First Impressions: 85mm f/1.4G on D7000 : WARNING - very large filesizes in this thread :

[tanalasta]

These are a few first impressions of the D7000 (DX) with the 85mm f/1.4G.

There were no front or back focus issues at the focal lengths I was shooting with and these were all shot using autofocus. Mostly D-9, AF-C. Is my copy a little soft? I don't know... although that may be a benefit of a portrait lens.

Overall, I find this lens balances quite well on the D7000 which is marginally heavier than the D90. It is not as overly heavy as the FX mid-range f/2.8 zooms.

Build quality and handling are superb. It tends to nail the focus with the D7000, even at f/1.4

Online review sites are better than I am at describing the performance but I am overall quite happy with this!

Not exactly a flower lens, but these were both shot at f/1.4 and demonstrate how lovely the bokeh is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Tanalasta/MelvilleNursery-3253.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Tanalasta/MelvilleNursery-3223.jpg

Take about 2 metre step back and it can also make a food lens! Not really what it was designed to do... but also at f/1.4

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Tanalasta/MelvilleNursery-3205.jpg

This photo was taken at f/1.6 and not wide open by accident

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Tanalasta/Random_dog.jpg

As for an example of a bad photo... Even AF-C could not keep up with these two ducks circling each other at high speed. f/1.8, 1/4000 seconds at ISO 100. Also misfocussed on the duck's body and not the head.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Tanalasta/MelvilleNursery-3234.jpg

One of the advantages of the D7000 is that at base ISO 100 and 1/8000s shutter speed, you have more leeway using the lens wide open in bright light and don't need a ND filter.

[I @ M]

Is my copy a little soft? I don't know...

Quite frankly, the example images that you have posted look soft / misfocussed all over and I wouldn't be happy with any of them from that combination of lens and body.

[Tommo1965]

dunno if I could comment on your sample images, as I believe the Jpeg compression hasn't done them any favors and that will lead to a soft look when posted in forums...I downloaded the last images and its only 151 KB...i wouldn't save a jpeg at any less than 900 Kb for posting to forums..or max size is saving on a hard-drive

also the razor thin DOF is harder to distinguish once the image is compressed in this way...is it possible to provide a link to the uncompressed files ?

[I @ M]

Tommo, while I agree with you that compression on images posted on the net tends to cause them lose some detail the difference between a sharp or unsharp, focussed or misfocussed image should be apparent at moderate sizes.

I beleive that detail would have been apparent in this shot if it had been even another 100 - 150 kb smaller in size.

Hand held.
Nikkor 85mm F1.4 D
1/80 sec
F/1.4
ISO 2500

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9582534/ABAA_20110218_1479.JPG

[tanalasta]

I & M - that's a beautiful, sharp photo of a lovely subject.

Apologies for the conversion to web sized photos which may have resulted in lost detail. Photobucket automatically converts.

A larger resolution jpeg http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26447185/Dog-3160.jpg

[Tommo1965]

thats much better..looking at the original file Id have to say the focus point of the dog looks spot on..the bridle is sharp, but the eyes are in the circle of confusion and as such it could look soft..as most people look there first for correct focus....try more DOF so the eyes are sharp too.

Id say the AF has picked the bridle as the focal point as it is high contrast against the white face .some of the tongue looks to be within the front edge of DOF {just} ..whereas the eyes are not..if the focus point was the bridle , perhaps you may have a tad of front focus with the lens and body combo.....have you done a focus test with the lens to see if you have any FF/BF ?

[Tommo1965]

[QUOTE=I @ M;826760]Tommo, while I agree with you that compression on images posted on the net tends to cause them lose some detail the difference between a sharp or unsharp, focussed or misfocussed image should be apparent at moderate sizes.

I beleive that detail would have been apparent in this shot if it had been even another 100 - 150 kb smaller in size.

Hand held.
Nikkor 85mm F1.4 D
1/80 sec
F/1.4
ISO 2500

yes I agree with you to a point...but when the DOF is so thin....its easily confused in such a compressed image...

I think you will find, now we have a uncompressed image to work with from the OP..its now easier to evaluate their equipment ....I hate to give a dis-hearting appraisal of camera /lens without a decent file to work with

[tanalasta]

Hi,
Thank you for the constructive comments.

I'm only a casual amateur so don't have a nice lensalign chart although initial testing on generic focus chart and other things suggests it's focusing within tolerance without having to fine-tune.

These are some more photos of the lens and camera combination, shot wide open to test depth of field and focussing with the first photo being taken at ISO 6400 and on the rose petals. I was experimenting with the lens and wouldn't use the 85mm f/1.4G as my default food photo lens normal.

All of these images have had a little bit of adjustment (EV, NR, unsharp mask) in LR3 from the original 14 bit NEF and then converted to 5MP jpeg for upload to dropbox.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26447185/Melville%20Nursery-3202.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26447185/Melville%20Nursery-3205.jpg

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26447185/Melville%20Nursery-3222.jpg

And lastly is another wildlife photo. I don't have a 77mm circ-polariser but it didn't turn out too bad.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26447185/Melville%20Nursery-3228.jpg

[Tommo1965]

the food shots and the flower..any idea the distance from the subject to the focal plane ?.....

cream and rose petal plate ......focus point to my eye is the front of the plate...take a look at the table in that area to confirm that..

rose in glass...again look at the table..the focal point looks to be the outer edge leaves and DOF seems like 20mm

bread shot.. this is the easiest for me to see the focal point.. halfway up the first bits of bread...again a DOF of around 20mm or a tad over ..

it would seem to me at least, more DOF would enhance the images..plus would aid the sharpness too..lenses are never at their best wide open