Canon 85mm 1.2L or 50mm 1.2L?

[Validus]

Because I haven?t posted in a little while, aside from the Montreal thread of course, I thought this would be a good getting-back-into-it post. Maybe you folks might help me make a decision on which lens to get next?

Non-adult shooting

Right now my walk-around is a 70-200 2.8L IS and sometimes I use my 24-70 2.8L. I also have a nifty-fifty (50mm 1.8), but was thinking about getting more of a portrait lens (with L glass) and the 85mm 1.2 and the 50mm 1.2 seem to be the top contenders.

Thoughts?

[xenigo]

I'd go with the 50mm 1.2 because I've heard the 85 1.2 is extremely slow to focus and when shooting at 1.2 it's so shallow you can be focused on the tip of someone's nose while being completely out of focus on their eyes. Sounds like a little too much, IMO.

While both are amazing, I'd choose the 50 just because it's more practical in more situations.

[tony286]

first question would be, what camera do you have?

[Validus]

I'd go with the 50mm 1.2 because I've heard the 85 1.2 is extremely slow to focus and when shooting at 1.2 it's so shallow you can be focused on the tip of someone's nose while being completely out of focus on their eyes. Sounds like a little too much, IMO.

While both are amazing, I'd choose the 50 just because it's more practical in more situations.

Yea, I also heard that the 85mm is a bit slow to focus. I only got to shoot with it once.

first question would be, what camera do you have?

Canon 5D Mark II.

[candyflip]

I have an older FD version of both that I use for video on my FS100.

Got the pair for $100 on Goodwill's auction website and LOVE them both.

[tony286]

Yea, I also heard that the 85mm is a bit slow to focus. I only got to shoot with it once.



Canon 5D Mark II.

Then the 50mm 1.2. Have you played with the 50mm 1.4?

A good place to go read reviews http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/

[Validus]

Then the 50mm 1.2. Have you played with the 50mm 1.4?

A good place to go read reviews http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/

Ah thank you. I'll check it out.

I have the 1.8 right now. I am really keen to get rid of as much chromatic abrasion as possible and think L glass would probably be the best. I am also a big fan of having a fully weather-sealed setup... damn L glass is just so expensive.

[zizix]

I have the 50mm 1.4 and it's a excellent quality/price. The 1.2 is very expensive with just a small difference.

[icymelon]

check out philip bloom's site. He is one of the DSLR experts. They had him out to Skywalker range to help show George Lucus and his crew what DSLR cameras can do.
http://philipbloom.net/

[Validus]

Okay, 50mm 1.2L it is.

[woj]

I have an older FD version of both that I use for video on my FS100.

Got the pair for $100 on Goodwill's auction website and LOVE them both.

were you using some auction aggregator site or just checked goodwill's site directly?

[mafia_man]

I have the 50mm 1.4 and it's a excellent quality/price. The 1.2 is very expensive with just a small difference.

If we are talking Canon I'd buy a 1.4 over the 1.8.

Build quality on the 1.8 is dire.

[Validus]

If we are talking Canon I'd buy a 1.4 over the 1.8.

Build quality on the 1.8 is dire.

Yea, agreed. Also, since it isn't L series it isn't weather sealed. 1.2 L

[candyflip]

were you using some auction aggregator site or just checked goodwill's site directly?

Just watching and stalking the site. They get and dump a bunch of stuff cheap too, that can be resold on eBay or CL at a profit.

The 50mm 1.8 isn't bad, it's just all plastic...which is why it's cheap. It's quite nice (not as nice as the 1.2) for on my FS100, which is a low light beast.

[mafia_man]

Yea, agreed. Also, since it isn't L series it isn't weather sealed. 1.2 L

Don't do many squirting scenes so I don't need the weather seal. The price difference doesn't justify the difference between the 1.2 and 1.4 IMHO.