Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

70-200mm 2.8 or 85mm 1.4 for nudes and street candids

S

seedster2

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 16, 2007
686
0
NYC
I currently have a Tokina 12-24mm f4 and Sigma 50mm f1.4 on my D90 and enjoy shooting portraits, nudes and cityscapes but need something longer

I am debating between the 85mm 1.4 and the 70-200mm 2.8 as my next lens. The 85mm is known for its incredible bokeh and is cheaper, while the 70-200mm is more versatile but has added price as well.

If you planned to shoot mostly indoor portraits and some limited outdoor stuff, what Nikkor would you get?
 
C

ChrisA

macrumors G5
Jan 5, 2006
12,836
2,041
Redondo Beach, California
seedster2 said:
....I am debating between the 85mm 1.4 and the 70-200mm 2.8 as my next lens. The 85mm is known for its incredible bokeh and is cheaper, while the 70-200mm is more versatile but has added price as well....
Click to expand...

200mm indoors? You must have a large studio. Are you sure you need something longer than 85mm? If you do then why not get the 80-200 f/2.8. It is much less expensive than the 70-200. Good used copies sell for $650.
 
C

ckseid

macrumors newbie
Sep 28, 2008
27
9
Los Angeles
I have both. You will love them both. I do.
With the crop factor and for nudes (indoors) and street candid without scaring people off, i recommend getting the 85mm 1.4 first.
 
F

feuerschlange

macrumors regular
Oct 13, 2008
221
0
85 1.4 seems more fitting to your preferences

For indoors the 70-200 with its longer minimum focus distance would be quite limiting.

Next to other points (wider usable aperture, less bulky, weighty, less pricey,...) the 85 1.4 should fit more to your style.

If you do nudes, the fantastic shallow DOF, creamy colors and exceptional out of focus quality of the 85 will really get you in love with that lense.


The 70-200 on the other side is also known as a fantastic portrait lense. Though it serves another crowd with its tank like built weather sealing and extremely fast focus acquisition.

I have both and use them on DX and FX. The 85 would be my preference for your shooting.
 
S

seedster2

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 16, 2007
686
0
NYC
ChrisA said:
200mm indoors? You must have a large studio. Are you sure you need something longer than 85mm? If you do then why not get the 80-200 f/2.8. It is much less expensive than the 70-200. Good used copies sell for $650.
Click to expand...

I would obviously be using the shorter 70-110mm end for indoor portraits;)

The longer end would be for street candids and maybe some sports.


I think i will splurge for the 85mm 1.4


@ iBallz I have just joined that forum. Thanks for the heads up
 
S

seedster2

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 16, 2007
686
0
NYC
Bought the 85 1.4 Today

Here it is sitting along side it's 1.4 brethren

_DSC1267-51-Edit.jpg
 
obeygiant

obeygiant

macrumors 601
Jan 14, 2002
4,196
4,116
totally cool
You will be much more mobile with the 85mm. The extra couple stops on the 85 are very helpful when you approach the magic hour.
 
jbernie

jbernie

macrumors 6502a
Nov 25, 2005
927
12
Denver, CO
Given Canon is doing rebates at the moment.... the 70-200mm IS 2.8 has $200 on it. not sure if the 85mm has anything on offer.
 
Abstract

Abstract

macrumors Penryn
Dec 27, 2002
24,870
902
Location Location Location
The 70-200 mm f2.8 is perfect for nudes........if you're hiding in some shrubs and don't have their permission to be shooting. Otherwise, the 85 mm f/1.4 you just bought is fine.
 
E

Ed91

macrumors 6502
Dec 22, 2007
267
1
200mm for nudes? How far away are the windows you're peeping through? :p
 
W

wheelhot

macrumors 68020
Nov 23, 2007
2,084
269
The 70-200 mm f2.8 is perfect for nudes........if you're hiding in some shrubs and don't have their permission to be shooting. Otherwise, the 85 mm f/1.4 you just bought is fine.
Click to expand...

Lol, if that's the case, I strongly suggest the photographer in question to find another hobby, doing that will just give us photographer bad name, as if a photographer image isn't tarnished enough.
 
L

Lunaprk

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2004
14
0
Orlando, Florida
"I am debating between the 85mm 1.4 and the 70-200mm 2.8 as my next lens. The 85mm is known for its incredible bokeh and is cheaper, while the 70-200mm is more versatile but has added price as well."

For the 85mm, which company are you considering? Tokina or Sigma?
 
R

Rotary8

macrumors regular
Oct 24, 2006
170
0
I own both, wish I'd gotten the 85mm first though. Probably wouldn't have gotten the 70-200 at all. I mainly shoot childrens portraits and the 85mm is just a dreamy lens. I've used the 70-200 on my d300 for birds, and on my 700 for sports and indoor events though, rarely.

85mm is on my DSLRs most of the time.
 
R

Rotary8

macrumors regular
Oct 24, 2006
170
0
canon doesn't make 85mm in 1.4. only 1.2 and 1.8. So I guess my assumption was nikon. =)
 
F

feuerschlange

macrumors regular
Oct 13, 2008
221
0
Lunaprk said:
"I am debating between the 85mm 1.4 and the 70-200mm 2.8 as my next lens. The 85mm is known for its incredible bokeh and is cheaper, while the 70-200mm is more versatile but has added price as well."

For the 85mm, which company are you considering? Tokina or Sigma?
Click to expand...

Nikon, when you use a Nikon body with integrated AF motor (it is still the old style AF-D lens, which will not autofocus on bodies like the D40, D60, ..., D5000 ).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom