a small comparison

[Fons Baerken]

1


D3 -- zf 85mm f/1.4 the first non chipped version

2


D3 -- nikkor 85mm f/1.4 ais

3


D3 -- nikkor 50mm f/1.2 ais

[Peter Forsell]

Nice, Fons. Now please tell us more. All at minimum focusing distance, all wide open?

I am surprised about the similarity of the rendering in all of them. Especially the two AI-S lenses look like twins with similar colors, similar glow in the out-of-focus flowers and similar busy(ish) double-line bokeh.

[Fons Baerken]

i found the zeiss has a longer minimum working distance than the  nikkor, i will try some shots later this week, Peter.
This was not meant to be all scientific, but just a working-situation example.

[John Geerts]

In terms of bokeh, the 1.2 is the winner.  Obvious for the fastest lens, I guess. I find the bokeh of the Zeiss distracting, but that may be a matter of taste...

[Fons Baerken]

Since they were done with the obsolete D3, i used the d2x mode 1 within ps which is quite flat,
shows the zeiss has a little bit more saturation which may look more busy in its bokeh.

[Fons Baerken]

D800 -- nikkor 85mm f/1.4 ais



D800 -- zf 85mm f/1.4

slow moving subject , shot wide open, straight raw conversion ps cc2017, portrait profile.

[Macro_Cosmos]

I personally prefer the colder and more saturated output of the Zeiss

The Zeiss seems to be sharper in the centre while the 85/1.4 ais is sharper in the edges. Great work! I find focusing f1.4 lenses to still be a bit challenging.

[Fons Baerken]

I personally prefer the colder and more saturated output of the Zeiss

The Zeiss seems to be sharper in the centre while the 85/1.4 ais is sharper in the edges. Great work! I find focusing f1.4 lenses to still be a bit challenging.

Thank you sir! minimum focus of the Zeiss is about a meter, of the Nikkor 85cm, so in that respect at least they must of different design.

[Akira]

Beautiful comparison shots, Fons!

Ais Nikkor incorporates CRC while Planar is of a rack focus.  So, Nikkor could focus closer and still be sharper overall at closer distance.

[Fons Baerken]

i truly cant say which to like best at full aperture, perhaps an edge to the nikkor for focusing closer and a more neutral rendition, things will change once stopped down i think.

[golunvolo]

I will not know about the lenses but like your choice of graceful subjects

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

I prefer the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 ais, but you know my style and you know why ;-)

[Peter Forsell]

I prefer the Zeiss look, a bit cooler color and maybe a tad more saturation. In addition the Zeiss seems to have a tiny bit more 3D feel to it, but maybe it is just the orientation of the subject or the direction of the light, or maybe just my imagination, hard to say. Thanks for posting these samples.

[Fons Baerken]

thank you Paco, Klaus, Peter...

if and when i have a chance would like to shoot and show some more images but stopped down