Seeking portrait lens advice

[lensjunkie]

Hi all, I'm looking for an 80-90mm lens for my kit. I am looking for people's experiences with:

Canon
85mm f1.5
85mm f1.8
85mm f2

nikkor
85mm f1.5
85mm f2

CV APO Lanthar

komura 80mm f1.8

usually I'm not so indicisive, but I'm looking for more info on these lenses size, weight and quality of course, as I haven't seen any of this glass in real life as they say.

I do primarily "street" shooting. I'd like something that doesn't look to intimidating or obtrusive. I'll be mounting the lens on my m8.2 if it factors in to your responses at all. I know there's a fairly large price range there as well, but I'm willing to pay for the lens that will be
right for me. I'd appreciate any experiences and links to sample shots. Thanks in advance all.

 

[Mephiloco]

I have the Canon 100/3.5, it's slower than those you listed, but also smaller, and takes great pictures.

From what I heard you should stay away from the 1.5's. They're big and heavy, and optically not so great. They're also somewhat expensive.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have the Nikkor 8.5cm F2 and Canon 85 F2. The Canon is softer wide-open, a little less contrast. I believe it would make a great portrait lens. It is ~1/2 the price of the Nikkor.

 

[lensjunkie]

Thanks for the advice.

I actually just finished my first two weeks with a nikkor 105mm f2.5 and I am really happy with it. After spending lots of time shooting wides, I'm thinking I might just be a longer focal length guy! I would like something a little more flexible than the 105 for when I'm just too close, don't have the time to jockey for the correct distance etc.

 

[lensjunkie]

I'd be very interested in experiences with the super rokkor 85mm 2.8 as well

 

[f16sunshine]

The canon 2/85 is sweet if you need the extra speed. A true portrait lens wide open becoming quite sharp. Quite heavy for a street shooter. I have the cv3.5/90 currently in reflex and have had it briefly in ltm. It is very sharp even open. Nice and lightweight easy to handle. You miss some speed but, the other lenses you list are not sharp until f4 anyway if sharpness is important. One more for the list should be the cv2.5/75. I just got one and started testing it against the new Summarit 2.5/75. I'm amazed how well the tiny cv performs for so little money. It's small mate. Like a 50mm small.