guys, I'm looking to purchase a new lens... the ones mentioned above are the choices I have. What do you guys suggest? any sample shots would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

hi
depends on where you want to use the lens.... 60mm is the one with macro while the 85mm is not a macro lens.

guys, I'm looking to purchase a new lens... the ones mentioned above are the choices I have. What do you guys suggest? any sample shots would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Sonny, if I were you I'd go for the Macro one... It's more versatile; you'll be hitting two birds with one stone... You'll have a fine Macro lens; as well as an effective medium telephoto portrait lens on a DSLR. :Grin:

Sonny, if I were you I'd go for the Macro one... It's more versatile; you'll be hitting two birds with one stone... You'll have a fine Macro lens; as well as an effective medium telephoto portrait lens on a DSLR. :Grin:
couldn't agree more!
i had the same dilemma just recently... got d 60mm and ive had no regrets! its sharp and macro's helluh fun! you'd suddenly have alot more subjects to shoot. :)

If on a budget, and had to choose between the two, the 60mm f/2.8 would definitely be a more sensible choice because of Macro.

Sana lagi di problema ang pera. hehehe

Hmmm, you guys are making me lean towards the 60mm. Nice. If any of you have sample shots, please do share! :)

Hmmm, you guys are making me lean towards the 60mm. Nice. If any of you have sample shots, please do share! :)

Sonny just go for it... The Macro lens will show you a whole new universe on it's own... If you want samples ang dami sa Pbase. :D

Macro! Macro! Macro! :Grin:

It's also an excellent portrait lens. Aren't Manny Librodo's captures proof enough? :)

The only drawback is that it tends to hunt for focus a lot which can be frustrating at times. But even latest and greatest 105mm VR does the same.

regards.

Hmmm, you guys are making me lean towards the 60mm. Nice. If any of you have sample shots, please do share! :)

here's one
http://static.flickr.com/82/244656130_918bd09397.jpg

...another...
http://static.flickr.com/88/231586857_a981559d6a.jpg

60mm na yan!! heheh

no brainer i would get the 60mm macro. its defintely on my wishlist. and as earl mentioned, you hit two birds with one stone. couldnt agree with him more

nice shots chep!

makes me want to get one myself!

Ok, i think I have my eyes set on the 60mm. Just for the record tho, chewy, could you post shots taken with your 85?

Hey Sonny, I'll vouch for the 85 as well i was in the same predicament 3 weeks ago and have not regretted getting the 85.

Here are some samples:

http://static.flickr.com/96/242776036_2b6a2681c0.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/83/241251697_fea8274cd1.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/86/236493869_7fcc806197.jpg?v=0

The first one is a 100% crop while the other too are 20% crops. HTH!

Peace!

Hi Sonny,

If you want to see sample shots of the 60mm/2.8, check out the food and flower sets in my Flickr. Obviously, it's one of my favorite lenses. And since it's a macro lens, you can go real close.

If you're planning to use it for portraits, please be extra careful as both wanted and unwanted details truly come out.

Oh, it's not a dedicated 2.8... it sort of has its own brain when and when not to go 2.8...

As for the 85/1.8, my good friend Randy Galang has lent it to me for quite a very long extended period of time, more than enough time for me to really experiment and see its magic.

Okay, it really is a good portrait lens. Bokehs are nice. Tried using it in one of the studio shoots, it worked wonders.

Downside, the minimum focusing distance is at 3 ft. and that's quite far for me. Believe it or not, the first night I had this lens, I tried to take a photo of my son in bed... I kept moving back to be able to focus and walah, I was on the floor (I fell off the bed). Another thing I didn't like about the lens was that it hunts... can't seem to focus fast enough. Hmmmm... and to think my room isn't so low-light.

If you make me choose? 60mm hands down simply because I can use it for both macro and portrait (more consciously though).

But if I had the extra money, I don't mind getting the 85/1.8 or 1.4!!! Really nice for portraits (but not for tight shots)...

By the way, I already returned the 85/1.8 to Randy (after almost 3 months). Tks, Rands!!!

hi sonny, here are some sample images of the 85mm f/1.8

http://static.flickr.com/46/160628565_ff50a49851.jpg
levels


http://static.flickr.com/56/190904066_b796a7510a.jpg
levels + mild usm

http://static.flickr.com/49/169374196_305de04802.jpg
levels + saturation

@chewy
Thanks!

Hi Sonny,
Oh, it's not a dedicated 2.8... it sort of has its own brain when and when not to go 2.8...
actually, biggest aperture is really f2.8. its just that when u've reached macro distance, the camera automatically displays effective aperture depending on distance from the subject... not quite sure how it is computed though... will check the manual and see how far exactly macro distance is... cheers!

Hi Sonny,

Downside, the minimum focusing distance is at 3 ft. and that's quite far for me. Believe it or not, the first night I had this lens, I tried to take a photo of my son in bed... I kept moving back to be able to focus and walah, I was on the floor (I fell off the bed). Another thing I didn't like about the lens was that it hunts... can't seem to focus fast enough. Hmmmm... and to think my room isn't so low-light.



Actually I have to disagree with dindin here, i found that sometimes the minimum focal distance on most lenses is actually much closer than marked on the box, would you believe i can focus my 85 1.8 as close as 2-2.5 feet in or my 28-200 as close as 1-1.5 ft? I'm not really advocating the 85 here, the 60 2.8 macro i guess would be a good choice for most because it comes out much wider than the 85. Good luck with your new lens in advance! :D

Peace

how much is the 60mm?

But if I had the extra money, I don't mind getting the 85/1.8 or 1.4!!! Really nice for portraits (but not for tight shots)...



i totally agree. the 85 1.4d is one of the sharpest lenses i own but i find the range a bit too long for everyday use. dont get me wrong its a keeper once you learn the limits of the range but would have preffered something shorter. but for portraits it cant be beat.

Actually I have to disagree with dindin here, i found that sometimes the minimum focal distance on most lenses is actually much closer than marked on the box, would you believe i can focus my 85 1.8 as close as 2-2.5 feet in or my 28-200 as close as 1-1.5 ft? I'm not really advocating the 85 here, the 60 2.8 macro i guess would be a good choice for most because it comes out much wider than the 85. Good luck with your new lens in advance! :D

Peace

All I'm trying to say is... you cannot compare the focusing distance with a macro lens. 2.5ft is still quite big a distance specially if you want a tight shot of the face.

Whichever you choose, I'm sure you'll enjoy!!!

hi sonny, here are some sample images of the 85mm f/1.8

http://static.flickr.com/46/160628565_ff50a49851.jpg
levels



Chewy, I see we have a common friend, Jon Aguirre. He's my diving buddy:) Tsk tsk San Mig lite boy talaga yan...:D

All I'm trying to say is... you cannot compare the focusing distance with a macro lens. 2.5ft is still quite big a distance specially if you want a tight shot of the face.

Whichever you choose, I'm sure you'll enjoy!!!

Tell me about it, I guess it really just comes down to working and learning how to handle the lens correctly. Macro is Macro yun lang talaga. Maybe i should get one as well?? :D

Peace!

Guy guys! Thanks for the input!
Great shots Ken and Chewy... now Im even more confused haha. I went over your gallery too dindin and the flower and food shots look amazing! I love the color!