First impressions: Sigma 85mm 1.4 feels pretty solid, you notice the new coating right away with the rubberized feel. Overall it's bigger and "meatier" than the 85 1.4 AF-D; which is expected with the HSM. My feelings are that the Nikon 85/1.4D is a legend, so in order for me to replace it with the Sigma means that the Sigma needs to impress me! http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/5141133465_72a3555298_b.jpg
Test conditions: I used a tripod for this comparison shots. I simply mounted the different lens and kept all settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal point) are the same.
Disclaimer: I know the focus is not right AT ALL! It is not the lens, it is the shooter (me). It was cold and my infant baby was in her swing & awake so my wife wanted to be QUICK!
You can see how the lenses compare in it's background rendering. Both taken wide open
The Sigma's OOF areas are lower in contrast. (notice the dark vase in the background of the first images, there's more detail in the Sigma image. Also notice the dark plan 45degrees to the upper left of the in focus rose. The dark areas in the OOF region are lighter in the Sigma image).
The Sigma is a hair darker in light transmission. Look at the highlights along the white rail in the first image and on the rose petals in the second.
The Sigma's OOF areas have less defined transitions are somewhat smoother than the D's.
Interesting. Thank you very much for doing this comparison!
(PS I hadn't seen the people photos when I posted this)
overall, i see the Sigma has a much "warmer" tone. The AF is as expected, silent. I have not evaluated AF speed/tracking yet. Bokeh/rendering is pretty similar to me
i'll try to take better people samples with both lenses later... but it's surprising how the lenses were on a tripod with the sample focal point... and the Nikon shots seem more front focused... Will definitely take more pictures to make sure both are accurate with focus!
I like the punchy contrast of the Sigma. It is also looking slightly smoother in the OoF areas to me as well. Who knows about sharpness if you are having front focus issues, but on the last shot of the leaves you can see that not even the leaves slightly in the front are not more in focus than the main subject; doesn't rule out back focus, but I think the Sigma is just a tad sharper. I still wouldn't kick the Nikon out of bed. I also like the D look to the bokeh compared to the G, so I am happy to see the Sigma has that D silk as well.
Thanks for posting these, would love to see some bokeh comparisons with the D+Sigma at 2.8/4/5.6 if possible.
The Sigma certainly looks promising-I've now got to decide between this and the D as they're evenly priced. How's the manual focus override?
JR Magat wrote:
i'll try to take better people samples with both lenses later... but it's surprising how the lenses were on a tripod with the sample focal point... and the Nikon shots seem more front focused... Will definitely take more pictures to make sure both are accurate with focus!
this is what i noticed too , im not sure if this is why i see the sigma sharper. ill wait for other images you will post later on .
tnx for doing this JR.
APPEARS to me that the Siggy has better sharpness at least WO, and a bit more contrast punch as well, where the Nikkor seems to knock down the BG's a little more based purely on these test shots. The Nikkor isn't going to win MTF battles with other newer competitors and was never known to be critically razor sharp, but what it always had was that ability to render portraits smoothly and with real character. Will be interesting to see if it's a split decision once more tests and images are in.
dj dunzie wrote:
APPEARS to me that the Siggy has better sharpness at least WO, and a bit more contrast punch as well, where the Nikkor seems to knock down the BG's a little more based purely on these test shots. The Nikkor isn't going to win MTF battles with other newer competitors and was never known to be critically razor sharp, but what it always had was that ability to render portraits smoothly and with real character. Will be interesting to see if it's a split decision once more tests and images are in.
I think you are correct on all counts. The Nikon D was never known for it's sharpness wide open anyways, so it shouldn't be a surprise if the Sigma wins that one. I will try to get more samples today and will have to check both of these lenses to see which one's focus is off... it'd be interesting and ironic if the one that needs the fine tune adjustment was the Nikon and not the Sigma!
Cool stuff, JR! Congrats on the new lens. I'm looking forward to seeing some more examples of what the Sigma can do in high contrast situations (where I know that the 85/1.4 AFD would have extreme color fringing), as I'm considering picking one up in the distant future.
