Hardcore wrote:
Fat bike or new Z6 mirrorless? Fat bike won.
Terrific, almost surreal, 3D images.
I am going to Thailand a week from tomorrow, and am planning on purchasing only my 3rd AF Nikkor lens (everything else I own is MF Zeiss or Voigtländer).
I am torn between purchasing this, the 58mm f/1.4G, and the Nikkor 28mm f/1.4E. Although I am adverse to purchasing "G" lenses in this day and age, by all accounts (and images!) this is a superb portrait (and, sometimes, environment) lens.
My girlfriend is Thai, and this is the first time I am going to her country, to meet her parents, as well as childhood friends. The question thus becomes, "Do I want to capture portraits, or portraits + the background environment?"
With "Black Friday" 2 days off, I guess my decision will depend on which lens is afforded the biggest discount during this strategic window (), but they are both fabulous lenses.
Your terrific images made my decision more difficult
JohnK007 wrote:
Terrific, almost surreal, 3D images.
I am going to Thailand a week from tomorrow, and am planning on purchasing only my 3rd AF Nikkor lens (everything else I own is MF Zeiss or Voigtländer).
I am torn between purchasing this, the 58mm f/1.4G, and the Nikkor 28mm f/1.4E. Although I am adverse to purchasing "G" lenses in this day and age, by all accounts (and images!) this is a superb portrait (and, sometimes, environment) lens.
My girlfriend is Thai, and this is the first time I am going to her country, to meet her parents, as well as childhood friends. The question thus becomes, "Do I want to capture portraits, or portraits + the background environment?"
With "Black Friday" 2 days off, I guess my decision will depend on which lens is afforded the biggest discount during this strategic window (), but they are both fabulous lenses.
Your terrific images made my decision more difficult ...Show more →
Thanks John! Ya, that is a tough decision. IMO you really can't go wrong between either of those lenses. The 28mm such a fantastic lens and it probably suits the shooting style of more people. It just works for a wider variety of shots but falls short of the 58mm if you want that subject isolation with terrific bokeh. (not that the 28mm is bad, just not quite as good imo)
End result is that the 28mm and 58mm belong together. Buy them both
Hardcore wrote:
Thanks John! Ya, that is a tough decision. IMO you really can't go wrong between either of those lenses. The 28mm such a fantastic lens and it probably suits the shooting style of more people. It just works for a wider variety of shots but falls short of the 58mm if you want that subject isolation with terrific bokeh. (not that the 28mm is bad, just not quite as good imo)
End result is that the 28mm and 58mm belong together. Buy them both
Great shots Corey! I agree having the 58/1.4G and 28/1.4E are a superb combo having just come back from Spain for 4 weeks. I did not feel that I was missing any lenses. Surprisingly the 28E was the most used yet I am a 50/58 shooter
JohnK007 wrote:
I am going to Thailand a week from tomorrow, and am planning on purchasing only my 3rd AF Nikkor lens (everything else I own is MF Zeiss or Voigtländer).
I am torn between purchasing this, the 58mm f/1.4G, and the Nikkor 28mm f/1.4E. Although I am adverse to purchasing "G" lenses in this day and age, by all accounts (and images!) this is a superb portrait (and, sometimes, environment) lens.
Tough decision... I'd say for a trip to Thailand the 28E is the more versatile choice, and its rendering is just stellar. That said, the 58G is just a perfect portrait lens with a slightly dreamy look and beautiful bokeh wide open, and razor sharp from f/2 on, although not as sharp as the 28E (from what I gather, I don't own that one).
What the others said - basically you need them both. Or rather decide on what you have in MF - if you have something in the 24-35mm range in manual focus and use that for the wider shots, the 58G might fill a gap you don't have. Just be aware that it's a tricky lens to shoot wide open and needs some time getting used to (unless you use it on mirrorless ), I guess the 28E should be better behaved in that department.
You guys are killin' me. Both? Why am I not surprised as this counsel?
Fellas, I'm trying to save-up for retirement, but I keep buying cameras and lenses ... and, fortunately (or, unfortunately, ) I agree with your collective advice.
Hey, at least if retirement isn't an option, I can be a modern-day John Muir, a pauper-traveler, who can take exquisite images the world over ... but who will have to borrow someone else's electrical outlets to download and process my images
Hardcore wrote:
Fat bike or new Z6 mirrorless? Fat bike won.
Great way to show off the 58mm, nice bike! How deep of snow will the fat bike continue to roll in?
I just got done shooting for the past few days with the 105 1.4E and Sigma 135 ART and felt they were too long for most situations but love the look when I did have the distance, now I'm seriously considering checking out the 58. This thread is huge and I haven't had time to go through it all, but curious how many are shooting the 58 with a D500 for an effective 87mm f/1.4, does the crop sensor cut too much of the "look" of the 58 away?
JohnK007 wrote:
You guys are killin' me. Both? Why am I not surprised as this counsel?
Fellas, I'm trying to save-up for retirement, but I keep buying cameras and lenses ... and, fortunately (or, unfortunately, ) I agree with your collective advice.
Hey, at least if retirement isn't an option, I can be a modern-day John Muir, a pauper-traveler, who can take exquisite images the world over ... but who will have to borrow someone else's electrical outlets to download and process my images
wjmeyer wrote:
Great way to show off the 58mm, nice bike! How deep of snow will the fat bike continue to roll in?
Thanks, I just got it a couple of days ago. We have about a foot of snow on the level. On the frozen lakes and ponds there is about 4 inches. With a hard surface under it, I'm willing to bet you can push through 6 inches of fresh snow no problem. Hard packed snow is a different beast. The tires are designed to float on top of hard packed trails like the one I ride on. I'm only running about 4-5lbs of air pressure in the tires for added floatation and grip on the snow packed trails. If you break through the top, you're done
It's like driving a monster truck. I love it and a great workout for both me and the pup!
Hardcore wrote:
Thanks, I just got it a couple of days ago. We have about a foot of snow on the level. On the frozen lakes and ponds there is about 4 inches. With a hard surface under it, I'm willing to bet you can push through 6 inches of fresh snow no problem. Hard packed snow is a different beast. The tires are designed to float on top of hard packed trails like the one I ride on. I'm only running about 4-5lbs of air pressure in the tires for added floatation and grip on the snow packed trails. If you break through the top, you're done
It's like driving a monster truck. I love it and a great workout for both me and the pup!...Show more →
That's great, I keep seeing more and more of the fat tire bikes around and was curious how well they did in the snow, sounds like a lot of fun! Loved the shot with you and your pup, Aussie? We have a male Aussie, was supposed to be a mini but he's over 50lbs, so not so mini Not sure if he'd stay nearby without a leash though, would love to get him out more and that might be the way to do it.
The shot of you and the pup is great, that 58 really looks nice, just ordered one and will have to see how I like it. Just finished up testing out the 105 and love the look but felt it was a little too much FL for my use, not sure, maybe keep both
Bohemien wrote:
Or rather decide on what you have in MF - if you have something in the 24-35mm range in manual focus and use that for the wider shots, the 58G might fill a gap you don't have.
Excellent counsel. I have the Zeiss 21mm and 25mm, but just sold an old 55mm SC Auto f/1.2, so I need a portrait lens more than a mid-wide.
My 58G should be delivered before I leave at the end of next week
Bohemien wrote:
Just be aware that it's a tricky lens to shoot wide open and needs some time getting used to (unless you use it on mirrorless ), I guess the 28E should be better behaved in that department.
Thanks for the tip, but I am well used to shooting the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S, the Nikkor 55mm SC f/1.2, and the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II S ... all fast MF lenses with incredibly-thin DOF ... so an AF 58mm f/1.4 oughtta be a piece of cake
Bohemien wrote:
Enjoy Thailand, it's a fascinating country!
Markus
webmstrk9 wrote:
You need the 1.4 trinity, 28e, 58e, and 105e.
Definitely the "travel trio."
I have removed the 105E from my wishlist, though, as I sold my even sharper, and better, Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO Sonnar, as it's just not a focal length I use much.
When I do need that length, I use my Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 APO-Macro. Not quite as fast, but definitely has the buttery-smooth bokeh and 3D affect when needed.
Have to agree on all the nice words abount the 28E, and will probably get it "eventually" ... but for now the 58mm f/1.4G fills the "portrait" need I'm missing at the moment. It's not as sharp as any of those mentioned, but the character and rendering seem so wonderful, it has a special impact. I am getting it specifically for shots of my girlfriend, with her friends, family, etc.
I think she and her family will be tickled with the results of this unique lens mated to the D850 ... if the excellent photos shared by all the others are any indication
I have removed the 105E from my wishlist, though, as I sold my even sharper, and better, Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO Sonnar, as it's just not a focal length I use much.
When I do need that length, I use my Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 APO-Macro. Not quite as fast, but definitely has the buttery-smooth bokeh and 3D affect when needed.
Have to agree on all the nice words abount the 28E, and will probably get it "eventually" ... but for now the 58mm f/1.4G fills the "portrait" need I'm missing at the moment. It's not as sharp as any of those mentioned, but the character and rendering seem so wonderful, it has a special impact. I am getting it specifically for shots of my girlfriend, with her friends, family, etc.
I think she and her family will be tickled with the results of this unique lens mated to the D850 ... if the excellent photos shared by all the others are any indication ...Show more →
Congratulations on the 58G Do spend time calibrating and practicing taking shots from f/1.4 to f/2.8. It is a superb lens but often new comers expect it to be perfectly calibrated and I suspect this is why it is a love/hate relationship. It is quirkish and I have had 3 copies and the fine tune AF ranged from +12 to +18. This is very normal with the 58G as mentioned by my Nikon service manager. Have fun as it is an awesome lens !!!
JohnK007 wrote:
Thanks for the tip, but I am well used to shooting the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S, the Nikkor 55mm SC f/1.2, and the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II S ... all fast MF lenses with incredibly-thin DOF ... so an AF 58mm f/1.4 oughtta be a piece of cake
What Charles wrote above is what I meant-the 58G is something special in rendering, but also in the challenge it poses to focusing, it's not only about thin DOF. Make sure to get used to the lens at least a bit before you leave for Thailand. In addition to what Charles wrote, the 58G has a curved plane of focus (meaning that if its focused using a center focus point, not everything in that plane will be in focus) , and will behave differently when focused on near or far subjects. That's extremely tricky wide open, and gets better when stopping down-from f/2 on, the lens is crazy sharp while still retaining a gorgeous rendering. It's my most used lens at the time being.
Of course, I have been using the 58G with the D600 over the past years, the experience may be better with more modern AF systems like the D850, and should be something completely different on mirrorless. On the D600, I've given up using anything other than the central focus point with this lens, and am using live view when shooting portraits. Still, mind, I'm loving the lens to death and using it for 90% of my paid portraits. Just make sure you get to know its characteristics a bit before using it for your valuable holiday memories - but then you'll love it, I'm sure.
), but they are both fabulous lenses.
Or rather decide on what you have in MF - if you have something in the 24-35mm range in manual focus and use that for the wider shots, the 58G might fill a gap you don't have. Just be aware that it's a tricky lens to shoot wide open and needs some time getting used to (unless you use it on mirrorless 
