which 85mm for Nikon
- Thread starter bastic
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The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is cracking lens, optically similar to the 1.4G, very sharp. I wouldn't Nother with anything else.the difference in apertures with a f/1.4 lens is relatively small and most only the DoF is affected because digital sensor don't respond well to apertures wider than f/2.0. Look up a DoF calculator to feel if the difference is significant.
I hear the AF on th sigma is faster than the Nikon but less reliable.
I hear the AF on th sigma is faster than the Nikon but less reliable.
Soldato
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I have/had all three 85's. The 1.4 is my favourite. The 85 1.8 is basically just as good but smaller/lighter. You miss out on a bit of DOF. The Sigma is very good, IQ not quite as good as the others but very close, perhaps a little more CA. Focus is fairly quick, but not as reliable imo, although it is still reliable. The Nikons are more comfortable to hold (more rounded angles).
The 85 1.8 would be my choice if you can't afford the 1.4.
The 85 1.8 would be my choice if you can't afford the 1.4.
Associate
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The 85mm 1.8 is something like the 4 sharpest Nikon lens on the D800 at dxomark, with almost the same marks as the 1.4
I love mine, there would have to be something truly amazing about the 1.4 to make me pay £700 more for it.
I love mine, there would have to be something truly amazing about the 1.4 to make me pay £700 more for it.
That is the thing, I would pay an extra 100-150 for the f/1.4. I would think about a 200-300 difference, but 700 no chance for what I shoot.
One other minor plus point of the 1.4G is the Bokeh is very marginally smoother but there isn't a big difference. You have to know what to look for and stare at hundred of examples. Even then the f/1.8G arguably has better Bokeh then the canon 85mm f/1.2 WHEN compared wide open (the canon has a shallower DoF but isn't at pleasant, supposedly, but Bokeh is a very subjective thing.
The old Nikon 85mm f/1.4D is popular for portrait use because the Bokeh is supposedly more ethereal and the lens has much less contrast wide open and a touch of softness, which for portraits can work OK. Personally I order the sharpness and contrast of the 1.8G for little money.
Soldato
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I got the 85mm 1.8g for £250, 2nd hand, as new, and it's great. At 1.8 it's still pretty easy to miss the focus if people are moving as the DOF is so shallow.
