Very nice down-to-earth comparison, and a subject that many people probably want to know about . I am soooo glad you mentioned the 85L is not an action lens! So many reviews complain about how slow it is, they just don't seem to get that it is a portrait lens above all else.
***** Thanks so much! I totally agree that people go on and on too much about the "slow" focus of the 85... I've actually tested it in some (moderate speed) action situations though and as long as you're not racking from one extreme to the other it can keep up so long as you can deal with the depth of field. I love the lens and people put it down because of that aspect way too much.
This is about the best comparison of these 2 lenses I have seen. Like others, I really like your comparisons of sections in the photos. It really shows how much alike they are than different. You also point out the compression difference of the 2. I personally own 24mm 1.4L, 50mm 1.2L, 135mm f2L as my primary primes. And then opted for the 85mm f1.8 since I prefer the 135mm focal length over 85. I probably use the 50 and 135 for 90 percent of my work as I find these 2 to be pure magic in results. Before deciding on the 50 1.2 or 85 1.2 I spent enough in renting them to purchase an 85 1.2L! LOL!
Haha thanks so much! Love hearing your experiences too... the 135 is definitely another magic lens. I've owned it twice, sold it twice, regret it twice haha. I do a lot of 35/85 work but 50/135 is a gorgeous set. Thanks again for watching!
the 85mm at f/1.2 has ultra-shallow DOF and even small movements are enough to lose sharpness. I find it's best when mounted on a tripod. The 50/1.2 is a great lens that is more usable in every day situations. I find the 85/1.2 to be a special-case lens but it does produce great results, albeit slowly. Lovely family BTW!
Rachael Firth thanks so much 😄 I totally agree- I'll shoot the 85 handheld wide open because I don't usually carry a tripod around with me but I'm ready for getting a lot of slightly missed shots. Still love it (and the 50 of course) though! 😄😄
Just order a 50mm 1.2 before watching this. I think it's easier to walk closer to a subject than further away depending on the situation. Always wanted the 50mm L especially since I just got my 6D. Still will be using my t6i for majority of my shooting and video recording. 6d is my special occasion lens
Fred Derf definitely true for a lot of situations but the compression and rendering of the 85 is something quite unique and special. 50mm is for sure more useful overall but I use the 85 whenever I can and I can't not recommend it if you're able to get both haha. Even the 50mm 1.8 is pretty good so that's definitely worth looking at too.
Hey I got the 85mm and I am very happy to use it. Most what you show in the video, what I really appreciate has some logic. The 85mm needs 1.7 time the distance from a 50mm (85/50). To take a picture from 1m high you need a distance from 2.08m for the 50mm and 3.54m for the 85mm. With a depth of field 13cm for the 50mm compared with a 4 cm for the 85mm. ( so a factor 3.25 less). What also important is, with those lenses with such a narrow depth of field is, the way you look trough the eye-finder. You will always look trough an open diafragm, what will be 1.2 and what gives a very narrow depth of field, independent from your setted diafragm. When the shutter goes of your diafragm will close to the settings you choose. I choose for the 85mm because like headshots... and with the 50mm you are coming in a personal space from your model. With the 85mm gives a more relaxed impression, certainley with people whodidn't had a shoot before. Another very important diiference between the 50mm and the 85mm is perspective. So if you could I am looking forward to see another movie where you explan this more. I really enjoyed the way you explain things and I am very happy to see your enthousiasm, so keep up the great work!
Hey, great to hear your thoughts! I definitely find myself gravitating towards the 85 for portraits as well, it's just such a comfortable focal length to work with for so many reasons. The new 1.4L IS version is an incredible lens as well, and I love it for video too. I'll definitely do my best to get around to making more lens comparisons including focusing on certain things like perspective. Maybe once it gets a bit warmer and I'm more motivated to go outside again haha. Anyway, thanks again for watching and commenting. Have a happy new year!
TLDR; I did an experiment with my 50 1.2, 85 1.2, and 70-200 2.8 is ii as a control) to compare the depth effect and how 3D subjects are rendered ( micro contrast) if you want to see photos from this experiment. I may make a screen recording also. If your interested in seeing, I did an experiment the other day, and again today to get more consistent results when comparing the 85 1.2 to the 50 1.2. I used my 70-200 2.8IS ii as a control in order to eliminate focal length as a variable, to test the depth rendering of both of these lenses. My goal was to demonstrate the non measurable trait which is micro contrast. I'm not sure if general contrast is something that can be measured, but i know for sure micro contrast eg. inter-tonal gradation between light and dark (most noticeable when images are converted to black and white) is something that can only been seen with the eye. Zeiss lenses are notoriously knows for their superior micro contrast levels and people know this as the "zeiss effect" or "3d pop". This is mainly true for zeiss's distagon series with their low element counts and thus having less glass. Glass reduces light transmission and the more their is, the more depth rendering suffers. This is most common in the newer, sharper, fast aperture lenses as having a sharp lens with a large aperture requires more glass to correct for optical abnormalities. As result of this the image has a more 2D look ( i actually like this a lot of the time).
Correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems that the 50mm lens has more sharpness even at lower speeds while the 85mm even at speeds above 2000 brings a very specific focus area and difficult to control. Being that in a wedding or event the 50mm is more versatile and delivers what everyone wants, a beautiful bokeh effect. it is?
I think you're pretty much correct- the 85 is very sharp when you nail focus but it's much more difficult than other lenses to focus and recompose even slightly, and I don't think it's only because of the shallow depth of field. There's something else going on there. But, as long as you can get a focus point on your subject I haven't been disappointed. The 50 is just as awesome though; I love both but I could definitely see the 50 being more useful for weddings and events. I usually pop the 85 out for some shots here and there but it's not my go-to in that situation.
Great review. I love the 85mm focal length, currently using the 85mm 1.8 a lot. However can't see myself hefting that 1kg beast around the streets. I'll probably go for the 50 1.2 when I get round to it at some point. Love the build quality of both those Canon lenses though.
jetblakink Haha yeah for walking around the streets the 50 is definitely the way to go (between these 2). For those times when you want an 85 though its really quite special. :)
had 50L and sold it, it was too soft for me wide open on the eye, did not try 85L tho, but I heard it is pretty sharp wide open. I use Zeiss Otus 85 now.
Mateusz M my 50 was a little off too but after I calibrated it it was more than sharp enough, close to the 85 but it can be a bit tricky sometimes at close distances. I've heard people say stopped down between 1.4 and about 2.8 the plane of focus shifts when the aperture closes and at close distances it's enough to notice, but further away, wide open or at smaller apertures it has no effect or isn't noticeable. Never bothered me personally but it could depend on which copy of the lens you get perhaps. The Zeiss is in a league of its own though, I'm jealous haha.
You re totally right, I was using my 50 mostly for close portraits and headshots, and my focus shift was so annoying that at some point I had to address the issue, call my models I worked with on tfp basis and suggested a £££, because it just did not work for me :F Shame, because I loved that lens, and hated it for that at the same time. I used to shoot mostly at f/2 lately, but again.. it was bothering me all the time, that I have the lens that I can not use to its full potential. I believe for a more environmental shots it would be great, shame I am not up for those. Same story with my 135L, I just love that lens, but .. because it is old construction it flares quite a bit and looses a lot of contrast shooting against the Sun. Zeiss so far serves me well, when You nail focus with Otus at f/1.4 there is this 'f*ck yeah' moment, but there are some times when I have a nice posed model with great expression and focus is off. At least I know who to blame for that - myself. I have it relatively short time, so I hope I will improve. At the moment there is 70-30 focus to out of focus, sadly sometimes the best shots are in this 30% and I can not really use them at the end. Cheers.
I really needed this review so badly! Where have u been all this time man 😂 thanQ so much Scott! Well presented, and it's on point, keep the good work up :D
I wonder, when you compare the two photos (of your wife, the portrait ones), what was the reason you use ISO100, 1/800s for the 50mm, but use ISO400, 1/3200s for the 85mm? (later iso100, 1/640s vs ISO400 1/2500) is that purposedly so, or those settings were on auto, just because the lighting at the time of the photo has changed? I just want to see if the blur of the background can be solely contributed to the lens per se? thanks
hey Scott Dumas, I am wondering if you could only choose 1 between the 2 which one would it be? I am using the 6D. mainly shoot landscapes but might be interested in getting into portraits
For landscapes I think they'd might both be a little long, depending on your style... but for portraits the 85mm focal length has my heart (I'm using the 1.4L IS version now and I love it for IS in video work but the IQ of the 1.2 lens is still great and has a very special character to it)
Thanks for the video! I'm looking to finally upgrade to one of these lenses. I've been shooting with a 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 and the chromatic aberration is significantly higher. It's sometimes unacceptable.
Scott Great video but my Question is in the setting 50mm iso 100 at 1/640th and on 85mmiso 400 at 1/2500th it will not change photo ??? it will be more great if you can shoot both on same setting.... Thank you
Thanks for watching! You're right, it won't be perfectly the same and I had raised the ISO with the 85mm to get better shutter speeds but then the sun came out off and on. However, with the 5D Mark IV I can honestly say there is absolutely no noticeable difference in sharpness or image quality between ISO 100 and 400 (or even 800+ for that matter). I've used these both a lot and can say confidently these results represent what you'd get from these lenses even at identical settings, but this was more of what you might get in a real world situation. Sorry for the miss, hope you still found it helpful or interesting! :)
Was it same distans then you shot pic? If you was in same distans, Of course, the 85an gets the benefits of exposure and sharpness. With 50an one should be closer to get accurate measurement values. Then you will see that you cannot distinguish between these. I made the same mistake, too, when doing the way to measure objective with each other, this rule applies ... Best Regards From Cold Old Good Sweden
Thanks so much Milton K :) There are definitely more beautiful places around here so once the weather warms up a bit I'll try to throw in more and more cool locations! Thanks again for watching and commenting!
Just bought the 50mm 1.2 L - can’t wait to get it on the P4K for a test drive. There is something very special about the look this lens delivers so excited to get some 12bit RAW into Davinci and discover what can be cooked up with that combo! Not sure I’ll go further and get the 85 as I don’t see shooting much past the 50mm mark on a crop sensor. But let’s see ...
Awesome! I actually don't have the 50 anymore and I do really regret getting rid of it ...I'll probably get another sometime, especially as the price is coming down lower with all the new lenses coming out. Hope you enjoy it! Your comment actually has kind of lit a spark in me to go out and get mine back haha.
Scott Dumas hah, I hope you can find one at a good deal. I got mine on eBay Singapore for 555 SGD which works out to around US $400 I believe. Feel like I stole it at that price! I also picked up the 28-80mm F2.8-4 L for US 350 so I have some great glass lined up so far for well under 1,000 dollars. Will start with those 2 and then see about either a wider prime or maybe the 17-35mm F2.8 L to round it out.
@@reginaldworthington7558 Wow, that's a steal! Looks like a used one is going for around $800 US here, I'll have to keep my eye open for a deal like yours!
I'd definitely recommend renting it because it totally depends on exactly what kind of dancing and from what distance and what result you want. If it's like a dance floor at a wedding, it's probably too long and the depth of field would be quite challenging with all that motion. If you're talking some sort of dancing (even a couple's first dance/slow dance at a wedding) from a slight distance, it could be gorgeous. If you're able to rent it, 100% go for it. That will be the best way to know if it fits how you want to use it :)
The best review of these lenses I've seen! I'm trying to decide which of these lenses to take ... my biggest question is about the sharpness of the 50mm ... the download link for the raw files is broken. Any chance for me to get them to analyze?
Hey, sorry- it's been a few years since this video. I'd have to go digging for the photos but I'm not sure they're still hanging around anywhere to be honest.
If I shake it, yes it does make some noise like something is moving around a bit... nothing huge but there is a noise. It seems to work fine though and has for years so I don't think it's anything you should worry about if that's what you're hearing.
Great video. I use prime lens 50mm 1.8 to capture folk-style and free-style wrestling. I shoot at edge of mat so I'm up close and wrestling is slow movements combined with explosive shots, sprawls and throws. The 50mm 1.8 has worked great but I'm considering the 85mm 1.2 to allow more light in low lit auditoriums so I can reduce ISO. My question is will the AF speed be an issue with the 85mm 1.2L II lens? If so, would you recommend the 50mm 1.2 instead? Also, the 85mm focal length is in the sweet spot for wrestling shots at edge of the mat. Your advise is greatly appreciated.
Hi! Thanks so much for watching and commenting! I've found that the 85mm 1.2 can actually keep up with decently fast motion like running as long as it's pretty steady and consistent movement. Fast sudden movements or irregular movements might be quite a challenge though. Also, if you miss your focus it will take forever for the 85 to rack all the way to and from infinity while searching for it again, which is where it becomes a big problem. I've had a lot more success with the 50 1.2 and quick sudden movements like kids playing for example, but the new 85mm 1.4L IS might be the best match for what you're looking for. You'll have the focal length you're looking for, a brighter aperture than 1.8 and from what I hear much much faster AF (plus IS!) I'll actually be switching out my 85 1.2 for the new 1.4 very soon (in a week or so). I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 85 (mostly for it's beautiful colors and overall rendering, even of flare) and it's one of my most used lenses, but it's very challenging to use when I'm not able to take my time and shoot carefully. Focus and recompose is out, even sometimes when not wide open. I like to use 85mm for events and weddings as well so the faster/more reliable/easier to use new version will save me a lot of trouble. I hope that helps but let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know! :) Thanks again!
Nice. You did a good job with comparing the bokeh between the 2 lenses. I own both of these and I can say that my experience has been similar to your's. One thing I did find that may have been different from your finding was that my copy of the 50 1.2 L has a slight hazy look to it at 1.2 only. it goes away after that. I have to say though. Overall if I had to pick 1 It would be the 50 ( which i bought first). I actually leave my 85 on my camera often when walking around because of the way generalized random subjects can have beautiful backgrounds that are blurred, especially when the subject is loosely framed and the blur: in-focus ratio is very high. ( love this look). There are 2 reasons why I would say the 50 is my personal favorite of the 2. 1.) Im in a somewhat black and white phase right now since I just got a new printer that does an amazing job on black and white prints( Pro 1000), SO for this reason I like the 50 because I feel it has slightly better and more noticeable micro contrast. I actually learned just recently how to actually tell the difference between lenses with better or worse micro contrast. The way one can tell mostly is by how much pop and 3D effect the lens renders faces etc. Especially when converted to black and white It seems as though the slightly superior micro contrast of the 50mm's photos when compared to the 85's the subjects look more 3D with the 50 and more flat with the 85. Its really a controversial thing among the online photography scene it seems, but the appreciation for micro contrast and the understanding of it i feel has been truly beneficial for my art. 2.) Despite the 85 mm creating stronger background blur than the 50 at the same aperture, the 50 mm will actually create a higher blur:in-focus ratio because although the bokeh is "stronger" the depth of field is thinner on the 50, causing more of this particular effect that i enjoy. I want to make my own content on this sort of thing i just am involved in too many other things i feel right now. Good job man.
Here is an article I learned from. I was referred to this by Theoria Apophasis.. yannickkhong.com/blog/2016/2/8/micro-contrast-the-biggest-optical-luxury-of-the-world
Thanks so much again for watching and commenting! :) I've experienced the slight haze on the 50 as well from time to time and I tend to see it more at or near closest focus. The micro contrast and global contrast on the 85 definitely seem to depend on the aperture as well... I've found it does quite well when slightly stopped down, but most people buy the 1.2 to shoot at 1.2, and I feel for that dreamy portrait look the lower contrast of the 85 pairs really well with the overall rendition wide open. If you're using it for landscapes or any situation you want or need more micro contrast I'd definitely recommend stopping it down a bit or using a different lens (the 50 for example holds up better wide open in this regard). As for the depth of field it would depend on your distance to the subject as well. If you get the same framing or if you shoot from the same distance. Anyway, thanks as always for commenting and watching! If you ever are able to get around to making some videos let me know! :)
Kids at play are generally moving around quite quickly. I does the pictures were quite in focus. Were you able to set the focus point? Which cluster mode were you in when focusing? Just curious…
Cactus Tweeter I believe I was using single point, possibly spot AF from time to time to stop the ropes from throwing off the focus too much. I more or less waited with the point in an area I knew they would be and when they popped into it I made a slight adjustment to cover their eye and fired off a few shots. It helped that they were "contained" in the rope area but I actually will be posting a video today or tomorrow about the focus speed of the 85 1.2, testing it at a marathon. :)
I just ordered my 85mm. aside from comparing these two beautiful lenses. Can you recommend a UV filter for the 85mm? or would you say its not necessary, its just personal preference.
Han Zhang Great! I'm sure you'll love it :) As for the UV filter, I would say it's personal preference. I have some but don't use them unless I'm going into a situation that I know I'll have a high chance of getting finger prints from kids or water splashes etc on my lens. The ones I have are Kenko I believe but I just got the highest quality ones I could find locally. It's been useful in some situations, for example at a wedding when some kid started poking my lens and it was covered in fingerprints. Instead of stopping and cleaning it I just took off the filter, threw it in my pocket and kept shooting.
The AF noise is fairly average, and it would depend on which mic you're using. Send me an email and I can send you a little video clip showing the noise when I get a chance. scottdumasphotography@gmail.com
Hi Scott, I am the owner of 5DSR and I am worried about if this lenses have the resolution and sharpness that my camera wants! I think I'm going to buy the Sigma ART 85mm and wait for the new versión of Canon EF 50L
Bernardo Garcia Hey thanks for watching and commenting! The Canon 85 is definitely sharp- I think it's biggest downfall is CA. The 50 is sharp too, but close distances can struggle a little sometimes. I've heard the new Sigma 85 is one of the sharpest lenses ever though, it's just huge and suffers from typical Sigma focus consistency issues. I'm very curious about the new Rokinon/Samyang 85 1.2... it's manual focus but otherwise seems to be an awesome lens. I'm hoping to get my hands on it sometime soon to try out. I'm sure you can't go wrong with any of them! :)
I haven't tried the mark 1 version myself but I'm pretty sure it's quite a bit inferior in IQ to the mark 2. The mark 2 still has some issues like CA and AF, but it's a gorgeous lens.
Great video...I learned a ton as I am pretty new. I typically shoot my kids soccer matches with 7D Mark II but want to get that blurred background and the 85 seems a bit advanced for me right now. I have the 17-40 and 70-200 with work well but both are not everyday. I think that the 50mm 1.2L may be the next added. Thanks for the help.
+103564412569405931032 Thanks so much! Glad it helped :) I agree the 70-200 (2.8) paired with a 7D mark II would be a great combination for soccer matches with blurred backgrounds, but it's definitely not an everyday lens haha. The 50 will definitely be better for that and it could definitely work for soccer too depending how close you can get :) (on the 7D it will be more like an 80mm field of view though, which isn't bad). Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with!
Hi. I already have sigma 35 1.4art for wide/gen purpose, im planning to add something for portrait. Will 85 1.2 work for me or 50 1.2? I have 50 1.4 as well but i find it too soft wide open
Ben Cruz I think as both a good match for the 35mm and also a generally great portrait lens you would be very happy with the 85mm 1.2 :) Highly recommended.
Very nice and creative video. I liked it a lot especially when comparing the working distance. My question is which lens has better Micro-Contrast?and do you consider the 50mm 1.2L a good portrait lens?and why? Thanks.
Fahad Bashraheel Thanks! :) The micro contrast is a bit tough, I honestly haven't looked at it too intensely but the 85 loses overall contrast and saturation a bit when wide open so it makes me think the aperture would play a part in it. I can take a look at it closer when I have a chance though :) The 50 1.2 is definitely a good portrait lens if you're not doing headshots I think. If I have the space and time I'd probably still choose the 85, 135 or even a 70-200 just because I like the compression and separation you can get even at slightly smaller apertures. The 50 1.2 is amazing as a wedding/event portrait lens though when you're dealing with lots of different situations often in limited space and limited time. Its versatility combined with amazing rendition is just really awesome. It's almost always on at least one of my cameras.
thank you so much for your answer it's very helpful. i am leaning toward the 50mm 1.2. i am really looking forward to know which lens has better micro contrast. thanks again i really appreciate it.
Fahad Bashraheel I took a couple shots that I think should show micro contrast well and I'll let you be the judge of which you like better. I shot them at 1.2 and also 2.8, I put a link to download the RAW files in the video description, let me know what you think! Hope it helps!
Thanks a lot for all your time and efforts i really appreciate it. it took me a long time to decide which lens has better micro contrast. both are very similar and really i can't tell the deference BUT maybe the 50mm has a little bit more micro contrast. thanks again and please let me know what do you think.
Fahad Bashraheel It's definitely a very tough call. I'd have to agree though that there may be a bit more on the 50 but it's hardly noticeable. I absolutely love both lenses... the 50 is my go to lens for everyday use and the 85 is my go to for portraits but I never feel like I'm missing out with either one. Let me know which you decide to get! :) Either way I think it'll be hard to take it off your camera. I have some links to both in the description if you're interested :)
I'd say they're fairly close but the 50mm MIGHT have the edge. There's a link where you can download some raw files in the description, that might help if you want to take a look for yourself :)
I have and love both lenses. I never tried them on APS-C but just keep in mind the 1.6x crop factor so an 85 might end up being a little long. Size and weight wise, the 50 is also a better all around never want to take it off your camera type lens.
Really? I hated the focus ring on the 85... it was way too light and didn't have enough resistance to get an accurate focus pull easily in my experience. Smooth, maybe, but not ideal for me at least. The L lenses are definitely all beautiful lenses though :)
Definitely the 85mm just because it's my favorite focal length overall. At the moment I have the newer 1.4L IS version and it's amazing. Quality wise though between these two it's a very close call
Vlad Costin Thanks! I used Final Cut Pro X... super easy to use and really fast even with 4k. I just wish it had curves (the Color Finale plugin works great for that and more but is much more demanding GPU wise and I need to upgrade my computer before I'd be comfortable using it).
Vlad Costin hey not sure if i misunderstood but just in case I wanted to let you know the photo editing program was capture one, and the video was edited in FCPX. 😊
I've used LightRoom (many versions) and Capture One. After some experimentation editing files with both, I stuck with LightRoom: better workflow and more rapid updates and bug fixes. YMMV.
cheers for this man, I have the 50mm f/1.2 but didn't know whether I wanted the 85mm, think it will be just something to get in the future or maybe not bother? i guess I will decide at the time lol. Thanks again for this video!
Thanks for watching! :) I wouldn't say it's necessary but it's definitely uniquely different enough from the 50 to make it worth it if you have the money. It's a hard choice but since you already have the 50 I think you'll be happy either way haha :)
Great review Scott. Good idea to let people draw their own conclusions. Pretty model ;-) Good to see some variety in locations and I liked the use of the graphics. Perhaps you could be slightly more lively in your presentation. No need to become like Kai or Fro, but.... Perhaps you could do a second short review of the 5D MarkIV after using it for 6 months or so. I find those extremely usefull.
Steven Scholten Thanks so much Steven! I'll definitely work on that :) Still figuring out how to be in front and not behind the camera haha. Revisiting the 5D mark IV is a great idea, thanks! I'll definitely do that. Thanks again for watching and commenting! :)
Thanks for the reply :) Will definitely check it out, I've been using Affinity Photo for a while so thought I'd missed out on a new interface for Lightroom lol, Capture One seems like a great app. I also think Vlad who commented below was asking about this instead of FCP! :P
dotfuz ah I'll have to clarify that! Haha... yeah I love capture one... took a little time to get used to especially because the organization system is so different but after that i feel like it does a better job and has more tools than Lightroom.
Thanks for this review. I noticed with the portraits of your wife, you consistently shot the 85mm at an ISO greater than 160 and a shutter speed at greater than 1/2000s....while the 50mm was shot at ISO 100 and 1/640s. Of course ISO matters....why not shoot them both at ISO 160 and the appropriate shutter?
Hey, thanks for watching. It's been quite a while so I honestly can't tell you exactly why- but it's most likely because I had the ISO or the shutter set in one spot or situation, then moved to another and just quickly changed one or the other to accommodate.
Nice video! Have also both and love them. I even prefer the background blur over the new Sigma Art Series which are quite close and much cheaper, but still, the dreamy look of the 1.2s is so different to the 1.4s. But that is all taste in the end....
lostindimcarcosa thanks so much! Yeah I've owned the sigma 35 1.4, Nikon 58 1.4g and used the sigma 50 1.4 and these canon lenses just have something special about them, i can't get enough. The new sigma 85 is interesting and seems to be really quite a strong lens but it's even bigger than the canon 😳😆
I use my canon 50MM F1.2L lens and I set the camera on shutter priority and I get SHARP PHOTOS ALL THE TIME and I have NO PROBLEM FROM F2 to F16 ON MY CANON 50 MM F 1.2L LENS
Yeah sorry about that. What had happened is the sun was going in and out so I had raised my ISO to compensate for that but then the sun came back and I hadn't lowered my ISO back down.
Patrice Diserens There is a debate between the slight give plastic casings have on impact instead of bending/denting like metal, but I definitely know what you mean. The 50 1.2 has a very similar build to the Nikon 58 1.4g for example though as well as almost all recent lenses I've come across besides the holy trinity. The 85 1.2 seems a bit unique. The area under the rubberized texture has a definite metal feel to it and only the area around the focus ring on top side is a true plastic casing but it's hard to tell for sure. I will say it's much more solid feeling than the Nikon 85 1.4g though.
I love when you comparing the distance to take the headshot, half, or full body of each lens. Nobody has done that, I guess, or I just never seen em.
Thanks! I'm glad you found it helpful :)
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Which choose for fashion cloth shooting? 85 mm 1.2 or 50 mm 1.2 for Canon?
Man, that 85 mm at f/1.2 is incredible! Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for watching! The 85 is definitely a magical lens. :)
Very nice down-to-earth comparison, and a subject that many people probably want to know about . I am soooo glad you mentioned the 85L is not an action lens! So many reviews complain about how slow it is, they just don't seem to get that it is a portrait lens above all else.
***** Thanks so much! I totally agree that people go on and on too much about the "slow" focus of the 85... I've actually tested it in some (moderate speed) action situations though and as long as you're not racking from one extreme to the other it can keep up so long as you can deal with the depth of field. I love the lens and people put it down because of that aspect way too much.
This is about the best comparison of these 2 lenses I have seen. Like others, I really like your comparisons of sections in the photos. It really shows how much alike they are than different. You also point out the compression difference of the 2.
I personally own 24mm 1.4L, 50mm 1.2L, 135mm f2L as my primary primes. And then opted for the 85mm f1.8 since I prefer the 135mm focal length over 85. I probably use the 50 and 135 for 90 percent of my work as I find these 2 to be pure magic in results. Before deciding on the 50 1.2 or 85 1.2 I spent enough in renting them to purchase an 85 1.2L! LOL!
Haha thanks so much! Love hearing your experiences too... the 135 is definitely another magic lens. I've owned it twice, sold it twice, regret it twice haha. I do a lot of 35/85 work but 50/135 is a gorgeous set. Thanks again for watching!
the 85mm at f/1.2 has ultra-shallow DOF and even small movements are enough to lose sharpness. I find it's best when mounted on a tripod. The 50/1.2 is a great lens that is more usable in every day situations. I find the 85/1.2 to be a special-case lens but it does produce great results, albeit slowly. Lovely family BTW!
Rachael Firth thanks so much 😄
I totally agree- I'll shoot the 85 handheld wide open because I don't usually carry a tripod around with me but I'm ready for getting a lot of slightly missed shots. Still love it (and the 50 of course) though! 😄😄
Does your 85mm lens ring wiggle back and forth like from the camera directly towards the lens hood direction…
Is this normal?
Just order a 50mm 1.2 before watching this. I think it's easier to walk closer to a subject than further away depending on the situation. Always wanted the 50mm L especially since I just got my 6D. Still will be using my t6i for majority of my shooting and video recording. 6d is my special occasion lens
Fred Derf definitely true for a lot of situations but the compression and rendering of the 85 is something quite unique and special. 50mm is for sure more useful overall but I use the 85 whenever I can and I can't not recommend it if you're able to get both haha. Even the 50mm 1.8 is pretty good so that's definitely worth looking at too.
Hey I got the 85mm and I am very happy to use it. Most what you show in the video, what I really appreciate has some logic. The 85mm needs 1.7 time the distance from a 50mm (85/50). To take a picture from 1m high you need a distance from 2.08m for the 50mm and 3.54m for the 85mm. With a depth of field 13cm for the 50mm compared with a 4 cm for the 85mm. ( so a factor 3.25 less).
What also important is, with those lenses with such a narrow depth of field is, the way you look trough the eye-finder. You will always look trough an open diafragm, what will be 1.2 and what gives a very narrow depth of field, independent from your setted diafragm. When the shutter goes of your diafragm will close to the settings you choose. I choose for the 85mm because like headshots... and with the 50mm you are coming in a personal space from your model. With the 85mm gives a more relaxed impression, certainley with people whodidn't had a shoot before.
Another very important diiference between the 50mm and the 85mm is perspective. So if you could I am looking forward to see another movie where you explan this more. I really enjoyed the way you explain things and I am very happy to see your enthousiasm, so keep up the great work!
Hey, great to hear your thoughts! I definitely find myself gravitating towards the 85 for portraits as well, it's just such a comfortable focal length to work with for so many reasons. The new 1.4L IS version is an incredible lens as well, and I love it for video too.
I'll definitely do my best to get around to making more lens comparisons including focusing on certain things like perspective. Maybe once it gets a bit warmer and I'm more motivated to go outside again haha.
Anyway, thanks again for watching and commenting. Have a happy new year!
Love the video, thanks for going into detail with these two lenses. I'll be buying the 50mm for the slight edge on sharpness
Thanks for watching!! :) It's a great lens :) The new 85mm f1.4 IS is amazing too and nearly flawless
Best review that I’ve seen on these two lenses. Thank you, it was very informative
Thanks so much! Really glad to hear that :)
Hi there. When trying to download the sample RAWs, a message says the file was not found. Help?
Hi, sorry. This is a pretty old video and the files might have got moved or deleted from the host. Sorry!
TLDR; I did an experiment with my 50 1.2, 85 1.2, and 70-200 2.8 is ii as a control) to compare the depth effect and how 3D subjects are rendered ( micro contrast) if you want to see photos from this experiment. I may make a screen recording also.
If your interested in seeing, I did an experiment the other day, and again today to get more consistent results when comparing the 85 1.2 to the 50 1.2. I used my 70-200 2.8IS ii as a control in order to eliminate focal length as a variable, to test the depth rendering of both of these lenses. My goal was to demonstrate the non measurable trait which is micro contrast. I'm not sure if general contrast is something that can be measured, but i know for sure micro contrast eg. inter-tonal gradation between light and dark (most noticeable when images are converted to black and white) is something that can only been seen with the eye. Zeiss lenses are notoriously knows for their superior micro contrast levels and people know this as the "zeiss effect" or "3d pop". This is mainly true for zeiss's distagon series with their low element counts and thus having less glass. Glass reduces light transmission and the more their is, the more depth rendering suffers. This is most common in the newer, sharper, fast aperture lenses as having a sharp lens with a large aperture requires more glass to correct for optical abnormalities. As result of this the image has a more 2D look ( i actually like this a lot of the time).
Correct me if I'm wrong. But it seems that the 50mm lens has more sharpness even at lower speeds while the 85mm even at speeds above 2000 brings a very specific focus area and difficult to control. Being that in a wedding or event the 50mm is more versatile and delivers what everyone wants, a beautiful bokeh effect. it is?
I think you're pretty much correct- the 85 is very sharp when you nail focus but it's much more difficult than other lenses to focus and recompose even slightly, and I don't think it's only because of the shallow depth of field. There's something else going on there. But, as long as you can get a focus point on your subject I haven't been disappointed. The 50 is just as awesome though; I love both but I could definitely see the 50 being more useful for weddings and events. I usually pop the 85 out for some shots here and there but it's not my go-to in that situation.
Thank you so much Scott for the useful and informative comparison video, helped me a lot! God bless, good luck and keep creating!
Great review. I love the 85mm focal length, currently using the 85mm 1.8 a lot. However can't see myself hefting that 1kg beast around the streets. I'll probably go for the 50 1.2 when I get round to it at some point. Love the build quality of both those Canon lenses though.
jetblakink Haha yeah for walking around the streets the 50 is definitely the way to go (between these 2). For those times when you want an 85 though its really quite special. :)
@ 4:12 how could a screw on filter ever be mounted on the canon 85mm 1.2?
The filter screws onto the part which extends, where the lens cap is attached :)
had 50L and sold it, it was too soft for me wide open on the eye, did not try 85L tho, but I heard it is pretty sharp wide open. I use Zeiss Otus 85 now.
Mateusz M my 50 was a little off too but after I calibrated it it was more than sharp enough, close to the 85 but it can be a bit tricky sometimes at close distances. I've heard people say stopped down between 1.4 and about 2.8 the plane of focus shifts when the aperture closes and at close distances it's enough to notice, but further away, wide open or at smaller apertures it has no effect or isn't noticeable. Never bothered me personally but it could depend on which copy of the lens you get perhaps. The Zeiss is in a league of its own though, I'm jealous haha.
You re totally right, I was using my 50 mostly for close portraits and headshots, and my focus shift was so annoying that at some point I had to address the issue, call my models I worked with on tfp basis and suggested a £££, because it just did not work for me :F Shame, because I loved that lens, and hated it for that at the same time. I used to shoot mostly at f/2 lately, but again.. it was bothering me all the time, that I have the lens that I can not use to its full potential. I believe for a more environmental shots it would be great, shame I am not up for those. Same story with my 135L, I just love that lens, but .. because it is old construction it flares quite a bit and looses a lot of contrast shooting against the Sun. Zeiss so far serves me well, when You nail focus with Otus at f/1.4 there is this 'f*ck yeah' moment, but there are some times when I have a nice posed model with great expression and focus is off. At least I know who to blame for that - myself. I have it relatively short time, so I hope I will improve. At the moment there is 70-30 focus to out of focus, sadly sometimes the best shots are in this 30% and I can not really use them at the end. Cheers.
I really needed this review so badly! Where have u been all this time man 😂 thanQ so much Scott! Well presented, and it's on point, keep the good work up :D
Haha, thank you so much! Glad I could help. :)
The body and control of the 85 f/1.2 is nearly identical to the Canon 50 f/1.0. Very interesting to know that the 85 uses a much older body design.
th-cam.com/video/EdCEIkJeGA8/w-d-xo.html
I wonder, when you compare the two photos (of your wife, the portrait ones), what was the reason you use ISO100, 1/800s for the 50mm, but use ISO400, 1/3200s for the 85mm? (later iso100, 1/640s vs ISO400 1/2500) is that purposedly so, or those settings were on auto, just because the lighting at the time of the photo has changed? I just want to see if the blur of the background can be solely contributed to the lens per se? thanks
hey Scott Dumas, I am wondering if you could only choose 1 between the 2 which one would it be? I am using the 6D. mainly shoot landscapes but might be interested in getting into portraits
For landscapes I think they'd might both be a little long, depending on your style... but for portraits the 85mm focal length has my heart (I'm using the 1.4L IS version now and I love it for IS in video work but the IQ of the 1.2 lens is still great and has a very special character to it)
Thanks for the video! I'm looking to finally upgrade to one of these lenses. I've been shooting with a 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 and the chromatic aberration is significantly higher. It's sometimes unacceptable.
Thank you for this video Scott. Comparisons between these two lenses I was not finding anywhere else.
Happy to help :) Thanks for watching!
Scott Great video but my Question is in the setting 50mm iso 100 at 1/640th
and on 85mmiso 400 at 1/2500th
it will not change photo ???
it will be more great if you can shoot both on same setting....
Thank you
Thanks for watching! You're right, it won't be perfectly the same and I had raised the ISO with the 85mm to get better shutter speeds but then the sun came out off and on. However, with the 5D Mark IV I can honestly say there is absolutely no noticeable difference in sharpness or image quality between ISO 100 and 400 (or even 800+ for that matter). I've used these both a lot and can say confidently these results represent what you'd get from these lenses even at identical settings, but this was more of what you might get in a real world situation. Sorry for the miss, hope you still found it helpful or interesting! :)
Great review. I learned a lot from it. If I have to choose a general purpose lens, I will buy the EF 50 1.2L.
Ary Himawan thanks so much! I don't think you'll be disappointed 😄
Was it same distans then you shot pic? If you was in same distans, Of course, the 85an gets the benefits of exposure and sharpness. With 50an one should be closer to get accurate measurement values. Then you will see that you cannot distinguish between these. I made the same mistake, too, when doing the way to measure objective with each other, this rule applies ... Best Regards From Cold Old Good Sweden
Loved the graphics in your little portrait shoot! Well done. It's nice to see different locations and people too.
Thanks so much Milton K :) There are definitely more beautiful places around here so once the weather warms up a bit I'll try to throw in more and more cool locations! Thanks again for watching and commenting!
Just bought the 50mm 1.2 L - can’t wait to get it on the P4K for a test drive. There is something very special about the look this lens delivers so excited to get some 12bit RAW into Davinci and discover what can be cooked up with that combo! Not sure I’ll go further and get the 85 as I don’t see shooting much past the 50mm mark on a crop sensor. But let’s see ...
Awesome! I actually don't have the 50 anymore and I do really regret getting rid of it ...I'll probably get another sometime, especially as the price is coming down lower with all the new lenses coming out. Hope you enjoy it! Your comment actually has kind of lit a spark in me to go out and get mine back haha.
Scott Dumas hah, I hope you can find one at a good deal. I got mine on eBay Singapore for 555 SGD which works out to around US $400 I believe. Feel like I stole it at that price! I also picked up the 28-80mm F2.8-4 L for US 350 so I have some great glass lined up so far for well under 1,000 dollars. Will start with those 2 and then see about either a wider prime or maybe the 17-35mm F2.8 L to round it out.
@@reginaldworthington7558 Wow, that's a steal! Looks like a used one is going for around $800 US here, I'll have to keep my eye open for a deal like yours!
Thinking about the 85mm for people dancing in super dark settings.. Think it will handle it? Was thinking of renting the lense for a test.
I'd definitely recommend renting it because it totally depends on exactly what kind of dancing and from what distance and what result you want. If it's like a dance floor at a wedding, it's probably too long and the depth of field would be quite challenging with all that motion. If you're talking some sort of dancing (even a couple's first dance/slow dance at a wedding) from a slight distance, it could be gorgeous. If you're able to rent it, 100% go for it. That will be the best way to know if it fits how you want to use it :)
The best review of these lenses I've seen! I'm trying to decide which of these lenses to take ... my biggest question is about the sharpness of the 50mm ... the download link for the raw files is broken. Any chance for me to get them to analyze?
Hey, sorry- it's been a few years since this video. I'd have to go digging for the photos but I'm not sure they're still hanging around anywhere to be honest.
Does something inside your 50mm move around? I’m worried about mine
If I shake it, yes it does make some noise like something is moving around a bit... nothing huge but there is a noise. It seems to work fine though and has for years so I don't think it's anything you should worry about if that's what you're hearing.
Got 20+ lens and the 50mm f/1.2 is always on my camera when I travel
It is a great lens :) Honestly just love the size and balance of it too.
Great video. I use prime lens 50mm 1.8 to capture folk-style and free-style wrestling. I shoot at edge of mat so I'm up close and wrestling is slow movements combined with explosive shots, sprawls and throws. The 50mm 1.8 has worked great but I'm considering the 85mm 1.2 to allow more light in low lit auditoriums so I can reduce ISO. My question is will the AF speed be an issue with the 85mm 1.2L II lens? If so, would you recommend the 50mm 1.2 instead? Also, the 85mm focal length is in the sweet spot for wrestling shots at edge of the mat. Your advise is greatly appreciated.
Hi! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
I've found that the 85mm 1.2 can actually keep up with decently fast motion like running as long as it's pretty steady and consistent movement. Fast sudden movements or irregular movements might be quite a challenge though. Also, if you miss your focus it will take forever for the 85 to rack all the way to and from infinity while searching for it again, which is where it becomes a big problem.
I've had a lot more success with the 50 1.2 and quick sudden movements like kids playing for example, but the new 85mm 1.4L IS might be the best match for what you're looking for. You'll have the focal length you're looking for, a brighter aperture than 1.8 and from what I hear much much faster AF (plus IS!)
I'll actually be switching out my 85 1.2 for the new 1.4 very soon (in a week or so). I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 85 (mostly for it's beautiful colors and overall rendering, even of flare) and it's one of my most used lenses, but it's very challenging to use when I'm not able to take my time and shoot carefully. Focus and recompose is out, even sometimes when not wide open. I like to use 85mm for events and weddings as well so the faster/more reliable/easier to use new version will save me a lot of trouble.
I hope that helps but let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know! :) Thanks again!
Nice. You did a good job with comparing the bokeh between the 2 lenses. I own both of these and I can say that my experience has been similar to your's. One thing I did find that may have been different from your finding was that my copy of the 50 1.2 L has a slight hazy look to it at 1.2 only. it goes away after that.
I have to say though. Overall if I had to pick 1 It would be the 50 ( which i bought first). I actually leave my 85 on my camera often when walking around because of the way generalized random subjects can have beautiful backgrounds that are blurred, especially when the subject is loosely framed and the blur: in-focus ratio is very high. ( love this look).
There are 2 reasons why I would say the 50 is my personal favorite of the 2.
1.) Im in a somewhat black and white phase right now since I just got a new printer that does an amazing job on black and white prints( Pro 1000), SO for this reason I like the 50 because I feel it has slightly better and more noticeable micro contrast. I actually learned just recently how to actually tell the difference between lenses with better or worse micro contrast. The way one can tell mostly is by how much pop and 3D effect the lens renders faces etc. Especially when converted to black and white It seems as though the slightly superior micro contrast of the 50mm's photos when compared to the 85's the subjects look more 3D with the 50 and more flat with the 85.
Its really a controversial thing among the online photography scene it seems, but the appreciation for micro contrast and the understanding of it i feel has been truly beneficial for my art.
2.) Despite the 85 mm creating stronger background blur than the 50 at the same aperture, the 50 mm will actually create a higher blur:in-focus ratio because although the bokeh is "stronger" the depth of field is thinner on the 50, causing more of this particular effect that i enjoy.
I want to make my own content on this sort of thing i just am involved in too many other things i feel right now.
Good job man.
Here is an article I learned from. I was referred to this by Theoria Apophasis.. yannickkhong.com/blog/2016/2/8/micro-contrast-the-biggest-optical-luxury-of-the-world
Thanks so much again for watching and commenting! :) I've experienced the slight haze on the 50 as well from time to time and I tend to see it more at or near closest focus.
The micro contrast and global contrast on the 85 definitely seem to depend on the aperture as well... I've found it does quite well when slightly stopped down, but most people buy the 1.2 to shoot at 1.2, and I feel for that dreamy portrait look the lower contrast of the 85 pairs really well with the overall rendition wide open. If you're using it for landscapes or any situation you want or need more micro contrast I'd definitely recommend stopping it down a bit or using a different lens (the 50 for example holds up better wide open in this regard).
As for the depth of field it would depend on your distance to the subject as well. If you get the same framing or if you shoot from the same distance.
Anyway, thanks as always for commenting and watching! If you ever are able to get around to making some videos let me know! :)
Scott Dumas ii
Fantastic video. Thanks for taking the time to go so in-depth with everything!
Thanks so much for watching! :)
Kids at play are generally moving around quite quickly. I does the pictures were quite in focus. Were you able to set the focus point? Which cluster mode were you in when focusing? Just curious…
Cactus Tweeter I believe I was using single point, possibly spot AF from time to time to stop the ropes from throwing off the focus too much. I more or less waited with the point in an area I knew they would be and when they popped into it I made a slight adjustment to cover their eye and fired off a few shots. It helped that they were "contained" in the rope area but I actually will be posting a video today or tomorrow about the focus speed of the 85 1.2, testing it at a marathon. :)
Hi. Did you do a Micro Adjustment on Both Lenses before doing your Test..
I did! Also, any tests related to sharpness were done with Live View typically, to avoid calibration issues :)
I just ordered my 85mm. aside from comparing these two beautiful lenses. Can you recommend a UV filter for the 85mm? or would you say its not necessary, its just personal preference.
Han Zhang Great! I'm sure you'll love it :)
As for the UV filter, I would say it's personal preference. I have some but don't use them unless I'm going into a situation that I know I'll have a high chance of getting finger prints from kids or water splashes etc on my lens. The ones I have are Kenko I believe but I just got the highest quality ones I could find locally. It's been useful in some situations, for example at a wedding when some kid started poking my lens and it was covered in fingerprints. Instead of stopping and cleaning it I just took off the filter, threw it in my pocket and kept shooting.
How is the autofocus noise for 50mm 1.2? Both for taking pictures and video?
Can you also please make a video in a closed room so we could hear the sound when the gear autofocuses on different distances. Thanks in advance.
The AF noise is fairly average, and it would depend on which mic you're using. Send me an email and I can send you a little video clip showing the noise when I get a chance. scottdumasphotography@gmail.com
Liked very much the part with 1.2 test. Honest and helpfull.
Good and informative videos. Subscribed! Good luck with your work.
Thanks so much! I appreciate that :)
Hi Scott, I am the owner of 5DSR and I am worried about if this lenses have the resolution and sharpness that my camera wants! I think I'm going to buy the Sigma ART 85mm and wait for the new versión of Canon EF 50L
Bernardo Garcia Hey thanks for watching and commenting! The Canon 85 is definitely sharp- I think it's biggest downfall is CA. The 50 is sharp too, but close distances can struggle a little sometimes. I've heard the new Sigma 85 is one of the sharpest lenses ever though, it's just huge and suffers from typical Sigma focus consistency issues. I'm very curious about the new Rokinon/Samyang 85 1.2... it's manual focus but otherwise seems to be an awesome lens. I'm hoping to get my hands on it sometime soon to try out. I'm sure you can't go wrong with any of them! :)
Hi scott. Just wondering if there is any difference with the 85mm 1.2 mark1 and mark 2?
I haven't tried the mark 1 version myself but I'm pretty sure it's quite a bit inferior in IQ to the mark 2. The mark 2 still has some issues like CA and AF, but it's a gorgeous lens.
Scott Dumas Thank you!
the 85mm doesn't havve a weather sealing? wtf? it's so expensive and they refused to put a weather sealing on it? that's stupid!
No it is not
Don't pee on your camera. Problem solved.
Great video...I learned a ton as I am pretty new. I typically shoot my kids soccer matches with 7D Mark II but want to get that blurred background and the 85 seems a bit advanced for me right now. I have the 17-40 and 70-200 with work well but both are not everyday. I think that the 50mm 1.2L may be the next added. Thanks for the help.
+103564412569405931032 Thanks so much! Glad it helped :) I agree the 70-200 (2.8) paired with a 7D mark II would be a great combination for soccer matches with blurred backgrounds, but it's definitely not an everyday lens haha. The 50 will definitely be better for that and it could definitely work for soccer too depending how close you can get :) (on the 7D it will be more like an 80mm field of view though, which isn't bad).
Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with!
Hi. I already have sigma 35 1.4art for wide/gen purpose, im planning to add something for portrait. Will 85 1.2 work for me or 50 1.2? I have 50 1.4 as well but i find it too soft wide open
Ben Cruz I think as both a good match for the 35mm and also a generally great portrait lens you would be very happy with the 85mm 1.2 :) Highly recommended.
Scott Dumas thanks mate!
what software is it? 8:51
+108016811116742126183 That's Capture One, I switched over from Lightroom about a year ago and love it.
Very nice and creative video. I liked it a lot especially when comparing the working distance.
My question is which lens has better Micro-Contrast?and do you consider the 50mm 1.2L a good portrait lens?and why?
Thanks.
Fahad Bashraheel Thanks! :) The micro contrast is a bit tough, I honestly haven't looked at it too intensely but the 85 loses overall contrast and saturation a bit when wide open so it makes me think the aperture would play a part in it. I can take a look at it closer when I have a chance though :)
The 50 1.2 is definitely a good portrait lens if you're not doing headshots I think. If I have the space and time I'd probably still choose the 85, 135 or even a 70-200 just because I like the compression and separation you can get even at slightly smaller apertures. The 50 1.2 is amazing as a wedding/event portrait lens though when you're dealing with lots of different situations often in limited space and limited time. Its versatility combined with amazing rendition is just really awesome. It's almost always on at least one of my cameras.
thank you so much for your answer it's very helpful. i am leaning toward the 50mm 1.2.
i am really looking forward to know which lens has better micro contrast.
thanks again i really appreciate it.
Fahad Bashraheel I took a couple shots that I think should show micro contrast well and I'll let you be the judge of which you like better. I shot them at 1.2 and also 2.8, I put a link to download the RAW files in the video description, let me know what you think! Hope it helps!
Thanks a lot for all your time and efforts i really appreciate it.
it took me a long time to decide which lens has better micro contrast. both are very similar and really i can't tell the deference BUT maybe the 50mm has a little bit more micro contrast.
thanks again and please let me know what do you think.
Fahad Bashraheel It's definitely a very tough call. I'd have to agree though that there may be a bit more on the 50 but it's hardly noticeable. I absolutely love both lenses... the 50 is my go to lens for everyday use and the 85 is my go to for portraits but I never feel like I'm missing out with either one.
Let me know which you decide to get! :) Either way I think it'll be hard to take it off your camera. I have some links to both in the description if you're interested :)
Which has better micro contrast?
I'd say they're fairly close but the 50mm MIGHT have the edge. There's a link where you can download some raw files in the description, that might help if you want to take a look for yourself :)
What's that image processing software?
It's Capture One :)
I have a canon t5i :(
what lens would work better in my camera? the 85 1.2 or the 50mm 1.2?
I have and love both lenses. I never tried them on APS-C but just keep in mind the 1.6x crop factor so an 85 might end up being a little long. Size and weight wise, the 50 is also a better all around never want to take it off your camera type lens.
thank you
Anytime :)
I would recommend this lenses: EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 and EF 70-200 f/2.8 L
Ary Himawan I second the 70-200, it's a big and expensive lens but it's super versatile and the IQ is one of the best. 😄
Bought my EF 85mm f1.2 II for sub 700$ used in 2023. That’s it. I can skip the RF version for the next decade
Focus on 85 gives you the smoothest focus pull in video ever possible. got most of prime L lenses, they are magic.
Really? I hated the focus ring on the 85... it was way too light and didn't have enough resistance to get an accurate focus pull easily in my experience. Smooth, maybe, but not ideal for me at least. The L lenses are definitely all beautiful lenses though :)
@@ScottDumas if you focus from one object to another by tapping back screen, you can feel the magic)
Ah ok, I was thinking manual focus pulling. Yeah, using DPAF I totally get it :)
Great review Scott !
Silviu Pripon thanks so much! 😄
Well prepared and presented. Logical development. And cute kids!
Jim Keener Thanks so much!! :)
pretty good video, sir. you deserve more views, keep at it!
j0nthegreat thanks so much!! I appreciate it!! 😄😄
which one would you choose if you wanted to buy one of the 2 lenses?
Definitely the 85mm just because it's my favorite focal length overall. At the moment I have the newer 1.4L IS version and it's amazing. Quality wise though between these two it's a very close call
What program was used for editing ? Looks good !
Vlad Costin Thanks! I used Final Cut Pro X... super easy to use and really fast even with 4k. I just wish it had curves (the Color Finale plugin works great for that and more but is much more demanding GPU wise and I need to upgrade my computer before I'd be comfortable using it).
Vlad Costin hey not sure if i misunderstood but just in case I wanted to let you know the photo editing program was capture one, and the video was edited in FCPX. 😊
Scott Dumas didn't use capture one but the interface looks nice, think i'm gonna try it ! Thanks for reply !
Vlad Costin no problem! I hope you like it!
I've used LightRoom (many versions) and Capture One. After some experimentation editing files with both, I stuck with LightRoom: better workflow and more rapid updates and bug fixes. YMMV.
cheers for this man, I have the 50mm f/1.2 but didn't know whether I wanted the 85mm, think it will be just something to get in the future or maybe not bother? i guess I will decide at the time lol. Thanks again for this video!
Thanks for watching! :) I wouldn't say it's necessary but it's definitely uniquely different enough from the 50 to make it worth it if you have the money. It's a hard choice but since you already have the 50 I think you'll be happy either way haha :)
What are you viewing your photos in?
It's Capture One :)
Great review Scott. Good idea to let people draw their own conclusions. Pretty model ;-)
Good to see some variety in locations and I liked the use of the graphics. Perhaps you could be slightly more lively in your presentation. No need to become like Kai or Fro, but....
Perhaps you could do a second short review of the 5D MarkIV after using it for 6 months or so. I find those extremely usefull.
Steven Scholten Thanks so much Steven! I'll definitely work on that :) Still figuring out how to be in front and not behind the camera haha.
Revisiting the 5D mark IV is a great idea, thanks! I'll definitely do that.
Thanks again for watching and commenting! :)
Love your videos man. I think you've convinced me to get the 85! Quick Q, is that Lightroom you're using?
dotfuz thanks so much!! Glad to hear that. It's a beast of a lens, I think you'll enjoy it. I'm using capture one here 👍😊
Thanks for the reply :) Will definitely check it out, I've been using Affinity Photo for a while so thought I'd missed out on a new interface for Lightroom lol, Capture One seems like a great app. I also think Vlad who commented below was asking about this instead of FCP! :P
dotfuz ah I'll have to clarify that! Haha... yeah I love capture one... took a little time to get used to especially because the organization system is so different but after that i feel like it does a better job and has more tools than Lightroom.
Thanks for this review. I noticed with the portraits of your wife, you consistently shot the 85mm at an ISO greater than 160 and a shutter speed at greater than 1/2000s....while the 50mm was shot at ISO 100 and 1/640s. Of course ISO matters....why not shoot them both at ISO 160 and the appropriate shutter?
Hey, thanks for watching. It's been quite a while so I honestly can't tell you exactly why- but it's most likely because I had the ISO or the shutter set in one spot or situation, then moved to another and just quickly changed one or the other to accommodate.
Awesome comparison! Thank you
Joe Bledea my pleasure! Thanks for watching!
Great comparison!
Ramon Acosta Thank you! :)
Great video, nicely done Sir. And we love the kids haha
Arthur bikemad Thank you so much! :)
Nice comparison, thanks.
cardiacade My pleasure! Thanks for watching! :)
Nice video! Have also both and love them. I even prefer the background blur over the new Sigma Art Series which are quite close and much cheaper, but still, the dreamy look of the 1.2s is so different to the 1.4s. But that is all taste in the end....
lostindimcarcosa thanks so much! Yeah I've owned the sigma 35 1.4, Nikon 58 1.4g and used the sigma 50 1.4 and these canon lenses just have something special about them, i can't get enough. The new sigma 85 is interesting and seems to be really quite a strong lens but it's even bigger than the canon 😳😆
Thank you werimach!!!
I use my canon 50MM F1.2L lens and I set the camera on shutter priority and I get SHARP PHOTOS ALL THE TIME and I have NO PROBLEM FROM F2 to F16 ON MY CANON 50 MM F 1.2L LENS
Thanks and great content in this
Thanks so much! :)
Great Video! Thank you. Greetings from South Africa...
Thanks so much! :) Glad you enjoyed it!
I have both and get great results.
Using EOS R with eye focus is the way to get sharper image.
For sure, although the camera didn’t exist when I made this video ;)
Nice video. 👍💚😁
Thanks so much! :)
You have a beautiful family, great video.
Aw, thank you so much! :) I appreciate it!
thanks scott
Nero Alsulami Thank you! :)
Great video
Alex Flores Thanks so much! :)
I got the canon EF 50 MM F1.2L and I paid £490.00 it second hand and is boxed
That's an awesome deal! I actually don't have mine anymore but I've always considered buying another one if I find a deal like that.
whats up with the settings differences while shooting your wife? iso 100 at 1/640th on the 50mm and iso 400 at 1/2500th on the 85mm??
Yeah sorry about that. What had happened is the sun was going in and out so I had raised my ISO to compensate for that but then the sun came back and I hadn't lowered my ISO back down.
awesome video :)
+100824717683362889136 Thank you so much! :)
IF YOU WANT SHARP PHOTOS USE Shutter priority
thank you
Thanks.
mhs vz my pleasure! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thanks!.....you just saved me about $800.00 bucks for-the-time-being!!
Awesome! Glad to help :)
I have the 85 1.4 L because it has IS.
I have that one now as well and absolutely love it :)
Scott Dumas you prefer the 1.4 over the 1.2?
Thx
Ultra hardcore straight edge nerds choose a Canon ef 85 mm 1.2 ii lens😉
+Frodo Zorro it’s the only obvious xxxchoicexxx 😉
i dont like premium lenses in plastic cases. there is only th weight for but not for lifetime
Patrice Diserens There is a debate between the slight give plastic casings have on impact instead of bending/denting like metal, but I definitely know what you mean. The 50 1.2 has a very similar build to the Nikon 58 1.4g for example though as well as almost all recent lenses I've come across besides the holy trinity. The 85 1.2 seems a bit unique. The area under the rubberized texture has a definite metal feel to it and only the area around the focus ring on top side is a true plastic casing but it's hard to tell for sure. I will say it's much more solid feeling than the Nikon 85 1.4g though.
you sound so depressed
lol... I guess I'm depressed at the lack of weather sealing on the 85mil ;)
@@ScottDumas @ 4:12 can a Screw On filter be mounted on the canon 85mm 1.2?