Lens advice - Nikon 85mm 1.8 Af-D?

leetalb

leetalb

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Hi all

I've been using my Nikon d50 with a 35mm 1.8 DX G since the turn of the new year. I think my "style" seems to be gravitating towards candid, low light gig photography (on a very small scale). It all seems to involve people in close proximity in other words. I've ordered an SB-28 and some Youngnuo RF-603 transcievers for off camera flash after reading most of the strobist blog which I'm looking forward to experimenting with.

I'm finding that I'm cropping stuff down a lot so I'm thinking I need something a little longer. Due to the low light gig stuff I need it to be quick though and that pretty much rules out most zooms (in my price range at least). The most appropriate thing I've been able to find is the Nikon 85mm 1.8 AF-D which should be good for getting into portraits as well I've read (with the 1.5x crop factor). I considered the 50mm AF-D, but as I'll pretty much have the 2 lenses for the foreseeable future it seems a little too close to the 35mm.

While I think I've pretty much got my heart set on the 85mm given price/performance ratio (seem to be a few floating around at £200 - £250 on ebay, but was a little worried about some issues re CA and softness wide open I've read about.

Can anyone give any first hand experiences with this lens, or can anyone suggest anything else I may have overlooked.

Phew, sorry for the length and rambling nature of the post! Any help will be much appreciated :)
 
Its a fantastic lens.
I used it a lot for my gig shooting (big gigs!)

Very sharp, pretty quick focus, and nice bokeh.
Didnt notice much CA to be honest.

Here a few low light shots, wide open and ISO 800-1600



_DSC7350 by TCR4x4, on Flickr


_DSC7370 by TCR4x4, on Flickr


_DSC7326 by TCR4x4, on Flickr


_DSC7403 by TCR4x4, on Flickr
 
Thanks Tom. I'd been very impressed with your images in a previous post in relation to gig photography when I was trying to get some tips, and I'd not realised they were taken on this lens. I think I'm pretty much sold now so am almost certainly going to go for it :) I see from Flickr that these were taken on a DX format. Can I ask roughly how far away from your subjects you were, and if you did any cropping? Just so I can get a bit more of an idea of the practicality of the focal length.
 
It's a great lens, so good it talked me into getting the 1.4!
 
leetalb said:
Thanks Tom. I'd been very impressed with your images in a previous post in relation to gig photography when I was trying to get some tips, and I'd not realised they were taken on this lens. I think I'm pretty much sold now so am almost certainly going to go for it :) I see from Flickr that these were taken on a DX format. Can I ask roughly how far away from your subjects you were, and if you did any cropping? Just so I can get a bit more of an idea of the practicality of the focal length.
Click to expand...

No cropping on any of them that I recall. I'd say the side of stage ones were probably 10-20 feet away. I could find out for sure if I dig out my tour schedule with all the stage sizes on it!
Most were pretty big venues, so the stages were all pretty big, and they have a lot of people and props to stage too.
I did switch to a 24-70 of the odd occasions I was at the front of the stage, but the 85mm was used for almost the side and rear stage shots.
 
Thanks again got the really helpful and informative posts. I'm bidding on one now. I'll let you know how I get on :-)
 
Hi guys. Thanks again, for the responses. I've snagged one for £250 on ebay buy it now with free delivery that will hopefully be here tomorrow. Will give it a good test over the weekend. Now just waiting for my SB-28 and poverty wizards :)
 
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