Which One Canon EF 85mm 1.8f or 100mm f/2

[GMAN]

I'm wanting to take portraits and have been reading the review regarding the Canon Ef 85mm 1.8 and the Canon 100mm f/2....I'm having a difficult time deciding which lens to purchase?...The reviews on both are about the same,.
Its there anyone out there that has used either or both of these lens that could provide me with some advice?....
Thanks,

[OsmosisStudios]

The 85mm gives you 1/3 of a stop more aperture, but the 100 is a bit longer. Keep in mind that both numbers are multiplied by x1.6 for a crop-sensor camera, too, which means you're actually looking at a 135/160 comparison. Either way, though, I think you'll be happy.

/waits for Inkista to chime in.

[lputman]

I have both of these. I purchased the 85 1.8 for use when I only had my XTi (1.6 crop factor) and I purchased the 100 2.0 for use on the 5DII (full frame). They both perform well and my main purpose was for shooting indoor basketball and needing a fast lens. I can't say that I just really shot the 85 wide open at 1.8 except for in the gym and maybe just to see how it went. I wanted the reach from the 100 on the full frame camera so if I didn't have the full frame, I probably would have never bought the 100.

[rediguana]

It seems according to the reviews@FM, that the 85f1.8 (9.4/10 from 269 reviews) is more popular than the 100f2 (9.1/10 from 74 reviews).

A skim of the reviews should give you a good comparison of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two lenses. You probably won't go wrong either way, but the increased number, and higher ratings of the 85f1.8 suggests that it is a more popular lens.

Again, it depends on whether you're shooting FF or crop too.

[inkista]

Most people don't know about the 100, or tend to confuse it with the 100/2.8 Macro. Basically, the two lenses are siblings, and both are stellar performers. And it's very unlikely that if you have one, you'd ever need the other.

I'd say rent/try both and see which one you like better, or analyze your EXIF to see which focal length works better for you. The 1/3 of a stop actually isn't going to make that much difference, and both of the lenses have ring-type USM, so there's very little to choose between them. Personally, once I went for the 135L, my 85/1.8's been gathering dust.

[GMAN]

I appriciate all your advice and I'm tending to think the 85mm 1.8. As I read the reviews they both appeard to be good choices!...I plan on using to take portraits shots and was told told that they would both preform well....I have the Canon Xti that came with the kit lens and I have a 55-250, which I purchase also...I'm not to happy with the 55-250 lens. When using the auto focus mode, it seems just as it finds the focal point, it jolts or snap into position!..Difficult to explain, but that's the best I can do..Anyway, I think I'll end up getting the 85mm!...Inkista, since your lens is collecting dust, why not just cut a fellow DPS friend a deal?......thanks

[Samanax]

Originally Posted by GMAN

I'm wanting to take portraits and have been reading the review regarding the Canon Ef 85mm 1.8 and the Canon 100mm f/2....I'm having a difficult time deciding which lens to purchase?...The reviews on both are about the same,.
Its there anyone out there that has used either or both of these lens that could provide me with some advice?....

You're having a difficult time choosing because the two lenses are practically identical. Do you think you'll need the extra 15mm of focal length of the 100mm? Do you need the extra 1/3 f/stop of the 85mm? Biggest difference is the price. Either lens will make you happy.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM vs Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM

[inkista]

Practically identical is right.

85/1.8 100/2

Originally Posted by GMAN

...Inkista, since your lens is collecting dust, why not just cut a fellow DPS friend a deal?....

Because sometimes it's still useful enough to dust off and use when the room's too small for the 135L. Besides, the price has gone up since I bought it. If I sell it and want it back, I'm gonna end up losing some dough. Plus, sometimes I just feel like collecting lenses. I own a 90mm and an 100mm lens, too.

I'd say, actually, that the 85 is probably more useful for low-light action shooting or as an all-rounder, simply because the smaller focal length gives you more room to maneuver. The 100, otoh, is probably better as a portrait lens because it's longer. You'll get a shallower DoF, less distortion, stronger corner performance, and some really good bokeh. I've seen shots from the 100/2 that come very close to my 135L in terms of sharpness and bokeh. And that ain't easy.

The 85/1.8, while I enjoy it and find it indispensable in some situations, doesn't have the color, contrast, or bokeh of the 135L, and suffers from purple fringing, particularly on metallic reflections, when it's shot wide open (not uncommon for very fast lenses). No idea if the 100/2 shares the same weaknesses, though. And, of course, I prefer more reach rather than less, because I shoot long. I'm on a crop body, and I use a 24-105 as a walkaround, and the 135L and 400L as my telephotos. I don't own an ultrawide. [Yeah, I'm weird.]

[raylfreeman]

Originally Posted by inkista

The 85/1.8, while I enjoy it and find it indispensable in some situations, doesn't have the color, contrast, or bokeh of the 135L, and suffers from purple fringing, particularly on metallic reflections, when it's shot wide open (not uncommon for very fast lenses).

How does one avoid the challenges of the 85.1.8?

[inkista]

As with any lens: learn to stop down and not shoot wide open by default, and get some post processing skillz.