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Hi Matt. I bought both the Nikkor Z 50 & 85 f1.2 lenses and love them both! The 85 is always on my Z9 unless I have a reason to change it for another application. My Nikkor Z24-70 f2.8 is normally attached to my Z7. I find the Z lenses are the best Nikon has ever produced and I have 7 of them. Stay Cool! Rick
Given that you hesitated to pick one up yourself, I find it somewhat ironic that it was your video (and the sample shots you provided specifically) that convinced me to purchase the 85/1.2. Zero regrets.
Hello Matt! I do use sometimes the 50mm, and I also starting to like it. Now at my last shooting my most favorit, and most used lens died on me. My loved 105mm f1.4 lost the AF motor, and repair is not worth it. So I'm thinking of trying the 85mm f1.2, but not sure if I will like as much as my 105mm. But I enjoyed this video of yours, thank you.
Thanks again, for providing the files to at review. This is a tough one. With the files provided, it left me feeling much the same way you did when "initially" reviewing the lens. Of course, I believe the 200mm f/2 (with the 105mm f/1.4 tailing a bit behind it) have ruined my idea of what I want out of a lens. The shots you took with the 50mm f/1.2 are actually more appealing to my eye, and, for what it's worth, if shot wide open appear a bit sharper than the 85mm f/1.2 - which appears just a tad soft. The fall off and bokeh are very close, but again, the shots with the 50mm appeal to my eye (but perhaps not everyone, and maybe I need to sleep on it). It was largely because of you (but also some others) that I bought the used 200mm. I've shot it for indoor sports (Ice Hockey cameos and on ice action portrait, a wedding, wildlife, and of course, outdoor portraits. That particular lens is dangerous (both from a weight standpoint and future expectation standpoint). The main appeal of the 85mm is shooting distance and relation with subject (to me). It's still heavy and costs a lot. As I've said before to you, I'm curious when and what the 135mm f/1.8 will bring to the table - albeit you are still talking large working distances. As you mentioned, your initial impression was "I don't need another lens", till you shot with the 85 or the 50mm more. Curious what you thought about the color rendition on both? I'll have to check out some FLICKR pages. I may test one out in the store, but as your initial impression, I'm not feelin' it right now.
The 85mm is a touch softer but in post the raw has a lot of sharpening available. I was comparing the 105 sigma to the 85mm 1.2, and with sharpening they're so close you don't care. Bokeh is smoother on the 85mm, approaching 200 f2 levels, but still not the same - cant beat the 200 f/2. The Nikon 105mm 1.4E is so soft on 45mp that compared to the 85mm it's a joke.
@@Tap-a-roo Appreciate the feedback. I do not have the Z85 1.2 to compare to the other two, but a trip to the camera store will solve that for an hour or so. Thanks for making it worth my while to stop by them.
I've found the Z 85/1.2 to be, without question, the best portrait lens I've used in nearly half a century of using Nikon (and other) gear. The only other lens I've seen that has the same visual feel is the old Zeiss 150/4 Sonnar for the Hasselblad and the Nikon blows it away in every other way while matching its feel. Mine has barely been off my Z 9 since I got it on launch day.
@@mattgranger I've always preferred 85mm for portrait length. While 105 is also OK, I find anything longer than 85 to have a bit too much compression for the faces to seem natural. 105 is OK but by the time the focal length gets to 135, the look just feels wrong. While I've used 105s happily, they're just never quite as good, for me, as 85s.
Matt just to say that you really hit it out of the park with these incredible images of the breath-taking and charming Eilia 🙀🙀🙀😍😍😍....the lenses are so impressive and every time i see you shoot in Hong Kong i miss it (had visited it three times before long ago) ...
Both are waaaay beyond my budget, heheh... but it's always nice seeing great gears in skillful hands. Btw, Eilia's face is so cute and exotic. Definitely one of the best models you've showcased on your channel.
I am curious if Nikon will release a 105mm 1.2. It seems as though with mirrorless they are redoing their old 1.4 f mount as 1.2s and I think a 105mm 1.2 would be insane. I’m sure it would be insanely big, heavy, and expensive as well, but I would want one preordered as soon as released.
You're in your element Matt, fantastic compositions, the best equipment and a gorgeous model...What's there not to like.... Apart from that it looks like it's going to cost you 3 grand.🙈🤣
Love your videos, Matt! I picked up a used F mount 85, 1.4 a few months back and have been pretty disappointed in the amount of chromatic aberration. Do these new Z mount 1.2’s suffer from that same issue? It does not appear so from the RU-vid video, and admittedly, I have not downloaded the files, but wanted to get your first hand experience. Thanks!
I use the 85/1.2 on my z9 for outdoor portraits, backlit I have no problems w/ CA. There is a tad here and there depending on the intensity of the backlight, but it's trivial to compensate in LR.
Lens design fascinates me. For example, it's interesting to me that between these two lenses, the one with the longer focal length has a shorter overall length. You'd think the 85mm would be longer than the 50mm, but no.
Thanks for the heads up, I have fixed the button link in the red box. Thanks again. FYI if that happens again, the link in the top header is always working. Cheers.
Thanks for the heads up, I have fixed the button link in the red box. Thanks again. FYI if that happens again, the link in the top header is always working. Cheers.
Thanks for the heads up, I have fixed the button link in the red box. Thanks again. FYI if that happens again, the link in the top header is always working. Cheers.
The Viltrox 85mm is the same as the older Nikon Z 85mm being an f1.8. There are a few videos out comparing the Viltrox to the Nikon Z 1.8 and then a few videos comparing the Nikon 1.8 vs 1.2 if you search RU-vid and hopefully that’ll help you.
Let's see... 1. Keep the 200mm f/2G when other F-mount lenses get sold? Obviously, yes. 2. Keep the 105mm f/1.4E when other F-mount lenses get sold? At the time the answer was "No", but with the performance on the Z9 + FTZII, it was re-acquired. 3. Purchase the 50mm f/1.2 S? Yes. 4. Purchase the 85mm f/1.2 S? Yes. This is all about your level of excellence as a photographer, both professionally and intrinsically. What you do and what you produce is worthy of the better lenses. I can't imagine you *not* getting it.
@@mattgrangerAs an investment in your business, yes. For me, not making money from photography, no. The work you distribute is either done using specific gear for evaluation or using the equipment that best suits what you're doing. The other 85s have benefits in specific situations, like the 85 f/1.8 S being smaller and lighter or the Tamron having stabilization. But for pure optical quality, it seems like the 85 f/1.2 S would be better than anything else, especially after you sold the Otus. And this has autofocus. Some of our decisions are challenging. Others are a no-brainer, only leaving the question of when... 📆