85mm for low-light, high speed sports photography

LittleMy · Joined: 23 Jan 2013 Posts: 5

I want to buy an 85mm lens that is very sharp when shot wide open. My budget is $100-$400 (so the Leica and Zeiss are outside my budget unless he makes it to Nationals Smile

I will be using this lens to shoot indoor gymnastics events. The lighting is horrible, even at f2 I sometimes have the ISO up at 3200(!!) because I need to shoot at 1/800s to freeze the motion on some events.

I currently use an MC Rokkor 50mm F1.7 and a 135mm MC Rokkor f2.8. The 50mm is great but the 135 is too much of a zoom on many occasions. My camera is an NEX 5R. I shoot in full manual mode, hand-held.

Advice? I know there are Canon FD and Minolta and Nikon versions of this lens as well as Vivitar, etc.

In your experience, which of the fast 85mm lenses are sharpest when shot wide open?

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I think you'll struggle to find one that is really sharp wide open in your budget. Maybe the Samyang 1.4/85.

The Russian Jupiter-9 2/85 is an excellent lens and definitely within your budget, but it's a bit soft and glowy wide open, but sharpens up nicely one stop closed.

IAZA · Joined: 16 Apr 2010 Posts: 2587 Location: Indonesia

I bought my Zeiss planar 85/1,4 C/Y under $400, with little scratches in coating. it still deliver sharp images wideopen.
Maybe you can find one
Samyang 85 is easier to find and cheaper. It sharp too

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

Back when, I bought a Zuiko 85/2 to take photos of our daughter's theater performances. I'm happy with it.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

My Minolta MC 85/1.7 is sharp wide open, Nikkor 105/2.5 has a good rep, Topcor 100/2.8 is good too.
nFD 100/2 might also be worth a look.
Helios 40-2 if you get a good deal.

Aanything · Expire: 2014-05-30

I think samyang 85/1.4 is a good choice, it will fit your budget and it's a good lens under many aspects, surely good value.
For older ones, I really like my takumar 85/1.9, I prefer it over the Jupiter 9 I had especially for performance wide open.

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

+1 for Samyang 85/1.4
It's very good wide open
I paid 165€ for mine, used but in almost mint condition.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

You can buy Leica R 90mm f2.8 for less than 400 USD if you wish. Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm f2.8 , Carl Zeiss Sonnar 100mm f3.5 also available, both Zeiss one of the best lens what I did ever try. +1 also on Samyang great lens.

FotoPete · Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 126

+1 for Samyang 85/1.4. Hard to beat for the money.

You can also look for a beater Nikkor 105/1.8 (~$300). Very sharp but tighter.

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

1. Samyang 85/1.4 - superb wide open
2. Olympus 85/2 - also a cracker
3. Jupiter-9 85/2 alu - the alu version seems sharper wide open than the later black version

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

The Nikkor 105/1.8 isn't that sharp wide open but very sharp stopped down just a little, sharper than the 105/2.5 at equivalent apertures. The f1.8 is there for reporters that need the shot, regardless of the lesser quality. Or for a dreamy look.

The Samyang is sharp wide open and it's cheap, I would go with this lens. Not the best stopped down as it's optimized for wide open where it beats much more expensive lenses.

If you're lucky, you could find a beaten up Canon FD 85/1.2 for a decent price. Wonderful lens and pretty sharp even wide open, VERY sharp stopped down.

The Olympus OM 100/2 is wonderful and sharp wide open but won't really fit your budget unless you are very lucky. The OM 85/2 is quite good as well and a lot cheaper.

The Konica Hexanon 85/1.8 is a nice lens as well and it can be found for a good price sometimes.

LittleMy · Joined: 23 Jan 2013 Posts: 5

I hadn't thought of looking at newer lenses so the Samyang wasn't even on my radar. That's definitely a possibility. Since it doesn't come in an e-mount version, would I need one of the expensive adapters to shoot it on my NEX 5R?

If I decided to put off the purchase and save up a bit longer... what super-sharp 85mm lens should I be saving up for? I'd really love something in the f1.4-1.8 range.

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

jjphoto · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Posts: 414

You should be using AF for sport or fast moving subjects, if you have the option. Of course if your subject is stationary then that's another matter. There's no point using the best lens in the world if your subject is out of focus.

Phenix jc · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 398 Location: France

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3666 Location: Calgary

ylyad · Expire: 2013-12-05

std · Joined: 09 Feb 2010 Posts: 1826 Location: Bulgaria

True all the lenses Attila recommends + Contax G Sonnar 2.8/90 for about 200-300$ + 130 for the best adapter.
One of the best lenses i ever tested - better even than 85mm Minolta.

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

The OP is after lenses of f1.8 or faster. No doubt the lenses you mention are very good but they are not exactly fast.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Pontus · Expire: 2016-08-25

I absolutely agree Attila, I love many of my slower lenses as well. Fast lenses are needed for short DOF mainly. But when someone asks fo f1.8 lenses or faster, I'm not going to suggest an f3.5 lens because the guy has already made up his mind. He obviously wants big glass.

LittleMy · Joined: 23 Jan 2013 Posts: 5

While I generally agree that there are few situations where one needs f-stop values below 2, I will be spending 8 hours this Sunday shooting in just such a situation. Very Happy

Gymnastics venues are large and dark. Flash is prohibited. You aren't allowed to move closer to the equipment. The gym is crowded with equipment, boys, coaches, judges, flashers and runners. I'm taking pics of a fast-moving target in a very dim gymnasium from 10'-75' away. At f2.8 I sometimes have to crank the ISO up to 6400 (which produces fairly noisy shots) so I end up shooting at f1.8 and f2 quite often. The low f-stop gives me a *very* shallow DOF (on the high bar the face is in focus or the toes but not both). Luckily gymnastics routines are predictable so I can prefocus on the right spot and then shoot when my son hits that spot.

I originally started out by shooting auto-focus (SEL 50mm f1. Cool

but I quickly got frustrated because the AF would select a wire or piece of equipment instead of the gymnast. Or his spotter. And it couldn't re-focus fast enough for a second shot. I started experimenting with manual lenses and was hooked. I now shoot almost entirely in manual lenses (when I'm not photographing gymnasts, I am photographing birds).

The comparisons of various 85mm lenses and people's experience with their sharpness fully open has been really helpful. As has the advice to look at Samyang. I think I'm even more confused than I was two days ago. Rolling Eyes

dean.peace · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:15 pm Post subject:

pancolar auto 80mm 1.8 is also great
this is at F2

Phenix jc · Joined: 19 Dec 2009 Posts: 398 Location: France

std · Joined: 09 Feb 2010 Posts: 1826 Location: Bulgaria

If i need to get an f1.4 lens or faster i will definitely look for a modern lens design.
The Planar 1.4 is the only one from the mentioned here which may work for you.
I personally doubt Samyang will be even close to modern Zeiss.

The old fast lenses commonly have lot's of aberrations and glow wide open and if you want to get reasonably good image quality you will need to stop them at least to f2 or even f2.8.

It's more wise to get a modern f2 or f2.8 lens from a reputable maker like Zeiss or Leica than old lens at f1.8.
Anyway 1 or 2 stops will rarely make a real difference with modern camera sensors.