Can I buy one of the EF 100mm Macro lens instead of EF 85mm f/1.8 USM?

I use EF 50mm f/1.4 USM with APS-C to take photos of portraits and Indoor sports. Now I'm planning to replace it with a lens with a 5D (Later upgrading to either 6d or 5d mk iii). Main reason of this replacement is inadequate focus speed and the next is 50mm f/1.4 is not  good wide open but that is the depth of field I would like to have in some portraits. Next any way i want to move to full frame for indoor noise performance. 
I was thinking about buying a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. But later on i was planning on one of the Canon 100mm macro lens. Either the L version or Non L version.  The 15mm focal difference is not a problem for me. I can adopt. I like the bonus feature of Macro. But my worry is how fast is the auto focus? The very first reason for this upgrading is auto focus speed. If the autofocus is capable same as EF 85mm then I would like to go for 100mm macro. Also let me know if there is a AF difference between L and Non L in 100 macro.

I've owned all the lenses you mention.  The first I bought was the 85mm F1.8 which is a very nice lens and I used it a lot.  I then got into macro and bought the 100mm Macro non-L.

I bought the 100mm Macro L came out, and sold my non-L macro.  I did the swap to gain IS, because it was an 'L' lens, and because I could afford it.  The IS is a useful feature.

Eventually I sold my 85mm F1.8.  Nothing wrong with it, but it was too similar to the 100mm Macro L, and whenever I looked to use that sort of focal length, I always found myself reaching for the 100mm, largely because of the IS.  The 85mm F1.8 just sat in the bag.

I've not had a problem with AF speed of the 100mm Macro L, and if the purpose is portraiture, then I don't see a problem.  Not as fast as the 85mm F1.8, but fast enough.  And the macro and IS features make it more versatile.

Mike

I've not had a problem with AF speed of the 100mm Macro L, and if the purpose is portraiture, then I don't see a problem.

I want fast auto focus for indoor game badminton. EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is not fast enough

Not as fast as the 85mm F1.8, but fast enough.

So still EF 85mm is faster?

And the macro and IS features make it more versatile.

Yes but not for the primary reason i'm switching to.. But macro is the reason I'm considering another lens.

ms18 wrote:

I use EF 50mm f/1.4 USM with APS-C to take photos of portraits and Indoor sports. Now I'm planning to replace it with a lens with a 5D (Later upgrading to either 6d or 5d mk iii). Main reason of this replacement is inadequate focus speed and the next is 50mm f/1.4 is not good wide open but that is the depth of field I would like to have in some portraits. Next any way i want to move to full frame for indoor noise performance.
I was thinking about buying a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. But later on i was planning on one of the Canon 100mm macro lens. Either the L version or Non L version. The 15mm focal difference is not a problem for me. I can adopt. I like the bonus feature of Macro. But my worry is how fast is the auto focus? The very first reason for this upgrading is auto focus speed. If the autofocus is capable same as EF 85mm then I would like to go for 100mm macro. Also let me know if there is a AF difference between L and Non L in 100 macro.

Get the 100mm 2.8L

It is not expensive and will last you a lifetime.

Wicked lens.

ms18 wrote:

I use EF 50mm f/1.4 USM with APS-C to take photos of portraits and Indoor sports. Now I'm planning to replace it with a lens with a 5D (Later upgrading to either 6d or 5d mk iii). Main reason of this replacement is inadequate focus speed and the next is 50mm f/1.4 is not good wide open but that is the depth of field I would like to have in some portraits. Next any way i want to move to full frame for indoor noise performance.
I was thinking about buying a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. But later on i was planning on one of the Canon 100mm macro lens. Either the L version or Non L version. The 15mm focal difference is not a problem for me. I can adopt. I like the bonus feature of Macro. But my worry is how fast is the auto focus? The very first reason for this upgrading is auto focus speed. If the autofocus is capable same as EF 85mm then I would like to go for 100mm macro. Also let me know if there is a AF difference between L and Non L in 100 macro.

Oddly enough I owned both and sold the 85 last week after owning it for half a dozen years. Don't get me wrong, the 85 is a wonderful lens but AF on the 100 macro is no slouch and I didn't really need both lens in such a similar focal length range.  The 100 was proving more versatile with the macro capability and I wasn't doing enough portrait stuff with the 85 to justify retaining it (the 'look' straight out of the camera on the 85 I marginally preferred).

ms18 wrote:

I've not had a problem with AF speed of the 100mm Macro L, and if the purpose is portraiture, then I don't see a problem.

I want fast auto focus for indoor game badminton. EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is not fast enough

I wasn't reading carefully enough.  I wasn't aware badminton was the PRIMARY application.  Sorry.

Not as fast as the 85mm F1.8, but fast enough.

So still EF 85mm is faster?

I would think the 85mm would probably be faster.  The 100mm L is no slouch though, on the 0.5m to infinity setting.  But you'd need to test it on the intended subject to be sure.

And the macro and IS features make it more versatile.

Yes but not for the primary reason i'm switching to.. But macro is the reason I'm considering another lens.

If you're considering a macro anyway, why not get the 100mm L first, and see if it's good for badminton?  If not, get something else in addition.

Mike

I own Canon 100m L macro IS and is a wonderful lens with great bokeh. USM is lighting fast. That being said, I'm planing to buy 85mm F1.8. Why? Because 100 can be a bit too far on the 7Dmk2, but the main reason is that you have 1 1/3 of a stop less DOF with 1.8 than 2.8.

Plus 85mm f1.8 is cheap workhorse lens.

However, if I were you, I'd get 100mm IS first, because it's more versatile, you have a mild telephoto + portrait + macro lens + IS.

My EF 100/2.8L Macro IS is one of the slowest-auto-focusing lenses I have ever used. This much more noticeable in low light, but is always a factor. I have never used any 85mm lens. My EF 135/2L auto-focuses much faster, and is my favored portrait lens, if I have enough distance to work with it.

I am not slamming the EF 100/2.8L Macro IS; it is one of my favorite lenses, and one of my most-used, being my work-horse lens at work for almost five years, paired with a good zoom lens on a second camera body. (Presently, that zoom is a 24-105L, which has much faster AF than the Macro L.)

Having said that, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS can be an indoor sports lens, if the sport moves slowly enough. I shot my nephew's swim meets for one year with this lens. Youth swimming is not the fastest-moving sport in the world, of course. Notably, however, I did my research, and bought my EF 135mm f/2L, in order to be better-prepared for the next season, though my nephew did not join the swim team again.

My understanding is that the EF 135mm f/2L does not AF as quickly as the true sports lenses, such as the various 70-200/2.8L options.

Unless I've forgotten my math, the depth of field of a 100mm f/2.8 lens is essentially the same as a 50mm f/1.4 lens.

ms18 wrote:

I use EF 50mm f/1.4 USM with APS-C to take photos of portraits and Indoor sports. Now I'm planning to replace it with a lens with a 5D (Later upgrading to either 6d or 5d mk iii). Main reason of this replacement is inadequate focus speed and the next is 50mm f/1.4 is not good wide open but that is the depth of field I would like to have in some portraits. Next any way i want to move to full frame for indoor noise performance.
I was thinking about buying a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. But later on i was planning on one of the Canon 100mm macro lens. Either the L version or Non L version. The 15mm focal difference is not a problem for me. I can adopt. I like the bonus feature of Macro. But my worry is how fast is the auto focus? The very first reason for this upgrading is auto focus speed. If the autofocus is capable same as EF 85mm then I would like to go for 100mm macro. Also let me know if there is a AF difference between L and Non L in 100 macro.

I think an original 5D with a 100 macro will be challenged at shooting indoor sports.  I haven't shot badminton but have to think the movements are pretty fast, particularly the swings with the racquets and birdie action.  5D is not known for fast action accurate focusing and the 85 1.8 is faster to focus than the 100 macros.  Also don't know how bad the lighting is in the indoor venues you are shooting but if it's not too good the 1.8 will of course give you more advantage than 2.8.  You can find used 85 1.8 lenses for pretty good prices and continue saving for the macro.

I own the 85/1.8, 100L and 135/2 and I am sorry to tell you but each has its use and no one can fully replace the other 2.  I would not be looking at any macro lens if your primary focus was going to be indoor action.

If you're going to use any of these lenses on an original 5D, the limiting factor would be the body not the lens. Even the 5D Mark II doesn't have a stellar AF system.

Anyways, 100mm f/2.8L is not particularly fast, even when you set the AF range to 0.5-inf. AF speed is not where it shines, it's the resolution and it's macro abilities. 85mm 1.8 is indeed faster in focusing.

I own both 100L and 85/1.8.  I love 100L but 85 has much, much faster AF.  I would never consider using 100L in a situation where I need to track.

85/1.8 is a very fast focusing lens.  I used it a lot at Hornet basketball games.  The 100 macro has a limiter to keep it from hunting.  If you set the limiter to the distance you are shooting, the af speed shouldn't be a problem.  Bab
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28700476@N08/

ms18 wrote:

I use EF 50mm f/1.4 USM with APS-C to take photos of portraits and Indoor sports. Now I'm planning to replace it with a lens with a 5D (Later upgrading to either 6d or 5d mk iii). Main reason of this replacement is inadequate focus speed and the next is 50mm f/1.4 is not good wide open but that is the depth of field I would like to have in some portraits. Next any way i want to move to full frame for indoor noise performance.
I was thinking about buying a EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. But later on i was planning on one of the Canon 100mm macro lens. Either the L version or Non L version. The 15mm focal difference is not a problem for me. I can adopt. I like the bonus feature of Macro. But my worry is how fast is the auto focus? The very first reason for this upgrading is auto focus speed. If the autofocus is capable same as EF 85mm then I would like to go for 100mm macro. Also let me know if there is a AF difference between L and Non L in 100 macro.

Consider also 100/2

Better than 85/1.8