I've read about all of the positives for this lens. For those that have it & use it, I would appreciate hearing your opinions, especially about any negatives.
This question is for those who've used the classic Nikon manual focus lenses AND the Rokinon/Samyang/Vivitar - how damped is the focus ring? I've had the 50 1.2, 85 1.4, and 105 2.5 and they're all a dream to focus wide-open. Not so loose that it's impossible to fine tune, and not too slow that you can't adjust for moving targets. How does the Rokinon compare? I'm thinking of picking one up as a second 85mm lens. I've got the 85 1.4D but this would be nice little lens to play around with.
I have the Vivitar-branded version of the Rok85/1.4. Like Omega says, it will kick out some wicked CA wide open in high contrast and back lit situations, but otherwise it is an AWESOME portrait lens... if you can live with manual focus.
Having owned the Nikon 85/1.4 AFD, I'd say that image quality is comparable, and it would be redundant owning both.
Focus is well damped, but nothing special in terms of handling... it's a 1/4 turn around the barrel to focus from infinity to one meter, so you've gotta be precise at manual focus.
Good luck! Here are some recent samples of the 85/1.4 at f/1.4 on my D700:
Mine arrived Friday morning, mounted it and got 3 clicks on the my D3 and the aperture ring locked up, darn. Called Cameta and they are sending me a new 85mm with their apologies. Oh well it doesn't happen that often or at least has not to me and Cameta was instant in helping out, good people. Will look forward to using the new one next week, there have been some great shots posted here at FM with this little beauty.
JHerr wrote:
I didn't like the fact that you could only select the aperture in full stops.
I bought Rokinon 85/1.4 from BS forum here for my D700. It was in half stop increament for my lens. From 1.4 to 2 it was full stop then it was half stop increament from f 2 and on. I may have to double check tonight.
I have had Nikon 85/1.4 Ai-S and Zeiss ZF 85/1.4. Both are fine lenses. However, this Rokinon is better than Nikon wide open and is on par with Zeiss. Focusing ring is well damped like zeiss and very easy to focus with my D700. In all, I can leave with $250 less in my bank account but I can't part with this lens. It is mounted on the camera all the time.
I must be doing something wrong because I am having a hella of a time trying to focus at 1.4. It is either a hit or miss. At f/2 and up I can nail it with no problem. The lens is sharp, sharper than my 85 1.8d at wide open.
saelee wrote:
I must be doing something wrong because I am having a hella of a time trying to focus at 1.4. It is either a hit or miss. At f/2 and up I can nail it with no problem. The lens is sharp, sharper than my 85 1.8d at wide open.
Try it with a solid tripod. At f1.4 the DOF is so thin that your body rocking slightly back and forth will move in and out of focus.
Try it with a solid tripod. At f1.4 the DOF is so thin that your body rocking slightly back and forth will move in and out of focus.
+1... also remember: do not rely on the focus assist indicator light in your viewfinder... trust your eyes! I find that on my D2H, D300, and D700, the focus indicator light was accurate from f/2 and up, but below that was hit/miss.
^ That doesn't affect AF performance at all, does it? I'm thinking about doing the same with my D700, but I'm fighting the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" part of my brain
How are people dealing with the narrow DOF of the 1.4 while MF'ing on a camera that doesn't have these focus adjustments (I'm wondering for use with my D70)? It seems like the AF on the camera has a hard enough time, I'd be scared to try MF on the tiny little viewfinder.
corndog wrote:
Does the focus screen have an affect on AF?
No, not at all. But it does affect the metering.
I'm only using MF lenses on my D700 and sure it's not easy all of the time. But I think it's well worth it with all the great glass you can get for close to nothing.
DABNIK wrote:
I've read about all of the positives for this lens. For those that have it & use it, I would appreciate hearing your opinions, especially about any negatives.
TIA
Lens hood is crap.
Lens cap is outer-pinch, not center pinch.
Otherwise, great lens so far, though my focus feel doesn't seem as nice as my 105 f/2.5 AIS.
Get it, you will not regret it. 
