Been waiting for the rumored 85 1.4 Z lens, but I have no reason to believe its imminent. The 85 1.8S is a great lens but I have never warmed up to its rendering style for portraits. I absolutely want a 1.4 aperture version that is very useful wide open. The adapted 85 1.4G and 105 1.4 have a lot more finesse for portraiture but I am grew tired of the FTZ bulk, switching etc and am considering options. The 85 1.2 of course is the premium option but a bit too heavy and expensive. As of today I am using the megadap for the Samyang 85 1.4 Series II and am quite happy. The eye focus accuracy and consistency is every bit as good as a native lens like the 85 1.8 S but some of the other AF detail can be a smidge behind.
Just tried the Viltrox 85 1.4 using the megadap and yes the AF has major problems adapted to Nikon through a Megadap ETZ21 Pro. But I took the opportunity to test 1.4 and 1.8 aperture settings against the Samyang which has really good results at 1.4 and only a small loss of resolution compared to the Nikon 85 1.8Z at 1.8. The Viltrox with a 77mm front element is the brighter lens, with little vignetting which is a weakness with the Samyang. But resolution at 1.4 was virtually identical. At 1.8 the Viltrox gets very close to the Nikon Z and edges out the Samyang ever so slightly.
This little excercise has confirmed my suspicion that the Samyang series II lenses are sleeper lenses that need more love. I love the light weight of the 85. Creamy bokeh that can rival the 85 1.4G but better resolution wide open. Note that the 85 1.4G is special as is the 105 1.4 but I am willing to compromise for portability, resolution, eye focus etc.I am also using the 35 1.4 Samyang with great results. Somehow Samyang eye focus for Sony also works great on Nikon through the Megadap. Who would have thought?
Would I buy the Viltrox if the AF was as good as the Samyang today? Not without seeing what Nikon comes up with. The other offerings are not appealing for one reason or another. I could stay with the Samyang long term if Nikon does not make a strong 85 1.4. On that point its going to be interesting to see where they land on this. The 35 and 50 1.4's have good but not great wide open performance (the 50 was a bit better). My guess in the end, that Nikon will match the Samyang at 1.4, but offer a bit faster AF which will be the reason to switch at that time (whenever that is.....). Nikon is not going to push aside the 85 1.8S for resolution but hopefully will tune the 85 1.4 for portraiture which would make it worthwhile. If you are doing general photography, landscapes etc the 85 1.8 is still the deal.
I loved my Nikon 105mm f/1.4E ED for portraiture, but the same thing. It was just too heavy and bulky with the FTZ. Wish they would re-create that lens for Z cameras as well. The 85mm f/1.2 is too expensive. Either the 85mm or 105mm in a high quality f/1.4 version would be excellent!
I’d be adapting the Sony 1.4 before doing anything in the OP. If the Nikon 1.4 ever shows up, it’s going to have the same middling rendering as the new 35 and 50.
The unpopular opinion of course is that 1.2, 1.4, and even 1.8 at 85mm sometimes can be too much bokeh for portraiture unless you have some self-control about working distance.
If a Z 105 f1.4 comes along it would be an S lens and would be priced about the same as the 85 f1.2 fitting into that family.
Scott’s right the 85 f1.4 if/when it shows up is going to be the non S version to wrap up that trio with all that comes with it. It won’t be competing in the 1.2/Plena space. There isn’t going to be a high end S 1.4 set. The 1.2’s fill that role now.
RoamingScott wrote:
I’d be adapting the Sony 1.4 before doing anything in the OP. If the Nikon 1.4 ever shows up, it’s going to have the same middling rendering as the new 35 and 50.
The unpopular opinion of course is that 1.2, 1.4, and even 1.8 at 85mm sometimes can be too much bokeh for portraiture unless you have some self-control about working distance.
I have considered that but my understanding the Sony GM I is slow. The GM II is too expensive. The Samyang can be had for under 500 used. Great deal. Just amazing how well the eye focus works on the 35, 85 and 135 on a Nikon Z7II and the megadap.
As to the future Nikon offering, I am not holding my breath quite honestly. The Viltrox at 600 is a pretty nice offering, with overall outstanding optics, but it will be interesting to see if they get a decent implementation of AF for the Z line. I would be surprised if Nikon could exceed their offering in the 600-750 retail space.
I love the 50/1.4Z (haven't messed with the 35), and expect I would also love a similar 85/1.4Z.
There are literally 85 options for 85mm primes on Z mount though, if you consider all the 1.8 and 2.0 Chinese lenses, maybe include the 75's as well, then the E-mount options that are effortless to adapt.
When looking for an 85mm prime, I've tried many of the ~F2 options over the years, and just never really stick with them. Too close to the 2.8 available on 70-200's that many photographers already have, or not really that much differentiation from the subject separation you can get with a 24-70/2.8, or 24-120/4.
I need a 1.4, otherwise I'll just stick with longer or shorter options.
