Just to throw into the mix, the 85mm 1.4D can be had for similar money to the Sigma second hand. Best of both worlds?
The D, while great, doesn't really hold up to the newer g or the sigma version.
Shaheed for what its worth the G is simply jaw dropping on the d800
I have the 1.8g of the 85mm Nikkor. I think it a most excellent lens and very sharp. Message me your email and I can post you a full res I took with it...
I've said this many times on the Sigma lottery. Personally I've never encountered focus issues with any Sigma lens or for that matter any Canon, Tamron, Nikon, Panasonic or Olympus. My opinion is to ignore most of the internet panic and just buy the best lens for you at the price you are willing to pay and to test thoroughly when you buy, as you should with any purchase. Anyone wanting stats can find some at places like Lens rentals and should keep in mind that the camera manufacturers don't exactly have an unblemished quality record so there are potentially risks with all purchases.
... I recently bought a D750 and couldnt be bothered with the weight or Sigma lottery so went with the Nikkor 85 1.8G, very happy with it. For under £400 its a bargain.
I think I may have a crazy idea Saheed. I have been thinking outloud and whats the worst that can happen to me for suggesting and trying to save you a few quid
@twist you should be able to answer this, with his experience on both formats.
How would the Fuji 56mm f1.2 stack up against the Nikon 1.4g for studio work / people? For the price of the Fuji lens and a Xpro1 body, (plus the free two lenses on offer with the Xpro1), it probably isn't much more than the Nikon f1.4. This will then give Saheed the lens, a couple of more lenses and his back up body.
I've had two sigma lenses, both have been fine.
I think I'm at the point where I want the nikkor 85 f1.4 (all the while wishing sigma did the art version of the 85) but reluctantly having to stump up the readies!!
Last time I reluctantly paid that much for a lens was well worth it with the 70-200 vr2.
If you want to differentiate your look from the Sigma/Nikon lenses and don't mind manual focus look at the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 Planar.
I find it plenty sharp enough wide open providing you can nail the focus. That was my biggest problem.
An Autumn Lily by David Raynham, on Flickr
Manual focus is one if the top reasons I'm looking at an AF 85!! I have a samyang already!
The Zeiss is nicer than the Samyang. It doesn't sound like you need the 1.4G so the 1.8G would be best. I wouldn't recommend shooting it wide open all the time though as it is visibly better when stopped down a bit.
Again I'm not following your logic? Might just be the nuances of written/forum communication?
What makes you say I don't need the f1.4 from what I've written?
I know most lenses are better when stopped down, but surely the idea if buying a 1.4 lens is the ability to shoot at f1.4.
I have no doubt the Zeiss is better than the samyang. But they're exactly the same with respect to not having AF. I got a lot of kids at f1.4 with MF. I now want AF!!
I own the Zeiss... it's not as good I.Q. wise as the Nikon 1.4G; it's about on par with the 1.8G. That said any of them are more than sharp enough. The Zeiss renders things a bit differently is all.
The DOF difference between f/1.4 and 1.8 is minimal... but the 2/3 stop of light might matter to you. If it does I'd say get the 1.4, if not then it probably doesn't justify the cost. There's little to distinguish them when at the same apertures. There's measurable (test) differences, but nothing you will be able to easily see. In fact, I would put the differences within sample variable tolerances.
IMHO, that 2/3 stop would have to be very important as each one is costing an extra $500...
One thing about these wide aperture lenses, they usually benefit more from AFMA (unless you get rather lucky).
It sounds like you're using f/1.4 stylistically for bokeh or shallow dof rather than say in a dark venue where the f/1.4 might make the difference for ISO/shutter speed over the f/1.8. If it was me the 1.8G would be the lens to pick up, it is sharp wide open but really benefits in the out of focus areas and contrast from being stopped down a touch.
Really any of the autofocus 85s are a good lens to use as if you can't use a fast 85 to get pleasing portraits then you're doing it wrong.
Probably the best site (IMO) for lens reviews/tests is photozone. They have test results of the Nikon 1.4 and 1.8 as well as the Sigma, all tested on the D3x. The Sigma tests just as good as the Nikon 1.4, and both are better than the 1.8.
Ah, well... I didn't/don't pay much attention to edge sharpness... especially in a lens that is largely going to be used to throw the BG OOF.Yes, Photozone is good, but their sharpness graphs don't agree with the above. Nikon 85/1.4 G is best overall, though very similar to the Nikon 85/1.8 at same apertures. Sigma is very sharp in the centre but falls behind on edge sharpness. It looks like they had a slightly better copy of the Nikon 1.4 than I tested, at lowest f/numbers at least, though not much in it. Apart from that, their reviews agree very closely with what I said earlier.
I did tell you so...
Look forward to some 'proper' shots from you.
Enjoy the dof/compression.
I think this thread is going to cost me some money but has also saved me some too as this was a really good discussion on the merits of these lenses. Thanks to all those that took part.
Glad to hear itI'm very impressed with it!
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That's a great landscape and something I hadn't thought of using for. I've been thinking about picking up a nikon 85mm f1.8 G and this thread doesn't help! The current price new at £350 plus cash back saving of £50 make it very tempting at £300, can't go too wrong at that price.I bought one too a few weeks ago. To be honest I don't think the 1.4 is needed, the 1.8 is stupid sharp. I think it's a great lens and not just for portraits or low light hand held.
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Glad to hear it
The current price new at £350 plus cash back saving of £50 make it very tempting at £300, can't go too wrong at that price.
I think the lens cash back offer is separate to the dslr offer. think if you only buy the 85mm f1.8 you get £50 cashback, if you buy the 85mm f1.8 plus one dslr you get the £50 and either the dslr cash back or grip or training course.Doesn't the cash back offer only apply if you buy it with a body? If so I think I missed a trick. Thanks too btw )