90mm Leica APO vs. 85/1.4 AF-Nikkor

[Dogman]

The only 90mm Summicron I've owned was one in the 80s. But I've owned a few 85mm Nikkors. The old Nikkor 85/1.8 I used at the same time as I had the Summicron was actually a much sharper lens with better contrast and tonality. I've been kinda prejudiced against the 90mm Summicron ever since.

I currently own 3 85mm AF Nikkors--both the 85/1.8D and the 85/1.4D and the current 85/1.8G.

Of those, I'm in love with the 85/1.4D. It has the most beautiful rendering I've ever seen and the bokeh is luscious. It was called the "Nikon Cream Machine" for a good reason. It's also built like a hockey puck and weighs like a gold brick.

The 85/1.8G is the sharpest of the three I have. It's what you want if you want a lens that can bring out details in the subject. It's lightweight and plastic but it's really, really good. It's kinda large, not much behind the 85/1.4D in size.

The 85/1.8D is really a good lens that I keep because it's small, sharp, has good resolution and is well built. It's plastic but it's dense. It's the smallest and it's a good travel lens.

All of these lenses are great performers, as was the old 85/1.8 manual model.

 

[GarageBoy]

Are there focus issues with the 90 APO for concerts, theater, candid distances? Is it a focus shift issue, or a cam being ground slightly off issue?

 

[Freakscene]

Are there focus issues with the 90 APO for concerts, theater, candid distances? Is it a focus shift issue, or a cam being ground slightly off issue?

There is some focus shift with the 90/2 asph. It is inevitable when the design reduces aberrations and increases contrast but does not include a floating element. This is all samples. Focus shift is more problematic closer and between f2.8-4.

Some individual lenses have problems with the focus cam. The R lens obviously does not have a rangefinder cam and therefore does not ever have this problem.

Marty

 

[GarageBoy]

Thanks
I assumed the 75 Summilux has the same issue?
Keep it wide opened to avoid the focus shift?

 

[Freakscene]

Thanks
I assumed the 75 Summilux has the same issue?
Keep it wide opened to avoid the focus shift?

The 75/1.4 has more (a lot more) focus shift than the 90/2 asph.

If adjusted as designed, the 75 Summilux very slightly front focuses at f1.4. As you stop down the focus shifts back (away from the lens) but within the depth of field. If you get the lens adjusted so that it focuses dead on at f1.4 the focus point will be outside the depth of field from f1.8 until ~f4.5, or maybe f5.6, and that adjustment leaves you with a much less useful lens.

My own opinion is that the 75/1.4 M and 80/1.4 R Summilux lenses are among the very greatest lenses designed for the 35mm format.

Marty

 

[nikon_sam]

I have the Nikkor 85mm 1.4D AF lens and its one of the sharpest I own...I've used it on the F4s, F5 and D3x...it truly never disappoints and there have been many times it reminds me just how great it is...


Max... ISO 200 1/60@F/2.8

Metal Lanterns... ISO 100 1/100@f/5.0

 

[james.liam]

Nice! Max is a very cute fellow. My colors on a D700 were never this good. But show us f/1.4!

 

[nikon_sam]

Here you go...wide open...1.4
Untouched, "A" Mode, ISO 125 Nikon D3x

 

[james.liam]

Very nice indeed but brings back memories of the cool color rendering & subtle blue cast.

 

[GarageBoy]

The 75/1.4 has more (a lot more) focus shift than the 90/2 asph.

If adjusted as designed, the 75 Summilux very slightly front focuses at f1.4. As you stop down the focus shifts back (away from the lens) but within the depth of field. If you get the lens adjusted so that it focuses dead on at f1.4 the focus point will be outside the depth of field from f1.8 until ~f4.5, or maybe f5.6, and that adjustment leaves you with a much less useful lens.

My own opinion is that the 75/1.4 M and 80/1.4 R Summilux lenses are among the very greatest lenses designed for the 35mm format.

Marty

Thanks
Makes me want to use them on a mirrorless camera - I hope the typical M lens problems that mirrorless users report don't rear their ugly head

 

[james.liam]

Thanks
Makes me want to use them on a mirrorless camera - I hope the typical M lens problems that mirrorless users report don't rear their ugly head

Issue arises with the wider lenses, not 75mm.

 

[Freakscene]

Thanks
Makes me want to use them on a mirrorless camera - I hope the typical M lens problems that mirrorless users report don't rear their ugly head

Yes, the 75/1.4 works pretty much perfectly on most mirrorless cameras. If you plan to only use it on mirrorless cameras, the Leica R 80mm f1.4 is less expensive and has very similar characteristics. I like it even better.

Marty

 

[F456]

Here's another this-lens-or-that-lens problem. While I'm wondering if I need the 90mm APO-Summicron, I'm also considering the 85mm f/1.4 AF-Nikkor. It's the one with the black crinkle paint job that both Bjorn Rorslett and Ken Rockwell rave about and give top rating to. Rockwell even compares the quality of the Summicron to the Nikkor.

The Nikkor is a stop faster; the reflex viewing allows a full-finder view, not the little inset frameline of the Leica. It's autofocus. It weighs one ounce more than the Summicron (not bad) And it's one-fifth the cost of the Summicron.

I I do have the f/1.8 AF-Nikkor. I like shooting it and I like the results. And 85mm seems more in the right ballpark than 75mm. I don't really need f/1.4 too often, but if the IQ is even better than the one I have, I'm thinking I should give it serious consideration.

Just thinking out loud.

In my experience Nikkor 85s especially the 1.4 AiS and both the 1.4 and 1.8 AF-D are absolutely superb, as are the 105s and 180s. I bought a D3 back in 2010 to shoot available portraits of choristers singing in Canterbury Cathedral and noticed that even the Nikon marketing brochures showed the camera with the 85/1.4D - which seemed promising! Much though I love shooting Leica 75 or 90 it's more hit and miss because of recomposition - how often will I want eyes dead centre in the frame? - so I would say from a combination of how good the D lens is plus how reflex AF feels intrinsically better for most shooting over 50mm that your choice should be the 85mm.

Now I'll go and read on to see what you actually decided, Rob -- either way I hope all is going well!

Added comment: while shooting those portraits I had to contend with quite a lot of subject motion, usually a slight rocking to and fro as they sang. The hit rate was well over 50% even wide open. Hardly any shots were stopped down beyond f/2. Absolutely inconceivable I'd have managed a high hit rate with MF and the Summicron; but as Roger Hicks might have said, if your experience is diffferent you are a better man than I, Gunga Din!