? I think you will find 85mm USM is so quiet and very fast focusing ... bokeh is very good


Usually I will bring 85mm to sub. my 70-200 IS for light travel

[sumball]

OF course not to comopare the T90 against the 85 F1.8 but since I have already owned the T90, will it be very silly for me to get another same focal lenght lens? Of course, besides the USM find on the 85 F1.8, the front element on 85 F1.8 wont extend during close focusing also, right?

[calebk]

What body are you using and what are your main applications gonna be?

[sumball]

1.3x crop body and mainly be doing some indoor with ambient and walk around.

[megaweb]

Originally Posted by sumball Of course, besides the USM find on the 85 F1.8, the front element on 85 F1.8 wont extend during close focusing also, right?

Yes, you are right

[miniUltraman]

Originally Posted by sumball OF course not to comopare the T90 against the 85 F1.8 but since I have already owned the T90, will it be very silly for me to get another same focal lenght lens? Of course, besides the USM find on the 85 F1.8, the front element on 85 F1.8 wont extend during close focusing also, right?

Yes, 85mm won't extend while focusing while the 50mm does... Thus I feel that the 85mm build is much better

[jlchong]

Actually i have been mulling over the same question, except that i am also considering the 135mm f/2.

Been looking around for a portrait lens.

Anyone has anything to comment between the 135 and the 85 f1.8?

[sumball]

I think the link given by Garion above can answer your question?

Many peoples tell me that Canon is good because there is a wide range of lenses to choose from but is it really good if there are too many lenses around?

*headache*

[Belle&Sebastain]

i have both lenses and i do need both of them, they serve a slightly different purposes for me, the most important things to really factor is how you use it.

when using a full frame camera i perfer the perpective of the 85mm alot, i stand a distance away and capture portraits to wide interaction shots. i use it to capture lots of ppl shots with this lens. The bokeh is outstanding and sharpness is brillant from f2.2, usable wide open. you can stand anywhere from 85cm to a few meters from your subject and still obtain a beautiful background blur.

as for the 50mm, its like a swiss army knife, i use it for get-to-go stuff like detail shots, close up shots. for ppl, this lens will give me the 3-4 ppl interacting shots from a distance, the bokeh of ths application may be weaker eg, i get more of the background in focus. if i need a lens to be on my camera at any time, this is it! its so unpretenous lens, it serves as a 'wide or tele' when i need it and between 45cm to 3m of the subject the bokeh is creamy (with the wide apertures), i have not really open up to f1.4 and use it often but when the lights are very low, the 2/3 stop really makes an interesting images without the use of flash. Wide open do not expect pin sharp images, expect its light gattering magic and those jewel like available light to fall pretty on your images.

[maxlam]

... have been told by some reliable lao jiao in CS that these two are "Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre" ... get them both

[Belle&Sebastain]

while i cannot suggest which is better for you, you could list down why you may need either of the lenses and we could guide you to whch lens may suit your needs more.

[miniUltraman]

Originally Posted by maxlam ... have been told by some reliable lao jiao in CS that these two are "Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre" ... get them both

I agree Must have them both

[calebk]

Yes as what Belle&Sebastain said, list your needs. It'll be so much easier to guide you towards the appropriate lens.

[newmemberz]

I have used both lens.

for bokeh wise, I prefer the 1.4.

[yehosaphat]

Originally Posted by miniUltraman I agree Must have them both

Yea... getting my 85mm soon! Will be using it mainly for stage photography in church or when my kids is outdoors. 50mm still mainly used indoors.

[miniUltraman]

Originally Posted by yehosaphat Yea... getting my 85mm soon! Will be using it mainly for stage photography in church or when my kids is outdoors. 50mm still mainly used indoors.

I think USM has one for sale...