have a 50mm f1.8... do I really need the 85mm f1.8

[thaoimage]

Ok... so I already own 2 50mm f1.8 prime lens... should I get an 85mm f1.8 telephoto lens? I mean, is it really necessary?

[Nicole]

For the very philosophical answer... it's necessary if you think it's necessary.

What would you want to use it for?

I have both a 50mm and an 85mm. The 85mm gets me closer without cropping, which was one of the reasons I wanted it. I have the Nikon one (being a Nikon user), and generally it's just really a nice lens. I don't get to use it as often as I'd like because I don't often have enough room, but when I do, I love it.

[RichardTaylor]

It depends on your style of shooting.
If you feel you need it, not want, then get it.

[OsmosisStudios]

I'd prefer something in the 100mm range. Canon make a few good ones.

I've always considered getting a 3 prime superlight kit: 24, 50 and 105mm lenses. f/2.8, 1.8 and 2 respectively. Unfortunately I can't justify the expense.

[ddr]

are you recommending based on a FF focal length?

the 135mm L is more than wonderful, but I like 85mm on a crop body more

[mattdm]

The answer depends a lot on what you want to do and on what you mean by "need".

Mike Johnston recently posted an interesting pair of articles considering the topic of a "two-lens kit" and "covering all the focal lengths". I definitely recommend it when considering what lenses one might need:

The Online Photographer: The Two-Lens Kit: The Mike Version (Part I)
The Online Photographer: The Two-Lens Kit: The Mike Version (Part II)

[Solarian]

Depends on your needs. My first prime purchase was a 50mm f/1.8 II, and I found it too narrow, so I added the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. For what I do with my camera, I can't imagine an 85mm prime in my near future.

[inkista]

The 50/1.8 II and 85/1.8 are close in terms of focal length, but they're very different lenses.

The 85/1.8 USM has a metal mount, a useful manual focus ring, a distance scale, and ring-type USM. You get full-time manual focus (you don't have to switch the flip to go to manual focus). You get silent autofocus. You get faster and more accurate autofocus than with the thrifty fifty, and the overall build quality is just nicer.

The longer focal length gives you more background blur, and a different ability to compose.

So, do you need it? Maybe not. But is it a different lens from the 50? hellz yeah. The two lenses that are much more similar to the 85/1.8, where I'd be worried about overlap, would be the 50/1.4 USM, and the 100/2 USM.

I bought the 85/1.8 used it for a year, enjoyed the hell out of it, but ultimately decided it didn't have enough reach for me, and I "settled" on the 135L instead.

And then I got into manual focus lenses, and now also own a Leica-R Summicron 90/2, and a Contax Zeiss Planar T* 100/2. Yeah. Overlap up the yin-yang. Do I need any of these lenses? Aside from the 135L, probably not. But it's sure nice to have the extra options. There's no rule that says you can't have similar lenses in your line-up, if you can responsibly afford them. I know of folks on the manual focus lens forums who own dozens of 50mm primes. What you think you need is up to you.

[thaoimage]

Thank you for all the responses... I was going to wait until I've heard the jury on this one... but found a used one on CL for $325 and couldn't resist saving $50.... so I bought it. I'll be doing Portrait photography and feel that this lens should be in my arsenal. Again. Thank you guys for the reponses... I appreciate it...

[snert]

hey

I'm also looking at this lens, and was just wondering how you like it so far...

Dieter