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Author Topic: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?  (Read 2306 times)

Offline Degudodger

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Guys,

Any Canon 85mm f/1.8 users on the forum?

I have been offered a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens for £175 but I am sure I could get it for £150 which against a new retail price of £300 would be pretty good value. After checking POTN and ebay it would seem the going price for a used lens over 12 months old is anywhere in the region of £200-£250 but these are boxed examples.

The reviews are promising and the sample photos on POTN and Flickr look fantastic, however as my style of photography is more landscape/travel I’m wondering if 85mm is going to be too long for me.

My Lens line up is currently
17-40mm f/4 L series
24-105mm f/4 IS L Series
70-200mm F/4 (Non IS) L Series

I did have a 50mm f/1.8 Mk1 but recently sold it due to it being a non USM and too noisy

I really want a short-mid range prime lens but with a budget of just £300 my choices are somewhat limited.
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Offline jonm

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2012, 12:53:21 pm »
20mm f/2.8 would be a perfect prime..

Offline rich83

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2012, 01:33:34 pm »
20mm f/2.8 would be a perfect prime..

Depends on what you want to do with it.....

Offline jonm

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2012, 02:28:12 pm »
his style is landscape and travel... so its perfect really...

Offline rich83

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2012, 07:52:52 pm »
his style is landscape and travel... so its perfect really...

But ant has already got the 17-40 which is a great WA landscape lens, and when shooting landscapes youd never use F2.8 anyway.

Offline Degudodger

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2012, 10:31:16 pm »
I really feel the need to have at least one Prime lens that i will actually use. I looked at the 135 f/2 L series but at £899 it's a little out of my price range especially as i just bought the 17-40mm which by the way i love.
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Offline damoegan

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2012, 10:46:43 pm »
I love my 50mm 1.8 but would love a 35mm 1.8 for landscape  :smiley:

Offline Degudodger

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2012, 11:34:22 pm »
So far i have managed to kill three 50mm f1.8 lenses the most recent of which was a rare Mk1 (built 1988) metal mount which i managed to destroy by getting sand in it. Canon really need to weather seal all their lenses.

A friend has recently bought the 14mm f/2.8 L series which i feel compiled to have a play with. 
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Offline damoegan

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Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 users - what are your thoughts of this lens?
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2012, 11:43:48 pm »
So far i have managed to kill three 50mm f1.8 lenses the most recent of which was a rare Mk1 (built 1988) metal mount which i managed to destroy by getting sand in it. Canon really need to weather seal all their lenses.

A friend has recently bought the 14mm f/2.8 L series which i feel compiled to have a play with. 

Unlucky matey  :surprised: