good choice for a first 80-85m?

[strangelove]

So I generally just lurk these forums as an amazing encyclopedia of obscure lenses (you guys are awesome!), but the amount of info out there on this question has overwhelmed me and I was hoping I could get some advice on a good 85mm.

some basic info: I'm shooting on a Canon T3i (cropped sensor) and primarily using it for video, and I already have a few lenses between 17mm to 50mm. I've decided my next lens needs to be in the 80-85mm range so I have something for good closeups. The problem is, these lenses are a little pricier, so while I could pick up a few 17mm and 50mm lenses to experiment with cheaply, I feel like an 85mm is more of an investment (other than maybe the Jupiter 9, but the sample variety seems to be a big problem from what I've read).

So if you could recommend only one 80-85mm lens for someone still relatively new to mf lenses, what would it be (without breaking the bank)?

[hoanpham]

The Samyang 85/1.4 should be your next purchase.

You shot video, and the samyang is a manual lens. 250-300usd.

[SonicScot]

[Aanything]

It really depends on the use you need it for.
The J-9 would be a very wise choice: it's cheap, quite fast, ranges between dreamy at full aperture and sharp stopped down, and it's a preset lens - this mean you can use the stepless aperture ring, which comes handy in many cases for video.

That said, I have a Volna-3 80/2.8, it is available in p6 or kiev88 mount, I paid around 50 euros for it and it's a very good all round lens.

But again, depending on budget and needs, you have many other options.

[miran]

I just ordered a Samyang 85/1.4 and am waiting for it to arrive. I can tell you if it's any good in a few days, hopefully.

[eddieitman]

Sammyang is excellent, just take care as you will soon want the 14mm F2.8 as well
I could recomend the Russian Vega 12B an excellent choice lots of character, the Jupiter 9 would also be recomended.

[calvin83]

Get the Samyang 85mm T1.5 Cine if you will use follow focus system and de-clicked aperture(you may also de-clicke the normal version easily from the tutorial on the web).

[strangelove]

Huh, hadn't really considered the Samyang. I had spent too much time searching for a cheap Takumar or Olympus or Zeiss and trying to figure out which Jupiter is supposed to be the best (and then I got hung up on the Helios bokeh... So much fun, but not appropriate yet...). I'll have to check out some threads with image samples. I'll also look into the Vega mentioned

But it's still a bit more than I can currently spend. I was trying to keep it under $200 since it's a lens that will be useful but not used as much as my others (at least, not as long as I'm shooting on a cropped sensor)... so I guess the question would be, "Wait a bit to buy something like the Samyang or instant gratification with something like the Jupiter..."

As for the Volna, do either of those mounts work on Canon? I'm still relatively new to this and don't recognize them (I've only bought OM and M42 so far)

[Aanything]

If you plan to use it mostly for video, maybe for paid work, and you are ready to pay a close sum, save a little and get the samyang.
For around 200 bucks you can get a takumar 85 1.9, which is great, but I think the samyang would be a wiser choice for video use (note that I am a great fan of takumars in general and of the 85 in particular).

[luisalegria]

Do you need a large aperture or will f/3.5 suffice?
If all you want to do is get used to the focal length there are plenty of zooms that will go there adequately.
And give you a range of longer fl to try also.
A really cheap option is something like the Tamron 103a. Pay no more than $20 on US eBay.

[wuxiekeji]

[strangelove]

yeah, I definitely need a relatively large aperture, especially as I tend to shoot video indoors

in truth, I'm using the lenses a lot for photography lately (after family, friends and coworkers realized that their camera phones really don't beat a decent camera, I've become an informal photog for events like birthday parties, hiking trips and school events - I'm a teacher in my day job), but I initially purchased the camera because I'm taking some film classes at night, and that remains my priority

[SonicScot]

The Samyang is the better option but the Jupiter-9 is still an excellent lens, especially for the price.
I thought I might be willing to part with my Jupiter once I'd bought the Samyang, but the Jupiter is too good to let go.

[David]

There's a good thread in this forum right now about the Makinon 85mm 1:2. That lens looks good, but I don't have it to attest personally to its quality. An 80-85 type lens is likely to be a bit spendy, so maybe an M42 lens would be less expensive.

I normally stick dogmatically to primes, but I like Luis' suggestion of a zoom. If you had a zoom from, say, 50mm to 135mm (or a similar range) then you could have the 80 to 85mm range as well as get some nice zoom effects during your videos.

Here are a couple other ideas:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-17-85mm-4-5-6-Stabilized-Digital/dp/B0002Y5WXO
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-85mm-Medium-Telephoto-Cameras/dp/B00007GQLU

Canon also makes the kit 28-80. There are five versions, of which I am told the first version is the best. I have the first and one of the other versions and haven't yet tried the first, so I can't testify through experience. I can say that the latter version copy I have is not superb.

[strangelove]

[mzzyhmd]

how about carl zeiss T* 85?

[strangelove]

[iangreenhalgh1]

I'd go for the Jupiter-9 because it will be sharp enough for video and it has exceptional character. The M42 versions tend to be a bit soft until f4, but that's not going to be an issue for video and the rendering and bokeh at f2-f4 are beautiful.

[Laurentiu Cristofor]

[strangelove]

[caspert79]

I love the old Nikkor-H 85/1.8, fabulous lens

[wuxiekeji]

[strangelove]

[strangelove]

[Attila]

I like to use more Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm T* than anything else in this focal length... and I have many superb performer on low cost