Hello 1x Members,


I have come across a large tax return and decided to spend it on a lens. Cost is no issue it is all about my needs.

I own a Canon 5D MKII and shoot a lot of "Environmental Portraits" of people in their surrounds. Usually I approach strangers and ask them politely if I may take their photograph. I am not worried about sharpness because both of these lenses perform well.

Options:

85mm 1.2L II USM
or.
35mm 1.4L USM


Has anyone had any good/bad experiences with these lenses?




Kind Regards

Ben

Both a way too expensive for my moneybag, but a friend has the 85 1.2 and it is really a fantastic lense!

I had the 85 1.2 mf one before. It was fantastic! So fantastic that when I destroyed one I got hold on another while I waited for repair.
But what kind of photos do you intend to take? What range do you need?

Just buy both of them!

This is a fabulous piece of glass, the lens to have for great close up portraits. The bokeh is like cream. Not as fast AF as the 135 f/2 but for portraiture it works great.

For the wide side I would suggest the new 24 f/1.4L II instead of the 35. Supersharp and also gives a very nice bokeh. The Nikon 14-24 got some superb reviews on it's sharpness when it came out a couple of years ago. It beet everything in sharpness, even the fixed lenses. The new Canon 24 f/1.4L II is said to be significantly sharper than the Nikon 14-24. Yes, a completely different kind of lens so the comparison might be strange, but it says something about the optical quality of the lens. I'll try to find a reference to this statement, don't have it at hand at the moment.

Really fun to shoot wide angle and still get such a short dof. I've used both for wedding and portrait photography. If I could only have ONE lens, it would probably be the 24. But that is more for general photography and not only portraits.

If you are looking at this range of optics, have you tried the 50 f/1.2L? Great lens as well... :-)

I have already covered my range with the zooms (16-35, 24-70, 70-200) but I am planning on taking a lot of portraits and I may have forgotten to mention a lot more Automotive photography on the cards.

I realise the 85mm is more flattering because of its distance for portraits. But i am worried it is a limiting lens because it seems best suited to this purpose only! The 35 gives me a lot more uses due to its angle, it is fast and has good DOF and Bokeh but is it an unflattering lens, does it distort the face too much.

Thomas: I like that 24mm and i can see you do to but the distortion was ofputting for me, I loved it for products and its resolving detail was fantastic but I use my 16-35 for everything wide as I usually dont hand hold my landscapes. I'll borrow it again from my canon rep now that you've suggested it though.

Do you not feel the 50mm 1.2 has backfocussing issues, matched with my 5d's 9AF points i found it sluggish and inaccurate even with lens correction on.

Thanks for the input guys really appreciate it

Ben

Then buy them both...

Hahaha your totally right... I might just

For shooting people in their surroundings it sounds like the 85 would limit you. For short depth of field it is fantastic. Unbelievable sharpness! The 35 1.4 I have no experience with, but you would get a lot shorter dof than with the 16-35.
But, if I went back to using Canon that 85 would be the first on my shopping list.

For portraits with surroundings, no. If you go close, definitely yes

Thank you lars :-)

I own both those lenses and use them on a 5D MkII. One advice, carefully calibrate the focus on the camera, fully open there is no room for error and without calibration the focus was off in my case, for both lenses. The 85 1.2 really gives you zero margin.

Also, you might like to get another focussing screen, the normal one doesn't show DOF smaller than, let's say, f/5.6. When I'm using the 85 1.2L I always change the focussing screen to the EG-S screen.

recommended reading : http://www.dphotoexpert.com/2007/09/21/live-view-versus-the-cheating-dslr-viewfinder/

I have the 85mm & it is a dream one of the best lenses that Canon makes. It is interesting what Hans states about the focus I must explore this because he is really right in pointing out about the need for accuracy wide open. Also be aware the focus is very slow.

Using a custom function in the camera menu or at a service centre?


Very true! I have the EG-S I found it even helps with my 2.8 lenses. I also have the EG-D (Benefeit of running a camera store)

Thanks for all your input I think the choice is clear - I have to own both... eventually :-P

Im buying the 85mm first