p.2 #1 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
Thanks for the reply everyone. I am not too concern with the af speed or having it razor sharp. I really like the creamy background of the 1.4. I think I may have to take the plung and just buy it.
p.2 #2 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
rubberband wrote:
The only thing that sucks about the 1.4 is the focus speed. It's nothing like as quick to AF as the 1.8. Not a big deal for most use, but it's my only regret from selling the 1.8 and buying the 1.4 - makes shooting indoor sports more difficult despite the wider aperture.
Slap it on an F5 or D3 and believe me, it will focus as quickly as you want.
p.2 #4 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
Get the 1.8 to use now, save up for the 1.4, and get the shots now while you're saving for the 1.4. Keep them both, and wait six months to see if you want to sell one or the other off.
p.2 #5 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
Heck I even went cheaper and got the Korean 85/1.4. Its manual focus but for just as an experimental tool it's output has more than pleased the models.
Im anything but a pro, though. I just happen to be lucky enough to have some extra cash and sink it into a hobby. If I was making money off of it I would invest in an AF Nikkor.
p.2 #6 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
I will add in that I have the 85 1.8 and am very happy with it. I could not honestly justify owning the 1.4 though many on here can and will tell you it is worth the extra money. I personally cannot comment on that aspect, however I will say for what I use the 1.8 for it serves me perfectly.
p.2 #7 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
saelee wrote:
Thanks for the reply everyone. I am not too concern with the af speed or having it razor sharp. I really like the creamy background of the 1.4. I think I may have to take the plung and just buy it.
Have you considered the Samyang 85/1.4? The bokeh is smoother than with the Nikkors and it's very sharp wide open. And cheap of course.
p.2 #9 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
It's funny how being laid off or having your business fail can make something that in better times seemed so essential unnecessary and a source of paying the bills.
The value of the 1.4 versus 1.8 will depend on your financial situation. Do you prefer eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to prime rib for lunch? Depends how hungry you are and how much money is in your pocket.
p.2 #10 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
If you have to ask the question, IMHO you don't really know what you need, and should get the 1.8 version until you do.
Read Thom Hogan's comments about these 2 lenses. I recall him saying the 1.8 is actually sharper than the 1.4 at similar wide aperatures. Thus, if your doing low light photography and detail is important the 1.8 is the way to go. The 1.8 also focuses faster, so if you are doing indoor sports the 1.8 is the way to go. If you are shooting at smaller aperatures the sharpness is about the same, so it's a draw for landscape and general use.
The only places the 1.4 beats the 1.8 is in build quality and out of focus blur, which for some people is important and worth paying an extra $800. I'm not one of those persons.
BTW, the vast majority (99%+) of people who look at your photos will never notice the out of focus blur, even if you point it out to them. Instead they will give you that weird look that geeks talking about any technical topic always get. They will notice the in-focus part of what's in the center of your frame.
Factor in that the 1.4 version will likely be replaced soon (and thus its resale value will tank), and I think it's a no-brainer to go for the 1.8.
p.2 #11 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
i had the 1.8 and 1.4. didn't like the bokeh on the 1.8 unless there was a huge distance between the subject and the background, even wide open. the 1.4 is much better in that respect. if i can stop down and the subject isn't moving much or i can shoot from a tripod, the Zeiss is noticeably sharper than either at all apertures.
Herb...
saelee wrote:
Thanks for the reply everyone. I am not too concern with the af speed or having it razor sharp. I really like the creamy background of the 1.4. I think I may have to take the plung and just buy it.
p.2 #12 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
the people who do notice and will pay extra for it happen to be my market. that is why for portrait work (as opposed to fine art work) i continue to shoot with my Pentax Limiteds over shooting with the 85/1.4's available in Nikon mount. the people who want me to shoot them see the difference and it matters to them.
Herb...
rkinz wrote:
BTW, the vast majority (99%+) of people who look at your photos will never notice the out of focus blur, even if you point it out to them. Instead they will give you that weird look that geeks talking about any technical topic always get. They will notice the in-focus part of what's in the center of your frame.
p.2 #14 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
Rent them both, take a bunch of picks and print them mix them up and see if you can tell which ones came from where, if you can then get the 1.4. I'm thinking you won't be able too with out really studying them with a mag glass.
You can buy the 1.8 and another lens for the cost of the 1.4 or the 1.8 and a trip somewhere to shoot/have fun.
For as little as I use the 85 I'm kinda glad I got a used 1.8 on the cheap instead of a new 1.4.
p.2 #15 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
Just got my used 180 f2.8D IF ED today I paid £330 for my 85 1.8D new, and £418 for the used Nikkor 180 f2.8 AF-D. That's £748. A new 85 1.4 would cost me £900, and a used one would cost me £825.
p.2 #16 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
And remember that the DOF at f/1.4 is really, really, really thin for many shots. I've had very little chance to shoot the 85/1.4, but I definitely had significant challenges getting even two people standing right next to each other to both come out sharp. Very wide apertures need some getting-used-to, just like long lenses do, even if you're already skilled at other techniques.
Is this a good or a bad thing? Depends on you. I'm probably not going to get an 85/1.4 for a couple of years, if then... other things (14-24, filter sets, lighting, tripods, travel money to go take pictures, etc.) all get higher priority. But your choice may be different. If in doubt, rent for a couple of days and give it a serious workout. But I have to agree with the "if you have to ask, you shouldn't spend the money" thoughts... every time I buy something without being crystal clear on why I want it and why it's a good purchase, I end up finding it's not.
p.2 #18 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
^ It really depends on what you're using it for... in my experience with the 85/1.4 AF-D, I found it to be extremely fast, even on my D90, and ludicrously fast on my D2H. Then again, I primarily shoot portraits and street candids, so my standards are different than a dedicated sports shooter!
p.2 #19 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
On a D700 I'd rather have the 135/2 DC lens for portraiture. I prefer longer focal lenses for portraits. I think 85mm is a great focal length on an APS-C sensor but a little too wide for my tastes with a full frame camera.
p.2 #20 · Would I regret buying the 85mm 1.8D instead of the 1.4?
when i am shooting my 85/1.4, i am concentrating on which part of a single eye comes out sharp. with two people, i don't shoot at f1.4. f5.6 or f8 maybe.
Herb...
Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
And remember that the DOF at f/1.4 is really, really, really thin for many shots. I've had very little chance to shoot the 85/1.4, but I definitely had significant challenges getting even two people standing right next to each other to both come out sharp.
I paid £330 for my 85 1.8D new, and £418 for the used Nikkor 180 f2.8 AF-D. That's £748. A new 85 1.4 would cost me £900, and a used one would cost me £825. 