Honestly so annoyed right now. Been shooting weddings for a decade and usually my 24-70mm 2.8 is my workhorse but a high-end client just complained about the background blur not being creamy enough on their bridal portraits. I tried borrowing an old 85mm 1.8 but the chromatic aberration was a nightmare wide open. I need something that actually looks professional and sharp for a big outdoor shoot in Seattle next month. I have about $1800 to drop on this and I'm torn between the 85mm 1.2 or if the older 105mm is better for that compression. Which Nikon prime is actually the gold standard for pro portraits these days?
Building on the earlier suggestion, you might want to consider a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED. Make sure to check the mount adapter, itll save you a fortune over the 1.2.
^ This. Also, i had issues with the weight on some of the higher end glass lately. I tried out the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.2 S and it was honestly just way too bulky for me to justify the price. Not as good as i expected for a pro lens in terms of portability tbh. My arms were dead after an hour. If youre looking for that compression tho, you might actually like the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED more than an 85. It gives that creamy background everyone wants even if it is an older design. Quick tips for the 105:
- Buy it used to stay well under your 1800 budget.
- Use the FTZ adapter, but be ready for it to feel a bit clunky on the body. Coming back to the 105, the bokeh is way better than that 1.8 you tried. Just sucks that the really good glass is always so heavy...
Ngl, that CA on the old 85mm is basically a purple fringe nightmare. If you want that creamy look without the mess, you gotta be careful with the older glass tho. Since you're in Seattle, you'll probably have a lot of flat light which actually makes CA even more noticeable against white wedding dresses.
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED
- This is the compression king for pros. Honestly, the way it renders skin is unmatched, but make sure to account for the weight because it's a heavy beast for an all-day shoot.
- Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S
- This is the actual gold standard right now. It is incredibly sharp but be careful with the price since it usually retails for way over your $1,800 budget. I would suggest the 105mm if you want the background to melt away. If you're on a Z body, even the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is technically cleaner and has better coatings than most old f/1.4 glass anyway. Just something to consider before you drop the big bucks.
Same here!
Would love to know this too
Just wanted to say thanks for everyone chiming in. Super helpful discussion.
Been thinking about the whole 85mm versus 105mm debate and it honestly reminds me of a total disaster I had on a shoot in the Pacific Northwest a few years back.
- I was trying to be a real DIY hero and spent months in my shop building this custom-calibrated tracking rail because I was obsessed with getting the technical alignment perfect for every frame.
- I had all my data sheets ready to measure the exact flange distance and I was even checking the micro-adjustments for field curvature on my own sensors.
- When I finally got to the misty location, the humidity was so high it actually warped the wood base I had used for my custom rig.
- I stood there like an idiot for forty minutes trying to sand the rail down with a pocket knife while the light was absolutely perfect for portraits...
- Total mess tbh, the technical specs didnt matter one bit when my home-made gear started expanding in the mist... it turned into a whole ordeal that I still hear about from that couple every year.
