Advice on next lens purchase

[omarh]

Here's what I currently have.

5D Mark II, 50mm 1.8, 24-85 3.5-4.5, and a 430 ex II flash with umbrella/stand.

I like to take portraits outdoors and indoors, but the 50mm seems softer than my 24-85 at F2 or 2.8 so I don't like it much for portraits. Plus my understanding is on full frame 50mm isn't good for portraits anyway.

Here are some sample portraits that I've been doing with the 24-85.
These are mostly what I do, but I want the ability to create some bokeh in daylight hours so the 24-85 can't do that as well as the 50mm. It worked well at night when I used a flash but in the daylight I can still see too much of the background.

oh and I'm looking at keeping my next lens purchase under $1k...maybe a little more...

http://fremen.smugmug.com/photos/110...9_adx5c-X3.jpg
http://fremen.smugmug.com/photos/109...7_KieDa-X3.jpg
http://fremen.smugmug.com/photos/109...8_wrRDz-X3.jpg

[inkista]

50mm's ok for portraits, actually. But the 50/1.8 II isn't the greatest 50mm out there.

Do you want to go shorter or longer? I love the EF 135mm f/2L USM, but that's longer than any lens you've got, and your entire budget. You may want to consider the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM or its near-twin the EF 100mm f/2 USM instead.

Shorter, though, there's the EF 35/2, the EF 28/1.8 USM, and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4.

The thing is, if you want to use a fast prime in the daytime, you'll still probably want to stop down a little, rather than shoot wide open to mitigate chromatic aberration issues (like red/purple fringing).

[RichardTaylor]

Quote
Do you want to go shorter or longer? I love the EF 135mm f/2L USM, but that's longer than any lens you've got, and your entire budget. You may want to consider the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM or its near-twin the EF 100mm f/2 USM instead.
End Quote

+1, especially for the 135 F2

[omarh]

To the question if I want to go longer or shorter, I had read an article on the web that said portrait lenses should be between 85-135 mm...so that's another reason why I thought my 50mm and 24-85 weren't the best for portraits...
I went around at 85mm with my zoom lens to see what that looks like if I can't go wider than that...I can still take pictures indoors with that, but you don't end up being very far back from the subject.
Sometimes it seems like the reality is, there is no "one" lens obviously....I really need them all. hahah

SO I should just focus on getting one more now...and plan on getting another one later once I realize I need it. LIke maybe I'll get the 85 now...and later get the 135....or vice versa...hmmm

[inkista]

Yup, you usually use a set of primes or a zoom.

One old rule of thumb that folks used to use in the film days is that around the right "gap" between primes is to use a set of "doubles", i.e., a 24mm, 50mm, and 100mm would be a well-spaced set. Other folks tend to use a 35mm and 85mm.

Everybody differs on this, though. I'm eccentric. I use a 35mm and a 135mm on a crop body.

If the 85 gets you in too close for comfort, then the 135L is definitely out for you. Personally, I think maybe all you need to do is trade up your 50mm, or check that you're getting the focusing accuracy out of it that you need. Have you autofocus microadjusted your 50/1.8?

[omarh]

I hadn't thought about microadjustments...but that's worth a shot.
I just found a focus chart that should help me identify any focus issues with my 50mm.
That is probably worth trying to see if I can salvage it. I am still new to the 5D mark 2, since my previous camera was a Rebel, I didn't even think about that capability

[inkista]

Hey, you're doing better than me. I only started using the autofocus microadjust two weeks ago. And I've had my 50D for over a year.