85mm f1.4-1.8 experience

[aleksanderpolo]

I have been doing that too, that's how I narrowed it down to the list. But I found that the PP style of the person making the image can have more impact on the final image than the lens itself. So I thought asking people with first hand experience with multiple lens might help eliminate this factor. I know most of the lens are more than capable, but some of them just give you more pleasure when you open the raw. I tried to push the files of FL55/1.2 and can never get the look I can easily get with the C-Sonnar, for example.

[Attila]

Most important and very cheap solution is PP and auto contrast, color, sharpness set is quick and smart. Camera process images anyway,
to buy $$$ lenses and cameras and ignore PP is not too smart. With same lens images looks entirely different on different cameras, PP can help to get quality images on inexpensive cameras.

Have to decide what is important final image or tools, to me final image and I really not care how it was done.
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[ManualFocus-G]

The Planar is fantastic at close range, not sure where you got that idea. I suspect that it's got better coating than the Biotar and Pancolar as well. It really is a cracking lens and my favourite 85mm by a mile. The Samyang is also excellent but has less contrast and character.

http://forum.mflenses.com/i-love-my-planar-85-1-4-t40255.html
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[kyonthinh]

How about Rokkor MC 85mm 1.7 or MD 85 2.0? I think it is not so bad.

[aoleg]

[woodrim]

[ManualFocus-G]

I've tested the Planar and Samyang indoors and they are both very sharp, even from wide open. Outdoors though the Samyang loses contrast and the Planar is better. That said, the Samyang is incredible value for money and better than many older 85s, which probably command a higher fee in the used lens market.
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Graham - Moderator

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[yinyangbt]

I can tell about the Canon FDn 85/1.8 : good. Very good if not excelent quality/price ratio . If you want some bigger files to juge for yourself , PM me .
No PP at all. Portrait style or standard style setting on NEX 3 f 2.8 or 4 ,if I remember well


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[ramiller500]

Try this, too:

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/fl/data/19-85/fl_85_18.html

This was its US patent:

http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT3066575
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[aleksanderpolo]

Thank you for your helpful comments and the link.

1. Ya, that's what I fear...
2. Looks like I will need to try the Planar for 1.4
3-4. I don't know why I didn't bond with the Nikkor 1.8 the first time around, maybe I should try it again. I think I will skip the 1.4 and try the planar instead. Both the Nikkor 85/1.4 and L 85/1.2 look intimidating
6. I am itching towards the 77/1.8 too, but I've heard (and seen samples) of its more pronounced purple fringing from f1.8-f2, which is what makes me dislike lens like the CV 50/1.5. So, is it very bad compared to 85/1.8 K?

And o wow the Pancolor, if the price is not that high... (thanks Attila for the link, I think the Biotar is not my cup of tea though)

Thanks.

[mfkita]

There is no 85/1.8 AI Nikkor....

There are a few different versions of the 85/1.8, and some availability of those 1.8 lenses with the Nikon AI conversion aperture ring, like the 1.8 K on the left below....and some that were simply converted with a notch cut into the rear of the aperture ring.

There is the 85/2 AIS Nikkor....much more compact than the 1.8...I got the 85/2 for the Nikon F...I liked the lighter more compact lens...but when I went to Canon digitalSLR (30D) I came to like the heft of the earlier 1.8 version...




Now as for those 85/1.8 versions....
The models marked H and H.C are the original silver and black versions...the "C" meaning that that lens has multicoating...
There is also the 1.8 K model which is the modernized black clad version, with the rubber focusing barrel....

The K has a bit more contrast and brightness than the H (about 1/3 an F-stop)...I don't know how the H.C compares...

As for recommendations....I liked all the 85s I had...the 1.8 H, the 85/2 and the 1.8 K I now have....

Here's a 100% crop @ 5.6 with the 85/1.8 H version...


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[Minolfan]

[aoleg]

[mfkita]

Here's another near 100% crop from the 85/1.8-H seen in the above post @ F2.8


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I favor the simple shot...and uncomplicated technology that won't distract me from seeing it...
Canon 30D/40D, Canon G3
Canon 35/2, 50/1.8 MKI, 18-55IS, 28-105/3.5-4.5, 70-210/3.5-4.5; MF Nikkors 50/2K, 50/1.4AIS, 60/2.8 Micro, 85/1.8-K (AI'd), 135/2.8K, 135/2.8Q.C, 180/2.8ED, 200/4Q (AI-cut), 200/4AIS, 300/4.5-H (AI'd), Vivitar 28/2; 35mm bodies, Nikon F, FE2 w. MD12 drive

[hoanpham]

Can anyone redirect me to threads about nikkor 85/1.4 ais in this forum?
How's the nikkor 85/1.4 ais compare with the other 85?