I've been shooting with Nikon DSLRs for like twelve years now and honestly I thought I had my kit perfected with the trinity of zooms. Ive been using the 24-70mm f2.8 G for almost everything but I just landed this huge editorial portrait gig for a magazine here in Chicago and looking back at my recent test shots the background separation just feels... flat. I dont know why it took me this long to realize but my zooms arent cutting it for high-end studio work where I need that really shallow depth of field and those eyes to be tack sharp at 100 percent crop.
I'm looking at finally moving to a dedicated prime but I'm torn between the 85mm and the 105mm. The 85mm 1.4G seems like the gold standard but then I see people raving about the 105mm f1.4E and saying its the best glass Nikon ever made for the F-mount. My budget is around 2000 bucks and I need to get this sorted in the next two weeks so I can get used to the weight and the focus speed before the actual shoot. Is the 105mm gonna be too tight for a medium sized studio setup or should I just play it safe with the 85mm? I'm really looking for that specific look where the subject just pops off the background...
In my experience, the technical gap between those two is actually quite large. Quick question though... how many feet of working distance do you actually have in that studio?
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED: Superior MTF performance and the best bokeh transition on F-mount.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G: Great for three-quarter shots but shows more chromatic aberration.
- Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art: Sharper than the Nikon 85mm but it is a heavy beast.
Quick question before I weigh in... are you doing tight headshots or full body for this Chicago gig? Ive tried many combos, but the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED is superior:
- Chromatic aberration is non-existent compared to the older 85mm.
- Focus accuracy is much higher for those 100 percent crops. Buy it used and youll have cash left for a backup Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G just in case the room is tight.
I have been using the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED for about three years now and honestly I am super satisfied with it. It is way sharper than my old 85mm and the transition from focus to bokeh is just smoother. Just measure your studio space first... if you are in a tight spot, the 105mm might be a struggle for anything but headshots.
