Lens Love | 85mm f/1.8 {like buttah}
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Lens: Canon 85mm f/1.8
Nickname: like Buttah
Started using it: Fall 2013
On my camera: 40% of the time
Bought it: new
The Eighty Five. Ohhhhh the eighty five.
This lens doesn't always get the love that I feel it deserves when lenses get discussed in forums. I can *kind of* see why especially if you are maybe a wedding photog who needs something wider indoors and something with more reach at the ceremony, but let me tell you, this is certainly my favorite lens out of all of them. If something crazy happened and I had to give up ALL my lenses except for one, this would likely be the one that I would keep. It may not be THE most versatile, but it is so dreamy that it is worth it!
I use this lens almost exclusively for single portraits or couples, maybe also with families with older children that aren't quite as wiggly as well. The compression and bokeh produced with this lens is so impressive for its relatively low price tag. I've heard many comparisons between the f/1.8 and the f/1.2 and of course the L series glass with the hefty price tag is probably going to win in an all out competition, but sometimes the BEST of the BEST is not 100% always necessary in every single situation.
This lens is fast and accurate. It is sharp and speedy. Its not near as heavy as the 70-200 on the camera so I find myself reaching for it more and more when I don't need quite as much reach. And it is really is like smooth, smooth buttah when it comes to compression.
I will likely upgrade to the f/1.2 someday, but I don't see that happening any time soon. Until then I will continue to enjoy this affordable lens and the quality images that it helps me produce!
Other lenses in the Lens Love series:
