Yes, for 85mm and 127.5mm (DX) prime lens street and urban landscape photography I suggest bringing one camera one lens on a walkabout in your familiar neighborhood or city for a discovery of new perspective, composition and photographic experience on the same subjects.
Thanks Wim, I have just purchased this lens and waiting for delivery. I was excited earlier, but now after watching your review I am definitely keeping an eye out for the postman.
A nice review thanks. Yes It's a lovely lens that gets the balance between sharpness and gentle render about right. It's great stopped down for landscapes, I shoot detail in the landscape with 200, 300 and even 400mm sometimes.
I think 85 mm is a wonderful landscape lens. First I used it ironically, but quickly noticed it gets me images which can be quite interesting. (Currently I use AF 85 mm 1.8, non-D).
thanks for your review, I used to own the 85 f/1.8 but I sold it... that too was a good lens I must say. I now have a 1.4 D, what an amazing optic that is but wouldn't mind owning the one you reviewed here. Indeed what a look and feel this lens has!
I have the Nikon D800, D850 and Z9 cameras I do a lot of portrait work with off-camera flash and I use the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G lens (and sometimes the Nikon 135 f/2 DC lens) with the D800 as I think this combination works well together. By the way I also have the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G which isn't that far behind the 85mm f/1.4G
Wim, thank you for your video you are absolutely right about the application of the 85mm FX / eqv 127.50mm DX for street, urban architectural and landscape photography. For street photography the short telephoto 75-90mm and 100-135mm focal lengths and perspectives has always been overlooked by the photographic community.
I have one and think it is marvellous too with a delicious rendition of skin tones, subject isolation, and sharpness, although CA can definitely be a problem under direct sun backlighting. Like you, I think it should be considered for other duties besides portraits and intend to try it for my next landscape shoot. Others have taken up the cause of 85mm for landscapes I notice, so it's no longer some kind of fanciful notion but a genuine aesthetically and technically attractive alternative perspective. I'll be experimenting with my 105 and 135 too, both of which promise great results, the latter a Sigma. Nice understated presentation btw. Tschuss.
Thanks for your comment. In addition to the Nikon D500, I also have a D810. I used the D810 to photograph the portraits, among other things. Indeed, the 85mm also shines when shooting landscapes, definitely recommended! Have a nice day.
The new 85mm f1.4 is stunning, and so far, only used for action and landscapes. Looking forward to some street photography portraits, which is the main reason I bought it.
When you place a full frame lens on a DX camera, nothing changes to the lens. Only the field of view changes. The smaller sensor gives you a crop of the image that is projected. You can simply check this yourself by using both an FX and a DX with the same lens. When you crop the FX 1.5x you get exactly the same image as the DX camera, even with the same depth of field.
@@WimBals right, only the field of view changes. But if one expresses field of view in 135-format equivalent focal length, one has to adjust the equivlanent aperture, as true 127 mm 1.4 would have much shallower depth of field. 85 mm 1.4 on DX can be viewed as the same, but 1.5x cropped, or equivalent to 127 mm f/2.1. (Light metering of course still uses 1.4, as it is a 1.4 lens.) Smartphone manufacturers sadly like to give equivalent focal length, but physical and not equivalent aperture. I would say, either-or.
You needva 24-70 or 70-200 2.8 . My primes have been dumped in a bag somewhere in here , and a 58mm 1.4 (has gold ring) keeping the 85mm company , zooms have superceded these old squinters these days
I have the ais version and love it, I’m considering after your excellent review of the 58/1.4 (palindrom) to acquire the 58 because of the skin reproduction but came to my mind the idea that maybe the 85 and 58 are similar in that regard maybe you can answer me, thanks for your work and answers
Hi Aryan, The Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G and AF-S 58mm f/1.4G give, for the most part, a similar rendering. Personally, I like the 50-60mm focal length more for portraits than 85mm. The 50-60mm focal length gives more dimensionality to a portrait, compared to 85mm that seems flattened. Of course that is a personal and artistic taste. You might also consider the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F/1.4 SLII and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART in the 50-60mm focal length.
The Nikon weighs 595 grams compared to the Sigma 1130 grams. Something to keep in mind if you do wedding photography! I personally have not had the Sigma and have not tested it, but I can say that the Nikon gives a lot of quality and gives a nice rendering of the skin.
That's true, a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 art lens could have this CA under control much better. It's just a shame that the Sigma lenses have a too clinical look in my opinion.
@@WimBals Interesting you feel Sigmas look clinical. If anything, I’d say their Art series lenses err rather too far on the side of artistic/painterly rendering for my taste, giving up that final degree of sharpness and/or contrast for the sake of a “prettier” overall image. Granted, the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G goes even farther with this trade off…
Optically the 'g' lenses pretty much seem better across the board. But the build quality really took a dump compared to their older lenses. I also would never part with my 85 f/1.4 d lens. It's a joy to use and a piece of manufacturing art, pre-plastic!
Do you use a 85mm lens? Share your story in the comments 😉.
Yes, for 85mm and 127.5mm (DX) prime lens street and urban landscape photography I suggest bringing one camera one lens on a walkabout in your familiar neighborhood or city for a discovery of new perspective, composition and photographic experience on the same subjects.
I just ordered the 85mm f/1.4G for a D7500. I can't wait to start using this.
Thanks Wim, I have just purchased this lens and waiting for delivery. I was excited earlier, but now after watching your review I am definitely keeping an eye out for the postman.
Good luck with it.
A nice review thanks. Yes It's a lovely lens that gets the balance between sharpness and gentle render about right. It's great stopped down for landscapes, I shoot detail in the landscape with 200, 300 and even 400mm sometimes.
Thanks for your reply!
I think 85 mm is a wonderful landscape lens. First I used it ironically, but quickly noticed it gets me images which can be quite interesting. (Currently I use AF 85 mm 1.8, non-D).
Longer focal lengths are certainly interesting in landscape photography.
I've been using this lens for over 10 years now. Love it a lot, mainly for people though. Will try to shoot other things as well 🤓
This lens is a marvel🤩
thanks for your review, I used to own the 85 f/1.8 but I sold it... that too was a good lens I must say. I now have a 1.4 D, what an amazing optic that is but wouldn't mind owning the one you reviewed here. Indeed what a look and feel this lens has!
Even the 1.4D is a stellar lens.
I have the Nikon D800, D850 and Z9 cameras I do a lot of portrait work with off-camera flash and I use the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G lens (and sometimes the Nikon 135 f/2 DC lens) with the D800 as I think this combination works well together. By the way I also have the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G which isn't that far behind the 85mm f/1.4G
Nice collection you have Phil. Thanks for sharing.
Wim, thank you for your video you are absolutely right about the application of the 85mm FX / eqv 127.50mm DX for street, urban architectural and landscape photography. For street photography the short telephoto 75-90mm and 100-135mm focal lengths and perspectives has always been overlooked by the photographic community.
Definitely, the 85mm has its right to exist in these areas.
Amazing Paintings. Respect.
Thanks Hector!
I chose 58mm over this and loved that, I would pick 105mm 1.4 over this to replace 70-200.
The 58mm shows more character imho.
I have one and think it is marvellous too with a delicious rendition of skin tones, subject isolation, and sharpness, although CA can definitely be a problem under direct sun backlighting. Like you, I think it should be considered for other duties besides portraits and intend to try it for my next landscape shoot. Others have taken up the cause of 85mm for landscapes I notice, so it's no longer some kind of fanciful notion but a genuine aesthetically and technically attractive alternative perspective. I'll be experimenting with my 105 and 135 too, both of which promise great results, the latter a Sigma.
Nice understated presentation btw. Tschuss.
Thanks for your comment. In addition to the Nikon D500, I also have a D810. I used the D810 to photograph the portraits, among other things.
Indeed, the 85mm also shines when shooting landscapes, definitely recommended!
Have a nice day.
The new 85mm f1.4 is stunning, and so far, only used for action and landscapes. Looking forward to some street photography portraits, which is the main reason I bought it.
Great 👍
Great video , thanks Wim.
Thanks Pierre.
if you convert focal lenght to DX, aperture should also be converted, which would be 127 mm f/2.1.
When you place a full frame lens on a DX camera, nothing changes to the lens.
Only the field of view changes.
The smaller sensor gives you a crop of the image that is projected.
You can simply check this yourself by using both an FX and a DX with the same lens.
When you crop the FX 1.5x you get exactly the same image as the DX camera, even with the same depth of field.
@@WimBals right, only the field of view changes. But if one expresses field of view in 135-format equivalent focal length, one has to adjust the equivlanent aperture, as true 127 mm 1.4 would have much shallower depth of field. 85 mm 1.4 on DX can be viewed as the same, but 1.5x cropped, or equivalent to 127 mm f/2.1.
(Light metering of course still uses 1.4, as it is a 1.4 lens.) Smartphone manufacturers sadly like to give equivalent focal length, but physical and not equivalent aperture. I would say, either-or.
You needva 24-70 or 70-200 2.8 . My primes have been dumped in a bag somewhere in here , and a 58mm 1.4 (has gold ring) keeping the 85mm company , zooms have superceded these old squinters these days
Zooms are very functional in a lot of ways.
Size, weight and character of a lens are factors to keep using primes over zooms.
I have the ais version and love it, I’m considering after your excellent review of the 58/1.4 (palindrom) to acquire the 58 because of the skin reproduction but came to my mind the idea that maybe the 85 and 58 are similar in that regard maybe you can answer me, thanks for your work and answers
Hi Aryan, The Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G and AF-S 58mm f/1.4G give, for the most part, a similar rendering.
Personally, I like the 50-60mm focal length more for portraits than 85mm. The 50-60mm focal length gives more dimensionality to a portrait, compared to 85mm that seems flattened.
Of course that is a personal and artistic taste.
You might also consider the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F/1.4 SLII and Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART in the 50-60mm focal length.
@@WimBals thanks my friend, happy holidays by the way
Gracias. Buscaba este video
De nada, me alegro de haber podido ayudar.
Nikon 85 1.4 vs Sigma 85 1.4 which is better than buying wedding shoot
The Nikon weighs 595 grams compared to the Sigma 1130 grams.
Something to keep in mind if you do wedding photography!
I personally have not had the Sigma and have not tested it, but I can say that the Nikon gives a lot of quality and gives a nice rendering of the skin.
@@WimBals thanks sir
@@WimBals my camera body Nikon D780
That’s a great combination.
@@WimBals thanks 🙏
This was a great video. I enjoy this lens' color and skin tone rendering qualities. Love it even on my Z6.
Thanks, glad you like it even on the Z6. Colors are out of this world!
I want it for my Z6
You cannot easily-it at all-remove uncorrected longitudinal chromatic aberrations. That’s this lens’ essential weakness.
That's true, a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 art lens could have this CA under control much better. It's just a shame that the Sigma lenses have a too clinical look in my opinion.
@@WimBals Interesting you feel Sigmas look clinical. If anything, I’d say their Art series lenses err rather too far on the side of artistic/painterly rendering for my taste, giving up that final degree of sharpness and/or contrast for the sake of a “prettier” overall image. Granted, the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G goes even farther with this trade off…
I'll stick with my better built 85 1.4 d
For sure, a beautiful lens!
Optically the 'g' lenses pretty much seem better across the board. But the build quality really took a dump compared to their older lenses. I also would never part with my 85 f/1.4 d lens. It's a joy to use and a piece of manufacturing art, pre-plastic!