Nikon 85mm f1.8D or Samyang 85mm f1.4

badboy1984

badboy1984

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I'm on a shopping mood after i spend abit of the money on a Flash gun and i got some spare money left.

Looking into a 85mm prime to go along with my nikon 50 f1.8d and 35 f1.8G and for some reason I'm into manual focus on prime lens. Due to the cost and i filter down to two choice. The Nikon 85mm f1.8D and Samyang 85mm f1.4

Which one is a good value for money to buy? I don't mind manual focus on prime lens. I think the Samyang is cheaper brand new.

Was wondering do the samyang lens allows me to control everything on the camera but just the focus is manually done?
 
100% the Samyang for me. I sold my Nikon to get it!

If you get the AE version, everything is controlled through the camera bar the focus.

Its the sharpest lens I own by a country mile.
 
TCR4x4 said:
100% the Samyang for me. I sold my Nikon to get it!

If you get the AE version, everything is controlled through the camera bar the focus.

Its the sharpest lens I own by a country mile.
Click to expand...

That reinforce me to buy the samyang strictly for performance and cost. For zoom lens i would think twice before buying manual focus because it could end up doing too much at the same time, but prime is a different story for me. Since i don't have to worry about zoom, i could just use my legs and focus at the same time if need :)

I looked at the AE version and it is still cheap as hell, around £240 brand new. I'm definitely getting it.
 
I got mine for about £170, but then they put the prices up as so many people were buying!

The only thing with mine is the focus ring is very tight, so quick focusing can be tricky, but you get used to it.
 
The shot above is 1.4. TBH I rarely use the lens at anything else!

You do have to be super critical in your focus though. Not too hard with a D700, but I found it pretty tricky with the D3100.
 
The Samyang is utterly brilliant if you can live with MF.
 
I really wish they would make it with AF and keep the price the same though!
 
TCR4x4 said:
Yep and about £500 more expensive. Just for AF? Im not convinced.
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I got to agree with you on this ....... if performance and optic is very similar and the only difference is MF or AF then i think i will stick with the MF and save the £500 for something else instead .......

For me prime lens is not to shoot fast action stuff so MF will be ok for the subjects I shoot.

I shoot MF when doing video project at work so MF on still images is no stranger to me.
 
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