Author Topic: Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f/1.4 for landscapes on Nikon D810:is it a right choice?  (Read 21424 times)

Jedi

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I don't see anything special with these small-sized images.
In general, when you want to evaluate lens sharpness you have to control for focus error.
It is best to focus manually with live view.
AF having a problem (i.e. being imprecise at far distances) is a different matter than the lens being unsharp by design or due to mechanical problems!

The difference, at high resolution, there is, but it is a little difference: 85mm would be sharper sharper shatper than 70-200mm, aren't you agree?
Nikon D810 - Zeiss 21/2.8, Zeiss 25/2, Zeiss 28/2, Nikon 28mm f/2 AI, Zeiss 35/1.4, Zeiss 50/1.4, Zeiss M-P 50/2, Zeiss Milvus 50/1.4, Zeiss 85/1.4,  Zeiss M-P 100/2, Nikon 105/2.5 AI, Nikon AF-D 105/2 DC, Zeiss 135/2, Nikon AF-D 135/2 DC, Nikon AF 200/4 Micro Nikkor.

simsurace

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A priori I would expect the prime to be slightly sharper than the zoom, but who knows. Zooms have become so good that we often don't really need the primes for sharpness-related reasons.

However, the files that you showed us are not different enough in my opinion to draw any conclusions.
You could share 100% crops that show an area where you are disappointed with the performance of the prime. But please do make sure that your focus is set on that specific area.
Simone Carlo Surace
suracephoto.com

Jedi

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A priori I would expect the prime to be slightly sharper than the zoom, but who knows. Zooms have become so good that we often don't really need the primes for sharpness-related reasons.

However, the files that you showed us are not different enough in my opinion to draw any conclusions.
You could share 100% crops that show an area where you are disappointed with the performance of the prime. But please do make sure that your focus is set on that specific area.
Yes, I'm agree: in the last times Nikon has spent a lot money for research first of all for zooms, to obtain zoom of very high performance, but, in my opinion, it is true until birth of 105/1.4E G (a monster!), 24/1.4G, 35/1.4G, 200/2G and also 85/1.4G. There is a great difference between my 105/1.4E G and my 70-200mm f/2.8E VRII FL and rightly so. For 24/1.4G, 35/1.4G I think the same thing, but I have choose Zeiss for that focal, so I can't talk for personal experience.
Nikon D810 - Zeiss 21/2.8, Zeiss 25/2, Zeiss 28/2, Nikon 28mm f/2 AI, Zeiss 35/1.4, Zeiss 50/1.4, Zeiss M-P 50/2, Zeiss Milvus 50/1.4, Zeiss 85/1.4,  Zeiss M-P 100/2, Nikon 105/2.5 AI, Nikon AF-D 105/2 DC, Zeiss 135/2, Nikon AF-D 135/2 DC, Nikon AF 200/4 Micro Nikkor.

Erik Lund

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I think my D810 hasn't issues with AF, because with all the others my AF lenses, to infinity, the results are perfect. My 85mm at portrait-distance, is great-performer,  is very sharp. However, I noticed the tha MAF with the central sensor of MAF is perfect, precise, while sometimes it isn't perfect, it is indecided, uncertain , with lateral sensor, BUT ONLY WITH THE 85mm, also in good light conditions.....

Your D810 has 'AF Fine tune' you can set for each lens,,, This is especially important for shallow depth of field lenses,,,

I don't know what MAF is? There are many settings for AF,,,

Looking forward to some landscapes  :)
Erik Lund

Jedi

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Your D810 has 'AF Fine tune' you can set for each lens,,, This is especially important for shallow depth of field lenses,,,

I don't know what MAF is? There are many settings for AF,,,

Looking forward to some landscapes  :)
I thought to this issue (AF not optimized for this lens), but I have fear of use "AF Fine tune"  :-[ :-[ :-[ :'( :'( :'( :'(
The MAF is AF-S, obviously.
AF of my D810 is perfect with all the othres my lenses, at every distances!!!
Nikon D810 - Zeiss 21/2.8, Zeiss 25/2, Zeiss 28/2, Nikon 28mm f/2 AI, Zeiss 35/1.4, Zeiss 50/1.4, Zeiss M-P 50/2, Zeiss Milvus 50/1.4, Zeiss 85/1.4,  Zeiss M-P 100/2, Nikon 105/2.5 AI, Nikon AF-D 105/2 DC, Zeiss 135/2, Nikon AF-D 135/2 DC, Nikon AF 200/4 Micro Nikkor.

Jedi

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However, I will choose Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 for landscapes (thanks to your councils).
Nikon D810 - Zeiss 21/2.8, Zeiss 25/2, Zeiss 28/2, Nikon 28mm f/2 AI, Zeiss 35/1.4, Zeiss 50/1.4, Zeiss M-P 50/2, Zeiss Milvus 50/1.4, Zeiss 85/1.4,  Zeiss M-P 100/2, Nikon 105/2.5 AI, Nikon AF-D 105/2 DC, Zeiss 135/2, Nikon AF-D 135/2 DC, Nikon AF 200/4 Micro Nikkor.

Erik Lund

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,,,
The MAF is AF-S, obviously.
,,,,

And what is AF-C?
Erik Lund

Jack Dahlgren

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However, I will choose Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 for landscapes (thanks to your councils).

Please tell us how it turns out.

Jedi

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And what is AF-C?

What do you think??????
I'm 40 and I shoot from 22 years, I began with film,  Zenit, Pentax, Minolta SR-T series and then Nikon!!!!!!!!!
  >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Nikon D810 - Zeiss 21/2.8, Zeiss 25/2, Zeiss 28/2, Nikon 28mm f/2 AI, Zeiss 35/1.4, Zeiss 50/1.4, Zeiss M-P 50/2, Zeiss Milvus 50/1.4, Zeiss 85/1.4,  Zeiss M-P 100/2, Nikon 105/2.5 AI, Nikon AF-D 105/2 DC, Zeiss 135/2, Nikon AF-D 135/2 DC, Nikon AF 200/4 Micro Nikkor.

David H. Hartman

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I thought to this issue (AF not optimized for this lens), but I have fear of use "AF Fine tune"  :-[ :-[ :-[ :'( :'( :'( :'(
The MAF is AF-S, obviously.
AF of my D810 is perfect with all the othres my lenses, at every distances!!!

Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

I would NOT set a "Default" AF fine for the camera but I would turn on AF fine tune and AF fine tune the problem lens. Under these conditions the other lenses should not be affected. If the other lenses should be affected just turn off AF Fine Tuning.

If most or all of one's lenses needed-3 that's when I'd use a default.

Dave Hartman
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Oh no, must be the season of the witch!

Macro_Cosmos

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Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

I would NOT set a "Default" AF fine for the camera but I would turn on AF fine tune and AF fine tune the problem lens. Under these conditions the other lenses should not be affected. If the other lenses should be affected just turn off AF Fine Tuning.

If most or all of one's lenses needed-3 that's when I'd use a default.

Dave Hartman

You're right.
Only AF tune the entire body if the body displays a constant AF inaccuracy.
But then in such a case... just get it in for a servicing. It's an abnormality.
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