Nikon 85mm 1.4

It's sharp wide-open, it just happens to be phenomenally sharp after ~f/2.2.

It will be interesting to see whether the Sigma 85/1.4 is any good, and whether the much rumoured Nikkor 85/1.4 AF-S VR actually arrives, but there shouldn't be anything stopping you from getting the 85/1.4D now, it's an excellent lens.
 
Mud said:
It's sharp wide-open, it just happens to be phenomenally sharp after ~f/2.2.

It will be interesting to see whether the Sigma 85/1.4 is any good, and whether the much rumoured Nikkor 85/1.4 AF-S VR actually arrives, but there shouldn't be anything stopping you from getting the 85/1.4D now, it's an excellent lens.
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The AFS 85mm f1.4G has been rumoured for ages but not turned up. I would just get the current 85mm f1.4
 
I may be considering selling my 'as new' Nikon 85mm 1.4 soon. Simply due to lack of use. But it is simply a superb lens. I stop myself from selling it everytime I use it. The bokeh is just so creaaammmyyyy!
Get out there and buy one! :D


Kev.
 
Denyerec said:
I didn't think the 85 f1.4 focussed particularly quickly, which kinda put me off buying one.
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It's really quite snappy...at least with a D700 driving it. It's not as fast as something like the 70-200, but probably fair to say it's quicker than some AF-S lenses such as the 50/1.4G.
 
Denyerec said:
I didn't think the 85 f1.4 focussed particularly quickly, which kinda put me off buying one.
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I don't think speed of focus is particularly a requirement for what is essentially a studio lens...

Anyway, to the OP, consider the 85mm 1.8 instead perhaps... I think you will find that you don't really need the extra stop and you will never in a non-studio situation find a way of using 85mm f1.4 because the DOF is stupidly small for anything moving around.

Perhaps hire it and see what you think...
 
The f/1.4 variant is exceptionally sharp, even wide-open, though if you do use it at that end of the aperture-scale, be prepared for a few OOF images as the depth of field is wafer-thin.
Some images I thought I'd nailed on the sitters' eyes turned out to be focussed just aft of the eye, between it and the temple area - but it's enough for the catchlights to be soft.

I found I had a habit of 'leaning-in' to the subject very slightly as I pressed the shutter button - enough to render the image out of focus.
For studio head-and-shoulders shots (which we do a lot of at work) I now mount on a tripod.
 
When recomposing after focusing you can shift the focus too.

You're literally talking enough DOF to have the pupil sharp but the front of eyelashes and the corners of eyes OOF!

Requires real good technique, and worth shooting 3-4 frames to be sure.
 
If you're thinking of the 80/1.4 for portraits; then have a look at the 105DC or the 135DC. Same price range, I think, and are amazingly sharp.

I've played with these a while ago, and may be buying one today (if I can find them in stock).
 
Its awesomely sharp, although sharpest at f2.8+ (and maybe even a bit wider). That's not to say it's not sharp wide open though. I think you'd find it difficult for party use though, you'll get enough light but not much of anything in focus!
 
I was looking for something to better my Tamron 90mm f2.8 for portraits, and as I'd been doing some fairly motion-heavy fashiony stuff was interested in something faster focussing. Alas, the 85 f1.4 didn't offer that, and the pricetag for and extra 2 stops of light wasn't something I could stomach. Eventually they'll release an AFS version and I'll snap one up, but for now I'll stick with the plastic fantastic.
 
Denyerec said:
I was looking for something to better my Tamron 90mm f2.8 for portraits, and as I'd been doing some fairly motion-heavy fashiony stuff was interested in something faster focussing. Alas, the 85 f1.4 didn't offer that, and the pricetag for and extra 2 stops of light wasn't something I could stomach. Eventually they'll release an AFS version and I'll snap one up, but for now I'll stick with the plastic fantastic.
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Did you actually try one for any length of time?
I've had no problems at all with it in that regard...I haven't noticed it to be noticably slower than any of my AF-S lenses...
 
Arkady said:
Did you actually try one for any length of time?
I've had no problems at all with it in that regard...I haven't noticed it to be noticably slower than any of my AF-S lenses...
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It depends what body you're driving it with. On a pro body with a decent AF motor, it should be snappy as any other lens.

Some of the smaller bodies I noticed though are quite slow at driving screwdriver AF lenses. My N80 was a bit of a laugh with the 80-200.
 
Out of curiosity I have just done a quick test of my 85mm. I’ve previously done a Bokeh test of the same lens at f/1.4 that can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/stormcrowuk/4545749473/
These are 100% crops of handheld photos with no sharpening applied at all, so probably not the most scientific test.

Nikon D300, iso 200, natural light, handheld.

Original image to show size of the crop.
aVOZK.jpg



100% crop @ f/1.4
cuAgU.jpg



100% crop @ f/2.8
PvyJI.jpg
 
Not quite sure what you are trying to show there actually.

It shows to me that f1.4 by its very nature causes OOF softness to the image compared to f2.8, except at the focus point, which you aren't telling us where it is...
 
The 1.4 image is in focus on the 'base' of the black brush an at the bristles on the right where there is a smaller gold brush.

Looks sharp to me! The rest of the 1.4 crop is out of focus so a bit soft, whereas at 2.8 a lot more is in focus.
 
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