What is your favourite FX Portraits lens for D750/D810 ?

[vickee]

Thank you. But just wondering, at 200, isn't it abit difficult to take portrait ? Thanks again

It sure is difficult. It is heavy and takes some mental struggle to decide if want to bring outdoors. We also need to paddle back quickly to get the tight frame.

But the instant wallpaper effect is priceless. The super fast focusing makes it a big plus for us soccer dads with 3 and 5yr old kids who doesn't keep still to pose for us.

When the pics are loaded onto LR, minimal adjustments are needed and my keeper rate is higher.

I also have afs 85mm f1.4 and 70-200vr2.
They are awesome too. But not the 200f2 level.

 

[Dfive]

wow, great collection you have there !

the zeiss lens are manual focus lens, right ?

thanks for your post.

YES all Zeiss ZF.2 are manual focus and these above are just stunning optics!

 

[vickee]

to sidetrack, zeiss is running promo right now.
$300 off for 135f2 APO.

Should be a good chance for TS to jump on if interested.

 

[swifty]

to sidetrack, zeiss is running promo right now.
$300 off for 135f2 APO.

Intriguing. Do you think this is a sign the 135 will get the Milvus treatment from Zeiss, or even step up to Otus status with a redesign. The 135 APO pre-dates the Otus line.

TS: if you don't mind MF and need to keep within budget, the Rokinon/Samyang 135mm f2 rates equally as well as the Zeiss at 1/3 the price but does seem to suffer more from sample variation.

 

[vickee]

surely it will upgrade one day. Maybe if not during the first batch.
Just don't upgrade the price by too much.

 

[L-coholic]

Of cos, can lah ... I meant to say any FX lens on full frame bodies


Thank you for your opinion :thumbsup:

Regarding the question you ask for 85mm 1.4 and 1.8, if you have the money, go for 1.4, I go for 1.8 simply because of the price tag.

And 200mm for portrait is it too far away from the subject? Actually it depends on what kind of portrait that you are referring to. If you are taking head and shoulders type, even 500mm also can (I used my 200-500mm, outdoor of course), and still can communicate with the subject.

 

[Dfive]

to sidetrack, zeiss is running promo right now.
$300 off for 135f2 APO.

Should be a good chance for TS to jump on if interested.

No a genuine promo.... just a BS Excuse to slightly align the SGD with the USD... They was ripping us off prior frankly.

 

[Dfive]

Intriguing. Do you think this is a sign the 135 will get the Milvus treatment from Zeiss, or even step up to Otus status with a redesign. The 135 APO pre-dates the Otus line.

TS: if you don't mind MF and need to keep within budget, the Rokinon/Samyang 135mm f2 rates equally as well as the Zeiss at 1/3 the price but does seem to suffer more from sample variation.

The 135 APO is on par with an Otus already.... are you sure you want to pay SGD $6,000 FOR A 135 ??? lol

Would go a Zeiss over a Samyang 135 ANY DAY..... Ignore DXO MARK Scoring.... use real world use.

 

[swifty]

No a genuine promo.... just a BS Excuse to slightly align the SGD with the USD... They was ripping us off prior frankly.

I couldn't find any local reference to the $300 discount but noticed even BH and Adorama has $300 USD off this lens.

 

[Dfive]

I couldn't find any local reference to the $300 discount but noticed even BH and Adorama has $300 USD off this lens.

yeah USA just dropped theirs a few weeks back... Prior to this SG was cheaper than B&H by quite a bit for many many months.

So now SG needs to drop some more.

 

[swifty]

The 135 APO is on par with an Otus already.... are you sure you want to pay SGD $6,000 FOR A 135 ??? lol

Would go a Zeiss over a Samyang 135 ANY DAY..... Ignore DXO MARK Scoring.... use real world use.

Otii's are definitely out of my league, price wise. I had been researching the Zeiss 135 APO, I can't remember where I read it but IIRC they basically said it was made in the same spirit and philosophy as the Otus line but pre-dates it. Also I think the QC on the Otus is on another level though and the price reflects it.
Nah...I'm happy to see something new just so I can afford the current version when prices drop.
I looked at a lot of images on the flickr groups and I agree, the Zeiss rendering and colours are something else.
I really don't want to play the sample variation lottery and at least on one blog post over at lensrental the Rokinon lenses tested (not the 135mm ones though) aren't great in that department.

 

[RyanKhoo]

Regarding the question you ask for 85mm 1.4 and 1.8, if you have the money, go for 1.4, I go for 1.8 simply because of the price tag.

Yes, I think I will just go for the 85 F1.8 because our local price is something like almost 4 times, SGD 578 vs SGD 2,012

And 200mm for portrait is it too far away from the subject? Actually it depends on what kind of portrait that you are referring to. If you are taking head and shoulders type, even 500mm also can (I used my 200-500mm, outdoor of course), and still can communicate with the subject.

I am hoping to also take full length full length and yet can get good bokeh of the background ... so I suppose the longer focal length 135mm will be more suitable than the 85mm ?

Thanks

 

[RyanKhoo]

TS: if you don't mind MF and need to keep within budget, the Rokinon/Samyang 135mm f2 rates equally as well as the Zeiss at 1/3 the price but does seem to suffer more from sample variation.

Very tempting but I think I am not that pro yet ... maybe still need auto focus lens ... :embrass:

 

[JakeCWP]

How is it that the Sigma Art series hasn't been mentioned yet?
Am using the 50mm f/1.4 Art on my D810 and it creates sharp, vibrant images with creamy bokeh.
Focusing is also almost always on point too.

How would you rate the Sigma 50mm Art against other lenses?

 

[L-coholic]

Yes, I think I will just go for the 85 F1.8 because our local price is something like almost 4 times, SGD 578 vs SGD 2,012



I am hoping to also take full length full length and yet can get good bokeh of the background ... so I suppose the longer focal length 135mm will be more suitable than the 85mm ?

Thanks

based on what I know from reading some articles online,
"longer focal length provide smoother and more creamy bokeh".

based on my own personal experience,
135mm does provide smoother and creamy bokeh,
but I didn't do side by side comparison with 85mm to see the difference.

here is a bokeh simulator, may be you can spend some times to play with it:
http://dofsimulator.net/en/

 

[vickee]

I couldn't find any local reference to the $300 discount but noticed even BH and Adorama has $300 USD off this lens.

It is a promotion that is due to expire in July but got extended.
Was at Cathay on 27 Oct to buy another lens, and the sales promoter reminded me of this offer.
TK and MS color told me the same promo 1 week ago.

May go get the 135apo this weekend.

 

[Dfive]

It is a promotion that is due to expire in July but got extended.
Was at Cathay on 27 Oct to buy another lens, and the sales promoter reminded me of this offer.
TK and MS color told me the same promo 1 week ago.

May go get the 135apo this weekend.

DO IT... It's stunning optic to say the least.

To get the most out of it when its critical I will shoot it with my Monopod mounted to my Camera.

Dawn / Dusk / Night use tripod... but its simply an amazing optic!!

 

[RyanKhoo]

It is a promotion that is due to expire in July but got extended.
Was at Cathay on 27 Oct to buy another lens, and the sales promoter reminded me of this offer.
TK and MS color told me the same promo 1 week ago.

May go get the 135apo this weekend.

You mean this lens:

http://www.amazon.com/Zeiss-135mm-Sonnar-Nikon-Mount/dp/B00BG6CSZC

This lens is manual focus only, right ? How much is Cathay selling ?

Thanks

 

[vickee]

You mean this lens: http://www.amazon.com/Zeiss-135mm-Sonnar-Nikon-Mount/dp/B00BG6CSZC This lens is manual focus only, right ? How much is Cathay selling ? Thanks

Sent you pm

 

[Blur Shadow]

How is it that the Sigma Art series hasn't been mentioned yet?

Not the Art series, but I use the Sigma 85mm f/1.4. It's pretty good.

Still, I rate the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G and Nikon AF-S 200mm f/2G VR higher. The 200mm f/2 is amazing...!