Testing 85mm f1.4 - initial stages

[wendellt]

Hi
I acquired a nikkor 85mm f1.4 a couple of weeks ago but had not tested it in the kind of situation i would be using it most for, that is runway work,the following images were shot at the TIGI hair S factor launch which was a good testbed for the lens to see how it faired under spots and lowlight conditions.

despite having quite a few dust particles inside the rear element,
results are good, probably sharper than the 70-200(vr off) in low light

all large images presented are unsharpened and are cropped at 100%

low light performance ISO600 1/250, f2,

i think this is sharp but cant be sure if other factors like low light, movement or the high iso makes it hard to tell, but end result is looks promising

under much better lighting ISO400 f4 1/250 i found out that f4 - f4.5 is sharpest under the sun but under spotlights f4 is pretty much optimal, any higher i would have to increase iso to maintain my sweetspot 1/250 speed for correct exposure at that aperture with iso400. iso400 and over on a d2x produces quite a noisy image


because of the lighting angle and strength this image looks the sharpest from the lot, iso 400 1/250 f2.8, i am happy with this result


The most noticable wow factor of this lens is the quality of the bokeh at f2, at f1.4 the bokeh is creamy smooth but the sharpness is compromised, i figured f2 produces enough smooth rendering of bokeh balanced with the right amount of shrapness under low light. DOF at F4 looks more defined and not as nice



what do you think?

[Geoff]

Fantastic portrait Lens wendell, I must be honest and say that I'm surprised at the amount of noise from the first shot, I know the lighting was less than desirable. The other shots are beautiful though. The last shot of the guy - where was your focal point? As you say, nice bokeh however it's a bit TOO soft for my liking - perhaps this was what you were hoping for!? Anyway, nice work as usual - you will go a long way. Can't wait to say I knew this guy when he was just starting out when you are famous!

[birddog114]

Wendell,
I shoot the D2x with ISO 500 on the 85/1.4 and did not see any noise like you mentioned, at f.2 in low and mixed lighting condition, the photos came out tack sharp.
Ex. as one of following, I shot it in January at the temple before Chinese NY.



My works are mostly within the temple and their activities during the year and 70% of low or mixed lighting.

This photos and among other of my photos same as photos from forum members were exhibited at CNY Eve.

She's a real Aussie girl (100%, no mixed), studied Vietnamese and attended an University in Vietnam to study Art and performing etc....
She performed a play in a traditional and classical Vietnamese drama.

[wendellt]

thankyou geoff
I do have focussing issues even in single servo mode, but still depth of field at f2 is very shallow at the distance i shot robert rosen

birddog clean lovely shot are you using noise reduction? my d2x definity produces noticable noise over iso 400 even with the new firmware installed

[birddog114]

thankyou geoff
I do have focussing issues even in single servo mode, but still depth of field at f2 is very shallow at the distance i shot robert rosen

birddog clean lovely shot are you using noise reduction? my d2x definity produces noticable noise over iso 400 even with the new firmware installed

Wendell,
In camera noise reduction = Off
No other noise reduction applications used all in my photos.
I used preset WB with Expodisc or AW at all time of my shootings.
And no flash used with all my f1.4 lenses
In the previously years, I used flash in few shooting but did not happy with those photos, they did not retain the nature of colour or other aspect which I wanted.
With my D2x, if I use any ISO higher than 640 than there's noise issue, but then it depends on how good my metering and composing skills & techniques at those times were.

Finally, truely I love the works from all of my f.1.4 lenses in natural lighting.

[Greg B]

It made the girl in photo #4 a bit ugly.

[sirhc55]

It made the girl in photo #4 a bit ugly.

Greg - sell me your camera as it would seem that you have vision problems

Wendell - nice test series

[birddog114]

It made the girl in photo #4 a bit ugly.

Greg - sell me your camera as ........................

Chris,
I'm sure he's happy to do it and find a good home for his beloved D70 so he can upgrading himself to the D200

[wendellt]

greg

the last shot is of prominent sydney social photographer Robert Rosen

Birddog you always put me in my place, i have yet to master this lens
or the d2x so hopefulyl with more research and practice I can get clean shots like yours

I just noticed with the d2x you can get noisy images if the scene isn't bright enough even at iso400 but i agree noise is most noticable over iso 640

also take in consideration i use that freebee Raw shooter essentials prog to export my raw files and that programs interpolation isn't as smooth compared to nikon capture
so the end resulted image at 100% crop looks a bit messy(noisy) coupled with the 61% jpeg compression i used to save them

Chris thanks for thumbs up, the light was interesting at that event which always makes foir good picture taking

[Glen]

Wendell, nice images

Chris, I agree with Greg

[Alpha_7]

Wendell, nice images

Chris, I agree with Greg

Glen in that case I'll take your camera and take photos of the ugly girl

[xerubus]

good tests there.... and as always the 85 1.4 performs very well.

cheers

[elffinarts]

also take in consideration i use that freebee Raw shooter essentials prog to export my raw files and that programs interpolation isn't as smooth compared to nikon capture
so the end resulted image at 100% crop looks a bit messy(noisy) coupled with the 61% jpeg compression i used to save them

It could be that the noise is predominantly caused by this. Even with the Raw Shooter Pro that I use when doing batches on the quick, the noise issue is somewhat nastier than if I take the time and use CS2's raw plugin instead. (disclaimer - I do need to test that theory more thoroughly )

Wish I could afford such a lens, but it's a couple of years away yet. I'm really quite surprised at the makeup on those models, as it seemed somewhat less than I'd expect of such an event.

have to LOVE how smooth that bokeh is wide open... it's lush

[Matt. K]

Greg B
Are you sure? Look again and ponder that peaceful countenance. It will grow on you.

[Greg B]

Yep Matty ma boy, he's real purdy.

[elffinarts]

the only lens I've seen with a smoother bokeh so far is the new 85mm f1.2 for the Canon digital range.... lucky sods.

[Grev]

Love that bokeh. More practice with it and you'll be fine.

I can afford that lens right now but it's going to something else for the time being.

[jben_net]

I'm glad to hear that the 1.4 is sharper than the 70-200 under those conditions..... I'm going to get one as soon as my credit card application goes through! I've heard they call this lens the "cream machine" because of it's beautiful boquet... I can see why they call it that now from the last shot of wendells series.... great work - and thanks for a informing discussion guys