Very happy with this lens so far. Very sharp wide open, if your subject is within the focus plane.
Shot some quick Astro stuff, on a static tripod (no drive). I am in suburban Southern California in pretty miserable light pollution and some high clouds tonight. Better dark sky conditions would show more stars in the corners with coma/astigmatism than you are seeing here. However, I am pretty happy with how these came out. F/1.2 looks quite good if you are not pixel peeping in the corners. Stopping down improves things.
I included the second image of the moon as an example of flare supression and lack of chromatic aberration. I was surprised at seeing detail in the dark side of the moon area in this image with the bright side so blown out.
Overall image
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens85mmf/1.21s400 ISO0.0 EV
Upper right corner, 100% crop, f/1.2
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens85mmf/1.21s400 ISO0.0 EV
Upper right corner, 100% crop, f/1.6
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens85mmf/1.62s400 ISO0.0 EV
Upper right corner, 100% crop, f/2
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens85mmf/2.03s400 ISO0.0 EV
Overall image
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens85mmf/1.21/4s400 ISO0.0 EV
One more pic from the center-right edge of the first pic in my previous post. There is still coma/astigmatism here as well, but minimal. I am fairly impressed, given this is at 100%.
Center right edge, 100% crop
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens85mmf/1.21s400 ISO0.0 EV
I need to get used to it and do a shoot with my lighting gear with it, but I think I'm going to dig this lens. Feels better balanced than my 105 1.4 with an FTZ and seems to focus quicker. I already got a complaint on FB about someone not liking the bokeh, but that's their problem. I definitely see this getting heavy candid portrait use during graduation season. SiMuMe wrote:
Looking good. I know you don't mess around. Are you happy with it?
JadedWriter wrote:
I need to get used to it and do a shoot with my lighting gear with it, but I think I'm going to dig this lens. Feels better balanced than my 105 1.4 with an FTZ and seems to focus quicker. I already got a complaint on FB about someone not liking the bokeh, but that's their problem. I definitely see this getting heavy candid portrait use during graduation season.
That's great. I couldn't miss that these were your shots as I was scrolling down but looking at them my first thought was that 105mm may never get mounted on Z9 again. I can easily see it being a difficult choice picking one over the other in terms of final output. Handling and ergonomics is another matter that'll be down to personal preference.
I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, but I use my DSLR stuff as backup gear so I can't exactly gut that set up entirely. I used the 105 to cover a freelance event last week, so it's definitely still getting used. The 85 is definitely going to be used for candid portraits during graduations though. The focal length really feels better geared for that unless I really need the 105 reach, but I don't see myself packing both in the same bag. SiMuMe wrote:
That's great. I couldn't miss that these were your shots as I was scrolling down but looking at them my first thought was that 105mm may never get mounted on Z9 again. I can easily see it being a difficult choice picking one over the other in terms of final output. Handling and ergonomics is another matter that'll be down to personal preference.
How would you compare it to the 50 f1.2 S? I heard somewhere that the 50 is a little quicker to focus, although the 85 is no slouch. Do you have an overall preference of one over the other?
I’m trying to hold off the 85 for a fast 105. I feel the 105 would compliment my 50 better.
This all really just depends on what you're doing. So far I like both. I use the 105 macro for back drop stuff if I need 105. I usually shoot this stuff with the 50, used the 85 today as well and I feel like it did an excellent job of complimenting the 50 because the 105 working distance can get a little constricting. I'll basically sus out every thing I need to with this lens after a few events and after the graduation season with it. So far it doesn't feel as sharp as the 105 macro, but at that point it's kind of splitting hairs, but I need to take it out some more. Just glad to have something fully native at this aperture and focal length. Personally I'm waiting for the 135 1.8S since I think that would really gap nicely between the 50, 85 and 105. Just really depends on the shoot and the shot you're trying to get. All of this to me just feels situational and not one size fits all. Long story short, I'm happy with it so far. If I show up in here ranting about the thing like I did with the 58 1.4 I bought and subsequently traded in for this you can make your judgment based on that. GSaleh wrote:
How would you compare it to the 50 f1.2 S? I heard somewhere that the 50 is a little quicker to focus, although the 85 is no slouch. Do you have an overall preference of one over the other?
I’m trying to hold off the 85 for a fast 105. I feel the 105 would compliment my 50 better.
GSaleh wrote:
How would you compare it to the 50 f1.2 S? I heard somewhere that the 50 is a little quicker to focus, although the 85 is no slouch. Do you have an overall preference of one over the other?
I’m trying to hold off the 85 for a fast 105. I feel the 105 would compliment my 50 better.
My early tests indicate the exact opposite. On the Z9 the 85mm f1.2 S seems to focus quite a bit faster than the 50mm f1.2 S which is my most used lens.
This makes sense and is consistent with the design focus of the 85mm f1.2 S that has adopted 2 focusing group for the sole purpose of better AF performance. The whole design and structure of the lens was thought out from the need to focus fast. This is the main difference with the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 btw.
I am talking about eye AF tracking on moving human subjects. Both lenses are perfect on static humans of course.
Worked two events with the 85 1.2. When it comes to whether I'd use the 50 1.2 or the 85 1.2 or which I prefer the answer is both. They compliment each other really well for event work. 50 for wider, 85 for slightly tighter, you can shoot the Z9 in DX mode really easily if you need more reach. It's a great combo.
Great to see these images so far. I also noticed a weirdly large number of these lenses for sale in the buy and sell board already. I’d be curious about the motivations behind all of these so early.
BSPhotog wrote:
Great to see these images so far. I also noticed a weirdly large number of these lenses for sale in the buy and sell board already. I’d be curious about the motivations behind all of these so early.
i understand why...some simply can't handle it. i have to have gloves on when i shoot with this lens...otherwise i get nicks and cuts... it's that sharp.
I bought the lens with 1000% intentions of using it, I have no idea what the people on the buy and sell board bought this for. Took this thing to the park and I might actually like this more than the 105 1.4 and that's a lens I have had for years. This lens is just easier to use from a working distance perspective. BSPhotog wrote:
Great to see these images so far. I also noticed a weirdly large number of these lenses for sale in the buy and sell board already. I’d be curious about the motivations behind all of these so early.
Lol. I see two FS. People with NPS probably think the lens would be sold out for quite awhile and got their orders in.
It’s a keeper for me. Love 85mm.
I have a photo dump to put in here when it's finally done uploading to Flickr. I like this more than my 105 1.4. this is me wrote:
Lol. I see two FS. People with NPS probably think the lens would be sold out for quite awhile and got their orders in.
It’s a keeper for me. Love 85mm.
I currently have two of these. I pre-ordered back in February when announced. I received my first one last week but was having issues getting it to focus about 50% of the time and it was slow when it did focus. All the reviews I saw said focus was pretty fast. So Nikon still had them in stock so I ordered another one and when it arrived I could tell there is definitely something wrong with the first lens, the second one has no problems focusing, it will focus much faster and even closer than the first one. Pretty much the same as my 50/1.2. The first one is going back, will keep the second one for sure.
