Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

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Archive 2012 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

equestrianguy
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p.1 #1 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

Want to get some feedback from others that have bought this lens to replace the 85mm 1.8D. I have the 85mm 1.8D and was excited when the G was announced. I got mine through B&H and was very excited.

Lens arrives, it's bigger and lighter. Initially the first thing I noticed is that the AF speed on the G is definitely slower than the D. AF accuracy is about the same.

Bokeh seems rather similar between the two and the G is marginally sharper at maximum aperture.

Essentially I'm sitting here confused on whether I should keep the G when the performance of the D is so similar not to mention the build quality of the D is significantly better in my opinion.

Has anybody else noticed that besides it being just a bit sharper that the D seems to have some advantages over the G?

May 11, 2012 at 05:28 PM

tobicus
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p.1 #2 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

Interesting. I'm about to pick up an 85, although my wife will probably be the one to use it when we shoot. I'm aiming for the 1.8D primarily since the used prices are about $150 cheaper than the G. If it focuses faster, so much the better.

May 11, 2012 at 05:39 PM

monochrome
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p.1 #3 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

And what would those advantages be?

If you already have a variant of the lens and don't like the new, then send it back. My question would be, why buy the new to start with?

May 11, 2012 at 05:40 PM

eSchwab
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p.1 #4 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

I would take some pics with some bright highlights or against light. If I recall the 1.8D had quite a problem with purple fringing.

May 11, 2012 at 05:41 PM

Mark_L
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p.1 #5 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

The 1.8D's bokeh is horrible, that is reason enough to upgrade for most.

May 11, 2012 at 05:44 PM

bikemore
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p.1 #6 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

Reading mansurovs' review, he says the 1.8G is sharper than the 105 VR micro.

Reading photozone.de test results, the 1.8G is sharper wide open;
however, the 1.8D equals or exceeds it at f/5.6 to f/8 in the corners.

The local camera store says they've sold a half-dozen of the 1.8G.

Without having direct experience with either lens I'm not sure who is more accurate.

May 11, 2012 at 05:51 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #7 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

Equestrian eh, I shoot rodeo in dusty poorly lit venues. What body are you using

The 85 f1.8G
totally rocks with my D3/D7K > thru ISO6400. Nary a hiccup with AF and it's tack freakin' sharp
wide open (I'm usually @ f2) FWIW, the 85 f1.8D pales by comparison. Believe what you want.

Oh yeah, it's perfect for 1 hand candids in between runs...

May 11, 2012 at 05:58 PM

ausemmao
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p.1 #8 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

tobicus wrote:
Interesting. I'm about to pick up an 85, although my wife will probably be the one to use it when we shoot. I'm aiming for the 1.8D primarily since the used prices are about $150 cheaper than the G. If it focuses faster, so much the better.

If you shoot wide open with lots of light/high contrast stuff in OOF foreground/background, be aware that the D has some pretty nasty LoCA (purple/green fringing) wide open. It's pretty much gone by 2.8, and if backgrounds are muted it's not nearly as much of a problem.

May 11, 2012 at 06:15 PM

AMaji
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p.1 #9 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

From what I have read, the G has a better bokeh than the D and for these portrait/short tele lens, that is very important.

By the way, do not fall into trenchmonkey's trap. His posted samples have made me spend a lot of money. His technique is solid and so are his biceps. Many of us won't be able to match it just because of that.

May 11, 2012 at 06:16 PM

josheeFOTO
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p.1 #10 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

I used to have the 1.8D years ago. Recently bought the 1.8G. I use it on my D800. It is a really nice lens, sharp wide open. Really like the bokeh. It is light and to me balances really well on the D800. I bought it to shoot primarily portraits. The AF is a tad slower than what I remember of the D version. I really like the portraits that this lens has given me over the past month. Got it from a local dealer after waiting for Adorama for 2 months!

-- Suraj

May 11, 2012 at 06:54 PM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #11 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

By the way, do not fall into trenchmonkey's trap. His posted samples have made me spend a lot of money. His technique is solid and so are his biceps. Many of us won't be able to match it just because of that.

trap

years spent laboring in da trenches...please note: I do NOT work for Nikon.

May 11, 2012 at 06:55 PM

brett maxwell
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p.1 #12 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

One of the most important reasons I've upgraded D lenses to G versions is the improved AF accuracy while tracking a moving subject. Flare, sharpness, and purple fringing are typically better also. Bokeh is, of course, rather subjective.

May 11, 2012 at 07:55 PM

Zebrabot
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p.1 #13 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

I'm most curious about flare resistance of the 85 f/1.8G.

the d suffers alot from this. Even daylight affects it quite a bit.

May 11, 2012 at 08:52 PM

Mark_L
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p.1 #14 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

Zebrabot wrote:
I'm most curious about flare resistance of the 85 f/1.8G.

the d suffers alot from this. Even daylight affects it quite a bit.

I'm not sure it's that good based on the reviews but not many backlit samples have been posted here. The sigma and 1.4G are excellent at this.

May 11, 2012 at 08:56 PM

MackDaddy1962
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p.1 #15 · Not very impressed by 85mm 1.8G

I'm with TM, the 85/1.8G rocks on the D700's... period. I'm still processing my daughter's wedding reception pics (shot 14bit RAW, 85/1.8G on one body, 50/1.4G on the other) and man are they incredible. Period! I should have all 600+ shots processed this weekend.

But for now, Here's a few random test shots (all shot large/fine JPEG.) I'm love'n this lens!

This image is copyrighted by the owner