85mm- 1.8 or 50 mm 1.8: Hi all I have the canon 7d/2 somewhere down the road I may also have a full frame. I now want to get a 1.8 prime will the 85/1.8 be too much reach with the 1.6...

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Hi all I have the canon 7d/2 somewhere down the road I may also have a full frame. I now want to get a 1.8 prime will the 85/1.8 be too much reach with the 1.6 crop for portrait pics or would the 50/1.8 be a better choice now. Just wondering how far would the camera have to be from subject to get a upper torso shot? Thanks for your opinions Bill

delkeener Loc: SW Rhode Island, USA

The nifty 50 would be fine for torso portrait on your crop sensor camera. It's close to what you would get with the 85mm on a full frame sensor. You would be close, about 3 - 4 feet away.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The 85 will give a nicer/softer out of focus areas - which is thought to be more "artistic".

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

I have both a D5200 and a D750. The 50mm is not as nice or versatile as the 85mm. I use the 35mm f1.8 a lot more than 50mm on the D5200, which is usually left home. The 85mm on full frame is a very nice lens, better than the other two. Sometimes I use the 35mm on the full frame and set the format for 1.2 crop, works great, very clear pics. The 50mm is going to be sold to my neighbor.

CO

With the 1.6x crop factor I would go with the 50mm. If you're going to be hand holding the camera a lot take a look at Tamron's new SP series of prime lenses. What's great is that they all have stabilization. The lineup includes a 35mm f/1.8, 45mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8, and 90mm f/2.8 macro. I bought the 45mm f/1.8 for my crop sensor Nikon. I did an outdoor model photo shoot with it not long ago where using a tripod was not practical. I was glad that it had stabilization.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

wer224 wrote:

Hi all I have the canon 7d/2 somewhere down the road I may also have a full frame. I now want to get a 1.8 prime will the 85/1.8 be too much reach with the 1.6 crop for portrait pics or would the 50/1.8 be a better choice now. Just wondering how far would the camera have to be from subject to get a upper torso shot? Thanks for your opinions Bill

No it will not, you just have to get farther away if you have the room.
But to use it as an indoor low light lens the 85 will be too long.
SS

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Bought the 85mm f/1.8 recently and it does beautiful portrait work. Easily as sharp and detailed as any of my L lenses. I'm very impressed with it. I'm using it on a full frame though. Using it indoors is no problem but on a crop sensor you may run out of room.
I suggest you check canon.com for their refurbished lenses. I bought mine new and it wasn't until after I received it that I thought to check on refurbs, which are as good as new. Could have saved about $50. Oh well.
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/refurbished-lenses

From the reviews, and my own experience with the 85mm, they are both excellent lenses. It's just a matter of which focal length works best for you. As far as getting your money's worth, I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

wer224 Loc: Bergen county NewJersey

Hey everyone just put my 100/400 on and saw what was visible at 100 mm. the 85 would be ok I feel based on that. I have a bit over 13 feet from camera to subject and 3-1/2 feet to my backdrops. lighting is not a problem I have a couple of soft box's and two 600 flashes . thanks lfingar for the referb idear. Thanks everyone for your responses bill

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

wer224 wrote:

Hey everyone just put my 100/400 on and saw what was visible at 100 mm. the 85 would be ok I feel based on that. I have a bit over 13 feet from camera to subject and 3-1/2 feet to my backdrops. lighting is not a problem I have a couple of soft box's and two 600 flashes . thanks lfingar for the referb idear. Thanks everyone for your responses bill

The 85 is a better choice then.
I'd want more room between the subject & background though so I could light each separately.

Here is near mint 85mm 1.8 EF for $350:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1460132/0?keyword=Canon,85mm#13801008
Bought & sold a lot of things at Fred Miranda's classified section- always great people to deal with.

KEH has a few as well for even less $$:
https://www.keh.com/shop/canon-ef-85mm-f-1-8-usm-standard-medium-telephoto-lens-119097.html
KEH is a great place to buy used!
They underrate their stuff.

Dan De Lion Loc: Montana

The 50 would be good for people with flatter faces and the 85 would be better for people with angular faces.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I have had the 85 1.8 for about 3 years. First shooting it on a 1.3 crop factor both for indoor and outdoor sports and portraits. It is a great lens, sharp and very fast to focus. I recently went full frame. It is still a great lens for the money! Highly recommended.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The 50mm 1.8 is perhaps the fastest, least expensive, versatile prime lens you can buy. Which is why I own one. An 85mm 1.8 will cost you more. But may be a better choice if the higher price doesn't matter to you. Canon and Nikon have excellent 85mm prime lenses.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

wer224 wrote:

Hi all I have the canon 7d/2 somewhere down the road I may also have a full frame. I now want to get a 1.8 prime will the 85/1.8 be too much reach with the 1.6 crop for portrait pics or would the 50/1.8 be a better choice now. Just wondering how far would the camera have to be from subject to get a upper torso shot? Thanks for your opinions Bill

Personally I'd go with the 50mm, the 85 would be too long for my taste, on a full frame the 85 would be close to ideal in my taste, Bob.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

bobmcculloch wrote:

Personally I'd go with the 50mm, the 85 would be too long for my taste, on a full frame the 85 would be close to ideal in my taste, Bob.

Which is true for some shooters and also why it is important to try to take into consideration where you are equipment wise today and where you plan or hope to go in the future. Making smart choices today can build for the future whether it is 1, 3 or 5 years from now.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

dadaist

I utilize a 105mm Nikon lens and just back up when shooting portraits; also, GREAT for macro work. I get 155mm equiv. on my DX cameras ; also, use it on my Nikon Df FX camera.