Lens Help!

CasualSnaper · 7th April 2008

I am thinking of buying a Nikon 85mm 1.8 or 1.4.

The 1.4 version is more than twice as much as the 1.8 version.

Is there any difference between these lens in term of picture quality?

These lens are more than 10 years old, any chance of newer version in near future?

In your opinion, which brand offers the best AF 85mm in the market?

Lumiere · 7th April 2008

Originally Posted by CasualSnaper

I am thinking of buying a Nikon 85mm 1.8 or 1.4.

The 1.4 version is more than twice as much as the 1.8 version.

Is there any difference between these lens in term of picture quality?

These lens are more than 10 years old, any chance of newer version in near future?

In your opinion, which brand offers the best AF 85mm in the market?

why not ask urself...wat u kinda quality u wanna produce...wats ur budget?

the 1.4 is of coz a faster lens, the bokeh is also much nicer than the 1.8
But if u do not need these...and for pure hobby use...maybe u can just settle for the 1.8 and use the money to buy maybe 50 1.4 or even 35 f2

Die Hard · 7th April 2008

Originally Posted by Lumiere

why not ask urself...wat u kinda quality u wanna produce...wats ur budget?

the 1.4 is of coz a faster lens, the bokeh is also much nicer than the 1.8
But if u do not need these...and for pure hobby use...maybe u can just settle for the 1.8 and use the money to buy maybe 50 1.4 or even 35 f2

I second that

catchlights · 7th April 2008

I am thinking of buying a Nikon 85mm 1.8 or 1.4.

The 1.4 version is more than twice as much as the 1.8 version. Correct.

Is there any difference between these lens in term of picture quality? Yes, a lot, that why double the price.

These lens are more than 10 years old, any chance of newer version in near future? No one know the answer better than Nikon, so best you go and ask Nikon.

In your opinion, which brand offers the best AF 85mm in the market? No, but you can consider tamron 90 macro lens to use a portrait lens.

TMC · 7th April 2008

try it out yourself.

85/1.4 is only offered by Carl Zeiss and Nikon. So you have a choice whether to have an AF or MF lens.

Die Hard · 7th April 2008

Originally Posted by TMC

try it out yourself.

85/1.4 is only offered by Carl Zeiss and Nikon. So you have a choice whether to have an AF or MF lens.

Hahahaha BBB virus

chongkm · 7th April 2008

Originally Posted by CasualSnaper

I am thinking of buying a Nikon 85mm 1.8 or 1.4.

The 1.4 version is more than twice as much as the 1.8 version.

Is there any difference between these lens in term of picture quality?

These lens are more than 10 years old, any chance of newer version in near future?

In your opinion, which brand offers the best AF 85mm in the market?

The 1.4 also weigh twice as much. You can never have a lens that's fast enough. Question is, is it useable wide open? Confirm + chop on these 2...

Sharpness wise, you'll be splitting hairs. You'll be paying for the famous cream machine bokeh.

Good lens will always be good lens. Hard to imagine how they can make this one better. The rear focusing is amazingly fast, you should try it for youself. I feel it's even faster than my 30/1.4 HSM. Even if they do come out with the AF-S, the improvement would be microscopic. VR? With such a fast lens, it'll just be a waste of battery life.

For AF 85mm, nothing can beat these 2 Nikkors. You can't go wrong with either one. Offer me a good price for my 1.8 and I'll upgrade to the 1.4 without a second thought.

CasualSnaper · 7th April 2008

thank you for your replies.

I have AFD 50mm 1.4 and AFD 105mm 2.8

Bokeh on 50mm 1.4 is very uneasy if the background is reflective.

105mm focus from 0.314m to 0.315m to 3m, follow by infinity. A full body shot is at infinity. which means the background is in focus too.

85mm focus from 0.85m to 10m, then infinity. A full body shot maybe is at 4m. if shoot at 1.4, the background will never be in focus. I wont say 85mm is only useful for headshot.

I am getting old, i think MF is bad on the eyes.

I will use wide open for bekoh. maybe 70-200 has better bekoh. i think at 200, the background will be compressed. then again, bekoh has no depth, right?

stprmit shoot only head shot. he told me he never use wide open with 85mm. if use at 1.4 for head shot, only certain part of the face will be sharp. i suspect focus need to be very precise.

I think 105mm is rear focusing too. Focusing is fast even on my F60.

stprmit has the gigantic 70-200. he seldom use VR. waste of money he said.

i have budget to buy 85mm 1.4 or 1.8. money is a rare commodity, 1400-600=800 can buy flash, radio trigger or a mobile strobe.

7th April 2008	#1
CasualSnaper Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 504	Lens Help! I am thinking of buying a Nikon 85mm 1.8 or 1.4. The 1.4 version is more than twice as much as the 1.8 version. Is there any difference between these lens in term of picture quality? These lens are more than 10 years old, any chance of newer version in near future? In your opinion, which brand offers the best AF 85mm in the market?

7th April 2008	#4
catchlights Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Punggol Posts: 10,760	Re: Lens Help! I am thinking of buying a Nikon 85mm 1.8 or 1.4. The 1.4 version is more than twice as much as the 1.8 version. Correct. Is there any difference between these lens in term of picture quality? Yes, a lot, that why double the price. These lens are more than 10 years old, any chance of newer version in near future? No one know the answer better than Nikon, so best you go and ask Nikon. In your opinion, which brand offers the best AF 85mm in the market? No, but you can consider tamron 90 macro lens to use a portrait lens. __________________ Shoot to Live, Live to Shoot www.foto-u.com \| www.benjaminloo.com \| email

7th April 2008	#5
TMC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Beyond Space-Time Continuum Posts: 5,921	Re: Lens Help! try it out yourself. 85/1.4 is only offered by Carl Zeiss and Nikon. So you have a choice whether to have an AF or MF lens. __________________ Selling: 32GB Thumbdrive - Patriot Xporter XT 120sgd (Price reduced)

7th April 2008	#8
CasualSnaper Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 504	Re: Lens Help! thank you for your replies. I have AFD 50mm 1.4 and AFD 105mm 2.8 Bokeh on 50mm 1.4 is very uneasy if the background is reflective. 105mm focus from 0.314m to 0.315m to 3m, follow by infinity. A full body shot is at infinity. which means the background is in focus too. 85mm focus from 0.85m to 10m, then infinity. A full body shot maybe is at 4m. if shoot at 1.4, the background will never be in focus. I wont say 85mm is only useful for headshot. I am getting old, i think MF is bad on the eyes. I will use wide open for bekoh. maybe 70-200 has better bekoh. i think at 200, the background will be compressed. then again, bekoh has no depth, right? stprmit shoot only head shot. he told me he never use wide open with 85mm. if use at 1.4 for head shot, only certain part of the face will be sharp. i suspect focus need to be very precise. I think 105mm is rear focusing too. Focusing is fast even on my F60. stprmit has the gigantic 70-200. he seldom use VR. waste of money he said. i have budget to buy 85mm 1.4 or 1.8. money is a rare commodity, 1400-600=800 can buy flash, radio trigger or a mobile strobe. Last edited by CasualSnaper; 7th April 2008 at 05:34 PM.