Prime Decision 85/60/50

[PhotoB]

I am looking for a portrait and nature prime lens to go on an XSi. I have it narrowed down to the 85 f/1.8 and the ef-s 60 2.8 macro...and why not throw in the 50 1.4 for discussion.


Thanks for the thoughts...

[Garrett-Grimsley]

I own both the 50mm and the 85mm f/1.8 primes, and I find myself using the 85mm about 95% of the time. It's an amazing lens, and the FoV seems to be perfect for portiats on a x1.6 body.





It can be tack sharp wide open if you manual focus, but after f/2.8 you can do whatever because it's razor sharp after that.


Here's two examples of mine; one stopped down a bit, and the other wide-open.





Canon Rebel XT 350D, 85mm, F/3.2, ISO200, 1/800sec








Canon Rebel XT 350D, 85mm, F/1.8, ISO1600, 1/1250sec








All in all, I highly reccomend the 85mm over both the 50 and the 60.

[PhotoB]

Great pictures...I like the 85 because I think it would fit me better...but am entertaining the 60 for the macro


Thanks for the input!

[Sean Setters]

I'll throw in a second opinion here. I owned the 85 f/1.8 for a brief time, but ended up selling it on ebay. It was a great lens, very sharp. So why did I sell it? It didn't fit my shooting style. I wanted to use the lens indoors and utilize it's wide aperture, but it was simply too long on my 1.6x crop sensor. After the sale I bought the 17-55 f/2.8 IS and came to appreciate the wonderful versatility of a zoom. I later purchased a 70-200 f/2.8 L IS for use outdoors and at weddings. Again, the versatility of the zoom was key.


Only recently have I purchased another prime lens--the 50 f/1.4. Is it a better lens than the 85 f/1.8? Nope. But it fits my needs better. A couple of years ago I wanted a lens that I could take indoor photojournalistic-type portraits. The shorter focal length makes it much more useful to me than the 85mm lens.


The 85 f/1.8 may be a perfect nature lens, but most of the time people want even longer focal lengths for that purpose. It's a great portrait lens, but you need substantial distance for any full-length body shots. Just make sure you know exactly how you want to use the lens so that you make the right choice the first time (unlike me).


As I said, the 85 f/1.8 is a fantastic lens (especially for the money), but it didn't fit me as well as the 50 f/1.4.

[PhotoB]

You make a good point about indoor shots. That, in part, is where the 60 came into play for me. I am looking for it to be a part portrait plus the capability to snap some action shots of kids...both indoor and out. I have entertained a fast zoom but started to explore primes and think they may be the way to go right now.

[Jarhead5811]

I've got a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens and 50mm seems awful tight to me indoors. It could be that my house just isn't big enough but I'd like to check out a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSMfor that use.


I've got a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II Lensthat I love and it stays on my XSi 99% of the time.


I will say that without a flash, even at ISO 1600,it is unlikely you'll get any real good action shots on a consistant basis indoors with any f/2.8.

[Sean Setters]

The 50mm f/1.4 is still a little tight indoors, but it's not nearly as tight as the 85mm! The more I use that 50mm, the more I like it. I took this shot earlier this evening with it.


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[Rodger]

Garret, love both images.


I have the 50mm f/1.8 II. I find it a bit tight inside, but I really like the 50mm focal length. There are times outside doing non-portraiture that I wish I had more reach even on a 1.6 crop sensor.


My $0.02, hope I helped a little.

[PhotoB]

Great input...so it sounds like for outdoor use the 85 is great but for indoors more of a wide angle is needed...makes sense. I too, Rodger, like the extra reach of the 85 (over the kit lens) for outdoor shots.


As a walk-around, would the 85 be a better than the 50?

[PhotoB]

Anyone have thoughts on the 60's capabilities for either portraits or outdoor fun?