Should I sell EF 50mm 1.4 to buy 85mm 1.8

WhiteDragonHorse wrote:

i alwasys want to sell my 50 1.4 and to buy 85mm 1.8 lens, but today i use the 50 14, it performs very well,

um ,does 85mm 1.8 better than this photo?

It is hard to say if you will like it or not. The best way to answer it is if you can test it in a store, or if you have a friend or someone you can borrow and you can take it for a spin.

The 85 f1.8 usm is about 132mm equiv in 35FF if mounted in an aps-c canon camera. That has some advantages in terms of compressing the background and subject isolation which should be better. But you may have to  step back more vs the 50mm.

I've managed to use all of the 50mm made by canon (except the rare f1.0 and the like). I've used the f1.2L, f1.8 mk1 & 2, the f1.4 usm, and the STM version. I wanted the like the f1.4, but it broke easily (the clutch of the USM). And it was a bit dreamy wide open in many early copies. i am not so sure if those made after 2007 is much better and they have improved QC that it is no longer dreamy at f1.4.  But what is the use of the lens if it is not very good at its widest? Now, the 50 f1.8 stm, that is vety good for its price. I just got that about 2-3 months ago. Sold my f1.8 mk2 which was optically good but flared a lot, had a bad bokeh, and focused iffy.

Most of the 85 f1.8 prior to 2007 were mostly not performing well. They had severe purple fringing. But about 3 months ago, I bought one and it had minimal PF! So, the new manufacturing processes has made some of the issues go away. BTW, I usually used the 100 f2.0 usm then which I owned and had less problems with PF. As one who uses both and even the 100 f2.0 usm then, the 100mm can be too long for aps-c. But 85mm may just be ok if that is your temperament or know how to wield it.

My only complaint with the older 85mm and the like is that they usually seem not to be as good optically vs its competitors. Maybe it's the lack of the modern coatings or not using some exotic glass. I am not sure. But, the good side of these lenses is they are relatively cheaper and their performance can be very good if not acceptable for the price. this is the reason why I got these 2 in this day and age.

In my case, I need both. They both have their uses, their strengths and weaknesses.