Using the EF 85mm 1:1.8

[Ramsden]

Hi folks 

EOS90D currently with my EF 85mm 1:1.8 attached. 

I've had my camera nearly 2.5 ys now and bought a few lenses early on, in a waive of enthusiasm. 

Now I'm trying to work out what they all do!

The 85mm is, on the face of it, a decent lens for a day out. Not to heavy, and reasonable price.

But this week, having rediscovered my 24mm, I took the 85 for a walk along my Yorkshire footpaths and lanes. At first I thought I was doing something wrong, till I did some more research into the 85mm.

When I was trying to photograph a plant, for example, I could only get a small part in focus. But this is what the 85mm does, as it creates loads of bokeh. 

Apparently if you try to take a portrait, sometimes, it  can only get one eye in focus. 

Today I went back to get some pictures of Scotch Broom, which were beautiful yesterday. Of course today,  they were passed their best, but I hope the photograph makes my point.

So my question to my learned friends across the pond, is, have you used an 85mm, and how do you get the best out of it?

Thanks 

Ramsden 

 

[wq9nsc]

Nice photos!  I have been to only one cricket match in my life.  One of the members of my dissertation committee was from India and he insisted I attend a cricket match with him.  I had fun but it would have been more enjoyable IF I better understood the sport AND if I wasn't doing my final defense the next day causing most of my attention to remain on surviving that defense 🙂  And I suspect the level of cricket played in Lubbock, TX wasn't exactly world class 😂

The EF 85 should be a good lens for capturing the steam train and a big reason I liked it for indoor sports is because it focuses very quickly.   I am making plans to find a good spot to capture Union Pacific's 1940's era "Big Boy" 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive when it comes through the area on a tour later this summer.  It will be fun to get some photos of it when it passes down a rail line about 35 kilometers from me.  Once I upload my students' grades next week, I am going to scout out some good locations to try to capture it where the lighting will be decent and hopefully far enough out in the middle of nowhere that it won't be too crowded

Rodger

[Ramsden]

Goodness me, the 4-8-8-4 will be amazing to see. I can't imagine the size in real life. You will definitely have to share your photos.

Re:cricket, yes its an unusual game, but my Grandad played, so the 'game' is in my dna. Certainly not the kind of thing to absorb before defending a thesis. Those days stick in the mind.

Don't forget the photos please 

R

[ebiggs1]

What you and LeeP are missing or not thinking about is distance. All lenses will perform exactly the same way if you correct for distance. " It's not "tele" enough to be a telephoto and at the same time "too tele" to be a walk-around lens." Because of the distance from subject he was using it.

"...bought a few lenses early on, in a waive of enthusiasm."

You and a huge portion of the camera buying public. You bought "enthusiasm" without the thought of photography in mind. All photo gear, lenses in particular, have a purpose. If you have no purpose or use for that particular FL lens it won't be of any value to you as LeeP found out.

The 85mm was designed to be used in a smaller studio for portrait work where it excels. "...it creates loads of bokeh."

Again bokeh is a function of distance from subject and aperture opening. Not necessarily because it is an 85mm f1.8 lens.

If you were in my DSLR 101 class I would have suggested you get a 17-55mm zoom or similar. This will let you try and see what FL's work and what doesn't work as well for the subject at hand. I strongly discourage new photography people from buying prime FL lenses.

You have a 90D which is not just a good camera it is a fantastic camera. If you want the very best result from it, pair it with the also fantastic Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens. There are top of the line mirrorless cameras costing thousands of dollars that can't make better images that that combo.