Lens for band/low light and portrait photography

Hi all, I currently shoot with a 50mm prime but am looking at getting another lens... have narrowed my selection to these four (Canon brand) within my price range and was wondering if anyone has any experience shooting concerts or low light with them?

- EF 135mm f2.8 @ $499
- 85mm f1.8 @ $424
- 24mm f2.8 @ $184
- 28mm f1.8 @ $509

The 24mm I may be buying in addition to one of the others due to the low price... I have asked some photographers in my area and been recommended both the 85mm and 135mm equally... is there much difference visually from the 85mm and 50mm prime, or primarily only a change in DOF?

Any opinions/experience you have with any of these muchly appreciated thank you!

insanityexplained
Instagram (if you wish to view examples that I've shot with the 50mm):
https://www.instagram.com/insanityexplained/

insanityexplained wrote:

Hi all, I currently shoot with a 50mm prime but am looking at getting another lens... have narrowed my selection to these four (Canon brand) within my price range and was wondering if anyone has any experience shooting concerts or low light with them?

- EF 135mm f2.8 @ $499
- 85mm f1.8 @ $424
- 24mm f2.8 @ $184
- 28mm f1.8 @ $509

The 24mm I may be buying in addition to one of the others due to the low price... I have asked some photographers in my area and been recommended both the 85mm and 135mm equally... is there much difference visually from the 85mm and 50mm prime, or primarily only a change in DOF?

gets you closer for sure.you could crop or look at calculators to see the difference. why not the 100 f2? Good value. Between that and the 24 2.8 you would have three different looks. Iassume this is APSC?

Any opinions/experience you have with any of these muchly appreciated thank you!

most of the focal lengths are so different you need to prioritze if you need a wider or narrower look. Maybe anything above 50 is too long for your venue. If you can get close maybe 24 is great

insanityexplained wrote:

Hi all, I currently shoot with a 50mm prime but am looking at getting another lens... have narrowed my selection to these four (Canon brand) within my price range and was wondering if anyone has any experience shooting concerts or low light with them?

- EF 135mm f2.8 @ $499
- 85mm f1.8 @ $424

... I have asked some photographers in my area and been recommended both the 85mm and 135mm equally... is there much difference visually from the 85mm and 50mm prime, or primarily only a change in DOF?

The 85 f/1.8 is going to be noticably, though not dramatically, longer than the 50, but with better ring-USM and inner focusing AF. EF 100 f/2 USM is similar ring-USM if you want longer.

The EF 135 f/2.8 SF is 1 stop slower, not as sharp at f/2.8 as the 85 or 100 are at that aperture, has more primitive AF (circa 1988), but has a special feature that some find appealing. The "SF" in the name is for Soft Focus. It has a control to dial in some spherical aberration to give a kind of 'dreamy' effect.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-135mm-f-2.8-with-Softfocus-Lens-Review.aspx

http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/Reviews/065_Canon_135_F2.8_Soft_Focus/_Canon_135_2.8_Soft_Focus.html

I really like my 135/2 for band shots. But it's twice the price and aperture as the 135SF. If you can't stretch for the 135/2, check out the 100/2. For the wider side I still really like my 30/1.4 EX non art which you could get for around $250 used. That lens will stay in my bad until I go full frame.

insanityexplained wrote:

Hi all, I currently shoot with a 50mm prime but am looking at getting another lens... have narrowed my selection to these four (Canon brand) within my price range and was wondering if anyone has any experience shooting concerts or low light with them?

- EF 135mm f2.8 @ $499
- 85mm f1.8 @ $424
- 24mm f2.8 @ $184
- 28mm f1.8 @ $509

The 24mm I may be buying in addition to one of the others due to the low price... I have asked some photographers in my area and been recommended both the 85mm and 135mm equally... is there much difference visually from the 85mm and 50mm prime, or primarily only a change in DOF?

Any opinions/experience you have with any of these muchly appreciated thank you!

insanityexplained
Instagram (if you wish to view examples that I've shot with the 50mm):
https://www.instagram.com/insanityexplained/

Of the listed lenses for your stated needs I would opt for the 85mm f/1.8. The wide angles are not generally "portrait" lenses (though I used these focal lengths for environmental portraits) and I never much liked the look or operation of the 135mm f/2.8. The 85mm f/1.8 has some issues with chromatic aberration when used wide open, but is a bargain and fast. Perhaps a 100 f/2.0 instead?

Now a bit of honesty. I shoot editorial work for a living and you would be better off owning an IS version of the 70-200 f/2.8, even a used one. It is far more flexible and useful in a multitude of situations.

The 50mm f/1.4 serves well enough. It can be tricky in terms of focus accuracy but at f/1.4, sometimes it's the only lens you can use under $500.

I've got usable results at ISO 10,000 with the 70D

cb