85 mm lens

13 years 4 months ago #5563 by Littlebit2011
I'm looking at buying an 85mm lens. I borrowed one from a friend and it was pretty heavy and the results were ok. any advice for getting the best possible shot with this lens?


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13 years 4 months ago #5578 by Solstar
I have an 85mm f1/.8 that I use on crop sensors. That limited field of view can be constraining, but also made me think about my composition a lot. This kind of lens is great in low light especially for getting candids and isolating your subject with that narrow depth of field. It takes some practice to learn to work with a limited depth of field but it can result in some beautiful intimate images. Practice and you will learn to love it and probably most prime lenses (I just added a 50mm f1.4)
I shot this waiting to pick up my sister at an airport @ f2


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13 years 4 months ago #5747 by Gil
I have a 85 f/1.8 and f/1.2. If you shoot these wide open you have a narrow area that is in focus, especially the f/1.2. It takes practice to get use to this narrow field that is in focus. You can stop the lens down and with the f/1.8 you may find the image a tad bit sharper. A good f/1.2 will be pretty sharp right there but even stopping this down one or two stops may help. It will also give a slightly wider area that is in focus.
Also do make sure there is sufficient light, while being able of doing well in low light, you still need a fairly fast shutter speed to get a good image.


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13 years 4 months ago #5822 by DTM

Gil wrote: I have a 85 f/1.8 and f/1.2. If you shoot these wide open you have a narrow area that is in focus, especially the f/1.2. It takes practice to get use to this narrow field that is in focus. You can stop the lens down and with the f/1.8 you may find the image a tad bit sharper. A good f/1.2 will be pretty sharp right there but even stopping this down one or two stops may help. It will also give a slightly wider area that is in focus.
Also do make sure there is sufficient light, while being able of doing well in low light, you still need a fairly fast shutter speed to get a good image.


Why do you have a f/1.2 and f/1.8?


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13 years 4 months ago #5949 by Tuscany
85mm f/1.2 is a incredible lens


Photo Comments
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13 years 4 months ago #6164 by Moe

Solstar wrote: I have an 85mm f1/.8 that I use on crop sensors. That limited field of view can be constraining, but also made me think about my composition a lot. This kind of lens is great in low light especially for getting candids and isolating your subject with that narrow depth of field. It takes some practice to learn to work with a limited depth of field but it can result in some beautiful intimate images. Practice and you will learn to love it and probably most prime lenses (I just added a 50mm f1.4)
I shot this waiting to pick up my sister at an airport @ f2


Your model is in some serious thought


Photo Comments
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13 years 4 months ago #6260 by Solstar
Haha. I'm betting he's wondering who had the bright idea of not having any proper seating in the arrivals waiting area of an international airport.


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13 years 4 months ago #6399 by rprphoto

DTM wrote:

Gil wrote: I have a 85 f/1.8 and f/1.2. If you shoot these wide open you have a narrow area that is in focus, especially the f/1.2. It takes practice to get use to this narrow field that is in focus. You can stop the lens down and with the f/1.8 you may find the image a tad bit sharper. A good f/1.2 will be pretty sharp right there but even stopping this down one or two stops may help. It will also give a slightly wider area that is in focus.
Also do make sure there is sufficient light, while being able of doing well in low light, you still need a fairly fast shutter speed to get a good image.


Why do you have a f/1.2 and f/1.8?


A valid question! ;)


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13 years 4 months ago #6400 by rprphoto

Littlebit2011 wrote: I'm looking at buying an 85mm lens. I borrowed one from a friend and it was pretty heavy and the results were ok. any advice for getting the best possible shot with this lens?


I shoot all of my portraits with either my 85mm ƒ/1.8 or 50mm ƒ/1.8 and the results are always spectacular. As pretty much everyone above said, practice, practice, practice, especially if you're not used to shooting with a fixed lens. It will make you a MUCH better photographer. Good luck :)


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