Joshua Milligan
Active member
I have the classic zooms, the 16-35 2.8, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, & 100-400 4.5-5.6. I also have 24 1.4, 35 1.4 & 50 1.4 primes as well as a 100 2.8 2x macro. I tend to use my zooms for run & gun work (docs, events, corporate work, etc.) and my primes for creative work (commercial projects, short films, music videos, etc.).
I am wanting to pick up a longer fast prime for my creative projects since my longest 1.4 prime is a 50mm and my 100mm macro is more of a specialty lens. As such, I'm looking into two focal lengths, the 85mm and 135mm.
I'm a Sony shooter (FX6, A1, A7SIII) and am looking at the 85 1.4 GM and the newer 135 1.8 GM. Both look like great glass. The 85 is a little softer wide open and has a slower AF motor, but both would get the job done.
My reason for posting is I would like to see what people like to use more in their work, an 85 or a 135. I know that this is completely subjective, but I would still be curious to see who uses which and why. For me, I've owned an 85 before and sold it because I found myself almost always grabbing the 50 over it. To me, the 85 just didn't seem all that much different than my 50, but my 50 could focus way closer than my 85, so I almost always grabbed it instead. That makes me lean toward the 135 which is very different than the 50 1.4 and has a unique, almost dreamy look to it. But, I ALWAYS read about guys filming with 24, 35, 50, and 85 primes, never a 135. So I'm curious to know why.
Is it because people find it too redundant with a 70-200? Is it because it's too much of a specialty lens? Or is it because people like being closer to the subject which an 85mm would be better at?
I would love to know how many of you have ever worked with a 135 for video, what your thoughts were on it, and how you liked that length compared to an 85mm. Thanks for your time!
I am wanting to pick up a longer fast prime for my creative projects since my longest 1.4 prime is a 50mm and my 100mm macro is more of a specialty lens. As such, I'm looking into two focal lengths, the 85mm and 135mm.
I'm a Sony shooter (FX6, A1, A7SIII) and am looking at the 85 1.4 GM and the newer 135 1.8 GM. Both look like great glass. The 85 is a little softer wide open and has a slower AF motor, but both would get the job done.
My reason for posting is I would like to see what people like to use more in their work, an 85 or a 135. I know that this is completely subjective, but I would still be curious to see who uses which and why. For me, I've owned an 85 before and sold it because I found myself almost always grabbing the 50 over it. To me, the 85 just didn't seem all that much different than my 50, but my 50 could focus way closer than my 85, so I almost always grabbed it instead. That makes me lean toward the 135 which is very different than the 50 1.4 and has a unique, almost dreamy look to it. But, I ALWAYS read about guys filming with 24, 35, 50, and 85 primes, never a 135. So I'm curious to know why.
Is it because people find it too redundant with a 70-200? Is it because it's too much of a specialty lens? Or is it because people like being closer to the subject which an 85mm would be better at?
I would love to know how many of you have ever worked with a 135 for video, what your thoughts were on it, and how you liked that length compared to an 85mm. Thanks for your time!
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