thank you for taking the time and creating this comparison...I am saving this video to assist my interested family and friends in their understanding the points you are making
This is a very nice, sensible comparison. I own the 85mm f1.8 and have often wondered whether the extra weight, size and expense of the f1.4 is worth the upgrade. Thanks for answering my question; it seems that if you shoot at wide apertures the answer may be 'yes' but otherwise 'no'. Since, for me, DoF is too limited with an 85mm at very wide apertures the answer is 'no, not worth upgrading'.
I own and use the 85mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/1.4 Nikkor lenses. I purchased my 85 f/1.8 lens in 1969. It was a manual focus pre-AI lens. I later had Nikon modify it to make it an AI lens. I used this lens in a 35/85/180mm lens kit for photojournalism, street, and portraits. The 35 and 85mm lenses both used 52mm filters. After decades of excellent service, in 2016, I upgraded to the 85mm f/1.4 D auto focus Nikkor. For me, the extra size, weight, and cost was worth gaining the auto focus feature.
I have tried myself the 85mm pre-ai and it is indeed a very nice lens. The 1.4D is also a very good lens that I like a lot, some say it inferior to the 1.4G, but either that's not true or I have a very good copy. Thanks for visiting my channel and share it with your friends if you want. Cheers.
@@diyextravaganza I avoid G lenses because they do not have aperture rings and I need lenses with aperture rings to use on the Nikon F2 and F4 cameras that I still shoot.
@@Narsuitus That's indeed the big drawback of G lenses, newer lenses aren't getting any better in that regard. I personally prefer manual lenses but it is true that AF is sometimes handy to get shots of rapidly moving subjects.
In my opinion D and G series can't be diifrent,since a optical formula is the same."...who is still shooting with D lenses..."(from Taipei Geek) is a silly note.The thousands are still shooting with a non AI, AI, AI-S ,AF,D E series...etc. lenses they are just brilliant.A difference may be only psychological one IMO,but sometimes a lens may be damaged in use,hence a difference. Anyway, very nice video;keep on ,good to you.Cheers.
Thanks for your comment, lenses manufacturing hasn't change a lot in 150 years, borosilicate was the same 150 years ago as it was today, rare earths too, kilns are in platinum (they have been for decades) because it is the only material that does not oxidize at high temperature. Some automation and coatings technology may be new, some electronics, vibration control too, but the glass; it hasn't change much, and at the end of the day, it's the glass who makes great images. So yes, you're right, if the optical recipe is the same, the lenses are the same, does not matter if it was made yesterday or 50 years ago.
gori tedi I agree that is a very silly note! I own some of those AI and AI-S lenses you mentioned and they have better output than some G lenses, even some of the D lenses...
@@diyextravaganza It is really nice watching reviews like this in 2020. Was so special to me since i'm just specting for a package from Japan with the 1.4d version of your video inside! Your comment right above about lenses tech manufacturing its also well-timed. Thanks a lot.
@@luisfernh I'm very happy that you appreciated. Optics manufacturing hasn't change a lot (and won't change), so, In my opinion a lens that was relevant 20 or 30 years ago, is still relevant today. Also, it is my feeling that newer lenses are overcorrected, and by doing so, they remove something from the final result.
I have never tried 85mm 1.4 af-d. But as a proud owner of 85mm 1.8 af-d, I would say it is a fine lens but it is just not exceptional. Sharpness is more than enough, if to slow down, minimal focusing distance is good, chromatic aberration is fairly well controlled. But the general look, the richness of color, microcontrast, dimensionality and texture of subject are not at the top level, neither the built quality, really bad decision on housing material, no textured surface, this lens is very scratch prone. So as a resume it is just a fine lens for a fair price. It is accessible, it has an apperture ring and could be used on older manual film cameras on one hand and it gives an fast and reliable af on the newer film/digital bodies.
Hi, a lens is only as good as its user. You seem to know yours very well, so, my guess is that you're exploiting it at its maximum, which is really a good thing and much what true photography is about. Thanks for commenting and keep following the channel.
What to choose ? I bought the F1.8 Why ? I could not justify spending an extra £1,000 on on the F1.4. No point. My 85mm F1.8 is my favourite prime lens. The images on my Nikon D610 are simply stunning. The 1.4 would have made not one jot of a difference to my photos.
@@mikewilson8513 The best lens is the one you know its strengths and weaknesses. Lenses are just tools and as long as the job gets done, who cares? Best
I also like old scool metal lens hoods, however you should be very careful with them. Once during mounting I bumped it on a front element of my newly bought 85mm. I nearly got a heart attack but the coating endured luckily :D
I had G versions but then changed to D cause I have also FM2 F100 and D600 20/2.8, 50/1.4D, 85/1.4D and 1.8D All in good shape and works great on all bodies
How you can say the colour is the same when the 1.8D has way more yellow in it? You can not only easily see it in the overall tone but also in the nearer to white parts of the image.
thank you for taking the time and creating this comparison...I am saving this video to assist my interested family and friends in their understanding the points you are making
Excellent, have a nice day !
Thanks for the video! Very objective and unbiased. Your examples really show the differences in practice between both, so I chose the 1.8.
You're welcome ! I try to do my comparison videos being as neutral as possible.
That half stop and bokeh make a big difference in the life of professionals.
This is a very nice, sensible comparison. I own the 85mm f1.8 and have often wondered whether the extra weight, size and expense of the f1.4 is worth the upgrade. Thanks for answering my question; it seems that if you shoot at wide apertures the answer may be 'yes' but otherwise 'no'. Since, for me, DoF is too limited with an 85mm at very wide apertures the answer is 'no, not worth upgrading'.
Thanks for your comment, helping guys like you was exactly what I had in mind when I made the video.
Thanks for the video. I just bought 85 1.4d and very impressed it👍👍👍
Thanks, I find the 1.4D superior to the 1.4G !
I did as well. Mint for $400 a steal
I own and use the 85mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/1.4 Nikkor lenses. I purchased my 85 f/1.8 lens in 1969. It was a manual focus pre-AI lens. I later had Nikon modify it to make it an AI lens. I used this lens in a 35/85/180mm lens kit for photojournalism, street, and portraits. The 35 and 85mm lenses both used 52mm filters.
After decades of excellent service, in 2016, I upgraded to the 85mm f/1.4 D auto focus Nikkor. For me, the extra size, weight, and cost was worth gaining the auto focus feature.
I have tried myself the 85mm pre-ai and it is indeed a very nice lens. The 1.4D is also a very good lens that I like a lot, some say it inferior to the 1.4G, but either that's not true or I have a very good copy. Thanks for visiting my channel and share it with your friends if you want. Cheers.
@@diyextravaganza
I avoid G lenses because they do not have aperture rings and I need lenses with aperture rings to use on the Nikon F2 and F4 cameras that I still shoot.
@@Narsuitus That's indeed the big drawback of G lenses, newer lenses aren't getting any better in that regard. I personally prefer manual lenses but it is true that AF is sometimes handy to get shots of rapidly moving subjects.
In my opinion D and G series can't be diifrent,since a optical formula is the same."...who is still shooting with D lenses..."(from Taipei Geek) is a silly note.The thousands are still shooting with a non AI, AI, AI-S ,AF,D E series...etc. lenses they are just brilliant.A difference may be only psychological one IMO,but sometimes a lens may be damaged in use,hence a difference. Anyway, very nice video;keep on ,good to you.Cheers.
Thanks for your comment, lenses manufacturing hasn't change a lot in 150 years, borosilicate was the same 150 years ago as it was today, rare earths too, kilns are in platinum (they have been for decades) because it is the only material that does not oxidize at high temperature. Some automation and coatings technology may be new, some electronics, vibration control too, but the glass; it hasn't change much, and at the end of the day, it's the glass who makes great images. So yes, you're right, if the optical recipe is the same, the lenses are the same, does not matter if it was made yesterday or 50 years ago.
gori tedi I agree that is a very silly note! I own some of those AI and AI-S lenses you mentioned and they have better output than some G lenses, even some of the D lenses...
@@diyextravaganza It is really nice watching reviews like this in 2020. Was so special to me since i'm just specting for a package from Japan with the 1.4d version of your video inside! Your comment right above about lenses tech manufacturing its also well-timed. Thanks a lot.
@@luisfernh I'm very happy that you appreciated. Optics manufacturing hasn't change a lot (and won't change), so, In my opinion a lens that was relevant 20 or 30 years ago, is still relevant today. Also, it is my feeling that newer lenses are overcorrected, and by doing so, they remove something from the final result.
@@diyextravaganza 16 lenses 5 are AF one is AFS the rest are manual
Great video. Tho I'd like to see another one comparing the two on actual skin doing some indoor and outdoor portraits. Thanks!
Nice suggestions, I'll look into that. Cheers.
I have never tried 85mm 1.4 af-d. But as a proud owner of 85mm 1.8 af-d, I would say it is a fine lens but it is just not exceptional. Sharpness is more than enough, if to slow down, minimal focusing distance is good, chromatic aberration is fairly well controlled. But the general look, the richness of color, microcontrast, dimensionality and texture of subject are not at the top level, neither the built quality, really bad decision on housing material, no textured surface, this lens is very scratch prone. So as a resume it is just a fine lens for a fair price.
It is accessible, it has an apperture ring and could be used on older manual film cameras on one hand and it gives an fast and reliable af on the newer film/digital bodies.
Hi, a lens is only as good as its user. You seem to know yours very well, so, my guess is that you're exploiting it at its maximum, which is really a good thing and much what true photography is about. Thanks for commenting and keep following the channel.
What to choose ? I bought the F1.8 Why ? I could not justify spending an extra £1,000 on on the F1.4. No point. My 85mm F1.8 is my favourite prime lens. The images on my Nikon D610 are simply stunning. The 1.4 would have made not one jot of a difference to my photos.
@@mikewilson8513 The best lens is the one you know its strengths and weaknesses. Lenses are just tools and as long as the job gets done, who cares? Best
@@diyextravaganza Agreed.
If you shoot film and want autofocus, the D lens is a good choice.
I you do macro as well, an aperture ring is indeed very useful too.
Thank you very much for taking the time to show the comparison between these two lens. I after seeing this will now go for the f1. 4.
You're very welcome, cheers and don't forget to tell your friends about the channel.
I also like old scool metal lens hoods, however you should be very careful with them. Once during mounting I bumped it on a front element of my newly bought 85mm. I nearly got a heart attack but the coating endured luckily :D
goog thing you didn't damaged it :)
I had G versions but then changed to D cause I have also FM2 F100 and D600
20/2.8, 50/1.4D, 85/1.4D and 1.8D
All in good shape and works great on all bodies
I prefer the D, AIs and Ai versions to the G ones
I considered getting the D version or the AIS But seeing that I own neither anyone know How fast is the auto focus of the D version?
Hello.
Good video.
What camera did you use?
I have a D750.
Hi, it was a long ago. Maybe it was with a D4s, but I'm not really sure.
@@diyextravaganza Thanks.
How you can say the colour is the same when the 1.8D has way more yellow in it? You can not only easily see it in the overall tone but also in the nearer to white parts of the image.
I did this video long ago. You're most certainly right. Cheers.
@@diyextravaganza np, Im glad I ordered the 1.4D it arrives tomorrow, it’s way sharper in your comparison! So thanks for that…
@@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse the 1.4D is incredibly sharp, a tad more than the 1.4G. I've done some tests already. Cheers.
@@diyextravaganza nice one, any link?
@@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse not yet, I'm not 100% happy with the results, but it will come for sure.
Can you tell me the millimeter of the cap? 85mm 1.8?
62mm
Is this the D or the G version?
D version, which in my opinion is slightly sharper.
Thanks, but no one portret photo of portret objevtive comparacion. Why?)
impossible to make two identical photos with a live model, thus impossible to compare. Best
If money is not an issue go for 1.4
Agree.