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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> yearning for new glass
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 10/15/2011 09:24:54 AM · #1
the more i look at my images the more i wish i had better glass. i rented a 85mm over the summer and fell in love with it. i mean look at this:



harsh lighting but insanely sharp even nearly wide open.

i know i am going to buy myself a new lens for christmas this year. but i don't know what to get. i have a 50mm 1.8 and the 18-135mm kit

my choices are:

canon 85mm 1.8
canon 100mm 2.8 macro
Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8

i love primes, and i really want the 85mm, but i think i maybe happier with the 100 since it would be versatile for macro.

my other option is to sell my 18-135 kit, im not happy with it, so do i sell it and get two lenses? maybe one of the primes and a better mid level zoom? but if i get the 28-75, on my crop body i no longer have a wide angle to shoot landscapes. however i don't really have any good scenery to shoot and i could just rent them as required.

or would the 28-75 be worthless since i have a 50mm and will be getting a 85 or 100mm. should i just go prime and wide? say with a tamron 17-50/2.8?

i know im giving up the long end, but really i don't use it that much, and i be much better suited at the wider ranges and just rent a zoom for a trip or but one later. or should i just get one prime and keep my kit since its so versatile even if i don't plan to use it that much?

help, i have no idea what i want or what to do.

Message edited by author 2011-10-15 13:28:25.
 10/15/2011 09:40:06 AM · #2
the 85mm im going to get next week, was looking at the sigma 1.4 85mm but the canon rates so well no point spending 3x for 1 fstop

its not bad can be had for £280 new here which is cheap for such a good lens :)
 10/15/2011 11:53:02 AM · #3
My vote is for the 100mm macro. It'll give you the lovely bokeh for portraits while also giving you the opportunity for macros. I've used the 100 macro several times and I absolutely loved that lens. The 85 is really nice too, but I think the 100 is just a it more versatile.

I'd also vote for keeping the wide angle kit lens for the occasional landscape shot.
 10/15/2011 07:44:56 PM · #4
Not sure what the prices are on those but if you can afford it the EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 is absolutely stunning. I just had to decide between that and the 24-105 f/4 L and chose the L because I wanted the extra range. I had rented the 2.8 previously for a wedding though. No going back to your kit after shooting with that lens. My 24-105 takes some nice pictures, but it was a hard choice between them. From your choices it looks like you want something fast and the 17-55 really can't be beat.

You can see some shots I took with the 17-55 here:

Message edited by author 2011-10-15 23:52:48.
 10/15/2011 07:52:02 PM · #5
how sharp is it wide open? i like to do a lot of indoor stuff without flash, which is why i want the primes.

edit: for that price it better be sharp... :)

Message edited by author 2011-10-15 23:53:20.
 10/15/2011 07:57:42 PM · #6
The link I edited in above shows two pics both wide open at f2.8. One outside with good light, one inside in very low light with a strong back light. It's the crop sensors closet match to the 24-75 2.8L. Glass is L quality but the body isn't.
 10/15/2011 08:00:25 PM · #7
And here will show you what real photogs can do with it ;)

//www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=1325
 10/18/2011 08:14:17 AM · #8
popped into my local camera shop today and got the 85mm 1.8 not had a proper play yet just testing it in the shop while chatting to the guys in there, cracking shop. anyway test shots jsut mucking around no real thought so ill post them up and had a play with the 100mm 2.8 macro L lens :)



85mm


100mm L



full size ones here

//www.flickr.com/photos/cyberprop/sets/72157627923187302/

10/18/2011 02:45:41 PM · #9
you suck.

that is such a sweet lens.

i think im just going to get either the 100mm or the 85mm, not sure yet.
 10/18/2011 03:06:38 PM · #10
look into the 100 f2.0.. it is just like the 85 1.8 but has metal filter threads and slightly better handling imo..
10/18/2011 03:11:03 PM · #11
If you like the 85f1.8 make sure never to look at the 135f2 :-o)

The tammy will be the most useful and it's a great lens BUT if you love primes then the 85 is hard to pass up and it's great value, so go for it and enjoy.
 10/18/2011 03:24:56 PM · #12
100mm hands down. 85mm is an awesome lens, but I never carry it anymore. If I want the quality, I just use the 100mm and back up a bit more. The 85mm is to big to use inside with a crop sensor camera, and the macro is so sweet. 100mm lens is probably my best lens (100-400L is my favorite, but I still think the 100mm surpasses the 100-400 in quality)
 10/18/2011 09:11:55 PM · #13
All these lenses are pretty hugely different for their intended uses and output. Of those that you speak of, I own the Tamron and the Nikon equivalent of the 85, which is very similar in terms of optics, size, and output. They have the same minimum focusing distance of 2.8 ft, but differ in the number of elements/arrangement.
Anyway-
The 28-75 is going to be the most versatile, for a couple reasons. First, it's obviously a zoom. Second, it has a pretty high magnification ratio, since it focuses as close as 33cm. It's not a macro but it really does do pretty nicely up close. It's very good at most everything I've put it through with the exception of fast moving subject matter, as its AF is slow.

The 85 1.8 is great for portraits and in general is just a fun lens to use. A lot of my shots are wide open with it, and I'm happy with the output at 1.8. It's just very enjoyable to shoot it at 1.8, in my opinion. It is (also in my opinion) a more useful focal length for full frame, as its a bit higher on the tele side with an APS-C sensor, but it is still useful indoors for a variety of things. Remember it gains 1 1/3 stop over the 100.

I don't have experience with the 100, but based on specs, this is how I would look at it. The 100 is going to perform like the 85 only obviously more on the tele side. You'll start to have problems with having the room to step back far enough indoors. It also has macro capability, of course, so if you've an interest in macro this is great, but will not be worth your money if its not something you wish to pursue since you'll be paying for a feature you don't use. Both it and the 85 will have nicely rendered bokeh when used for portraiture.

Bottom line questions-
How much do you think you'll shoot macro?
How much do you need 1.8?
Is 100 too long for your tendency to shoot indoors?
How much do you want the flexibility of a zoom?

Message edited by author 2011-10-19 01:13:27.
 10/18/2011 11:17:40 PM · #14
I paid £300 for the 85 with a bw skylight

The 100mm macro l was £1860 I know it's a macro lens but I couldn't see £1500 difference on the hi res

I've got l zooms 16-35, 28-70, 70-200, 50mm prime so this fitted in well for my needs, and a portrait project I'm doing for Xmas cards for friends, I'll use my 50 on my 20d to get a similar lens if I'm shooting crop, just need it to stop raining to get some shots.

Love new toys, although they had a second hand mf system which was cheap might start shooting film again not done it since my eos 5/ae1 bag was stolen.
 10/19/2011 03:17:52 AM · #15
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:


Bottom line questions-
How much do you think you'll shoot macro? not sure, i have never really explored it since i dont have the ability, this is more about buyers remorse and passing over a feature i kind of wish i have had in order to try.
How much do you need 1.8? a must indoors, but i have the 50 1.8 for indoors which im happy with, so its not a must.
Is 100 too long for your tendency to shoot indoors? if it wasn't my choice would be much easier.
How much do you want the flexibility of a zoom?
not necessary, I'm thinking im going to stick with the 18-135, its just too versatile to give up. so im back to either the 85 or 100.

my heart is telling me go with the 85mm, the AF is fast its tack sharp and the focal length is perfect. but i dont want to pass up the ability to do macro, especially if i get all the qualities of the 85mm, but at a longer length.

arghhh... decisions...
 10/19/2011 03:45:09 AM · #16
Well, just to throw it out there, you can always get extension rings to use with the 85 later if you want. You won't have infinity focus so there are limits, sure, but it's definitely a usable setup. I shot these with the 85 and Kenko rings


My rings say they aren't compatible with ultrasonic motors, but I have found that both my Sigma and Nikon ultrasonic lenses work fine with them. Either way, it's not that big of a deal because you sorta sway towards and away your subject to get focus when you use rings anyway, since you have such a limited amount to change focus with the ring.
10/19/2011 05:20:02 AM · #17
Ditto what spiritualspatula said. The ext rings are a slight hassle to use because you can't suddenly focus to infinity when using them, but it's not a big problem if you don't want to spend huge bucks to get the macro.

I use an older Nikkor 85mm f1.8 H C. It was built in the late 1960's, and it is one of my most prized lenses, esp when light is low, and I need some reach. It's also exceptional for people photos and night or indoor sports. I also have the Micro Nikkor 105 f2.8 Ais, which is a sweet lens. The 85 though, just seems to have some kind of magic to it that no other lens can match.

Get a set of extension rings first. Try them with one of your current lenses to see if macro gets you excited. Then buy the 85 if you are happy with the rings, if not, then get the longer macro.

Message edited by author 2011-10-19 09:23:33.
 11/03/2011 09:07:50 AM · #18
still exploring... i have been using my 50mm more now the weather is going south and i cant believe how much sharper the images are with that cheap little lens over the 18-135.

im really thinking i want to sell my kit 18-135 and pick up the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 i also think im going to get a 100mm 2.8 macro. OR maybe just get the Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro Lens and get a cheap wide angle just to have it in case i need, which isn't very often.

im keeping the 50mm for my indoor work as it still seems perfect for my needs but i think i'd rather have longer than shorter but i dont want to give away the wide angles completely. the 28-75 range seems could be covered by my 50mm prime by just moving around.

any one used the Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8? it looks big, hell it looks huge, one thing i really like about the 18-135, besides the range is that its not too big or heavy (i just wish the picture quality was better).

i am definitely getting at least one new lens, i just dont know what i should get...
11/03/2011 10:12:37 AM · #19
No one has mentioned the Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro yet, so I will. Right in the focal length you're looking at, fairly fast at 2.8, super sharp, also serves as a proper 1:1 macro. I absolutely love it. You could balance your checkbook while it hunts for focus at times, but that's really the only knock. I use mine on manual, even for hand-held, non-macro shots. It's got a nice price. I recommend it.
 11/03/2011 01:29:25 PM · #20
DPC results w/these lenses

Canon 100 Macro
Canon 85 1.8
Tamron 90 2.8

Another option for the 70-200, 2.8 would be the Sigma
 11/03/2011 01:46:16 PM · #21
If you do a google search you will find that most people suggest a 50mm 1.4 for the crop body as this is similar to the 85mm 1.8 on FF.

If you want to also do macro you could look at the 60mm 2.8 canon macro lens - the focal length is between the other two.
Gets great reviews.

Just a thought.

However, if you can get a nice copy of the tamron 28-75 you would probably find that the most useful.

As a carry around lens the canon 15-85 is very impressive. Sharp wide open and 15mm is pretty wide.

Message edited by author 2011-11-03 17:47:24.
 11/03/2011 03:10:06 PM · #22
The three lenses you mentioned in the OP are fullframe capable. My question is are you expecting to go FF in the future? If not, maybe look at Tamron or Sigma's 17-50 2.8 if you're planning on sellng your 18-135. I would say they're on par with the Tamron's 28-75 2.8 in IQ and would maintain your wide angle capabilities of your 18-135.

I would look into the 70-200 f4L non IS, price is so close to the 100mm 2.8macro and it gives you some telephoto with L IQ.

Where I am, Tam 28-75 and a C 100 mm2.8 is almost identical in price to a Tam 17-50 and C 70-200 F4L nonIS.

Message edited by author 2011-11-03 19:13:07.
 11/03/2011 04:43:52 PM · #23
yeah, i looked at the 70-200L but not being IS, unless i had it on a tripod, my shutter would need to be not less than 1/250 which means outside only. i was thinking at least with the tamron i'd have the 2.8 to help out.

the more i think, the more i'd rather go telephoto, i rarely have a need below 50mm unless i go wide for landscape and its out to 18mm.

im going to stop at the camera shop tomorrow, i want to rent a lens for his weekend.

edit, thanks throwing another lens into the mix... im am wondering if i'd be happiest with the 70-200L since my 18-135 is f5.6 through those length would i really be giving up anything with no IS?

Message edited by author 2011-11-03 21:04:32.
 11/03/2011 06:19:38 PM · #24
My overall view, and one that is confirmed by many reviews, is that Tamron makes sharp lenses with lacking autofocus. Sigma makes lenses with lower sharpness/contrast but fast AF. One of these may be better suited to your needs than the other. Any 70-200 is going to be large and heavy, though the Tamron is actually somewhat smaller and lighter. An in-depth review of the Tamron 70-200 can be found over at DPReview (the link is to the conclusions page, but you can read the whole thing). Similarly, here is the Sigma review. There is a side-by-side comparison within those reviews as well, comparing them to each other as well as to the Canon and Nikon 70-200 2.8.

Message edited by author 2011-11-03 22:33:00.
 11/03/2011 06:24:06 PM · #25
I didn't realize they had a V. II out in that lens (Sigma), lol. Guess it's been awhile since I got mine.

Message edited by author 2011-11-03 22:24:53.
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