Treating a 85mm like a wide angle?

[Pjdavisphoto]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone has used the 85mm sorta like a wide angle in portrait sessions? The 28-70mm interest me for this reason, but the 85mm is beautiful. Anyway thanks for the input. 

[zakslm]

One of my favorite uses for my EF85mm f1.8 USM is outdoor "full body" shots of one or of multiple subject (like my wife and our dog, etc.) while shooting at apertures of f2.8 or larger.  On my crop sensor carmera, that's like using a 135mm lens on a full frame camera, so there is some distance required between the camera and the subject.    

Specifically, I like the 85mm's perspective and the way it renders the subjects, etc. vs. a 50mm f1.8 or a 24mm f2.8 prime.  The shallow(er) depth of field of the 85mm isolates the subject(s) and blurs the background in a way that it pleasing to me.  In my opinion and guessing by the popularity of that  focal length with portrait and event photographers; an 85mm lens (with a 1.2 to 1.8 maxium aperture) is a great lens for headshots and more.   

I'm not sure if the above addresses the Pjdavisphoto's question but I hope that sharing my opinion would be of assistance nonetheless. 

[ebiggs1]

" Step it down to f2 and it is much more forgiving but used that way there was no reason to buy such a specialized piece in the first place."

The is so right on. If you don't need or want f1.2 don't buy the ef 85mm f1.2L.