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70-200 2.8 IS II vs. 85 1.2 II for Portraits?

Started Jun 29, 2013 | Discussions thread
OP DPReview007 Regular Member • Posts: 222
Re: 70-200 2.8 IS II vs. 85 1.2 II for Portraits?

candleJack wrote:

ok55 wrote:

I wouldn't consider a 70-200 a replacement for the 85L. The blur at 200mm f2.8 might be pretty similar to the 85L two stops wider but the perspective is totally different. The,greater depth in the 85 image coupled with the blur makes all the difference & can be very addictive.

I don't think Canon's in any great hurry to replace the 85L so I'd say go ahead and buy it.
Brgds

Excellently put! Perspective coupled with shallow dof is what makes this special.

By perspective, you guys mean a wider angle of field, right?

In other words, what the 85 1.2 II can do compared to the 70-200 2.8 is to achieve equivalently shallow depth of field from a shorter distance away from your subject / with a wider angle of view / more of the background (albeit completely creamed out.)

(And of course it lets in more light in low light situations. Although that advantage is cancelled out by the lack of IS compared to the 70-200.)

So presumably, if you shoot outdoors, the 70-200 is just as good if you juts want to achieve that shallow DoF effect. i have shot taken with mine at 200mm at f2.8 where only the closer eye is in focus.

Is this summery correct?

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