Clicking Mad Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 hey I said I'd practise with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 lens for a week (it's been at least 2 if not 3 now) and do a review anyway, I find this a little tricky because everyone has different needs, but I'll just give my general thoughts and add some pics :) general feel: I most enjoy taking my camera out'n'about to the park (parks/beaches) with my dogs, I often walk there and back with at least 2 dogs, and felt this lens was heavier than I was comfortable with, not overly so, but I'd be less inclined to take it for that reason ... having said that, I specifically chose it the other day (after working with it for the few weeks, I felt more comfortable choosing it) it took a bit of getting used to such a shallow depth of field for it's length, I love shooting wide-open but found that undoable with white dogs in the sun, Chester and Lotus were often overexposed in these circumstances nice portrait lens @ f/5.0 ISO400 mid-morning light same as above @ f/1.4 @ f/1.4 ISO800 late evening (sun had definitely gone down) action? same evening @ f/1.4 ss 1/640 ISO800 same evening @f/1.4 ss 1/1000 ISO800 early evening @f/2.0 ISO200 (remember I mentioned chopping off the dogs legs with this lens?) same early evening @f/2.0 ss 1/8000 ISO200 eta: hmm no Saxon pics, that would be the weight issue, he can be a bit of a handful and taking the heavier camera/lenses to the park with him is not something we are up to as yet :) of course I have loads more pics ... and will upload some more as soon as I sort them out properly any questions? comments? or your 85mm lens pics? feel free :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Thanks so much for this, CM :D I have been contemplating the Nikon 85mm 1.8 even more after speaking to a couple of photographers that swear by it. ATM I am loving using my 105mm more and more, but would love the shorter focal length of the 85mm. Would love to see more, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Are You Serious Jo Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Very nice A fast 85mm is on my list as well. I've got a 135/2.8 that I'm going to try out, I need an adaptor though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clicking Mad Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 Thanks so much for this, CM :D I have been contemplating the Nikon 85mm 1.8 even more after speaking to a couple of photographers that swear by it. ATM I am loving using my 105mm more and more, but would love the shorter focal length of the 85mm. Would love to see more, of course. yeh, prior to the past few weeks (and even inbetween) the 105mm has been my choice, or I go wide with the 35mm - those 2 are by far my favs atm more will be coming as it seems I lied and do have some Saxon shots! just may take me a while revjo: I think I'd prefer a 135mm length over 85mm actually, was thinking of a prime 200mm (but don't want to think about it too much or it may end up here lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Are You Serious Jo Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Once I order the adaptor I can try it out and post some pics. I got it to do the Brenizer photos, but 85mm might be a bit better, or at least a 100mm. I love the primes but wildlife can be a pain with moving about so I got the 55-300 to cover those. It is an amazing lens for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Love em all, another Lens to put on my wish list. :laugh: I am loving my 100mm Marco so far it is really versatile but like Huga said it would be nice to have slightly shorter focal length. DWI have this lens for $751 Look forward to more shots. Which Camera did you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juddabug Whippets Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 The photos you've captured are stunning CM, gorgeous portrait lens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 What's it like for action? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clicking Mad Posted September 13, 2012 Author Share Posted September 13, 2012 Once I order the adaptor I can try it out and post some pics. look forward to them :) Love em all, another Lens to put on my wish list. :laugh: I am loving my 100mm Marco so far it is really versatile but like Huga said it would be nice to have slightly shorter focal length. DWI have this lens for $751 Look forward to more shots. Which Camera did you use? thanks, been using it on the Canon50D The photos you've captured are stunning CM, gorgeous portrait lens! thanks! What's it like for action? um, pretty good I think, I keep trying it out in difficult situations, but I thought on a nice sunny early evening @f/2 it worked well (the last shot of Chester there, I have a few more in that series I'll try and get up soon) :) might even be better than the 105mm at least in terms of speed of focussing, but it's hard to say really, I also got some ok ones @ f/4.0 if I remember correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Awesome, I had a good go the other day with the 100mm the dogs running etc and was wrapped with it. Kirislin had said to me she loved hers for action and she was right. Im still looking forward to some nicer weather here, our good days are few and far between. Its only got to get better I guess! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Thanks for the review CM, super shots of your gorgeous pooches :D I've heard good things about the fast 85mm lenses :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piper Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Thanks so much for this, CM :D I have been contemplating the Nikon 85mm 1.8 even more after speaking to a couple of photographers that swear by it. ATM I am loving using my 105mm more and more, but would love the shorter focal length of the 85mm. Would love to see more, of course. The photographer that shot our wedding mentioned that as 1 of his favourite lenses. Sad that nearly 3 years later I can remember discussing lenses with him during our photos, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clicking Mad Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 @ f/1.4 ss 1/800 ISO800 (this was from the later evening shoot, the sun had gone down, actually I remember I'd gotten there at a good time, but got interrupted when the sun was shining nicely by a rogue black labx youngster, when he'd gone the light was gone ... oh well) ... you may notice particularly with that last shot that f/1.4 is probably too much, Lotus' eye is pretty much the only thing in focus as it turned out the focus hasn't been working for me, that shot I was talking about that I had more in the series (Chester shaking/returning the frisbee) ... well the rest have missed focus, that must have been the lucky one ... and at the beach this morning, focussing at distance was poor for me, it's possible I wasn't on my game since the other lenses produced a lot more than usual missed focuses too, but the shots that required closer focus points worked ok? ... anyway @ f/4.0 ss 1/2000 ISO800 same evening as above before the black labx interrupted us and the sun was above the horizon and just because another couple - from the sunnier/earlier evening :) @f/2.0 ss1/8000 ISO200 @f/1.4 ss 1/1250 ISO200 I'm not sure I like the editing on this next one, but anyway, Saxon :) @f/4.0 ss 1/250 ISO800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 All fantastic!! What a great lens! Oh your photographic skills might have something to do with them too. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Thanks for the comparisons, CM. Really interesting! I would never shoot at 1.8 if I could help it, although sometimes it's necessary in dark churches etc. My 105mm is slow, way too slow to use for anything that moves. It just hunts too much. By the looks of things, the 85mm is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huga Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Ok, just hit buy on the 85mm 1.8G Eeeeeep!! Haven't bought a new lens in forever. So excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 That's awesome! I'm hanging out for one of the canon 70-200L series, probly the f4 but in the meantime hubby wants me to get a 70-300 cheapie so I've got a bit of extra reach for whales next time we go. Lens are very confusing to me, I'm looking at THIS one, for a cheap one it has reasonable reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clicking Mad Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 Ok, just hit buy on the 85mm 1.8G Eeeeeep!! Haven't bought a new lens in forever. So excited! excitement plus!! I love the time between hitting the buy button "what have I done ... oh well, it's too late ... oh goody, a new lens" to the time it arrives on the doorstep, all that potential :laugh: I'm sure you'll do well with it :) tlc: my most reliable lens is the 70-200mm f/4 mainly saved for beach trips oh and speaking of the 85mm and the beach, I did take it to the beach last week, hmm where are those images? found one :) Canon 50D 85mm @f/2.5 (seeing trying off wide-open lol) ss 1/8000 ISO200 and a couple more just uploaded to flickr for here 50D 85mm @f/2.0 ss 1/8000 ISO200 50D 85mm f/2.5 ss 1/8000 ISO200 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tlc Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 CM is your 70-200 the canon version? Is it IS or non? I'm still tossing up between the two but don't think I'll need IS for action shots which is what I'll use it for mainly. Otherwise I'll use a tripod. Great shots, love love love the one of Lotus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clicking Mad Posted September 19, 2012 Author Share Posted September 19, 2012 CM is your 70-200 the canon version? Is it IS or non? I'm still tossing up between the two but don't think I'll need IS for action shots which is what I'll use it for mainly. Otherwise I'll use a tripod. Great shots, love love love the one of Lotus! thanks, it's her 8th b'day today :D canon non-IS :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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