Memoirs of Steph

85mm

Added 2023-07-23 21:39:07 +0000 UTC

When I got my first camera and put the 18-35 f4.5 kit lens on it I was instantly disappointed. My iPhone 3 took better photos. I wanted the image to be sharp but dreamy with a blurred out background. I wasn’t sure how some photographers got the focus just on their subject but had the background blurred out slightly. After reading some forums I knew I needed a different lens to achieve the look I was going for (shallow depth). My first portrait lens was a $99 50mm 1.8 from Canon. I highly recommend it. It was great to learn on. I shot everything as wide open as I could meaning the lens aperture was all the way open at 1.8. Shortly after I wanted a lens that could do even more. But to my disappointment it was $1700 for a prime L series Canon 50mm 1.2. But I found on eBay a 85mm of the same high quality (f1.2) for $400. I purchased it and hoped it wouldn’t arrive busted or something I wasn’t sure why it was so cheap. When I got it and tried it out I was hooked. I loved shooting at 1.2 aperture to give me that dreamy look. Even in the studio I would try it out. (Not something I’d recommend for the studio shot pictured here) there is a time and a place to shoot wide open. If you are in studio with a solid background go for sharpness and the focus of a higher aperture. Today I still use an 85mm RF mount L series 1.2 for my portraits both studio and natural light. (Pictured last) 50mm is my second go to. The thing that makes the 85mm so special is the combination of compression at 85mm with the 1.2 aperture for unmatched depth of field. But not every photographer prioritizes that look for their work… it’s just a matter of your style and liking. Photogs, what are your favorite lens?