Portrait lenses

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susie pat

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Susan
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Is anyone the owner of a Nikon 85mm F1.4G or 135 F2.8 DC. I am looking to buy a portrait lens, had decided on the 135 but now unsure whether I should actually buy the 85mm. The 85mm has the better writeup. :bonk:
 
What body are you using Susan? It'll make a difference to the answers.

Fwiw, if you like playing with shallow depth of field in your portraits, I'd go for the 85.
 
for very shallow depth of field, allowing you to isolate subjects from their background superbly Nikon 85mm F1.4G is the best option.
 
I use the 85mm 1.4G on my full fame D700 and its without a doubt my favourite lens, it produces stunning sharp images with such a beautiful DOF.

Check out my website if you like, most of my portraits from Africa were shot with that lens.
 
The 135 DC is f/2 not f/2.8 (but thats not the point)


The DC lenses (105 and 135) do a slightly different job to the 85. The 85 is a stunning lens. I don't own the 135, but do own both the 85 and the 105 DC - if you want very shallow DoF portraits then the 85 is the way to go. But you shouldn't dismiss the 105 and the 135. Both are bitingly sharp and certainly rip your subjects from their backgrounds (in a way the 85 can't). It takes a little effort to understand the DC and how to get the best from it (I still don't) BUT for a little more creative DoF the DC lens are worth a look
 
TCR4x4 said:
If you want to save some serious money and dont mind manual focus, have a look at the Samyang 85mm f/1.4..

Here is a thread about it

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=303777

And here are some of my pictures with it, Granted no people you get the idea.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tcr4x4/sets/72157626167924003/
Click to expand...



I use the nikon 85 1.8 on both a crop sensor and full frame, the 1.4 is even nicer but the 1.8 is a lovely lens all the same. You need a body with autofocus screw to use the older 1.8 though.
 
I have the 85mm f/1.8 too. The Samyang is pin sharp from f/1.4. The Nikon 85mm needs f/2.8 before it get as sharp as the Samyang.
 
TCR4x4 said:
I have the 85mm f/1.8 too. The Samyang is pin sharp from f/1.4. The Nikon 85mm needs f/2.8 before it get as sharp as the Samyang.
Click to expand...


Must be pretty dang Sharp then, the nikon f1.8 prints tack sharp wide open up to 8x10, I like the bokeh on the 1.4 but sharpness isn't an issue for me.
 
lensflair said:
Must be pretty dang Sharp then, the nikon f1.8 prints tack sharp wide open up to 8x10, I like the bokeh on the 1.4 but sharpness isn't an issue for me.
Click to expand...

It is.


Nikon 85mm f/1.8 @ f/2.8 100% crop



nikon85mm100cropf28 by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

Samyang 85mm f/1.4 @f/1.4 100% crop through a filthy double glazed window, manually focused.


Chicken 100% crop by TCR4x4, on Flickr​
 
ive got the 85 1.4g and i find it the best lens ive used,though ive not had many.
had the 24-70 breifly but i didnt fall in love with it.the 85 on the other hand i love and think that even with a new lens i will struggle to take it off my camera.

mainly as its super sharp.the dof on the d700 does take some getting used to though.

here are some taken a few days after i got it
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=3444311#post3444311
 
TCR4x4 said:
It is.


Nikon 85mm f/1.8 @ f/2.8 100% crop



nikon85mm100cropf28 by TCR4x4, on Flickr​

Samyang 85mm f/1.4 @f/1.4 100% crop through a filthy double glazed window, manually focused.


Chicken 100% crop by TCR4x4, on Flickr​
Click to expand...

I have to say, to me, the Nikon image Looks far better in sharpness, etc. The detail in the feathers looks soft on the samyang image. I know you have said the samyang image was taken through dirty glass etc, but i'd definately be interested in seeing some "like for like shots".:thumbs:
 
wilko said:
The detail in the feathers looks soft on the samyang image.
Click to expand...

That's due to most of them being outside the field of acceptable sharpness.

Concentrate on the head of cock ;)
 
photon said:
That's due to most of them being outside the field of acceptable sharpness.

Concentrate on the head of cock ;)
Click to expand...

True, the f/1.8 is at f2.8, so already has an advantage, plus the head of the hen is pretty much in one focal plane making everything on the bird in focus.
The f/1.4 was at f/1.4, so already the DOF is tiny, and the birds head is not on one plane, making only a tiny bit in focus.

I don't think anyone can argue that the Samyang is not as sharp as the Nikon in these shots. If anything, the Samyang is a lot sharper than the Nikon considering all the variables.

Until I can get a chicken to sit perfectly still while I change lenses, I wont be able to get true like for like shots1
 
I'll post a head shot I took wide open with my Samyang last night as soon as I'm at my pc.
 
Here you go...
5612734282_19d54047c4_o.jpg
 
Do you realize this is turning into Samyang love part2 and the OP hasn't even be back to the topic since starting it :lol: :love:
 
Looking good Dean - eyes look good. Just dont trust MF for kids!
 
Still think you're all missing a very good thing by dismissing the DC lenses out of hand....................probably the best portrait lenses Nikon has ever made (and that's from someone who has owned the 85 1.4f, and currently owns the 85 1.4g)
 
I looked at the DC lenses but on a crop body they are a bit long (as most of my stuff is indoor. Seemed to be one of those lenses that you could easily mess up although some images I saw were outstanding.
 
cambsno said:
I looked at the DC lenses but on a crop body they are a bit long (as most of my stuff is indoor. Seemed to be one of those lenses that you could easily mess up although some images I saw were outstanding.
Click to expand...

They are outstanding, and probably even better then the 85 f1.4 variants. I think you're right about them being a little long on a crop body, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss either
 
For less length (and more), with defocus, plus the satisfaction of manual focus, there's the Tamron Adaptall-2 ƒ/2.8 70-150mm VariSoft. A serviced one is on fleabay right now, at the highest price I've ever seen. Even so, it's less than the Sigma 50-150mm.
 
There are some excellant examples from the DC lenses on Flickr. Google "Flickr 105 135 DC users"
 
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