BLLX wrote:
Did a quick test shot of my daughter. It seems softer than the AF-D version @1.4
I really like the rendering - but need to do some more testing
Yes Morten, I have both lenses as well, and my impression is that the (larger/heavier) AF-D version is indeed a bit sharper wide-open, but the OOF rendering of the Ai-S lens is, to use a subjective term, creamier. They did used to call the 85/1.4 Ai-S "The Cream Machine". Personally, I'm not the biggest 85mm fan, but the 85/1.4 AF-D was my very first AF lens as I got a good deal on one. I now prefer shooting with my 28/1.4 AF-D for AF purposes, and then using MF lenses for mid-telephoto shots. I did pick up a 105/2 DC lens which I have yet to really use in anger, so looking forward to seeing if that is a good experience, but many folk claiming its AF is not so great.
If I was only going to keep one of my 85mm lenses, it would probably be the Ai-S one as it is mechanically lovely, a bit smaller, and I didn't find the AF-D lens to really help me with low-light focusing to the degree I had hoped for a fast mid-telephoto.
