Tim Ashton wrote:
And a warning to all
Never speak to Nikt if you are susceptable to NAS
I found a virtually new 85 f1.8 and rang him for advice
Got home and borrowed a couple of the neigbours kids to experiment
Am very taken with Aiden's (the local tearaway who is slipping a worm down his sisters shirt) espression and absolutely stoked over the lens's sharpness and bokeh
Tim, the 85/1.8 is terrific. My copy is remarkably sharp, on par with anything I've used. I still wonder sometimes why I moved up to the 85/1.4. My battered copy of the 1.8 is just excellent, soft only wide open and wickedly sharp from about 2.5 on.
Nice job keeping the light from flaring too much . If I may say so, the first portrait you posted is how I think portraits should be. Sharp, but also with just the right level of softness. Her freckles lend her face some depth as well.