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Archive 2012 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4

  
 
MrPacMan
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Hello,
I am using the Nikon d7000( maybe I`ll buy D600). I want a portrait lens.
I never used manual focus lenses.
Which one is better? Is there any reason to buy the Zeiss?
It really looks sxy & like a tank



May 29, 2012 at 01:56 PM
Mishu01
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Sigma 85/1.4 is the lens you want. You can thank me later


May 29, 2012 at 03:41 PM
Sean Hoffman
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


I owned the Samyang (Rokinon) 85 1.4. It was terrific, especially for the price ($250). Ultimately, I wasn't getting enough in-focus images using MF and sold it for the AF enabled Sigma 85. I am very happy with the switch and would caution you against jumping into MF on a lens with this little DOF unless you are prepared to deal with throwing a lot of your images away (at least with dynamic moving targets, like portrait subjects).

If you are set on trying it in MF, I'd consider the Samyang as a great way to test the waters without the financial commitment of the Zeiss.



May 29, 2012 at 03:47 PM
gugs
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


+1

Samyang if you want to play with MF, Sigma for the rest.

Guy



May 29, 2012 at 03:56 PM
ChiShutter
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


The Nikon 1.4 D is not a manual focus lens, but in any kind of challenging light it might as well be.


May 29, 2012 at 03:58 PM
Stdon
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Samyang made period.


May 29, 2012 at 04:28 PM
Avi B
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


ChiShutter wrote:
The Nikon 1.4 D is not a manual focus lens, but in any kind of challenging light it might as well be.


Yeah the focus tracking kinda bites on this lens so you have to switch to MF anyway. But its not so bad locking on after subject has stopped moving, at least with my D2Xs.



May 29, 2012 at 04:37 PM
ChiShutter
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Avi B wrote:
Yeah the focus tracking kinda bites on this lens so you have to switch to MF anyway. But its not so bad locking on after subject has stopped moving, at least with my D2Xs.

I've rented the 85 1.4D many times, and loved it -- with the exception of a slightly unacceptable number of missed-focus shots (rocking it at 1.4 or 1.8 a lot contributed to this). I recently bought the 1.4G and the improvement in AF accuracy is amazing. I basically have a raging obsession with my 85G. It never comes off my D700 anymore.



May 29, 2012 at 04:49 PM
utildayael
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Option C. 100mm Zeiss Makro-Planar. Seriously.

If you want AF, go with what others said.. Sigma 85 1.4.



May 29, 2012 at 05:20 PM
Zebrabot
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


utildayael wrote:
Option C. 100mm Zeiss Makro-Planar. Seriously.

If you want AF, go with what others said.. Sigma 85 1.4.


he's right about the macro planar.



May 29, 2012 at 06:31 PM
hidden_Markov
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


If you have an interest in MF glass and never tried before I'd recommend either doing a few days full tim MF on Af glass you ahve that supports it. Or hittng up e-bay and getting a cheap sample of AI(s) glass. Best to see if for you before getting more expensive Mf glass.

I like MF and my journey down the path started with a 50 1.8 pancake I picked up for like $30 from e-bay.

Only experience I have with the ZF 85mm was in store demo'ing on a trip to tokyo. Build quaility and handling was consistent with my 35/2 ZF I do own, very good . Nikon's newer AF built glass jsut doesn't feel solid in MF mode. With manual focus, imo, the lens has to feel right. Dampening in the ring and such. Cosina with thier zeiss and voigltander series have this down cold (obviously lol, they go all out since they are MF only glass). Nikon's AI(s) glass feels real nice as well but you lose CPU support (unless aftermarket chipped).



May 29, 2012 at 07:05 PM
FortyOneSixty
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


I love my Sigma, especially on the D800.


May 29, 2012 at 07:25 PM
Ghostinz
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


I just picked up a 85 1.8G.
Its a great lens for the money. If you aren't set on 1.4, then check it out. It is getting really rave reviews and comments on another thread here.



May 29, 2012 at 08:06 PM
Tanegashima
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Sean Hoffman wrote:
I owned the Samyang (Rokinon) 85 1.4. It was terrific, especially for the price (). Ultimately, I wasn't getting enough in-focus images using MF and sold it for the AF enabled Sigma 85. I am very happy with the switch and would caution you against jumping into MF on a lens with this little DOF unless you are prepared to deal with throwing a lot of your images away (at least with dynamic moving targets, like portrait subjects).

If you are set on trying it in MF, I'd consider the Samyang as a great way to test the waters without
...Show more


True story. As much expensive and blue-bloodied the Zeiss can be, it's still a PITA of manual focus lenses, and that's very limiting. There's no other way putting it, it's a MF lenses and isn't getting away from that.

I have the 70-200 2.8 VR II for AF, but I grabbed a Samyang 85/1.4 to keep in the sack, should necessity arrives, or just play with it… it's very cheap too...

Picture quality is top notch, and even got multicoating on the newer lenses (chipped) is not bad at all. Build quality is awesome and on par with the best lenses, but uses plastic, not like I care.

You'll get a lot of missed shots, specially moving subjects, and on large apertures (f/2 and lower). I would avoid it.



May 29, 2012 at 08:23 PM
AMaji
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


My suggestion is to keep away from the third party glass unless it is Zeiss or Voigtlander. If you ever want to sell it, you will almost have to give it away. The Nikon and Zeiss (and Voigtlanders to some extent) hold their values very well. If you cannot afford the Nikon 85/1.4G, then get the Cream Machine, aka Nikon 85/1.4D.

The following is a synopsis of findings that someone who owned both lenses, Nikon and Zeiss gave me. I couldn't find his email, otherwise I would have copied and pasted it. If you want the glass for portraits, then Nikon is the way to go. That is because for portraits, you will be standing less than 15 feet from the subject when you use the 85mm. The Zeiss' bokeh for subjects in focus 15-20 feet or less is not as good as the Nikon's. It is slightly nervous. However, when subjects are more than 15-20 feet away, the Zeiss outshines the Nikon.

Also, remember that it will be a pain to MF on a DX camera with a 85mm glass at 1.4 aperture. You will have a number of misses. If you really want to experiment with MF, why not get the Voigtlander 58/1.4 as it is equivalent to 85mm POV on DX.

Good luck.



May 29, 2012 at 08:48 PM
Rob Chisholm
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


I purchased the Samyang 85 and really really liking it. I am having no trouble focusing wide open for portraits and full body length shots. I am using the d800 (I have found that to get razor sharp images it's the d800 I have had to increase my minimum shutter speeds a bit... But when I do,the pics are very sharp). Rob

Ps- just noticed the op is using a dx cam. 85 samyang might be a bit long to mf. The 58 voigltander is an awesome MF lens on a cropped body... But not much cheaper than the Sigma...

Edited on May 29, 2012 at 09:08 PM · View previous versions



May 29, 2012 at 08:56 PM
Rob Chisholm
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


One of my first quick test shots with both camera and samyang

http://www.flickr.com/photos/feros-ferio/7207351902/in/photostream

And here's one showing a decent 3d look to lens. Not Zeiss 3d but not bad at all...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/feros-ferio/7207352722/in/photostream/



May 29, 2012 at 09:03 PM
MrPacMan
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Thanks everybody!!!
I will buy D600, is it comfortable to use the zeiss glass?



May 30, 2012 at 05:51 AM
mikesrc
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


Ghostinz wrote:
I just picked up a 85 1.8G.
Its a great lens for the money. If you aren't set on 1.4, then check it out. It is getting really rave reviews and comments on another thread here.



+1



May 30, 2012 at 06:18 AM
MrPacMan
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Nikon 85mm 1.4d or Zeiss 85mm 1.4


85mm 1.8g`s bokeh isn`t that hot...


May 30, 2012 at 07:57 AM
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