85 f/1.8 on 40D

ACrossley · Nov 18, 2009

Hi friends,
I participated in a shoot with a fellow photographer over this past weekend who owned the 85 f/1.8 lens. I loved the "fuzzy" effect and lovely DOF from the lens. I am not the best number cruncher when it comes to lenses and my camera. I shoot with a 40D. Does anyone else have this setup who may can give me an opinion or sample shots of these together??

THANKS A TON!
Alisha

CxThree · Nov 18, 2009

That lens will work great with your 40D. For a cheaper alternative, consider the 50mm F1.8. Its about $100 and will give the same DOF and "fuzzy" look you mention. You just have to move a little bit closer to your subject for the 50mm vs 85mm.

Dao · Nov 18, 2009

I have the 40D and 85mm F/1.8. And ... I just love the how the blur looks with the 85mm (I also have the 50mm F/1.8 mk1).

Christie Photo · Nov 18, 2009

CxThree said:
For a cheaper alternative, consider the 50mm F1.8. ... You just have to move a little bit closer to your subject for the 50mm vs 85mm.

Well... it's not a simple as that. It's a completely different angle of view and will show a lot more or the background.

Look for an 85mm... maybe used.... maybe third-party mfg.

Good luck!

-Pete

iolair · Nov 18, 2009

Check through pbase ... Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens Sample Photos and Specifications you should find plenty that use the 40D on there.

Montana · Nov 18, 2009

Did you get to personally try the 85 1.8? Or did you just see the other photographers images? I only ask because perhaps the other photographer was using a full frame camera. 85mm on the crop sensor makes for very tight indoor work. Also, if you did try the 85 and was happy with it, and ever think of considering the 50mm 1.8, just be warned that they are worlds apart. The 50 1.8 plain sucks in terms of autofocus, build, the out of focus highlights rendered are hideous, the mount is plastic, its loud.......and so forth. I have trouble finding enough room sometimes shooting with my 85L on full frame at events such as birthday parties. I would suggest looking at sample photos from both the 85 1.8 and the 50 1.4 (rather than the 50 1.8) and see what bodies they were taken on. If you have a kit lens or other zoom lens that covers both the 50mm and the 85mm range, I suggest walking around the house/outdoors stuck at those two focal lengths and see which is more appealing to you. Both will render a nice smooth out of focus background or "fuzziness".

CxThree · Nov 18, 2009

Christie Photo said:
CxThree said:

For a cheaper alternative, consider the 50mm F1.8. ... You just have to move a little bit closer to your subject for the 50mm vs 85mm.

Click to expand...

Well... it's not a simple as that. It's a completely different angle of view and will show a lot more or the background.

Look for an 85mm... maybe used.... maybe third-party mfg.

Good luck!

-Pete

Ummmmmm.. He said he liked the DOF and fuzzy look. That's F1.8. Period. That's the only reason I mentioned the 50mm as an alternative.

ACrossley · Nov 18, 2009

Thanks guys ...
I actually own the 50 1.8 ... It is ok for portrait work but it seems that the 85 had the more intensive fuzzy effect I am trying to achieve. The 50 is not delivering the look the I hoped it would ... I am now looking towards the 85 in hopes of that.

Christie photo- You made it sound like the 85 would be a win over the 50 ... does anyone else agree? I know it is a more expensive lens.

Montana - I did not get a chance to try the lens and we live a ways apart, I believe he had a 10D?

Any other tips/ opinions appreciated!
Love this forum!!

CxThree · Nov 18, 2009

I believe she was talking about the difference in 85mm focal length versus 50mm. Depending on your location and options, each would have their advantages. I mentioned the 50 as something you could get for now to try out low F stop primes. They are great fun and can get you great shots. They can also be a challenge at times and you will need to learn to use them properly. I suggest the 50MM to people as a cheap lens to keep in the bag for low light shots where flash is not an potion. Once they learn to use it, they learn there is so much more they can do with it.

50mm and 85mm is something you would have to decide on. I do agree that 85mm can be tight indoors. That's why I went with the 50mm. I got the 1.4 because of its build quality and quieter, faster focus. However, my friends use the 1.8 and I would not hesitate to get it.

Josh66 · Nov 18, 2009

CxThree said:
50mm and 85mm is something you would have to decide on.

Why pick one? Get both - all you have to decide is which to get first (which, I admit, may be just as tough of a choice...).

Dao · Nov 18, 2009

Here is a sample shot I took with my 40D and 85mm F/1.8

F/2.0, 1/125 ISO800

kundalini · Nov 18, 2009

CxThree said:
<snip>
For a cheaper alternative, consider the 50mm F1.8. Its about $100 and will give the same DOF and "fuzzy" look you mention. You just have to move a little bit closer to your subject for the 50mm vs 85mm.

I shoot Nikon, but I think this applies to Canon as well. ^^ what he said is BS. Different leagues in terms of quality and certainly focal length. It's not "fuzzy", it's called bokeh or defocused background. Look for the number of aperture blades as well as the shape of them. That should be the determining factor on the quality of "fuzzy" backgrounds.

For some lab results, look at photozone.de

wescobts · Nov 18, 2009

Nice shot DAO, very cool :thumbup:

CxThree · Nov 18, 2009

kundalini said:
CxThree said:

<snip>
For a cheaper alternative, consider the 50mm F1.8. Its about $100 and will give the same DOF and "fuzzy" look you mention. You just have to move a little bit closer to your subject for the 50mm vs 85mm.

Click to expand...

I shoot Nikon, but I think this applies to Canon as well. ^^ what he said is BS. Different leagues in terms of quality and certainly focal length. It's not "fuzzy", it's called bokeh or defocused background. Look for the number of aperture blades as well as the shape of them. That should be the determining factor on the quality of "fuzzy" backgrounds.

For some lab results, look at photozone.de

Wow. Nice one. I know it's bokeh. I was using the term used by the OP. Look at my sig. I have the 1.4 with more blades. I know what you are talking about. I was just offering the cheaper 1.8 as a way to start out and decide if he likes it. "Jack"