▼

Friday, September 05, 2008

A portrait lens

I just bought a Nikkor 85mm F:1.8.

For non-photo-geeks:
"Nikkor" is Nikon's name for their lenses.
85mm is considered a good length for a portrait lens for a 35mm camera (or slightly smaller, like most digital cameras with exchangeable lenses are).
And F:1.8 means it's a "fast" lens, which signifies that it has big-diameter lenses which take is a lot of light, so you can use it in low light situations. Also a "fast" lens is good for blurring backgrounds, which again is good for portraits.

All reviews hint this is an excellent lens, and it is not even very big or expensive. I'm much looking forward to using it.

Also, this may be just photo-nerd stuff: it's just a beautiful lens. Such a huge "hole" through such superior optical arrangements, it's gorgeous. It may only seem beautiful because I know what it is, but it is still a nice experience.


Thinking about it, I doubt you can build in image stabilization in a lens like this. I wish Nikon would get their act together and put the durn thing in the camera bodies. Other makers sell such cameras at competitive prices, so it can't be all that expensive.
at

7 comments:

  1. Robb5 Sept 2008, 13:01:00

    I have the Nikkor 85mm from my film photography days (Nikon F, FM, FA) and it's a great lens. My favorite lens has always been the 105mm f2.5 - fantastically sharp.

    As for 'image stabilization' - the best technique was to choose the right film speed and shutter speed appropriate for the situation. IS technology came from the video world, as in SteadyCAM systems. A photographer shooting stills SHOULD be able to master hand holding a camera.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eolake Stobblehouse5 Sept 2008, 13:06:00

    That all makes sense. But however slow a shutter speed you can train yourself to use, image stabilization can probably get you two or three stops more, and that is not to sneeze at.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5 Sept 2008, 17:47:00

    Can't wait to see the portraiture you will shoot through this.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eolake Stobblehouse5 Sept 2008, 18:02:00

    Damn, now I'll have to actually use it. :)

    I'll hopefully get the Nikon D90 in a couple weeks, that's what spurred me to get this.

    Thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BlankPhotog5 Sept 2008, 19:52:00

    And now that Nikon's put HD into their first DSLR, there's another argument for in-body IS (to go along with what robb said) in at least whatever line they put HD into. Steady-SLR here we come!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6 Sept 2008, 21:32:00

    Nice.
    I'm always reading that for the money, this lens can't be beat. Sharp w/ nice bokeh and affordable. What more can you want?

    other than your D90 that is.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Eolake Stobblehouse6 Sept 2008, 23:49:00

    Yea, a camera to put it on is a definite advantage! :-)

    A 50mm is cheap and sharp, but they tend to have awful bokeh.

    I have a 100mm 2.0 lens for Canon which is also nice. See pics from it here:
    http://snipurl.com/birch100 [stobblehouse_com]

    ReplyDelete