Nikon 85mm f/1.8G vs Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AE for portraits on a D7000
Asked 2/23/2013
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I’m choosing an 85mm portrait lens for a Nikon D7000, with a budget around $300–400. I’m comparing the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G and the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AE (with focus-confirm chip). The Samyang offers f/1.4 and is manual focus only, while the Nikon is autofocus and has a strong reputation for portraits. For portrait use, how much practical difference is there between f/1.4 and f/1.8 in background blur and shallow depth of field? Also, how usable is manual focus at these apertures, and which lens is the better overall choice?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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I would go with the Nikon for one main reason: wide-open, with such a shallow DOF, I personally wouldn't want to have to manually focus. Simple.
Both are superb lenses. The DXO ratings are very close: Nikon 85mm 1.8G vs. Samyang 85mm 1.4. The Nikon edges the Samyang in sharpness according to them, but I doubt you could tell the difference in sharpness outside a lab test. I have the Nikon 85mm 1.8D and the bokeh and shallow DOF are amazing. At that focal length it's easy to throw backgrounds out of focus compared to 50mm, so I don't think f/1.4 is critical vs f1.8.
The Nikon has 7 rounded aperture blades vs 8 straight blades on the Samyang - not sure there's a clear winner there.
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
13y ago
0
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For most shooters, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is the safer recommendation. At 85mm, you can already get very shallow depth of field and strong background blur, so the real-world difference between f/1.4 and f/1.8 is noticeable but not huge for most portrait use.
The Samyang 85mm f/1.4 AE is well regarded and should deliver excellent results, but its biggest limitation is manual focus. At 85mm and wide apertures, depth of field is very thin, so accurate manual focus can be difficult—especially for portraits where slight subject movement can throw focus off. The focus-confirm chip helps, but it does not replace autofocus.
Based on the answers, optical quality between these lenses is very close, with the Nikon slightly ahead in some testing, though the difference may be hard to see outside controlled comparisons. Since image quality is similar, autofocus is the main deciding factor.
If you value ease of use and consistent keeper rate, get the Nikon. Choose the Samyang only if you specifically want f/1.4 and are comfortable working manually.
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