Moderate Living

Hello, I'm Mike – I write every Tuesdays and Fridays

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85 Millimeter

No, it’s not a personal measurement lol. 😂

It’s the focal length of one of two of my dream lenses that I just recently bought. A good acquaintance of mine works at a used camera & electronics store and because he and I both share an appreciation for good lenses, he is always on the lookout for good copies of my dream lenses.

He told me that he had obtained a really pristine copy of an EF 85mm 1.2 II USM and urged me to think about getting it as there may not be another copy as good by his testing standards. I bought it a week later and it has been a dream to photograph with. Not that I’ve done alot of photography with it, but in the two photos here (you can click for full resolution) that I did take when I bought it the results were lovely.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-g3VCGKR/0/KvxCcTzdmzWpvwCR5xZL8Wn2GhNSzwcWgtjjJSHWx/O/i-g3VCGKR.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-672qCFZ/0/KqS3sX34JpWZjSb4RmwhNzwZffXVbKT9RhNFBvBQ3/O/i-672qCFZ.jpg

I also rented this lens before and have these snapshots of it. In the end, I was renting it so much that it just made sense to buy it. But this particular lens iteration is 18 years old so I had to be selective about getting it used.

While the 85mm’s greatest weakness, for a lens, is its autofocus speed – it more than makes up for it with unparalleled resolution whether you want your photo to communicate an artistic feel or you want bragging rights for sharpness.

Enjoy the weekend! 🙂

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-n5sJpCR/0/NcrgWGv3PJ88X5cNkrMqVXVGNXfxQJqXDSCtrL6hN/O/i-n5sJpCR.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-SHFBtt9/0/NPKv4JcVP56BTzXG857Dn3BhBVBwGvTLNT5kFG88G/O/i-SHFBtt9.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KQGnhSz/0/LLrB4nsw5VKb6hcKk9xpRcp3NcW7ZFTHQNCMjNFNT/O/i-KQGnhSz.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-LgwNJB4/0/KqcTL5JDFRFGmdPsdhwPQNSxjP8HsPHzgBMrbVwMz/O/i-LgwNJB4.jpg

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36 responses to “85 Millimeter”

  1. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    Ok not touching the 8.5 cm personal measurement comment, I’ll get myself in trouble or kicked off of WP 😬
    Ummmm….
    These pictures are amazing. I don’t know the lingo but they’re so clear, detailed and professional looking!
    You’re going to have so much fun with that!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      😂 u know the saying about the guys with the sportscars, it’s the same with the cameras; the final body of work is….questionable lol.

      no but thank you CJ, i’m glad you liked the pictures. alot of ppl use this particular lens to photograph the night sky for stars but I just like this as a special use lens precisely because of how clear the photos look. i can’t wait to take more pictures to show y’all.

      Reply
    2. Endless Weekend Avatar
      Endless Weekend

      You know what I learned makes a great photographer? No, no, it’s not the size of lens 😀 It’s being able to capture a moment in time that most of us would have passed by, missing it. I agree with CJ that the photos are amazing, and what I like most about them is the feelings they transmit. The gentle and intricate nature of, well, nature 🙂 I don’t know when’s the last time I paused to count the number of petals on flower.

      Thank you for this moment of beauty!

      Reply
      1. CJ Antichow Avatar
        CJ Antichow

        You’re so right!

        Reply
        1. Endless Weekend Avatar
          Endless Weekend

          Best. Comment. Ever 😁

          Reply
      2. Michael Williams Avatar
        Michael Williams

        i’m glad you liked the photos EW! enjoy the rest of the week!

        Reply
  2. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    And we can’t wait to see!
    (The pictures)

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      😂😂😂

      Reply
  3. The Creative Chic Avatar
    The Creative Chic

    It’s not the size of the lens that matters… well, actually it is! Uhm, great pictures, like really! Photography is one of my greatest passions! I used to do wedding photography but not so much these days.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      really? that’s awesome Jennifer! I have friends that used to do event photography and they were saying the field got so saturated that it was getting harder and harder to find clients. i hope you post up more shots you’ve taken!

      haha, lenses are great to have instead of rent, but man they are expensive. i can’t even imagine spending the kind of money that the new RFs go for.

      Reply
      1. The Creative Chic Avatar
        The Creative Chic

        Yes! I’ve done wedding and event photography for a long time, and they are 100% right. I mean no offense to ANYONE when I say this, but everyone is a wedding photographer these days, it seems.

        I have been thinking of adding a photography page to my blog. I have tons of shots. Thank you for making me want to add it sooner!

        Haha, yeah, lenses are so expensive. I just can’t imagine spending that kind of money either. I wish I could, though, if I’m honest!

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          LOL! i know EXACTLY what you mean 😂

          and yes, that would be awesome to see your photography page. i currently use smugmug to store/host my jpegs and I have solid state drives now to house all the raw CR2/CR3 files. you never realize how many pictures you take until you actually have to think about your storage costs!

          hope you’re having a great weekend so far!

          Reply
          1. The Creative Chic Avatar
            The Creative Chic

            I knew you would understand 😂

            I just checked out smugmug, honestly never heard of them! So, does that mean you have a site there? I saw they offered a website with their plans. I’ll go out for a simple day of photography and end up taking over 200 pictures, it’s easy to get caught up in the small details to take pictures of. At least for me!

            I hope you’re well today and having a good day so far!

            Reply
            1. Michael Williams Avatar
              Michael Williams

              i didn’t hear of smugmug either until i ran out of space on wordpress. I really didn’t want to go the google route because I feel like they have so much access to everyone’s lives already. so I tried smugmug and what I like is that they’ll allow you to host the full size dimensions of your photos. I don’t have a site there per se, i use it more so that I don’t have to go through wordpress to post my photos on a post.

              it’s a nice weekend up here in nj. hope it’s nice and warm down there in florida!

              Reply
              1. The Creative Chic Avatar
                The Creative Chic

                Ahh, I see, makes sense. Thanks for telling me about it, I may need it one day! Can’t wait to see more and more of your work 🙂

                I’m so glad it’s nice there in NJ. A beautiful 72 and sunny here in Florida, and I couldn’t ask for more perfect weather!

                Reply
  4. ibarynt Avatar
    ibarynt

    Okay, I have no clue how much 85mm is 🤭🤣.

    The photos are lovely Mike. Looking forward to many more. Like everything else with me, if I manage to take a decent one, it’s a miracle 🤣. I love art though and I appreciate the passion and technique when others speak about their passions. I hope you capture people too, if you’re allowed, that is.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thank you Iba! I hope your weekend is going well. sending positive support to you and your family from New Jersey

      Reply
      1. ibarynt Avatar
        ibarynt

        So so Mike. Thankyou 🤗🤗

        Reply
  5. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
    Nancy Homlitas

    Interesting pics, Mike. Those prime lenses are so sharp, typically more so than a zoom. Your pics show it. I like the shallow depth of field. Have fun with your new toy! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thank you Nancy! I’ve really been waiting for this lens. Not that i’m already looking beyond but I am searching for the Nikkor 135 2dc from the 1990’s. That’s the other lens that I’ve been renting. I may not have as much good luck with that so I’ll have to have an open mind.

      Yes, these prime lenses are very very sharp. My 1982-83 Nikkor 50 1.2 can really take amazing shots even compared to all the new advanced optics of today.

      I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. have a great weekend!

      Reply
      1. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
        Nancy Homlitas

        Lenses tend to get sharper with age because the lens coating interacts with the gases in the air (I’m talking decades here). You still have to keep the mold from infiltrating the lens.

        Reply
    2. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      I’m replying on this comment because for some reason, it’s not letting me reply to your latest one:

      thank you very very much for that useful piece of information Nancy! I had no idea that happens 🙂 i hope you’re enjoying your weekend!

      Reply
      1. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
        Nancy Homlitas

        Thanks, Michael. 🙂

        Reply
  6. thesimlux Avatar
    thesimlux

    A great portrait or still life lens. Soft edges and dreamy backgrounds. Look forward to seeing more! 🤩

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thank you very much! although I’m not surprised you know a thing or two about great lenses after visiting your site 🙂 enjoy the weekend!

      Reply
  7. NocturnalTwins Avatar
    NocturnalTwins

    A L series lens would make my boots look sexy. It’s a great portrait lens – so happy you got a really good copy.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      told my guy to look out for another good copy cause there’s someone I know up north that takes some amazing shots I’d like to see on it. 🙂

      hope you’re having a good weekend Matt!

      Reply
      1. NocturnalTwins Avatar
        NocturnalTwins

        I think he has enough lenses already… lol.

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          lol

          Reply
  8. Ann Coleman Avatar
    Ann Coleman

    Dang, those are good photos!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      Hi Ann! thank you very much I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂

      Reply
  9. coolpeppermint Avatar
    coolpeppermint

    these photos are CRISP

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks Lu! 🙂 i’m so glad I could finally afford one of these 85mm used!

      Reply
  10. zenith0403 Avatar
    zenith0403

    Love the pictures.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thank you very much!

      Reply
      1. zenith0403 Avatar
        zenith0403

        You’re welcome.

        Reply

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