85mm f/1.8 vs. 50mm f/1.4

Bamaster · Mar 20, 2003

Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

I have a D30 and will likely upgrade to the 10D.

I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics. The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

Is there a comparison somewhere on the Web? I searched without success. Thanks in advance!

--
Tony Melendez

Ken Phillips · Mar 20, 2003

For a while I used those two lenses (on a 1D) for pet portraits. I have since switched to two zooms, but both of the lenses are very good, especially in the middle apertures.

The 85mm has the USM ring motor, and focuses instantly (at least on a 1D!) Certainly faster than the 50mm f/1.4.

You cannot lose with either ... so you must pick your focal length based on usage. In small rooms I'd opt for the 50mm ... for headshots the 85mm.
Ken

Bamaster said:
Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two
lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L
glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

I have a D30 and will likely upgrade to the 10D.

I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics.
The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in
low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

Is there a comparison somewhere on the Web? I searched without
success. Thanks in advance!

--
Tony Melendez

--

29 lbs. of Canon stuff in a backpack that I carry everywhere. A closet full of things that are banned in Britain. A minivan and a Fender Stratocaster. A three bedroom ranch with three owls on an acre. An aversion to rumours. Also, absolutely no Canon 1200mm f/5.6. Yet.

Manuel Caballero · Mar 20, 2003

Bamaster said:
Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two
lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L
glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

I have a D30 and will likely upgrade to the 10D.

I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics.
The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in
low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

Is there a comparison somewhere on the Web? I searched without
success. Thanks in advance!

--
Tony Melendez

Both are lovely lenses. I own the 50 and previously owned the 85mm. Of the two, the 85mm is definitely of better build quality (more metal, less plastic, full internal focus), but both are optically superb and have fast AF. I sold the 85mm as it is really a tele on the D30/D60 and I wasn't using it enough to justify keeping it. I have had no hesitation in using both of them wide open.

--
Manuel

tim martin · Mar 20, 2003

Ken Phillips said:
The 85mm has the USM ring motor, and focuses instantly (at least on
a 1D!) Certainly faster than the 50mm f/1.4.

I think, Ken, you are thinking about the 50mm f/1.8 ... that's the
$70, 50mm lens. But Banmaster has said 50mm f/1.4, which is
the $300, 50mm lens ... with a USM motor.

I really think the 50mm f/1.4 is a super great lens. This is the
one the say "as good as an L".

Ken Phillips said:
You cannot lose with either ... so you must pick your focal length
based on usage. In small rooms I'd opt for the 50mm ... for
headshots the 85mm.

Yup... one more reason to get the 50mm f/1.4

Forrest41926 · Mar 20, 2003

Bamaster said:
Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two
lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L
glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

You're looking in the wrong place; both the lenses you mentioned will stomp all over many/most L lenses. Especially the 50/1.4; Canon only makes a small handful of ( very expensive ) lenses that are sharper than the 50. An L zoom in this range ( 24-70L or 70-200L ) is the next best thing to the lenses you mentioned.

Bamaster said:
I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics.
The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in
low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

I would go for the 50/1.4 if low-light is more important to you, just for the extra 2/3 stop. I don't really shoot this lens wider than f/1.8, but having the big aperture makes it easier to focus and to see in the dark... Otherwise, for portraits, I would personally go with the 85, but it really depends on how you shoot, and how far away you want to stand. I like standing further than the 50 will let me, and still throw the background out of focus...

Forrest41926 · Mar 20, 2003

tim martin said:
tim martin said:

The 85mm has the USM ring motor, and focuses instantly (at least on
a 1D!) Certainly faster than the 50mm f/1.4.

Click to expand...

tim martin said:
I think, Ken, you are thinking about the 50mm f/1.8 ... that's the
$70, 50mm lens. But Banmaster has said 50mm f/1.4, which is
the $300, 50mm lens ... with a USM motor.

The 50/1.4 has an ultrasonic motor, but it's not the "full fledged" kind. It's autofocus is noticably slower than the 16-35L or 100/2.8 Macro -- both of which have the "real thing." I think the main/only advantage of USM in the 50/1.4 is the full-time manual focus override feature, that lets you MF the lens in AF mode if you'd like to ... without having to fumble for the switch on the lens.

tim martin said:
I really think the 50mm f/1.4 is a super great lens. This is the
one the say "as good as an L".

The color really isn't as good as any of the L lenses I've used ... but this one might be the sharpest lens I've ever used. Definately sharper than my 16-35L!

They also say the 100/2.8 Macro should be an L...

tim martin · Mar 20, 2003

Forrest said:
The 50/1.4 has an ultrasonic motor, but it's not the "full fledged"
kind. It's autofocus is noticably slower than the 16-35L or
100/2.8 Macro -- both of which have the "real thing." I think the
main/only advantage of USM in the 50/1.4 is the full-time manual
focus override feature, that lets you MF the lens in AF mode if
you'd like to ... without having to fumble for the switch on the
lens.

Oh .. okay ... thanks ! I learned something today.

Steven Noyes · Mar 20, 2003

It is, by far, the sharpest highest contrast lens I own. It is fast. It is sharp. But so is the 50mm 1.4.

They both are sharper that any "L" lens except the maybe the long primes. Personally, however, my 400 f2.8 does not compete with the 85mm 1.8. These (the 50mm and 85mm) are two really good lenses.

85mm f1.8 (At F11)
http://www.pbase.com/image/14492802

Bamaster said:
Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two
lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L
glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

I have a D30 and will likely upgrade to the 10D.

I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics.
The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in
low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

Is there a comparison somewhere on the Web? I searched without
success. Thanks in advance!

--
Tony Melendez

--
---
New and Updated!!!
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/in_the_supers
http://upload.pbase.com/snoyes/flight_to_the_canyon

DaleT · Mar 20, 2003

I have owned both of them, and still use the 85mm.
It is a great lens, and does focus very fast, faster than the 50mm lens.
Both are very sharp.

The 85mm is sharp wide open at f1.8, the 50mm is also very sharp at f1.8, but not quite at f1.4. I own the 50mm f1.8 II also, and find it is a steal for $65 new. It is as sharp as the 1.4 when both are at f1.8 - 5.6. After that the f1.4 has a slight edge.

The focus speed of both is about the same, which surprised me since the F1.4 has USM. I sold the F1.4 because is offered no real advantage except build quality. I actually like the light weight of the f1.8 version, and can buy four of them for the price of the more expensive one.
I recommend buying the 85mm and the 50mm f1.8 both, and skip the f1.4 lens.

Bamaster said:
Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two
lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L
glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

I have a D30 and will likely upgrade to the 10D.

I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics.
The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in
low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

Is there a comparison somewhere on the Web? I searched without
success. Thanks in advance!

--
Tony Melendez

--
DaleT

Greg R · Mar 20, 2003

If you are in doubt get the 85mm f/1.8 and a 50mm f/1.8. The 50mm f/1.8 is only $70, cheap build but takes excellent photographs.

Stefan Schott · Mar 20, 2003

DaleT said:
It is as sharp as the 1.4 when both are
at f1.8 - 5.6. After that the f1.4 has a slight edge.

...and that slight edge may be important to some of us and therefor justify the expense.

It's an outstanding lens, even taking cost into consideration, it's sufficiently fast AF-wise and nearly totally quiet and should be in every Canonian's photo-bag, imho.

You'll be hard pressed trying to find a lens that is better AND cheaper.

Greetings
Stefan

Khanh M · Mar 20, 2003

Approximately how far can you stand away with the 50mm and still throw the BG out of focus?

Regards,

Khanh M

My Galleries: http://khanhmai.com

I like standing further than

Forrest41926 said:
the 50 will let me, and still throw the background out of focus...

Ken Phillips · Mar 20, 2003

tim martin said:
Ken Phillips said:

The 85mm has the USM ring motor, and focuses instantly (at least on
a 1D!) Certainly faster than the 50mm f/1.4.

Click to expand...

I think, Ken, you are thinking about the 50mm f/1.8 ... that's the
$70, 50mm lens. But Banmaster has said 50mm f/1.4, which is
the $300, 50mm lens ... with a USM motor.

I really think the 50mm f/1.4 is a super great lens. This is the
one the say "as good as an L".

tim martin said:

You cannot lose with either ... so you must pick your focal length
based on usage. In small rooms I'd opt for the 50mm ... for
headshots the 85mm.

Click to expand...

Yup... one more reason to get the 50mm f/1.4

--

29 lbs. of Canon stuff in a backpack that I carry everywhere. A closet full of things that are banned in Britain. A minivan and a Fender Stratocaster. A three bedroom ranch with three owls on an acre. An aversion to rumours. Also, absolutely no Canon 1200mm f/5.6. Yet.

Scott Larson · Mar 20, 2003

I used to use my 50mm f1.4 all the time. Then the manual focus stopped working. I sent it to Canon for repair and started using the 85mm instead. I really like it. It focuses very quickly, the USM is very smooth and it's as sharp as any prime I've used (maybe the 135mm is sharper but it's close).

My 50mm came back and I haven't used it once. The 85mm makes more sense to me with the 1D's 1.3X crop since had used the 50mm on the D30 for so long.

Bamaster · Mar 20, 2003

I already have the 50mm 1.8 and I think it's great. However the optics are nothing compared to the 5mm 1.4 , there's just so much glass.

But you guys sound very confident in the 85mm 1.8. So I think I will buy it and keep the 50mm 1.8 just in case I don't have enough room to use the 85mm.

This is so exciting! I can't wait to get it! I'll be certain to post pics once it comes in. Thanks guys!

begins to rub his hands.... muahahahaaa!

DaleT said:
Bamaster said:

Besides 35mm... what's the basic difference between these two
lenses? Is one much better than the other? I can't afford L
glass, so I am looking for the next best thing.

I have a D30 and will likely upgrade to the 10D.

I anticipate using the lens for portraits, general people pics.
The one thing that is important to me is how it performs in
low-light, as anyone with a D30 will tell you.

Is there a comparison somewhere on the Web? I searched without
success. Thanks in advance!

--
Tony Melendez

Click to expand...

--
DaleT

--
Tony Melendez

zidar · Mar 20, 2003

They are both great lenses, but I can't imagine being without the 50 1.4. I use it a ton for both digital and film. I use the 85 for film a lot, but not so much for digits.

The L designation means that Canon used some sort of exotic glass in the construction of the lens. Non-L lenses are not necessarily inferior. They just didn't need exotic glass to do what the engineers wanted to do. The 50 1.4 is definitely a great lens.

Zidar
Alaska
--
It's not about stuff.
http://www.pbase.com/zidar

Heather38766 · Mar 20, 2003

I shoot a lot of portraits and weddings and the 85 is one of my best lenses. Its fast and sharp and about as good as they get. I use the 85 and the 50 a lot for low light...the 85 is definately one of my favorite lenses... PS I originally had the 50 1.4 and returned it and bought the 85 1.8 and the 50 1.8 for the same cost as the 1 lens.... much better deal and nice coverage.... one note the 50 1.8 is a little slower then the 1.4, but just as sharp and cant beat the price.

one final note.... while most lenses have a lot of controversy..... rarely do people argue about the abilities of the 85 1.8 .... especially for the price.... its an L without the L price.

Heather

Bryan Carnathan · Mar 21, 2003

It was going to be my suggestion!

Bryan
--
http://www.carnathan.com/Digital_Photography.html
http://www.save-u.com
http://www.nationalticket.com

Steven Noyes · Mar 22, 2003

Having played with the 50 1.4 for a day now, I will say the 85 1.8 is still the best lens I have. While the 50 1.4 is optically great, it does not have the mechanical feel that the 85 1.8 does. And the 85 seems a small bet better on flare and distortion. The 50 is about a 9.5 and the 85 a 9.9

Steven

Heather said:
I shoot a lot of portraits and weddings and the 85 is one of my
best lenses. Its fast and sharp and about as good as they get. I
use the 85 and the 50 a lot for low light...the 85 is definately
one of my favorite lenses... PS I originally had the 50 1.4 and
returned it and bought the 85 1.8 and the 50 1.8 for the same cost
as the 1 lens.... much better deal and nice coverage.... one note
the 50 1.8 is a little slower then the 1.4, but just as sharp and
cant beat the price.

one final note.... while most lenses have a lot of controversy.....
rarely do people argue about the abilities of the 85 1.8 ....
especially for the price.... its an L without the L price.

Heather

--
---
New and Updated!!!
http://www.pbase.com/snoyes/in_the_supers
http://upload.pbase.com/snoyes/flight_to_the_canyon

85mm f/1.8 vs. 50mm f/1.4

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