I used to indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

trevorbray

trevorbray

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Trevor
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I'm going to buy either the Nikon 85mm f2 AIS or the Samyang 85mm f1.4

I'm drawn to the Nikon (it's for my F2)

Am I just being sentimental or is the Sammy the way to go ?
 
Spent like the past 3 weeks debating the same question. I am now waiting for a good value Samyang 85mm 1.4 to crop up. They perform just as good as each other but you obviously get the wider aperture. I have compared on a D90 the samyang to the 85mm 1.8 AF and the 85mm 1.4 nikon AIS and the samyang is arguably better at 1.4. The bokeh is magical.
 
MindofMel said:
Spent like the past 3 weeks debating the same question. I am now waiting for a good value Samyang 85mm 1.4 to crop up. They perform just as good as each other but you obviously get the wider aperture. I have compared on a D90 the samyang to the 85mm 1.8 AF and the 85mm 1.4 nikon AIS and the samyang is arguably better at 1.4. The bokeh is magical.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mel, that's really handy.
 
MindofMel said:
I have compared on a D90 the samyang to the 85mm 1.8 AF and the 85mm 1.4 nikon AIS and the samyang is arguably better at 1.4. The bokeh is magical.
Click to expand...

Can you clarify this, not sure if I'm not making sense of it :thinking: :bonk:

The Samyang is better at f/1.4 than the Nikon AF at... f/1.8?
 
Took the same set of portrait's with the 3 lenses and the performance of the Nikon AF at 1.8, Nikon AIS 85 1.4 at 1.8 and the Samyang at 1.8 was negligible either way to my eye.

Essentially, I'm just trying to iterate that for the money - if you don't need AF - the Samyang is a bargain and a stellar performer and IMO more than holds it's own against the Nikons.

Although the nikon 85 1.4 looks better! lol but not £300.00+ more better lol
 
Found a Sammy in the classifieds. It's gonna be mine...
 
I had the Nikkor 85mm f2 AIS and was pretty happy with it. It has the advantage of being a very compact lens.

I then got the opportunity to cheaply pick up a Nikkor 85mm f1.8 which was a K (pre-AI) model which had been factory AI converted. While it's considerably bulkier, I think it's a superior lens in terms of performance (and obviously half a stop faster). This is also largely borne out by independent tests I've read. I then sold the f2 lens.

I always fancied the f1.4 Nikkor but have never been able to justify the cost. Now I have the f1.8 I'm very happy with it and don't feel the same need. Have never used one, nor the Samyang, so can't comment on either of them really.

85mm is one of my favourite focal lengths - a must have for me.
 
I can't really comment on the Nikon 85mm, but I love my Samyang; it rarely leaves my camera. Its price/performance ratio is nigh unbeatable.
 
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