Pondering some new glass...a wedding gift to myself.

[truth]

Canon 85mm f/1.2 L or a 300mm F/2.8 L IS.

The 300 sure would be fun to have while the 85 would be useful for ambient light indoor work. The 85 seems the more sane option but I'm torn.

[Tippster]

The 85 is the classic portrait lens. Take pix of the lovely lass and post them here.

[summit]

hard to say without knowing your camera, your lens lineup, and what you want to do

[truth]

hard to say without knowing your camera, your lens lineup, and what you want to do

30d
10-22
24-105 f/4L
70-200 f/2.8L

I think the 85 will be of more use right now, but there's just something about BIG glass. For portraits, low light and even product shots the 85 wins. I like shooting ambient light when possible. For me it's either that or the full blown studio kit. I really hate using a single flash.

[summit]

well the 85 is going to give you only a slight edge on the 24-105 IS for ambient shooting except for moving subjects and lowlight AF.

That said, the 85 will yeild much better IQ and of course that awesome DoF and is in general a more usefull f/l than 300... but then you don't have a 300... and the 300 + a 1.4x or a 2x gets you a 420 f/4 IS or a 600 f/5.6 IS

I miss my Canon FL 55mm f/1.2 back from before I went AF.

I think the real questions is: do you want to spend $1800 for the 85mm or $4000 for the 300mm?

Or maybe instead of the 85mm 1.2 you want to purchase:
17-55 2.8 IS
and 85mm 1.8 or 50mm 1.4
and 2x II or 1.4x II

[truth]

I think the 85 is a far better light sucking machine for low light than the 24-105 will ever be. The need for very high ISO settings can only be resolved with faster glass. The 24-105 is a great lens except for shooting indoors (shooting people anyway). I also have no desire to add any more zoom lenses in between 24 and 200mm.

I've thought about a 50 but the focal length is not one I find myself shooting with when I need the faster glass. The 300 would be a nice toy (and one I'll eventually buy) but I fear that it would not see enough use right now. If I was shooting more action it'd be a no brainer but the 85 seems like it'll be a better addition right off the bat. Either way it's a big chunk of $$$ and I'm trying to refrain from a gotta have it now impulse purchase. Hence my internet ramblings.

[summit]

I think the 85 is a far better light sucking machine for low light than the 24-105 will ever be. The need for very high ISO settings can only be resolved with faster glass. The 24-105 is a great lens except for shooting indoors (shooting people anyway).

As far as ambient light, the 24-105's IS gives you the ability to handhold *close to* the same situations. f/1.2 is 3.5 stops faster. The IS gives you around 2.5-3 stops in my experience.

That is why my comments were that the 85mm primary advantages over the 24-105 are:
DoF control
Freezing action
Lowlight AF
Sharpness

You only get <1 extra stop of hand holdability. That was all I'm saying.

[truth]

As far as ambient light, the 24-105's IS gives you the ability to handhold *close to* the same situations. f/1.2 is 3.5 stops faster. The IS gives you around 2.5-3 stops in my experience.

That is why my comments were that the 85mm primary advantages over the 24-105 are:
DoF control
Freezing action
Lowlight AF
Sharpness

You only get <1 extra stop of hand holdability. That was all I'm saying.

Yeah, I think the IS = 3 stops thing is great on paper but in reality it's marketing BS. The ability to shoot a stationary object in low light is really useless. If the object is stationary I can wait to shoot it when there's enough light. It'll still be there.

The more I think about my needs, the more I'm seeing that shooting people indoors with lower ISO's is probably #1 on my list. A close 2nd is the ability to shoot with more speed in the shadows on the street. Most of the city lies in the shadows of buildings and having glass (faster than 2.8) would be useful. The thin DOF would be a really cool thing to use form a distance. Allowing for that silky smooth bokeh without having to be nearly as close to the subject.

[summit]

Sounds like you know what you want!

[truth]

Sounds like you know what you want!

I think so. Went and shot it today and have one on hold. It's a sweet chunk of glass. Most likely it'll be coming home with me tomorrow.

[summit]

yea... gonna need your street addy and and list of times when nobody is at your house

[Tippster]

Good call, C. Now make with the pix of the Bride.

[bklyn]

Congrats on the nuptials and the excellent choice of glass.