Model: Viivi / Cyrus models
Tags: model portrait fashion studio Helsinki Finland Profoto D1 Nikon Z Z6ii NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Z 85mm f/1.2S curtain
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In addition to posting photos, I also sometimes write about cameras, lenses, or lighting gear. For some gear, it's hard to find hands-on comments that aren't influenced by commercial collaborations. This time, I'm commenting on the Nikon Z 85mm f1.2.
I recently got the Z 85mm f1.2 lens and have used it at one event and multiple studio portrait/fashion/beauty shoots. My usual go-to lenses for portrait and fashion photography include a 50mm prime as my primary lens, followed often by 85mm and 35mm primes. While the 135mm Plena might be an exceptional piece of glass, it's too long for my preferred style of capturing people. Even the 105mm sometimes feels too long for indoor use. And while I like the primes, I could shoot 90% of my people photos with 24-70mm f2.8 zoom.
My main reasons for upgrading were influenced by several factors:
- The quick and silent autofocus capabilities of Z-mount lenses.
- The additional 1/3 of the stop of light gathering capability. Finland is a dark place to live :)
- 82mm filter size. No step-up rings hassle when using ND, black mist, or other filters. ND is the filter I use most and great if the same filter works with your main lenses.
- Lot less color fringing around high-contrast edges (this rarely matters for portrait work)
- The impressive performance of the Z 50mm f1.2, sets a high standard for what the S-line lenses can achieve. Would be good if other main lenses provide the same quality and look.
- GAS :P
Notable observations after using the lens:
- Lens size: It's a substantial lens with a good balance but can be cumbersome for all-day carry or travel. The lens hood, while protective, adds to its bulk and makes it look intimidating. I haven't even used the hood. There's no need for it in the studio, and the lens worked well in outdoor situations when the sitter was backlit by the sun.
- Comfort: It feels similar in hand to the Z 50mm f1.2, but it's heftier due to the larger diameter. The lens feels lighter than the AF-S 105mm f1.4 (top-heavy with FTZ) but is noticeably heavier than the 85mm f1.4G with FTZ adapter or the Z 24-70mm f2.8.I think the weight of a lens becomes noticeable when it reaches about a kilogram, and it becomes an issue when the weight is 1.5 kg or more.
- Autofocus: The autofocus is snappy, silent, and accurate. While I haven't compared it directly to the 1.8S version, the improvement over any lens with an FTZ adapter is clear. Does this mean better images? Usually not. But if you are spoiled by the autofocus of native Z lenses, you know what I mean. If you photograph fast-moving subjects, this can be a clear benefit with a Z lens.
- Image quality: The image quality is exceptional, even wide open at f1.2. The clarity and detail in the images have been consistently impressive.
- Light gathering & bokeh: It offers a slight edge in light gathering, with around 1/3 stop more than the f1.4 and just over a full stop compared to the f1.8. This can sometimes be helpful, but keep in mind the extremely shallow depth of field when photographing things close to minimum focusing distance. I had no issues with the bokeh from the 85mm f1.4G. In my opinion, bokeh needs to be gnarly to ruin an otherwise good (portrait) photo.
- Fun: Don't underestimate this part; if the lens gives you an extra 2% of quality in your work or makes you enjoy photography more, just do it.
Comparison with other lenses:
- AF-S 85mm f1.4G: This lens has been a reliable workhorse for me for around a decade, even with mirrorless cameras. To be honest, it can be challenging to distinguish significant differences in image quality between this and the Z 85mm f1.2. By looking closely, the Z version is better with sharpness and contrast when wide open and does not have the massive color fringing that can occur with the 85mm f1.4G. However, the older version's optical flaws don't usually manifest when you shoot in a controlled lighting setup and take portraits where only center image performance usually matters. You can see the flaws more pronounced in high-contrast city shots, but how many will use the 85mm for that purpose?
- I've never used the highly praised Sigma ART line of 85mm prime.
- I recently missed a good discount on a used Nikkor Z 85mm f1.8S lens, and it would have been interesting to compare it to the f1.2 version before selling either of them away. From the comments and reviews, it seems to deliver 95% of what the f1.2 does, but at a fraction of the cost and size.
- F-Mount Lenses with FTZ Adapter: Using the FTZ adapter adds an extra piece of equipment when switching between older lenses. It's not a huge effort, but it becomes noticeable if you change lenses frequently during a shoot. I've also found that older F-mount lenses, when adapted to Z-mount bodies with the FTZ adapter, tend to produce more noise than F-mount cameras and can face more challenges with autofocus in low-light conditions.
TLDR
Oh, the classic conundrum of the photography world: I can spend hours crafting the shot, tweaking the lighting, and patiently waiting for that magical moment, only to have my picture of a random camera or lens outshine all that hard work on Flick by accumulating way more views :)
Tags: Nikon Z Z 85mm f/1.2S NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S review Z 24-70mm f/2.8S Z6 Z6ii
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Tags: Garrett Meyers wagon Redding Redding photographer kool april nights
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Model: Amanda / FMA
Light tech help: Marko Oja
Tags: model portrait fashion Helsinki Finland Pasila outdoor Profoto A10 OCF beauty dish Nikon Z Z6ii leather jacket Z 50mm f1.8S
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Model: Amanda / FMA
Light tech help: Marko Oja
Tags: model portrait fashion Helsinki Finland Pasila outdoor graffiti Nikon Z Z6ii Z 85mm f/1.2S NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
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