Ive been shooting with my trusty Nikon D750 for years now and honestly, I thought I had my lens kit locked down. I usually rely on my 24-70mm f/2.8 for events, but lately Ive been doing way more portrait work for my sisters wedding photography business here in Seattle and the zoom just feels kinda sluggish, you know? I want that classic subject separation and the extra stop of light that only a prime can give me.
Im looking for something that fits these specific needs:
- Budget is around 600 bucks tops, maybe 700 if its used but in great condition.
- Needs to be sharp wide open, I dont wanna deal with too much softness at f/1.4 or f/1.8.
- Something that handles chromatic aberration well because I hate fixing that in post.
- Definitely looking for an FX lens since I want to keep full-frame.
Ive been eyeing the 85mm f/1.8G but then I hear people raving about the older 85mm f/1.4D or even third-party stuff like the Sigma Art series, which I hear is heavy as hell but sharp. Is the extra cash for the 1.4 really worth the weight and cost jump for portrait sessions, or should I just stick with the 1.8G? Really torn here...
TL;DR: The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art is a beast for sharpness! Are you mostly shooting headshots or full-body portraits? That extra reach really changes the compression ratios!
> Is the extra cash for the 1.4 really worth the weight and cost jump for portrait sessions, or should I just stick with the 1.8G? Honestly, skip the old 1.4D. I owned it for years and it is way too soft wide open. Grab the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G. It is stupid sharp, light, and the autofocus is surprisingly snappy. You wont regret saving the cash, and your back will thank you during those long wedding shoots.
Adding my two cents after years of shooting events. Honestly, stick to the newer glass. The older stuff has way too much fringing for modern sensors.
- Look into third-party manufacturers that specialize in prime glass. They usually beat the brand-name stuff for sharpness at half the price.
- Dont sweat the f/1.4 label. Youll rarely use it wide open anyway because the depth of field becomes a headache.