Nikon 85mm f1.4

[Leong23]

Agreed. Focus for my shot was slightly off. But more concerned about the colour.

Mmmm, colour will sometime depend on the lighting when the shoot is taken. Sometime, if the sky is too overcast, the photo will be flat regardless of lenses used. So some fill-flash might have to counter the problem.

 

[ezhang]

Mmmm, colour will sometime depend on the lighting when the shoot is taken. Sometime, if the sky is too overcast, the photo will be flat regardless of lenses used. So some fill-flash might have to counter the problem.

Good point. The sky was a bit overcast that day. Will try to use some flash next time.

 

[ezhang]

Few more shots to demonstrate what I meant as in the faces washed out. Tried to use PP to salvage the photos, and did WB as much as I could already on the JPEG file. Some details in the black were lost.

Pre-PP

Blown-up of faces Pre-PP

PP

Shots were taken at ISO 500, f1.4, Shutter 1/400, D300. Focus was on the lady second from left (wearing specs).

 

[entropy_h]

Few more shots to demonstrate what I meant as in the faces washed out. Tried to use PP to salvage the photos, and did WB as much as I could already on the JPEG file. Some details in the black were lost.



Shots were taken at ISO 500, f1.4, Shutter 1/400, D300. Focus was on the lady second from left (wearing specs).

There's no way you can take group shots at 1.4. You really should have stepped down a few stops to say 4 to 5.6

 

[jimbok]

What metering mode were you on? Think the metering was fooled by the too many black areas from your picture? (subjects' clothes and dark background)

 

[Astin]

I also think it is caused by your metering mode or metering method.

 

[ezhang]

There's no way you can take group shots at 1.4. You really should have stepped down a few stops to say 4 to 5.6

Yup, fully agree and noted. Was still new with the lens and did so nonetheless. It'll be at f4 thereabouts in the future.

What metering mode were you on? Think the metering was fooled by the too many black areas from your picture? (subjects' clothes and dark background)

I also think it is caused by your metering mode or metering method.

Was shooting in 3D colour matrix, not center or spot. So your suggestion is to use center metering around the faces?

 

[Benji77]

I use the 85mm 1.4 AIS, and I agree that focusing at 1.4 is not easy.
With the AF, things are slightly easier.

As for TS's comment on the colour being washed out, I would say that its
your colour setting on your D300, as well as your exposure.
If you are a little 'over', i would say that your colours will suffer slightly.

 

[Astin]

Yup, fully agree and noted. Was still new with the lens and did so nonetheless. It'll be at f4 thereabouts in the future.

Was shooting in 3D colour matrix, not center or spot. So your suggestion is to use center metering around the faces?

I would use spot metering, and probably would avoid a background with such high contrast as well (can see the obvious CA on the blown-up section)

 

[elvintay]

who said F1.4 lens cannot open shoot at f1.4 ?

bro,

no one shoot 85mm F1.4 at exactly F1.4, conventionally, nikon lenses produce stunning result and contrasty color, as well as sharpness around F3.8 - 5.6. And, if u want optimum result, Shooting F8.0 , 1/125, will ensure a best result.

personally i find, what 85mm f1.4 capable for is, becos of its large and wide lens element compare to F1.8 version.

hope this input help.

kim

 

[elvintay]

Bro,your ISO open too hight la...d300 no need to open at ISO500 on day time you will get expo your picture.. also need to check your EV setting..

Few more shots to demonstrate what I meant as in the faces washed out. Tried to use PP to salvage the photos, and did WB as much as I could already on the JPEG file. Some details in the black were lost.

Pre-PP

Blown-up of faces Pre-PP

PP

Shots were taken at ISO 500, f1.4, Shutter 1/400, D300. Focus was on the lady second from left (wearing specs).

 

[TMC]

bro,

no one shoot 85mm F1.4 at exactly F1.4, conventionally, nikon lenses produce stunning result and contrasty color, as well as sharpness around F3.8 - 5.6. And, if u want optimum result, Shooting F8.0 , 1/125, will ensure a best result.

personally i find, what 85mm f1.4 capable for is, becos of its large and wide lens element compare to F1.8 version.

hope this input help.

kim

Hmm.....if you buy the 1.4 just to use it at 3.8-5.6 then you might as well get the 85/1.8. There are lots that shoot at 1.4 here, me included. You have to be pretty sure of where you are aiming to get the focus right. Practice focus and recomposing to help you master the lens.

 

[jeanie]

just by reading this thread, it goes to show that some of you really dont know what you're talking about...
i hereby appeal to these people, if you dont know what you're talking about, then dont make posts that mislead people.
i shant mention names, but please read up more.especially if you have the 85 f1.4 beautiful lens.

 

[ezhang]

just by reading this thread, it goes to show that some of you really dont know what you're talking about...
i hereby appeal to these people, if you dont know what you're talking about, then dont make posts that mislead people.
i shant mention names, but please read up more.especially if you have the 85 f1.4 beautiful lens.

I'm sure everyone has their preferences with the use of their lenses, and we're all looking to make the best of our lenses, to shot photos that we like. The 85mm after can afterall do a lot, as owners we all know.

Maybe jeanie could share with us her experiences so that we'll all benefit?

 

[jeanie]

I'm sure everyone has their preferences with the use of their lenses, and we're all looking to make the best of our lenses, to shot photos that we like. The 85mm after can afterall do a lot, as owners we all know.

Maybe jeanie could share with us her experiences so that we'll all benefit?

ok.my 2 cents since you ask for it.

the 85 1.4 DEFINITELY can shoot wide open.
it very much depends on you and your subject distance-to-lens.

this is definitely one of my favourite lens for portraits, other than the 105 DC, and the 70-200VR.in fact, i use this lens for 70-80% of my portraits so far.
i admit i dont shoot at 1.4 most of the time, but it depends on the distance of my subject, and WHAT i want to isolate to sharpness.


as for your washout, either you didnt get your metering correctly, or you didnt do your PP correctly.(sorry, i didnt read what you did for your pp).
for me, some of my portraits, i shoot RAW NEF, direct import to LR without PP.just cropping.and my colors are definitely spot on.(IMHO).
are you using a calibrated monitor?

 

[jeanie]

btw,

you SHOULD have learn more about your lens before using it and firing away at a important event like your sis's graduation.

also, for the group shot, using 85mm can be done BUT i wouldnt use a 85mm to do that shot.

better luck next time.

 

[lsisaxon]

I'm sure everyone has their preferences with the use of their lenses, and we're all looking to make the best of our lenses, to shot photos that we like. The 85mm after can afterall do a lot, as owners we all know.

Maybe jeanie could share with us her experiences so that we'll all benefit?

Let me just say that the 85/1.4 is a very good lens, provided you know how to handle it well.. From your shots, it looks more like they are plagued with flare, that's why you are getting poor contrast. Due to the large element involved, fast lenses like this one are quite prone to flare especially when you are under the sun. All it needs is some stray light on the front element and you will get flare. This is worsen by the fact that there is some residual spherical aberration that caused the lens to be a bit soft at f/1.4. (Even the Zeiss 85/1.4 is soft but I think it might be less prone to flare).

My recommendation if you need to use this lens at f/1.4 under bright light conditions, use a lens hood. Of course, the remarks by the others regarding shallow DoF and metering also still holds. The body metering may be misled into and overexposure because the gowns are black colour. The images might have been better if the exposure were a stop down. Do remember that once you blow your highlights, there is no way to recover them.

I'd say this is a case of PLBV.

f/1.4

f/2

 

[mckenzy]

even if the 2nd lady from the left is the AF point, it still looks soft... in fact everything is soft...

85mm is great for portraits... with ample light f/1.4 is very do-able... practice shooting at eyes till it gets intuitive.

i wish i had a 1.4

my 1.8 (EF) took me almost a year and i still 'miss' getting eyes focussed correctly...

shooting wide is immensely satisfying... go shoot more portraits... people, cats whatever... if they move too much shoot a teddy bear or something... don't laugh :nono: it helps okay...!

 

[jeanie]

lsisaxon,

you reckon from the shot it was sunny?
i think it's more cloudy than sunny.
look at the shadows.they are soft.

the graduation gowns were supposed to be black, and if you notice, they are overexposed.

and if it's sunny, why did TS use ISO500?:dunno:

 

[Kimura_papaya]

who said F1.4 lens cannot open shoot at f1.4 ?

F1.4 itself the DOF is very shallow, ur focus point need to be very careful.