When I bought the 105e I sold this lens. I wish I had kept it but I have the 28e, 58g, 105e combo and don’t think it would get enough use if I re-acquired it. I need to stop looking at this thread.....
One of my first attempts at using the 85/1.4D which I got when my D800 was under repair (and still there because of lockdown) so I finally used it on the old Fuji S5Pro to give it a ride but, as you can easily imagine, not the best conditions to find suitable subjects for this lens...
Too bad he's wearing the mask improperly and wasting it by doing that...
GiovanniAprea wrote:
One of my first attempts at using the 85/1.4D which I got when my D800 was under repair (and still there because of lockdown) so I finally used it on the old Fuji S5Pro to give it a ride but, as you can easily imagine, not the best conditions to find suitable subjects for this lens...
Got this lens a few months ago but only now starting to use it for what it is meant to be used for, still a beginner with it but I love how kind it is with backgrounds, it does really deserve the title of "cream machine"
GiovanniAprea wrote:
Got this lens a few months ago but only now starting to use it for what it is meant to be used for, still a beginner with it but I love how kind it is with backgrounds, it does really deserve the title of "cream machine"
Kry27 wrote:
Sorry to be so honest, but for me, that's a perfect example of an image that should not have been shot at f/1.4...
If you were reading the whole thing you would understand my "urge" to try it wide open, I have other shots of the same subject at f2 or smaller but the background doesn't melt the same way.
Oh I have read it and that you were showing the background. But I'd much prefer to see that it STILL renders a good bokeh at apertures from 2.2 - 4, even with slightly changing character.
So it looks as the too common 'wide open madness'
Main distraction of course being his left eye, right for us, that attracts the viewer's eye.
Happy for you to have got the lens!
GiovanniAprea wrote:
If you were reading the whole thing you would understand my "urge" to try it wide open, I have other shots of the same subject at f2 or smaller but the background doesn't melt the same way.
Kry27 wrote:
Oh I have read it and that you were showing the background. But I'd much prefer to see that it STILL renders a good bokeh at apertures from 2.2 - 4, even with slightly changing character.
So it looks as the too common 'wide open madness'
Main distraction of course being his left eye, right for us, that attracts the viewer's eye.
Happy for you to have got the lens!
Don't tell me you never shoot wide open? I mean, I have the f1.8G version and it's a nice lens, great value for the money, found out that for my kind of shooting f2.2-3.2 works the best but once I have that extra stop of course I am gonna use it, at least to satisfy the sacrifice I made to get the lens...
Great shot... learn to ignore some people.. or use the mute feature on here . Happy shooting!
GiovanniAprea wrote:
Got this lens a few months ago but only now starting to use it for what it is meant to be used for, still a beginner with it but I love how kind it is with backgrounds, it does really deserve the title of "cream machine"
GiovanniAprea wrote:
Don't tell me you never shoot wide open? I mean, I have the f1.8G version and it's a nice lens, great value for the money, found out that for my kind of shooting f2.2-3.2 works the best but once I have that extra stop of course I am gonna use it, at least to satisfy the sacrifice I made to get the lens...
Thanks again for the additional shot (which I prefer).
To be honest: I seldom shoot / shot this lens wide open, the longer I have it, the less. Let me explain:
- I shot it mostly on my D3. As stated often, I could shoot a long time only with this camera and a 2 lens setup, this AF 85/1.4D and the AF 28/1.4D that complement each other nicely.
- The bokeh, background blur, is wonderful at f/1.4, and there are situations where one does not (or hardly) sacrifice anything when shooting wide open - full body shots, so just from a little further away, come to my mind.
- Viewing the images while post processing I found out that the elder AF (or maybe my D3?) was OK, but not great - and missing critical focus at f/1.4 means the picture has to go to the bin.
- When starting to use a D750 as well, these cases became even more obvious, as the camera can show the difference of a "perfect hit" and a "near hit" even better (don't speak of the D850 I don't have).
- When you need the light, you need the light, of course - something the more modern camera is also better at (ISO)
I came to this conclusions:
- Most often I prefer it being shot at f/2.2, f/2.5 as widest setting
- This is even more important, the closer the subject is, of course
- Sharpness improves a lot
- Backgrounds are STILL beautiful
- The images of course look differently, but still great.
I don't have the f/1.8 lens for a direct comparison at let's say f/4, but I'm sure one can find such a thing online.
Finally:
A great lens, a great lens at f/1.4, and also stopped down. Great not by the means of modern 1.4 primes, but for it's history, character and rendering. Enjoy your's and take time to learn it in and out.
