Who here owns a $3000+ digital camera?
- Thread starter hyperdog
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This one and it's a beauty.
http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=4248&Category=7
An older version of the above is pretty good too.
http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=134&Category=7
Thanks for pointing this out. The following youtube video gives it a 10/10 for portraits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unjqmwZexn8
Not weather sealed for the very high price point? Sometimes you can find the older one (mark 1) used for less. I like the 70-200 f/2.8 it's more versatile, works great as portrait lens, glamour photography and a sports lens.
NP.... It is really really great at portraits. Yes, it is not weather sealed, yes it focuses slow, but it performs really well at only one job which is portraits. Also given it is a prime at 85mm makes is difficult to frame, however everytime I notice a stunning portrait it is shot with this lens. Most of the sample photos also blow me away.
Yes the 70-200 f2.8 is an all around great lens for the range, however I believe this 85 is the best for amazing portraits.
No I have not used it. So I am basing my comments on many hours of searching online for lenses, photos, photography etc. I have used the 70-200. Maybe rent the two and see which one meets your needs best.
This video does a nice job giving valid reasons why the 85 1.2 is needed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIFZzq6D3dw&feature=youtu.be
however, there are some distinct disadvantages when compared to the f1.8 version https://youtu.be/NuHEn4nLhJU
Canon 85 F1.2 is a great lens - but I had to learn how to use it. The focus is extremely thin down to an eyelash. The Canon 85 F1.8 is a great alternative for a lot less.
In the Sony camp there's:
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM (pre-order) ~ $2400 http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=5590&Category=7
Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 ~ 1700 http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=5288&Category=6
Although a 50mm may be more cost effective alternative for half body portaits
In the Sony camp there's:
Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM (pre-order) ~ $2400 http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=5590&Category=7
Zeiss Batis 85mm F1.8 ~ 1700 http://www.adencamera.com/product-overviewer.asp?ProdID=5288&Category=6
Although a 50mm may be more cost effective alternative for half body portaits
Ok, I never meant money to be an issue here, but I had to compare the two lenses (with almost identical names but very different prices).
Here are 2 photos with the Canon 85mm F 1.2 (II) USM lens ($2500):
And here is a photo with the Canon 85mm F 1.8 lens ($600):
All are stunning, very sharp, detailed, show skin texture, etc... So, yes, I'm a total novice, so can someone explain to me how the $2500 lens kicks the $600 lens' butt here?
Easy, the whole > the summer of the parts. 1.2 lens is meant to be shot wide open. It creates magic, a dream like state that it makes the subject glow, kinda when a chick is pregnant and everyone says they glow. They make the person seem special, dreamy, surreal state. Perfect example is the first chick pic I posted above with the white girl and her body melting, kind like capturing the spirit.
The 1.8 is sharper, and focuses faster.
With the 1.2 you can create magic, especially at night. But as the other poster mentioned would take time to learn and master.
The first pic of the kid is a perfect example IMO of how NOT to due shallow depth of field as its making his head look awkward and kind of like it is morphing. Not sure what lens the guys was using but it takes a lot of skill to bokeh properly.
Its the kind of a lens to create art if that makes sense, and not everyone can do it, especially not me. I just like to enjoy photos and am trying to get my skill up. I would never want to do this for money so I am probably the last person you should listen to on this. I just really enjoy magical photos, especially portraits of beautiful women.
I'm not a professional nor am I a portrait photographer but I think in your examples it comes down to bokehOk, I never meant money to be an issue here, but I had to compare the two lenses (with almost identical names but very different prices).
Here are 2 photos with the Canon 85mm F 1.2 (II) USM lens ($2500):
And here is a photo with the Canon 85mm F 1.8 lens ($600):
Both are stunning, very sharp, detailed, show skin texture, etc... So, yes, I'm a total novice, so can someone explain to me how the $2500 lens kicks the $600 lens' butt here?
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/article/h0ndz86v/bokeh-for-beginners.html
The weight, the cost of the glass used, f/1.2, better background blur, how it isolates the subject from the background, designed for pros. I would settle on the f/1.8Ok, I never meant money to be an issue here, but I had to compare the two lenses (with almost identical names but very different prices).
Here are 2 photos with the Canon 85mm F 1.2 (II) USM lens ($2500):
And here is a photo with the Canon 85mm F 1.8 lens ($600):
All are stunning, very sharp, detailed, show skin texture, etc... So, yes, I'm a total novice, so can someone explain to me how the $2500 lens kicks the $600 lens' butt here?
http://www.henrys.com/60469-SIGMA-OS-70-200MM-F2-8-EX-DG-HSM-CANON.aspx
An alternative to the canon.. a great lens with a substantial cost savings...
An alternative to the canon.. a great lens with a substantial cost savings...
So I did some searching to contribute to this thread and first post. I was a Canon guy, now switched to Panasonic for a specific need, short term. If I was to drop $3-4k I would get the Sony A7S ii in a heart beat. This thread sparked my hobby interest up again, I wanted to put myself into hat position if I was to get a camera which one would it be regardless of the price and it would be the A7Sii. Why because amazing low light, good DR with the Slog profile for video, and the mechanical IS of the sensors which is amazing for both photos and video. Also the form factor is a big seller for me not to mention the IQ and video quality for a full frame mirrorless.
https://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoCompactSystemCameras/281708/sony-alpha-a7sii-body.aspx
Question to the OP? Why the 5DSR? What are you looking to do with it? Is it mainly because of megapixels, why is so many megapixels important, and do you see yourself crazy about megapixels in the long run? The smaller the pixel, the worst it is for low light. Honestly, I gave up on Canon as they do a lot of milking, although no doubt their lenses are superior.
If I had the money why would I get it? Well because nice photos make me happy, simple as that. Some of the ones I took with the 60D still bring me joy to this day, so it is just a hobby. Maybe in a few years I will be prepared to drop that much on a camera, until then I am happy with my lx100 for both video and photos.
BTW, be very careful of the 5DS vs. 5DSR, from the sounds of it you like portraits, so the 5DS would better server your purpose here...
https://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoCompactSystemCameras/281708/sony-alpha-a7sii-body.aspx
Question to the OP? Why the 5DSR? What are you looking to do with it? Is it mainly because of megapixels, why is so many megapixels important, and do you see yourself crazy about megapixels in the long run? The smaller the pixel, the worst it is for low light. Honestly, I gave up on Canon as they do a lot of milking, although no doubt their lenses are superior.
If I had the money why would I get it? Well because nice photos make me happy, simple as that. Some of the ones I took with the 60D still bring me joy to this day, so it is just a hobby. Maybe in a few years I will be prepared to drop that much on a camera, until then I am happy with my lx100 for both video and photos.
BTW, be very careful of the 5DS vs. 5DSR, from the sounds of it you like portraits, so the 5DS would better server your purpose here...
Wow, my thread rekindled this former hobby of yours? Should I feel responsible for the amount of money you will be spending? After all, upgrading cameras and/or lenses seems to be inevitably needed due to the constant increase in technology. I've never gotten into such an expensive hobby before (apart from the Terbite's hobby). Still need to do a lot of researching before I start purchasing the equipment, but I've definitely learned a lot from this thread. Thanks to your post, the latest items on my list are the Canon 5DS (instead of 5DSR) and the 85 mm F 1.2 lens. Yes I'm into portraits, but I also want to take photos of groups too, and the blurring background may not be what I want in such cases. So I'm not running into the stores just yet. But I definitely want to do this. There are so many people that I will never see again but wish I had taken high quality photos of. They now only exist in my memories or in the form of grainy images in low resolution.
The lens technology doesn't change that often, at least for the best lenses on the market, they tend to hold their value and are in demand for re-sale. The camera technology changes every year with 4K video, wifi, HDR options, etc.
Yes, but I find third party lenses have quality control issues. What I mean is that sometimes you can get a bad lens and have to return it to the store. You can get back focusing issues, etc with these lenses. Not to say that Canon is perfect but less QC issue with Canon.
The first generation of the above lens is far better.
Back when I first got my DSLR it took me about a year of learning photography before I bought my first DSLR, and then I bought the wrong one. After work many days I would spend like half and hour learning about photography about shutter speeds, about ISO, about aperture, about lenses, about cameras, composition, time lapses light room, editing softwares etc. I finally ended on a canon t3i and after 3 months of use it got stolen. I knew it was just not the right one and then I had some experience and went up to a 60D. My first lens was the Sigma 35mm f1.4, then got the nifty fifty, then the tokina 11-16, and then the 24-105L. By then I knew a lot and even hacked my camera and put the magic lantern software on it. Experimented with Audio, making videos for myself and others. I bought the rode video mic pro, tri-pods, mono pods, people started calling me to film events, until I got sick of doing it for others and went back to doing what makes me happy which was just shooting everything from family, to nature to making YouTube videos to time lapses for myself.
Then my kids started getting big, and it was just too much and tedious to carry the big lenses around. I noticed people would take notice of me if I had the big lenses and I ended up taking it out less and less because I was around a lot of kids events and did not want to seem like a creeper. I then sold my 35, then my tokina and only shot with the 50mm (amazing lens)/and the 24-105.
However, low light was really bad on the 60d and just could not take the pics that mattered the most which was of the kids during low light and at events, outdoors, camping, near fires etc.. This caused me to go to the lx100 as this one can handle low light way better then 60d.
So its been as while since I researched cameras as I was waiting for a canon mirrorless full frame to come up only to be disappointed year after year. So this thread was a perfect opportunity to start searching again, so no worries about influencing me, I needed an excuse to update my knowledge what's current out right now and always enjoy it. Although it will be a couple of years until I decide to spend that much again.
With all honesty, if this is your first DSLR, do not go with the 85mm f1.2. You really need to know what you are doing to use it. Even I would be intimidated by it and would have a hard time using it to it's full potential after 5 years of DSLR use. Maybe get 50mmf1.8 as practice and either 24-70 f2.8 or 24-105L and then you can also get the 70-200 f2.8. Don't worry about loosing money because lenses retain their value and you can sell then quickly provided you take care of the equipment. I would only go with the 85mm once you are comfortable with the common lenses.
Thanks for starting this thread as I love talking about photography into the weeeeeehours of the night and have stayed up many nights just doing that.
Good luck let us know how it turns out
Hearing that the Canon 85mm f1.2 lens is only for the skilled expert, I'm thinking of going with the Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM Lens ($2500) for portraits. It gets 5 stars out of 10 votes at Henry's, and is #1 recommended for portraits here:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Portrait-Lens.aspx
Any advice regarding this is appreciated.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Portrait-Lens.aspx
Any advice regarding this is appreciated.
