motorized Nikon F2AS
Nikkor 85 f2 AI manual focus
Fuji Sensia II 100 ISO colour slide
Nikkor 85 f2 AI manual focus
Fuji Sensia II 100 ISO colour slide
Allie
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 rbsinto.nikonhistorical... |
Allie |
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Posts: 90 11/05/07 19:36:05 |
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Jarle Aasland |
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Posts: 45 11/17/07 21:23:59 |
Cute!
Are you happy with the 85mm? I'm very happy with mine, but apparently there are very mixed opinions about this particular lens. Jarle |
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rbsinto.nikonhistorical... |
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Posts: 90 11/18/07 01:23:43 |
Except for its reasonably high speed, I consider it to be a completely useless lens. I got mine as part of a four-piece package (Nikkor 50/1.4 AI, 85/f2 AI,
105/2.5 AI and 104/f4 AI micro) that I bid on and won at a bankruptcy auction many years ago. The 50 and the 85 are the two prime Nikkors that I used the
least. I've also got an 85 f2 Nikkor for my S3, and I'm almost sorry I bought it. When I "go rangefinder", I usually take my f with my 180
/2.8 for any telephoto or portrait shooting.
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VinceC.nikonhistorical... |
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Posts: 57 11/18/07 04:46:32 |
I love the 85/2 in SLR shooting. It's essentially the same size as a 50mm lens. So it is at its best on a non-motorized body, where you're getting nice
tight shots but not making your subjects uncomfortable with a massive telephoto in their faces.
When doing some shoots 25 years ago in a poorly lit skating rink, I borrowed this lens from a colleague to put on my Nikkormat. It's fair to say the 85/2 is the reason I switched from Canon F1s to the Nikon F system. It's wonderfully sharp and when focused down to 3 feet at f/2 can completely isolate someone's eyes. That said, I've never warmed to this lens in rangefinder mount. I'll often carry the 85/2 and 135/3.5 together when I want lots of flexibility with my telephotos. But I strongly prefer the 105/2.5 on my RF cameras. Certainly one of the reasons is that the S3 is my preferred RF camera, and has 105mm frame. But mainly it allows me the simplicity of carrying one telephoto. Interestingly, I don't care much for the 105 on my SLRs. Too tight for regular use and not quite long enough when you need telephoto. So my basic SLR kit is 28/2.8, 50/1.4, 85/2 and 185/2.8 My preferred RF setup is 28/3.5, 50/1.4 and 105/2.5.
Last Edited By: VinceC 11/18/07 04:50:37.
Edited 3 times.
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Jarle Aasland |
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Posts: 45 11/18/07 06:07:40 |
Interesting. Again, people have very different opinions about the 85mm f/2.
Here's the verdict from Bjørn Rørslett, well-know lens reviewer and photographer: "The replacement for the venerable f/1.8 lens was much smaller and very compact, but unfortunately the optical quality is nowhere in the league of its predecessor. In particular I found pictures taken with the 85/2 to be dull and life-less, and images took on a greyish cast as well. I'm aware of reports claiming this lens is an excellent perfomer and am at a loss to explain this discrepancy in opinions (I've tried several 85/2's and they all behaved in a similar manner)." http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_short.html Like I said, I'm very happy with mine. Just as good as my other Nikkors (and I have a few..) My favourite film SLR lenses: 20mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2 (one of the best lenses ever), 85mm f/2 and 135mm f/2.8. These days, I'm mostly using zoom lenses (17-35mm and 70-200mm) with the D2X. Jarle |
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nikon61352 |
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Posts: 128 11/19/07 16:21:17 |
The 85/2 is not quite as sharp as the late-version 105/2.5. It's within a hair of it, and has the extra speed. This lens was aimed at wedding photographers
doing portraits. It served that purpose well.
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rbsinto.nikonhistorical... |
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Posts: 90 11/19/07 19:36:14 |
Vince,
When I'm shooting SLR, I've got either a Tamron SP 35~105 2.8 or zoom-Nikkor 80~200 ED 2.8 AIS manual focus monster to use for portraits, and I've never had a problem caused by the big glass intimidating or scaring a subject. And similarly, when I'm Rangefindering it, I usually have an F with a 180 2.8 ED with me as well for the tight shots, and while it's not as big or imposing as the Nikkor zoom, it has never caused subject problems either. |
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