As some of you may remember, I tested the Canon 85mm F1.8 against the Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro a few weeks ago and concluded that the 85 would make a nice addition to my lens arsenal. Here is one of the shots I took with it -- in the rain, not sharpened.



Then, a few weeks later, I had the opportunity to go to some shows in Louisville and shoot the Canon 135mm F2.0L. Here's a shot from that series.



Those two experiences convinced me of a couple of things:
1. primes are both faster and sharper than zooms. Now, there's a brilliant flash of the obvious but because of the convenience of zooms, we tend to forget that basic truth. I love my zooms -- especially my Canon 70-200 F4L -- but sometimes it just doesn't fit the bill.

2. while the 135L is a great lens (unbelievable IQ even with a 1.4TC), it is too long for indoor candids at dog shows. I need something shorter and, if possible, something faster.

So, I finally decided on the 85mm F1.8. In addition to the bread 'n butter stuff of candids in the show ring, it's a great portrait lens both in the studio and outdoors. It's small, light, unobtrusive and both fast and sharp.

I had a birthday recently and folks were very kind to me so I've been monitoring the used market for this lens. Not easy because not many come into the market and, when they do, they get snapped up immediately. Plus, I didn't want to spend more than $300 for it. Yes, it's worth it but it's a guy thing.

So yesterday, while doing my usual twice a day monitoring of the KEH site, an 85mm 1.8 came up for $285. I bought it. It'll arrive on Monday.

I'll publish some images once I have a chance to shake it out fully. I find myself gravitating to more single-purpose lenses than I did 5 years ago. I don't mind switching lenses when I have the time to do it. Zooms are still extraordinarily important parts of my kit. But the 50 and the 85 will give me great portrait and low-light options.

Next on the lust list is that 135L followed by the 200mm F2.8L. And then I'll be done. Kinda. I'm still interested in testing the 400mm F5.6L. I seldom need that kind of reach but when you do . . . .

More later,

Jim