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. 

[Pjdavisphoto]

Thank you. All very good points. I shoot full frame (R5). This probably won’t help your question but sometimes I want to obliterate the background and sometimes I don’t. Other times I like to shoot at F8-F9 so yea lol. 

[ebiggs1]

"I’m shooting with the R5 and RF 24-105mm L."

This is simple to answer. Set your current lens to 85mm and fix it there with some gaffers tape and try it.

I have the ef 85mm f1.2L and I love it. I almost never use it!

[Pjdavisphoto]

I’ve definitely tested the 24-105 at 85 just not on a job. Are you saying you never use the 85?

[wq9nsc]

I have two flavors of 85mm in the EF mount, the f1.8 which is inexpensive, fast focusing and very easy to use.  I also have the EF 85 f1.2 which can produce some incredible results with its ability to provide a very shallow DoF and for this same reason it requires a lot of practice and experience to get consistently good results.  Listen well to Ernie about this type of glass, he is very experienced with it and its personality.  It definitely isn't a point and shoot lens no matter what body it is used with BUT it will reward you with incredible results when properly applied.

I am a little nervous every time I use the 85 f1.2 because if applied in a way to really utilize its capabilities, it is highly unforgiving with no margin for error.  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.

Rodger

[rs-eos]

If you like the 85mm field of view, and need that very shallow DOF, then use the 85mm f/1.2.  Otherwise, if you don't need that shallow DOF, or need more in the frame, or the added focal-length flexibility, then use your zoom.

I also still stand by my original reply to your initial question.  i.e. only two options to get more in the frame (along with their pros/cons).

[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. 

[AtticusLake]

I assume I would just stand further away with the 85mm to achieve this. 

---

This should work, simplistically; however, to get a full-length picture, you're going to need to stand quite a way back.  This means you will need a big studio.

But worse than that, standing back will create a very flat perspective, making your model look flat and 2-dimensional.  This is generally not what you want for portraits.

A lot of people will tell you that perspective depends on your lens; they are all wrong, and this right here is why it matters.  Perspective depends on the camera-subject distance only.  So, what you really want to do is:

1. Place your camera the right distance from the subject to get the perspective you want.  This might be 6 feet for some people, maybe 10-15 feet for people with stronger features.  1-3 feet if you want them to look like a clown.
2. Pick the lens that gives you the composition you want; a longer lens for a head shot, a wide lens for a full-body shot, etc.
3. Take the pic.

Not everyone has a massive set of lenses to choose from for step 2; this is where a zoom can really help.  So all in all, I think I would have to recommend the zoom.

People say the 85mm is the "best portrait lens", but that's only because they're making a bunch of assumptions; like that you're going to take a head-and-shoulders shot only.  If you want to be more creative -- and it sounds like you do -- then more focal lengths should be a much better answer than moving the camera.

[Pjdavisphoto]

Thank you for the help. I’ve made the decision to go with the 28-70mm. It fits my creative style more. Now I’ll wait for the rumored 28-70mm MK ll lol. 

[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.

[ebiggs1]

"I almost never use it!"

I do use it but usually because I have a reason. The ef 85mm f1.2L is really a reworked ef 50mm f1L lens not that makes any difference. The ef 85mm f1.2L is a difficult lens and requires to know that. But in the end there is nothing like 85mm at f1.2.

"Step it down to f2 and it is much more forgiving ..."

However the agonizingly slow AF is still there.

For whatever its worth, I also have the ef 50mm f1.2L.