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Archive 2012 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?

  
 
SchnellerGT
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


General thoughts on this lens?

My plan would be to own as a companion to the 24-70/2.8G.

How does it compare to the Canon 85/1.8?

What is it lacking compared to the 85/1.4G at $1000 more?


Thanks.



Nov 25, 2012 at 09:57 AM
Hrow
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


Being a huge fan and long time user of the Canon 85mm 1.2 I find this lens and every other lens in the range to be lacking. That said, the Nikon 85 1.8G is an excellent lens. Very sharp, very lightweight. Equal to or better than the Canon 1.8, but that's a great lens too. Compared to the G1.4 it is lacking F1.4 which itself is lacking F1.2.


Nov 25, 2012 at 11:28 AM
equestrianguy
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


I would disregard what Hrow is saying. Going to guess he's never used the lens.

Firstly the Canon 85mm F1.2 is hands down one of the biggest love hate lenses in the entire universe. Woohoo it's sharp and has good bokeh but hey lets forget it has one of the single worst AF systems amongst any lens ever designed. Slow is an understatement.

The 85mm 1.8G as has been pointed out is equally as good as the the 1.4G from F1.8 and on. Unless you really need F1.4 which really nobody does then there is no real need to buy the 1.4. The 1.8G absolutely smokes the Canon 85mm 1.8. The only really good thing the Canon 85mm 1.8 has going for it is really good AF speeds.

Sharpness, Bokeh, AF reliability are all extremely good on the 85mm 1.8G. I think there is a reason everyone started selling their 1.4G and Sigma 85's to buy it as it is a stellar bargain.

The information Hrow has posted is simply not accurate. It doesn't lack anything unless all you care about is build quality. I honestly care about how a lens performs and if you look at the charts it out performs both the 1.4G and the 85mm 1.2L. It's been tested through and through and it holds it's own.



Nov 25, 2012 at 11:33 AM
molson
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


equestrianguy wrote:
I would disregard what Hrow is saying. Going to guess he's never used the lens.



Ditto for equestrianguy...



Nov 25, 2012 at 12:07 PM
brett maxwell
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


I've owned, and used for at least 5000 frames, all the following lenses:

-Canon 85/1.8
-Nikon 85/1.4D
-Nikon 85/1.4G
-Sigma 85/1.4
-Nikon 85/1.8G

The one currently in my bag is the 85/1.8G. It's great, at similar apertures essentially equal to the 1.4G and Sigma, and I'm okay with losing f1.4-1.6 in order to halve the weight in the my camera bag. It's much better than the Canon 85/1.8, though I did really enjoy that lens, the purple fringing was insane.



Nov 25, 2012 at 01:30 PM
MikeW
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


85mm 1.8 is a great lens, great value for money too. The sigma 85mm was inconsistent for me with nailing AF even though it was spot on in testing.
The only disclaimer for the sigma was that it was on the D7K which gives me alot less keepers than the D4, so it might have been the body it was connected to.




Nov 25, 2012 at 01:43 PM
BenV
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


I love it, one of my favorite lenses for sure. Here's just a quick snapshot of my friends kid. I've owned the lens for about a month, it hasn't let me down

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/bloodrain954/_DSC8815.jpg



Nov 25, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Joseph.
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


These were shot with both 1.4G and 1.8G lenses. Can you guess which lens was used on each?







In the end, I sold the 1.4G, pocketed the change, and kept the 1.8G

Edited on Nov 25, 2012 at 11:14 PM · View previous versions



Nov 25, 2012 at 03:16 PM
NickHenderson
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


Of course you can't tell the difference on a small jpeg.

But I'm gonna guess lens B is the 1.4 based on bokeh.



Nov 25, 2012 at 03:18 PM
hijazist
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


I like "B" better regardless of which is which


Nov 25, 2012 at 03:26 PM
Todd Warnke
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


I agree with Nick, B is the 1.4.




Nov 25, 2012 at 03:26 PM
equestrianguy
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


Who cares which is which. The photos are so similar it's not even funny. Lest we forget one is 3 times more expensive. I myself have owned the 85mm 1.8 and 1.2 with Canon and the Nikon 1.4, Sigma 1.4, Nikon 1.8D and Nikon 1.8G.

I did love the Sigma the most up until it started having AF issues which seems quite common. It's to the point where the Nikon Prosumer lenses are seriously getting better and better and the pro lenses will need to be insane to have value.

See 28 1.8g, 50 1.8g, 85 1.8G. All Stellar.




Nov 25, 2012 at 04:26 PM
Todd Warnke
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


Except that bokeh matters. Sure, not in every shot, but one of the reasons to shoot with a large aperture prime is bokeh. That said, I think the 1.8 is a remarkable lens. I had the D version and it was the definition of tack sharp, problem was that the bokeh was also sharp and nervous. The G version is even better, with slightly smoother bokeh. As smooth as either of the 1.4s? Not to my eye. So if and when I go back to an 85 it will probably be the 1.4G. That said, you are right in that the entire range of 1.8Gs are exceptional. But just as the 1.4s are not for everyone and for every occasion, neither are the 1.8s.

Peace,

Todd



Nov 25, 2012 at 04:37 PM
agent-Jon
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


here's a recent review from Ming comparing the 1.8G to the 1.4G...

http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/11/23/nikon-85-18g/



Nov 25, 2012 at 04:56 PM
James R
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


equestrianguy wrote:
I would disregard what Hrow is saying. Going to guess he's never used the lens.

Sharpness, Bokeh, AF reliability are all extremely good on the 85mm 1.8G. I think there is a reason everyone started selling their 1.4G and Sigma 85's to buy it as it is a stellar bargain.

.


The only reason to keep the 85 1.4G, IMO, is the bokeh. I've seen both and bought the 1.4. Of course, bokeh is a personal thing. What bothers some is beautiful to others. Time will tell if there are build issues between the lenses. Not having shot the 1.8, I don't know how quick it acquires focus.

In the end, purchasing the 85 1.8 G will not disappoint the OP.



Nov 25, 2012 at 05:46 PM
equestrianguy
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


The bokeh at 1.8 if you put it on a tripod with the exact same subject in the exact same position you will notice very little difference. So much so that when printing you'd be hard pressed to notice it.

Over the 1.8D its a no brainer as the bokeh is so very different. Bokeh between the 1.8G and 1.4G are so very similar at 1.4G.

If you are shooting portraits at 1.4 then all the power to you but personally it's nice to have more than an inch in focus.



Nov 25, 2012 at 06:42 PM
huddy
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


I picked up an 85/1.8G several months ago. It's my second 85 after the Rokinon/Samyang/Bower/Bell&Howell 85/1.4. It's a great lens, and is very light. Doesn't AF as fast as my 28/1.8, but man oh man what results does it produce. FWIW, of the 12 pictures hanging in my living room, 4 are from the 85/1.8. I only had it for 1 month before printing the images too.


Nov 25, 2012 at 09:02 PM
curious80
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


The difference between A and B above is very clear even in those small displays - whether that difference matters or not, is up to each user of course. (Though in each of the cases lens B seems focused slightly closer which will give a bit of extra blur). I think no one here has said that 85 1.8G is not an excellent lens. If you want f1.4 or f1.2 then obviously the 85mm 1.8G cannot help you, if f1.8 is fine for you then the lens is great from the looks of it.


Nov 25, 2012 at 09:35 PM
Joseph.
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


NickHenderson wrote:
Of course you can't tell the difference on a small jpeg.


Sorry, I'm on an old laptop that only does 1200 x 800, so it's big on my screen

equestrianguy wrote:
Who cares which is which. The photos are so similar it's not even funny.


You're welcome.



Nov 25, 2012 at 11:18 PM
lxdesign
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Thoughts on the Nikon 85/1.8G lens?


Spent a couple of hours today shooting in a historic museum in Toronto called "Spadina House" shot exclusively details with the 85mm 1.8G lens. Love this lens!


Clawed by lxdesign, on Flickr

Take a look at my flickr to see the rest.... www.flickr.com/lxdesign



Nov 25, 2012 at 11:25 PM
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