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View Full Version : Nikon 85mm f1.8 v 85mm f1.4

Snapper73
22-04-2009, 08:26
looking at getting a 85mm prime lens and wanted to know how much better the 1.4 is over the 1.8 apart the extra £300 ;)

Any other 85mm I should consider :thinking:

Ta
sdb123
22-04-2009, 08:32
looking at getting a 85mm prime lens and wanted to know how much better the 1.4 is over the 1.8 apart the extra £300 ;)

Any other 85mm I should consider :thinking:

Ta

£300?....and the rest. :)
EdinburghGary
22-04-2009, 08:32
looking at getting a 85mm prime lens and wanted to know how much better the 1.4 is over the 1.8 apart the extra £300 ;)

Any other 85mm I should consider :thinking:

Ta

Canon 85mm f1.2! :D

I have the nikon 1.4 and I absolutely love it. No idea how it compares to it's wee brother.

Gary.
benwall
22-04-2009, 09:18
Canon 1.2 would be sweet!

Heard the 1.4 is a cut above though... :)
grahamc
22-04-2009, 09:25
My 85 1.8 just arrived today :D
benwall
22-04-2009, 10:43
I want a 85mm :'(
V8burble
22-04-2009, 10:46
I'm looking at this with interest too. I'm considering an 85mm 1.8 or 105mm 2.8 for portrait and close up portraits. If the difference between the 85mm lenses is great enough, I just might consider the extra cost.
boyfalldown
22-04-2009, 10:54
the 1.4 is worth the extra £3 - 400. I wouldn't be without mine

Hugh
V8burble
22-04-2009, 10:59
My 85 1.8 just arrived today :D

I'll be interested in seeing some sample shots once you've finished staring at the gold box and smiling ;)
grahamc
22-04-2009, 11:15
I'll be interested in seeing some sample shots once you've finished staring at the gold box and smiling ;)

Will post up the normal "from my garden" shots this afternoon :)
cannockwolf
22-04-2009, 11:32
the wider aperture gets you a faster shutter speed, heres one handheld by a lamp @ 1.4

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/500/-2591.jpg
whitey
22-04-2009, 11:57
Always wanted an 85mm

i didnt think there was much difference between the 50mm 1.8 and 1.4 but there is IMO, i am guessing the 85 will be the same
grahamc
22-04-2009, 12:42
Always wanted an 85mm

i didnt think there was much difference between the 50mm 1.8 and 1.4 but there is IMO, i am guessing the 85 will be the same

Well I went for 35mm, so will skip the 50mm and have now gone for the 85mm.
grahamc
22-04-2009, 16:00
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3466054984_8b30c81f06_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3466055096_b73f6923fb_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3466055188_ccdab432ae_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3466055280_9b7ba40428_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3465240305_bd12f8f111_o.jpg

Very nice lens, really like it!!
welly
22-04-2009, 16:07
I like my 1.8! Couldn't justify the additional 500-600 quid at this point. The f1.8 is fantastic though.
Martyn...
22-04-2009, 20:07
I have them both :cuckoo: the f1.8 is a great lens, no question, but the f1.4 is even better, resolution is incredible.

Buy whichever you can afford, neither will disappoint.
V8burble
22-04-2009, 20:27
I have them both :cuckoo: the f1.8 is a great lens, no question, but the f1.4 is even better, resolution is incredible.

Buy whichever you can afford, neither will disappoint.

That's the post I was hoping for, thank you :thumbs:.... although it does make me wonder why you have both, but I'll assume in case the f/1.4 fails for backup purposes.
Had you said the f/1.8 is not too bad, but the f/1.4 is astonishing then I could justify the extra £££ more to myself.
Diego Garcia
22-04-2009, 22:15
the 1.4 is a full stop faster and renders gorgeous bokeh - but it is not cheap. The 1.8 is much sharper in the corners if you ask me and i think for the money it would be a good buy for you.
Martyn...
22-04-2009, 22:52
That's the post I was hoping for, thank you :thumbs:.... although it does make me wonder why you have both, but I'll assume in case the f/1.4 fails for backup purposes.
Had you said the f/1.8 is not too bad, but the f/1.4 is astonishing then I could justify the extra £££ more to myself.

Do not get me wrong the f1.4 is worth the money, it is a matter of if you want to spend that much.

To answer your question I had the f1.8 first, then picked up the f1.4 about 18 months ago (about £550), never got around to selling the f1.8, and its not eating anything.
fontmoss
22-04-2009, 22:57
still waiting for your 85 to come up martyn....
ditchdigger
22-04-2009, 23:02
they are both great lens

i had the f1.8 then bought the f1.4 as i shoot in dark clubs a lot

you wont be disapointed with either lens the 1.4 is quite a price now,can you justify the price?
Snapper73
23-04-2009, 06:14
Well went into misfuds in Brixham yesterday I had a play with the 1.8 & 1.4.

This is shot with the f1.4

Lets just say the f1.4 is my next lens. It is just lovely and didnt want to take it off my camera.

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/277/dsc8031.jpg
melevo
23-04-2009, 06:36
there seems to be a lot of hype about the 85mm atm, even on HERE, is it a case that a lot more togs are using it as a favourite for portraits????

are more and more togs getting into portrait and prefer then 85mm over the 50mm???
Snapper73
23-04-2009, 06:42
there seems to be a lot of hype about the 85mm atm, even on HERE, is it a case that a lot more togs are using it as a favourite for portraits????

are more and more togs getting into portrait and prefer then 85mm over the 50mm???

As much as I love my 50mm f1.4 I don't seem to use it as much since I got my 24-70mm f2.8 as this stays on my camera most of the time. I have a 70-200mm f2.8 but it is a bit big and heavy sometimes so it would be nice to have the 85mm for portrait & street. :thumbs:
Snapper73
23-04-2009, 06:55
.
Martyn...
23-04-2009, 07:44
Snapper you want to try some landscape shots with it
Snapper73
23-04-2009, 08:07
Snapper you want to try some landscape shots with it

Will do when I get it, got to get my Jetski fixed first then its the 85mm :thumbs:
fontmoss
01-05-2009, 09:10
got to get my Jetski fixed first then its the 85mm

Awesome!

Is the f1.8 still sharp wide open?
Rockshifter
01-05-2009, 09:19
Damn
Reading this I have a hunger.
fontmoss
15-06-2009, 20:55
thread resurrection! so aside from being half a stop faster any other differences that seperate the 2? presumably bokeh is better with 1.4 but obscenely better?
sdb123
15-06-2009, 22:20
I've owned the f/1.8 on a couple of occassions and last weekend hired the f/1.4 lens to cover a Christening....the f/1.8 is a great lens however its bigger brother is in a different league.

It's difficult to summarise however it just feels right and focuses very accurately...the resulting pictures are both sharp and 'creamy' at the same time. Skin tones are spot on too...

Anyhow, I've now decided to buy one. :)
fontmoss
16-06-2009, 12:18
what the french call: ' i dont know what' eh?

buying new or second hand?
reddeathdrinker
16-06-2009, 12:48
I have the 85mm f/1.8 - can't fault it, use it at F/2 to f/4 most of the time, DOF is just too narrow otherwise!

I did go from a 50mm f/1.8 to the 50mm f/1.4 though, and the 1.4 blows it's wee brother away:)
Snapper73
16-06-2009, 12:53
Just taken delivery of my new 85mm f1.4 so going out now to test it. Will report back later with result. So far it seems to focus better and faster than the f1.8 as i found the f1.8 missed a shot now and again.
fontmoss
16-06-2009, 12:58
red death id want to use it wide open, as nikon intended :D

ultimately i cant justify the f1.4 but at 4 times the price i wanted to know if there was an appreciable difference. i know its the law of diminishing returns but even so, 4 times! be interested to see what you think snapper (btw been enjoying your flickrstream recently)
sdb123
16-06-2009, 20:10
what the french call: ' i dont know what' eh?

buying new or second hand?

Second hand. :)
V8burble
16-06-2009, 20:43
Just taken delivery of my new 85mm f1.4 so going out now to test it. Will report back later with result. So far it seems to focus better and faster than the f1.8 as i found the f1.8 missed a shot now and again.

Looking forward to this as I'm still very tempted :)
pablob
16-06-2009, 21:44
as i found the f1.8 missed a shot now and again.

Doh! I want a refund on that lens just purchased lol!
Snapper73
17-06-2009, 07:20
Doh! I want a refund on that lens just purchased lol!

Thats why you pay the extra £500 for the f1.4 ;)
Blapto
17-06-2009, 07:25
Doh! I want a refund on that lens just purchased lol!

If you are serious, then do it. Depends on where you bought it from, but I think many retailers would waive the restocking fee if you buy the 85mm f/1.4 from them.
Snapper73
17-06-2009, 07:40
If you are serious, then do it. Depends on where you bought it from, but I think many retailers would waive the restocking fee if you buy the 85mm f/1.4 from them.

He just purchased it from me because I have just got the f1.4 :D
ditchdigger
17-06-2009, 07:53
the f1.8 is a real cracker its smaller and lighter

you dont need the f1.4
if you dont shoot in realy low light [as i do]

i would not be dissapointed if i still had the f1.8