What happened to your 85mm 1.8 when you got a 70-200 2.8?

I had the 85F1.8 and used it on crop, but found it a bit long. I also bought a 70-200F4, but never used it after a few test shots. The long zoom was very sharp, but I just do not care for long, heavy lenses.

I use the 85F1.8 even more now than before, on crop and full frame. It has very fast AF, and is sharp. It works under low light. The long zoom and fast 85 do not replace each other.

It is your call. There is no correct answer. If I had a 70-200F2.8, it would sit in the closet and do nothing for me. My needs may be different than yours.

diness wrote:

I have contemplated the thought of selling my 85mm 1.8 and Tamron 70-300 VC and picking up a Canon 70-200 2.8. I would definitely need to sell the 85 though... so here's the question. When you picked up a 70-200 2.8, what happened to the 85? Did you keep it? Get rid of it? Why?

I assume you're talking about the 70-200 f/2.8L (II), not the original...

If you 'definitely need to sell' the 85, then what's the point of this thread? 'Definite' seems pretty definitive.

However, if you don't 'definitely' need to sell, then consider:

- With any camera, an f/1.8 lens will let you shoot at lower light levels, and/or use lower ISO, and will also let you get shallower DoF (and the 85's bokeh is pretty nice).

- If you frequently use 85mm FL, then the 85's a LOT smaller than any of the 70-200's.

Me? I bought the 85 AFTER I'd owned the 70-200 for several years. I bought it for all of the above reasons. I don't use it (or my 135 f/2L or 50 f/1.4) much, but it sure is great to have them when I'm shooting an indoor event. Sometimes I'll carry one of my zooms on one body and one of the fast primes on another.

Things are going to change for me this week, when my FF body arrives. The 85 and 135 are going to be much more useful on it than on my APS-H and APS-C bodies.

Abbott

hotdog321 wrote:

I bought a 85mm f/1.8 back in the film era and even used it in the early digital era when film and sensors were pretty marginal. Used it for low light assignments and basketball, but now it resides in my car trunk. Haven't pulled it out in years, but it is there "just in case."

it has been a while since i have used mine but when the time comes, i am sure it would be invaluable to use it in indoor occasions! i will hang on to mine for a lot longer

diness wrote:

I have contemplated the thought of selling my 85mm 1.8 and Tamron 70-300 VC and picking up a Canon 70-200 2.8. I would definitely need to sell the 85 though... so here's the question. When you picked up a 70-200 2.8, what happened to the 85? Did you keep it? Get rid of it? Why?

It's interesting that you're asking about the 85/1.8 but you're not posing the same question about the 70-300, even though you will lose a ton of reach. Why is that? The answer might tell you what to do.

I have contemplated the thought of selling my 85mm 1.8 and Tamron 70-300 VC and picking up a Canon 70-200 2.8.  I would definitely need to sell the 85 though... so here's the question.  When you picked up a 70-200 2.8, what happened to the 85?  Did you keep it?  Get rid of it?  Why?

I kept mine.

Now my 70–200 and Tamron 70–300 are both gone. 85 is such a nice, compact, versatile, little lens that comes in handy every so often. I see no reason to get rid of it.

85 1.8 is cheap as new or used. It's unobtrusive and light.

The only major problem it has is CA, massive amounts of it. Although their nature is mostly pretty benign.

Abu Mahendra wrote:

I sold the 85/1.8 eight years ago. Sell it and the Tamron, and replace with 70-300L and 135L.

Yeah, have both lenses and would highly recommend..

I absolutely kept mine without a thought of selling it. Any brand of 70-200mm f2.8 lens is going to be big and heavy and is not necessarily practical all the time. I enjoy going out with my 35mm and 85mm prime lenses and it's the perfect size and weight for me to bring it along with me.