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 p.1 #14 · Nikon 85 1.8S vs 105 1.4E Results | |
I have both the 85 f1.8S and the 105 f1.4E. In reality, they are different lenses, different focal lengths for different scenarios. Yes, at a pinch you can probably use one or the other but if you need 85 you need 85 and if you need 105 then you need 105 or if you need f1.4 you need f1.4. However, I guess they are close enough in focal length to be sort of interchangeable. For the moment, I am keeping both because I think I can get more isolation with the 105 at the right distance to get enough DOF and great bokeh at that distance.
I did a bit of a fun "comparison" a few days ago, but these things can never be the perfect comparison as there are way too many variables. If I set them both wide open than that really isn't a fair test as the DOF of the 85 f1.8 is greater than that of the 105 and you really need to equalize the distance to get the same image size etc which throws other issues into the equation. Whatever the case, I really do not like to do comparisons as there are way too many variables and if you are off in focus by just a bit then the comparison is void and your test always gets holes picked in it by those with an agenda or think I have an agenda. Whatever the case, I have no reason to favour one lens over the other other than I *want* the 85 to be as good or better than the 105 as it means I can sell off the 105 and keep the lighter cheaper lens. However, I have yet to see that the 85 is actually better (or worse) they are just different.
I have some absolutely stunning shots of my grandson that I took with the 105, the light was perfect and the overall IQ is just incredible, but the bokeh is amongst the best I have ever seen, so smooth and creamy. The shots were at that perfect subject to camera distance and the background was also at the perfect distance where it all just came together for superb results. I used various apertures from f1.8 to f4. Unfortunately, I don't share photos or friends of family on the net and any tests I do and share are of inanimate objects. I really want the 85 to be able to replicate those photos and I hope to get to take similar photos in those "perfect" conditions.
Anyway, these were taken one afternoon when I was bored and just fooling around. This is in no way meant to be a test or a proper comparison, just a couple of photos comparing the 85 f1.8S @ f2.5 to the 105 f1.4E @ f3.2, adjusting the apertures to give similar DOF for each. Both shot in my computer room with afternoon light in through the window to the right. I tried to keep Tigger the same size in each photo and I did remarkably well considering I did these handheld. The WB for both seemed to change on the EVF even when I was taking them, you could see the difference with the lens change. The 85 f1.8S ended up with a much bluer WB than the 105. After I adjusted the WB of them both in post process in Capture One Pro, the histograms were very similar and differences may be attributed to the fact that the different perspective of 85 to 105 meant that there was slightly more background in the 85 shot. I altered exposure, WB, saturation and levels applying the same to one as the other. In other words, WB from the camera was different for each lens, but I set the same WB is post process the same for both and the histograms ended up almost identical albeit for the slight difference in the amount of background and thus the very slight difference in each color channel in the histogram.
These are near the minimum focus distance, *about* 1.4mts for the 105 and *about* 1.1mts for the 85. At this distance they are very similar, not seeing a clear advantage of one over the other as far as sharpness of bokeh or CA, but then CA is automatically corrected via Capture One and the Nikon lens correction algorithms that they use.
The wall behind Tigger is only about 200mm (8-9") behind him so, this will have a bearing on how the bokeh will look. I do believe that Nikon would design each lens to have optimal bokeh (within the limits of lens design) to be best at certain camera to subject distances and background distances depending on the focal length and the aperture.
I focused on the same spot, the closest eye and thus the DOF etc should be almost identical, which it appears to be.
This was also posted in the 85 f1.8S image thread.
Anyway, all a bit of fun.
Z7 + 85 f1.8S, 1/50s f/2.5 at 85.0mm iso64
Z7 + 105 f1.4E, 1/30s f/3.2 at 105.0mm iso64
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