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Started Oct 25, 2018 | Discussions
singhman • Regular Member • Posts: 179
Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
Oct 25, 2018
2
I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular
singhman's gear list:singhman's gear list
Sony a6300 Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art
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Euell • Veteran Member • Posts: 5,863
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 25, 2018
1
singhman wrote:
I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular
As long as you've got the room. Back in the film days I used a 180mm Nikon (on FF film) for portraits and got very good results. Oh, but by the way, be careful stepping backwards that you don't take a fall.
Euell's gear list:Euell's gear list
Sony RX100 Canon EOS 7D Sony a6500 Sony a7R III Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM +15 more
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Goatruckus • Contributing Member • Posts: 614
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 25, 2018
3
singhman wrote:
I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular
Just because you don't see posts about the 85 doesn't mean that people are not using it. I just did a family shoot this weekend and used the 85 for 90% of my shots. I did have a lot of space available...
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The FE 85mm F1.8 is expensive. Telephoto zooms are good at the same focal length and allow more options. Most 85's including the FE have a lot of chromatic aberration especially when used wide-open, and the fringing is magnified by the crop. 85mm on APS-C is similar in angle-of-view to a 135mm on full-frame, not the most popular focal length.
I have a Sony 85mm F2.8 and a Minolta MD 85mm F2. Both were fairly inexpensive ($125 and $230). These might be better than the Samyang 85mm F1.4 ($200) or Opteka 85mm F1.8 ($100) or Yongnuo 85mm F1.8 ($170). The Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM is currently on sale for $300. Samyang has a new APS-C E-mount 85mm F1.8 for $400. They think there is some market for it.
QuietOC's gear list:QuietOC's gear list
Pentax Q7 Sony a7R IV NEX-5T Sony a77 II Sony DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 +102 more
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Goatruckus • Contributing Member • Posts: 614
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to QuietOC • Oct 25, 2018
QuietOC wrote:
The FE 85mm F1.8 is expensive. Telephoto zooms are good at the same focal length and allow more options. Most 85's including the FE have a lot of chromatic aberration especially when used wide-open, and the fringing is magnified by the crop. 85mm on APS-C is similar in angle-of-view to a 135mm on full-frame, not the most popular focal length.
I have a Sony 85mm F2.8 and a Minolta MD 85mm F2. Both were fairly inexpensive ($125 and $230). These might be better than the Samyang 85mm F1.4 ($200) or Opteka 85mm F1.8 ($100) or Yongnuo 85mm F1.8 ($170). The Canon EF 85mm F1.8 USM is currently on sale for $300. Samyang has a new APS-C E-mount 85mm F1.8 for $400. They think there is some market for it.
I think speed and AF accuracy are missing from your lens options. I was able to get bang on focus with continuous eye-AF. That allows me to keep up with kids and get reliable shots with a large aperture. I'd like a more versatile 70-200 f2.8, but that is a LOT more expensive and heavy besides.
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uhligfd • Veteran Member • Posts: 3,397
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 25, 2018
In FF I have used 300mm lenses for portraits. So your question is somewhat moot. Of course you could even use a 600 mm lens if you had one. No law against it at all.
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QuietOC • Veteran Member • Posts: 7,052
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to Goatruckus • Oct 25, 2018
Goatruckus wrote:
QuietOC wrote:
I have a Sony 85mm F2.8 and a Minolta MD 85mm F2. Both were fairly inexpensive ($125 and $230).
I think speed and AF accuracy are missing from your lens options. I was able to get bang on focus with continuous eye-AF. That allows me to keep up with kids and get reliable shots with a large aperture.
I certainly wouldn't get continuous Eye AF with the FE on my A6000. I also don't care for using large lenses on A6x00 bodies. The Sigma 60mm F2.8 Art and Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS are big enough.
As little as I use 85's, I could use the 50-150mm F2.8 APO instead. 150mm F2.8 blows out backgrounds more than an 85mm F1.8 anyway.
QuietOC's gear list:QuietOC's gear list
Pentax Q7 Sony a7R IV NEX-5T Sony a77 II Sony DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 +102 more
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I used the 135L on canon FF cameras for a few years. I get great results but did find it a bit long to work with. This is the main reason I have not picked up the FE 85/1.8....although I've been very tempted in the past.
idsurfer's gear list:idsurfer's gear list
Sony a6700 Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | C Tamron 17-70 F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Sony E 10-20mm F4 PZ G
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Euell wrote:
singhman wrote:
I have been using an 18-35mm sigma art, and 50mm 1.8 on my a6300 for family photography, with good results. But I always felt like I was missing something, in particular background separation. I recently bought an 85mm fe 1.8, and took it to a family photoshoot. Once I got that thing on my camera, I didn't take it off. I had lots of room to move far back, and got really nice candid moments, as well as group shots of the family, walking shots etc .. my question is, why do most people not use this focal length, which is equivalent to 127mm on full frame for family photography? I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular
As long as you've got the room. Back in the film days I used a 180mm Nikon (on FF film) for portraits and got very good results. Oh, but by the way, be careful stepping backwards that you don't take a fall.
Agreed. it all depends on the size of the group. For a single or couple, it is perfect. But if you ever shoot large groups you will struggle to geteveryone in the shot.
-- hide signature --
Novice photobug. Former NElX-3, F3, and 6 owner. Now a proud A6000 owner.
http://davesnex-3photos.blogspot.com/
davect01's gear list:davect01's gear list
Sony a6400 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 20mm F2.8 Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
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I absolutely love my 85mm for portrait (even though I am more into other genres of photography). It's incredibly sharp, the bokeh is so creamy with gorgeous separation.
A few shots of my better half last week.
JohnDN's gear list:JohnDN's gear list
Sony a6000 Sony a6500 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS +2 more
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Bustapalapano • Regular Member • Posts: 118
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 27, 2018
1
I use an 85mm f1.8 on my a6500 very frequently, it is actually my most used lens for client work. I do understand the problems with it. You have to have a lot of room, and you really aren't every going to get feet in your shot. At that distance you sorta have to shout direction at your subject, which isn't much fun. But depending on what you shooting it can often be worth it.
Bustapalapano's gear list:Bustapalapano's gear list
Sony a6500 Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Sony FE 85mm F1.8
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boy_wander • Regular Member • Posts: 163
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 27, 2018
To be honest I kinda regret buying my 851.8. It probably only got used for 10 mins and it was for testing purposes. I've not had the opportunity to use it because I often never have room to move back. Though admittedly I bought this in preparation for a FF upgrade but I might switch to Fuji entirely. The 85 is infact very sharp and imo better than the funi 561.2 when were comparing equivalence. But 85 on apsc is just too long for my kind of photography and filming
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Son Of Mustang Ford • Senior Member • Posts: 1,144
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 27, 2018
I have thoroughly enjoyed using my old Pentax 85m f2 lens on my Nex 3 - I would say it accounts for around 70% of my favourite photos. (I would show a few, but I'm on my phone so can't access them from my gallery).
I had expected that I would be using it on whatever replaces the Nex, but over the summer it developed a mechanical fault so I will soon be getting the FE as a Christmas present to myself.
Cheers. P
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I love the FE85mmf1.8 lens for portraits of my kids with my A6500. I find the longer working distance to be advantageous so I catch more spontaneous moments of the kids. It's not an "in your face" portrait lens. Great for outdoors or large indoor spaces. I am looking to pick up the Sigma 56mmf1.4 for tighter spots where the 85 won't work.
TG1's gear list:TG1's gear list
Sony a6600 Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Sigma 30mm F1.4 (E/EF-M mounts) Sony FE 85mm F1.8 +2 more
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sybersitizen • Forum Pro • Posts: 26,447
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to singhman • Oct 27, 2018
singhman wrote:
I find it to be a wonderful focal length, not sure why is it's not more popular
What makes you say 85mm is not more popular? How do you determine how popular it is?
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davect01 • Veteran Member • Posts: 9,266
Re: Using an 85mm lens on aps-c camera for family photography
In reply to boy_wander • Oct 28, 2018
boy_wander wrote:
To be honest I kinda regret buying my 851.8. It probably only got used for 10 mins and it was for testing purposes. I've not had the opportunity to use it because I often never have room to move back. Though admittedly I bought this in preparation for a FF upgrade but I might switch to Fuji entirely. The 85 is infact very sharp and imo better than the funi 561.2 when were comparing equivalence. But 85 on apsc is just too long for my kind of photography and filming
Especially on the APS-C which is already cropped, the 85mm is for sure not an ideal indoor lens.
Outside is where it will work the best
-- hide signature --
Novice photobug. Former NEX-3, F3, and 6 owner. Now a proud A6000 owner.
http://davesnex-3photos.blogspot.com/
davect01's gear list:davect01's gear list
Sony a6400 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 20mm F2.8 Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
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