I also have a 50mm F1.4, but find I seldom use it though I want to incorporate it more.
btw I shoot in 14bit only.
How do you find the 85mm as a wedding lens? I've used the Canon 1.2L and the AF was way too slow for my liking (as much as I wanted to like it) - a case of "never meet your heroes".
I'm thinking doing 50/1.4, 85/1.4, and 135/2 combination with a wide angle zoom.
I use a D3, instead of D700, with primes-- 28/1.4, 50/1.4, 85/1.4. The 85 is such a sweet lens on full frame. Even though the 85 is an older lens, it still focuses pretty quickly.
I 85 as mentioned above does focus pretty fast for a non AF-s lens. so does the 50. I use the 85 for toast and shots of table center pieces as it gives me the creamiest bokeh.
I find that i'm shooting a lot more w/ primes now that I've gone full frame. Next on the list is the 35 2.0 and maybe the 135 dc. I still have my D300 which my Tammy 17-50 2.8 doesn't come off for more wide stuff.
Saad Syed wrote:
How do you find the 85mm as a wedding lens? I've used the Canon 1.2L and the AF was way too slow for my liking (as much as I wanted to like it) - a case of "never meet your heroes".
I'm thinking doing 50/1.4, 85/1.4, and 135/2 combination with a wide angle zoom.
The 85mm 1.4 snaps into focus. Zero issues with hunt and peck.
Especially with the D700. It took me a little getting used to as it focused so fast I didn't see it. Focus was "just there"!
I love my primes and maily shoot with the 50 & 85 f/1.4 Wish I could fine the 28 f/1.4 for a reasonable price. Contemplating the 135 also. Sometime I wonder why I bought the 24-70 and 70-200, almost never used.
Thats exactly why i sold my 70-200
as for the 24-70...imo shorter focal lengths dont benefit from the thin dof thing as much as longer ones...so from 50+ primes are the better option, and below that...i'm just as happy to have the zoom..its certainly just as sharp.
bb
The only time I shoot w/ the 70-200 is when I'm doing the ceremony. Actually, the last wedding I did (first w/ the d700), I shot mainly w/ the 70-200 since the ceremony was 3 hours and i ended up only shooting for about 5 hours.
But once the ceremony is over, the 70-200 goes to bed and i shoot mainly w/ the 85 and 50. D300 w/ 17-50 tammy only comes out to play during off camera lighting.
I'm using Nikkor's 50 mm 1.4 and the 80 - 200 mm 2.8. I'm saving for the 85mm 1.4, I heard nothing but good remarks about this one....I had the 85 f1.8 in the past and liked it also....
Saad Syed wrote:
How do you find the 85mm as a wedding lens? I've used the Canon 1.2L and the AF was way too slow for my liking (as much as I wanted to like it) - a case of "never meet your heroes".
You don't say which camera and which version of the Canon lens.
(The newer 85mm is much better in terms of AF speed.)
Anyway, my mk3 with the 85mm f1.2 II is faster to focus than the Nikon 85mm f1.4 with the D700.
I just got my D3, so haven't tried the 85mm f1.4 on the D3 yet to see if it makes a difference, but I suspect the older style screw AF of the 85mm will make it a slower lens on any body.
Neil, I'd have to argue that one....Having had both. If the 85L2'd af has to go any length at all its just not even close. If the distance is similar to the previous af lock then it may be true...but that thing take forever if you are changing distances by any significant amt...imo, anything more than 4-6ft of focus difference, the nikon version is right there even though it has no usm. That sluggishness to get to the new focus distance was the one buggaboo about that lens for me. Its such a huge chunk of glass to move.
Anyway, good to see you here!!! Lots of DWF'ers have migrated over here recently
brad
Plenty of DWF in the house, yo. Little busier here. I'm guessing its not as intimidating for some.
As for my Nikon primes, I love the 105VR and can recommend it highly, and don't want the ubiquitous 70-200 anymore. Tried the 85 f1.4 and it didn't come up to my 85L experience so I returned it. I find Nikon's prime selection to be lacking, but its not as much an issue since the 24-70 is THAT much better. Totally done buying if a 35 f1.8 comes out.
Oh, yeah I agree that focus is nailed with the Nikon, regardless of distance, backlighting, moving subjects, etc. But the 85L was more 3D to me when it did focus right.
Well, when I shot with canon I had the 85 f 1.2 and hated it. I don't find the mk2 much better and now am a big proponent of saving money. The 85 f 1.8 wont get you any "ooooh's and aaaahs" but imho is "the best solution for 85. In the nikon lineup I would get the 85 f 1.8 and spend the money on the f 2.0 105. I have found that (other than bragging rights) the 1.8's are actually better than the faster cousins and both suffer from a poor minimum focus distance.
