significant difference between 85 f/1.4 vs 85 f/1.8?

[nemesis32]

Let me offered another perspective:

The 85 f1.4 cost 2.5 times more than the 85 f1.8, which is about 800 dollars more, unless you always shoot wide open (at 1.4), and cannot live with the bokeh of 1.8 (which is subjective), you may want to spend the 800 dollars on other lenses, e.g. 105 macro, 35 mm f/2...which will allow you to have a wider variety of tools and cater to more situations. Think about it.

Hope this helps.

the bokeh is different.. all i can say is if you shoot at F1.4, you will find the DOF so narrow that a lot of people will tell you that your pics is not sharp etc... Then for the beginners they may think the lens is no good...

A faster lens is always good to have. In this case, the price may not justify the difference.

Buy it if:
YOu are a pro and shoot lots of portraits
Or you are so rich that got nothing else to buy...