Loving the 85mm f/1.8 + 6D combo

[t3iguy]

Just got the lens in the mail today from B&H. Took a couple quick shots, aperture priority at f/1.8 auto ISO. Two of my three subjects didn't want to sit still for some reason. I "cat" imagine why....

I'm still very happy with the shots. Anyone else out there shooting the f/1.8?

I'm shooting at a pop concert here in LA on Thursday and I'll for sure be bringing this along with my trusty 24-105mm f/4L.

Full size shots below, light processing in Adobe Lightroom 5 to correct color balance and provide a slight clarity boost.

 

[Scott Larson]

Just got the lens in the mail today from B&H. Took a couple quick shots, aperture priority at f/1.8 auto ISO. Two of my three subjects didn't want to sit still for some reason. I "cat" imagine why....

I'm still very happy with the shots. Anyone else out there shooting the f/1.8?

Yes, it's my second basketball lens after the 135mm f2.

If you shoot wider than f2.8, be careful about backlighting and high contrast since that can give you purple fringe. It's not too bad at f2 but wide open it can be a problem.

 

[HSHN]

Your combo is more than enough to enjoy. you can do pretty much everything with them.

excellent iq, pretty fast lens.

have fun!

 

[BlueCosmo5050]

85 1.8 is a sharp lens. It might even be sharper than the L series version. I forget what it scored on DXO mark.

The 100mm F/2 is a nice lens as well which is built just like your 85 1.8. Also not much money, very sharp. Honestly it seems just as sharp as my 135 F/2 L series lens which some say is Canons sharpest lens. If it's not as sharp, it's extremely close.

 

[Scott Larson]

The 100mm F/2 is a nice lens as well which is built just like your 85 1.8. Also not much money, very sharp. Honestly it seems just as sharp as my 135 F/2 L series lens which some say is Canons sharpest lens. If it's not as sharp, it's extremely close.

The 100mm f2 has some copy variation. The one I bought about 14 years ago was a little soft wide open but was perfect at f2.8. When I got a 135mm f2, I found that it was sharp wide open. That's why it was expensive!

These 100% crops were taken with my original 1D a long time ago.


100mm f2 at f2






135mm f2 at f2

 

[t3iguy]

85 1.8 is a sharp lens. It might even be sharper than the L series version. I forget what it scored on DXO mark.

The 100mm F/2 is a nice lens as well which is built just like your 85 1.8. Also not much money, very sharp. Honestly it seems just as sharp as my 135 F/2 L series lens which some say is Canons sharpest lens. If it's not as sharp, it's extremely close.

I think DXO did a comparison between the 85mm f/1.8 f/1.2L and Samyang f/1.4. The 1.4 from Samyang actually won some categories over the Canon L if I recall correctly. The 1.2L actually fell behind the 1.8 in some categories as well and I think it matched the f/1.8 for perceived megapixels at 18 (on the 6D body) which was surprising. DXO is of course just scores on a paper and the 85mm f/1.8 doesn't even make the list of best lenses for the 6D but it's still quite impressive. When you factor in 2 grand for the L and mid $300 range for the non L version with a slightly worse bokeh. It seems like a no brainer.

I love my 24-105 f/4L as an all purpose walk around. It can even handle some light astrophotography with shorter exposures. But..... I've been pondering selling it along with my T3i and collection of EF-S lenses to fund the purchase of the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8. It would seem between those two lenses and the 85 f/1.8 I can't imagine needing anything else. I primarily shoot concerts, astro, street, candid portraits and occasional motorsports. I would of course still keep the Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 for astro but as walk around lenses it seems the Tamron and Canon 85 would have me covered well.

 

[Timbukto]

The 100mm F/2 is a nice lens as well which is built just like your 85 1.8. Also not much money, very sharp. Honestly it seems just as sharp as my 135 F/2 L series lens which some say is Canons sharpest lens. If it's not as sharp, it's extremely close.

The 100mm f2 has some copy variation. The one I bought about 14 years ago was a little soft wide open but was perfect at f2.8. When I got a 135mm f2, I found that it was sharp wide open. That's why it was expensive!

These 100% crops were taken with my original 1D a long time ago.


100mm f2 at f2


135mm f2 at f2

Both Canon 85mm 1.8 and 100mm f2 have sample variation but the sample variation on the 100mm f2 is one of the worst of any make and model that is currently profiled by Roger Cicala.

An excellent copy of the Canon 85mm 1.8 may actually be better in the central region than the highly regarded Nikon 85mm 1.8 G.

 

[Scott Larson]

Both Canon 85mm 1.8 and 100mm f2 have sample variation but the sample variation on the 100mm f2 is one of the worst of any make and model that is currently profiled by Roger Cicala.

The complaint that it's soft wide open was common enough that I didn't send it back. It was acceptable on my D30 and my 1D but I bet it would be hard to pixel peep with it on today's 18-22 megapixel cameras.

I also wasn't complaining because this was the first time I had shot with a prime lens on a digital camera, and wow the color and contrast were enough to make me ignore the slight softness.

 

[jsanch08]

Cat photo is classic 85mm f/1.8.

Here is another 6D + 85mm f1.8 at ISO 1600 without any NR in camera or in post processing. Smooth as glass in the dark falloff. With just a hint of noise reduction it is smooth as glass. Amazing technology.

Another observation about the 6D. The attached photo was shot in a room with all tungsten lighting. The auto white balance on the 6D is vastly superior to my 50D in this regard.






6D + 85mm f1.8 at 1600 ISO in tungsten lighting.

 

[Michael Thomas Mitchell]

It's the lens I wish I shot with more often. And it pairs beautifully with the 6D. The combo surpasses anything I ever got with 645.

My wife has an 11x14 print of this image of her grandson hanging in the family photo hallway. Each individual eyelash can be clearly and distinctly seen. On a 6D, wide open f1.8 and 400 ISO.

Enjoy yours!

ps. It's a perfect match with the 28/f1.8. Together, they can really do a lot.

 

[t3iguy]

It's the lens I wish I shot with more often. And it pairs beautifully with the 6D. The combo surpasses anything I ever got with 645.

My wife has an 11x14 print of this image of her grandson hanging in the family photo hallway. Each individual eyelash can be clearly and distinctly seen. On a 6D, wide open f1.8 and 400 ISO.

Enjoy yours!

ps. It's a perfect match with the 28/f1.8. Together, they can really do a lot.

Very nice shot!

 

[t3iguy]

Cat photo is classic 85mm f/1.8.

Here is another 6D + 85mm f1.8 at ISO 1600 without any NR in camera or in post processing. Smooth as glass in the dark falloff. With just a hint of noise reduction it is smooth as glass. Amazing technology.

Another observation about the 6D. The attached photo was shot in a room with all tungsten lighting. The auto white balance on the 6D is vastly superior to my 50D in this regard.


6D + 85mm f1.8 at 1600 ISO in tungsten lighting.

Very nice! I love how the fruit melts in the background but it's still apparent what it is. Very sharp on the mug!

 

[Bas Hamstra]

Because I bought a FF for shallow DOF and the 85/1.8 is basically one of the best bokeh lenses there is for Canon, besides the second advantage over the 50/1,8 is that it is sharp wide open. I've seen soooo many gorgeous bokeh shots on DPR (and Flickr) with this lens and your last cat picture shows it too..!

Post more please, let's have some foreground blur AND background blur with subject in focus

Kind regards,

Bas

Just got the lens in the mail today from B&H. Took a couple quick shots, aperture priority at f/1.8 auto ISO. Two of my three subjects didn't want to sit still for some reason. I "cat" imagine why....

I'm still very happy with the shots. Anyone else out there shooting the f/1.8?

I'm shooting at a pop concert here in LA on Thursday and I'll for sure be bringing this along with my trusty 24-105mm f/4L.

Full size shots below, light processing in Adobe Lightroom 5 to correct color balance and provide a slight clarity boost.