So I finally caved and said yes to doing my sisters engagement photos next month at the botanical gardens here in Austin and honestly I am super pumped but also kinda panicking lol. Ive been shooting landscapes and city stuff for like a decade now so I know my way around my D850 and my Z6ii but I have always been a zoom guy... usually just live on my 24-70mm f/2.8 for everything.
But looking at the light in that garden I know my current glass just isnt gonna give me that super soft dreamy background shes looking for. I need a prime and I need it fast since the shoot is in three weeks. Im torn between sticking with the classic 85mm or maybe going for something longer like a 105mm but I dont want to be too far away from them while I am giving directions and trying to keep the energy up.
Budget is around $1200 and I dont mind buying used if the glass is clean. Should I go for the S-line 85mm for the Z mount or is there a specific F-mount gold ring lens that still hits the mark with the FTZ adapter? I want that crazy sharpness on the eyes but with really smooth falloff for the bokeh. What do you guys think is the absolute best pick for a dedicated portrait session like this...
Saw this earlier but just getting back to you now. Quick question before I give my full take - are you planning to swap the lens between both bodies during the shoot or is this strictly for the Z6ii? That really changes the value proposition of going native vs adapted glass. In my experience, native Z glass is superior for eye-tracking reliability. The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is incredibly sharp and much lighter, which helps when you're hiking around a garden for a couple hours. If you really want that heavy compression, a used Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED is the gold standard for bokeh but its a total tank with the adapter. Just something to think about regarding your wrists... the S-line primes are basically optically perfect even wide open these days.
just catching up on this thread and i gotta say, while the Z 85mm is a solid choice, i might suggest looking at something with a bit more soul for a botanical garden shoot. i would suggest the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED used. honestly it hits your budget perfectly and the rendering is just on another level compared to the f/1.8 S line glass. @Ndarfat - good point about the eye tracking tho. the native Z lenses are definitely snappier, but the 105mm on an FTZ still performs remarkably well on the Z6ii. just be careful with the weight because that combo is gonna be way heavier than your 24-70. i've found that for portraits, that extra compression at 105mm helps hide distracting background elements better than an 85mm does. make sure to check the glass for dust if you buy used, but that lens is built like a tank... basically it's the gold standard for a reason. good luck with the shoot, botanical gardens can be tricky with the light so bring a reflector if you can!
