A Few Shots with the Canon 85mm 1.8
September 24th, 2009 by ariana
All images shot with my Canon digital rebel xsi and Canon 85mm 1.8 lens at these settings:
f2.2
ISO 100
It’s been a few months since I got theCanon 85mm 1.8 lens. Aside from a few shots here or there I haven’t had the opportunity to use it much. 85mm on a crop sensor like the rebel is a very long focal length – I have to be much further from my subject to shoot them than I am used to being. It also has a pretty large minimum focusing distance (over 2 1/2 feet!).. what that means is that when Jasper starts running towards me when he sees the camera he gets too close for the lens to focus!
But other than those shortcomings, this is an an amazing lens.. sooooo sharp and great contrast and colors. Also, the long focal length gives it super creamy bokeh- the background just completely blurs like butter isolating the subject beautifully.
It’s a popular portrait lens and I can definitely see why. For shooting babies and adults I would reach for this lens every time. But for toddlers I definitely prefer the flexibility of a zoom lens, or at least a wider angle that I can crop in closer in photoshop.
It is a bit more challenging to shoot with, but results like this, it’s tempting to keep trying!
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Beautiful! What would you use (zoom) for kids/toddlers? I THINK (fingers and toes crossed!) I’m getting a dSLR next week for my bday and need a recommendation! :) Love your blog~!
Hi Dana, Thanks!
Well, If cost were no object I’d use the 24-70 L but since cost IS an object I use the Tamron 28-75, which is a GREAT lens for the price. Very sharp and a perfect focal length for a crop sensor DSLR.
It’s a 2.8, which is great outdoors, but indoors without a flash it might not let enough light in. For that I usually use my Sigma 30mm 1.4, which is NOT a zoom but I don’t miss the zoom with that lens. I love that lens :)
PS, if you don’t understand what the different numbers on the lenses mean I wrote this a bit ago that might help!
http://www.becoming-mom.net/2009/07/09/lenses-understanding-the-numbers/
Beautiful portraits… glad to see you utilizing this lens! Now I need to do the same… ;)
That girl is a beauty! Wow. Nice shots.
i like the fourth one down…that baby boy has the best expression!
♥ ac
that lens is officially on my wish list.
that last pic of jasper is amazing!
Absolutely LOVELY photos, Ariana. I’m taking notes about the lenses. I’ve been meaning to purchase a Canon xsi for a couple of months, but can’t decide whether I want to buy it with the kit lens or just get the body and buy the more expensive lenses you’ve recommended. I know that you’ve said you don’t ever touch your kit lens, but do I want to start out — as a photographic ignoramous — with lenses that cost over $300 each? My uncertainty is holding me back, but I need to just make a decision. Finn’s birthday is in two weeks and I want to take his 1 year photos with a better camera!
Sorry — I just checked out the lenses and see that they’re actually in the $400 range, not $300. Ouch. It’s hard to justify when I don’t know what I’m doing. If I were to get the body without the kit lens and then start with the $100 50mm 1.8, would I miss the zoom? Is there anything less expensive than the Tamron 28-75 that you would recommend?
Thanks all!
Sarah, I would definitely put the money you save buying body only towards the 50 1.8 to start. The problem with the kit is that there is almost never enough light indoors to take pics without flash with it. But you do live in a state where you can be taking a lot of outdoor pictures year round, so if you ONLY want to take pictures outdoors you could go with the kit.
But the reality is you are probably going to just want to upgrade the lens immediately anyway.
I got my Tamron used for $200 or so I think.. you can definitely get some decent deals on lenses if you look in the buy/sell boards of photo message boards like Ilovephotography.com and of course craigslist and ebay!