I have just ordered this lens to be my primary portrait lens for my D700! I have looked for tests made on a FF Nikon, but have not found any. Can any of you help me with your own experience on a FF with this lens? It got such an outstanding review here, but made on a D200, and I am wondering if it is just as good on FF. If it is, it is one of Nikons best deals, because the price is very attractive.
[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1301781647' post='7332']I have looked for tests made on a FF Nikon, but have not found any.[/quote]
slrgear.com
[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1301781647' post='7332']
I have just ordered this lens to be my primary portrait lens for my D700! I have looked for tests made on a FF Nikon, but have not found any. Can any of you help me with your own experience on a FF with this lens? It got such an outstanding review here, but made on a D200, and I am wondering if it is just as good on FF. If it is, it is one of Nikons best deals, because the price is very attractive.
[/quote]
I have the lens and use it on D200
It is indeed an excellent optic, good value, excellent bokeh
The only downsides are low contrast and blue/purple fringing at, and close to, full aperture when shooting something against the sky, for example - to the extent that I always avoid the max opening.
Close-down one stop and all is well
FX will be no better, of course
From what I have seen, this 85mm f1.8 would be my choice of AF Nikkors with 85mm. Alternatively I would check out the much more expensive Sigma 85mm f1.4.
Review on D700:
http://www.olegnovikov.com/technical/nik...f18d.shtml
On full frame and APS-C:
http://slrlensreview.com/web/nikon-slr-l...eview.html
Take the AF moaning of this review with a grain of salt: this lens focusses faster than the AF-S 50mm f1.4 and AF-S 85mm f1.4. Sure, the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 USM is faster, and actually very usable as sports lens. But come on, it is a portrait lens (and you intend to use it as a portrait lens). A good one. And a good looking one! It certainly looks the business.
Review on D700 again:
http://www.nikonjin.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=272
I am quite confident you will enjoy this good looking, affordable and well performing portrait lens. And yes, it is one of Nikon's best deals, just like its Canon counterpart is from Canon.
[quote name='AAC7man' timestamp='1301820010' post='7346']
FX will be no better, of course
[/quote]
Apparently, might be better in corners wide open on FX: [url="http://forums.slrgear.com/index.php?showtopic=359"]SLR Gear discussion on test result[/url]
Interesting regarding resolution and sensor size
Full-frame review on SLR gear is [url="http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/100/cat/12"]here[/url] (good tip, BC)
Ian
Thanks to all of you. I am not going to loose any sleep over this one. Looks as good as you can expect from a Nikkor prime. I look forward to compare this one with the 105mm f2.8VR. I have been using the latter for portraits for a while and it is just outstanding both in terms of piqué and boukeh, but you have to be a little further away and that some times is a problem in a small studio when you want to shoot full body length. I'll let you know what I think in a week or so.
You will like the 85mm <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> and although there is a progression in bokeh and perceived sharpness with the f 1.4 lenses, this 1.8 nikkor is very nice to work with in portraits, esp. between f 2.8-4 (IMHO). Still as with all the AF lenses the real problem is AF performance (precision - not speed) at full or almost full aperture, I experienced this with both 85 f1.8 and 85 f1.4 Nikkors, well it just is like that - you just shoot some more pictures to have some of them perfectly focused on the subject <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> This is why upgraded recently to the af-s version, and now I'm really happy with it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
[quote name='wojtt' timestamp='1302204434' post='7481']
You will like the 85mm <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> and although there is a progression in bokeh and perceived sharpness with the f 1.4 lenses, this 1.8 nikkor is very nice to work with in portraits, esp. between f 2.8-4 (IMHO). Still as with all the AF lenses the real problem is AF performance (precision - not speed) at full or almost full aperture, I experienced this with both 85 f1.8 and 85 f1.4 Nikkors, well it just is like that - you just shoot some more pictures to have some of them perfectly focused on the subject <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' /> This is why upgraded recently to the af-s version, and now I'm really happy with it <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
[/quote]
Interesting issues you bring up wojtt. I'll make some tests and let you know, but I just received it, so I'll need some time.
[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1301781647' post='7332']
I have just ordered this lens to be my primary portrait lens for my D700! I have looked for tests made on a FF Nikon, but have not found any. Can any of you help me with your own experience on a FF with this lens? It got such an outstanding review here, but made on a D200, and I am wondering if it is just as good on FF. If it is, it is one of Nikons best deals, because the price is very attractive.
[/quote]
if you are not that "fault-finder" type you will not regret the buy. I use 85/1,8 on D700 and i am a happy user. of course it has drawbacks:
- the highlists (circles, i do not know the correct word) in the background are edged from 2 or 2.2
- the bokeh can be a bit nervous between 1,8-2,5
and that is all. all other things made me happy:
- sharp at any aparture
- enough contrast wide open, perfect from 2,5
- low CA of any kind (can be seen on very very contrasty areas...)
- AF is accurate and quick
- C-AF works flawlessly, i get contuniously perfect results (walking people, 2-3 meters+ distance)
You won't be disappointed. It was my favourite on D700, untill I got 85/1.4 AF (not AF-S). Once I started to use 85/1.4, I almost never used 85/1.8, so finally I sold it -- although its AF was faster and arguably more precise.