Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G lens: “the best 85mm lens in the DxOMark database”

FlowtographyBerlin

P.S.: @TaoTeJared: If I were in marketing at Nikon, I'd hire you. Instantly. ;-)

spraynpray

I think Tao is taking a break Flow. Hope to see him back soon.

FlowtographyBerlin

Ah, didn't notice how old this thread was...

Quasar

Does anyone know the closest dimensions the 85mm 1.8G and 85mm 1.4G can focus on?

Not the distance, but the actual size.

An easy test would be to lie a ruler flat and point the camera straight down at it getting as close as possible while still being able to focus.

Though perhaps it might require two rulers next to each other.

Would anyone with a FX camera and a 1.8G and/or 1.4G be kind enough to try this & post the result?

Much thanks

spraynpray

@Quasar: ??? You can always use them with an extension tube you know, Msmoto gets good results with that set-up.

Quasar

@spraynpray

Thanks, but I'm curious what the smallest amount of surface area they can focus on, on their own is.

Golf007sd

The 85 1.8G -- .8M (2.6 feet)
The 85 1.4G -- .85M (2.8 feet)

Quasar

The 85 1.8G -- .8M (2.6 feet)
The 85 1.4G -- .85M (2.8 feet)

Is that the closest distance (from camera to object) it can focus, or is that the smallest area it can focus on?

If it's the area is that cubic feet? or width or height?

Thanks

Msmoto

AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G 3.0 feet
AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G 2.62 feet

These are the distance from the film plane to the subject.

Quasar

@Golf007sd @Msmoto

Is there a way to calculate the actual physical width & height from that?

For example if you had a yardstick and you had the front of the lens parallel with the yardstick, then aligned the left side of the frame with the end of the yardstick (as close as possible being able to focus) & took a picture.

Looking at the picture the measurement on the right side of the frame should be the measurement I'm trying to figure out.

Parke1953

I think I know what you are asking. At closest focus distance the real size is about 11 1/2in X 7 3/4in. That's the size you can see. Rent one for a weekend. You will like it.

Golf007sd

@Quasar: You crack me up. )

What are you talking about...width and height? The distance is from the front of the lens to your subject. It dose not care how high your subject is or how wide it is... it is one directional...get it? If your subject is 20 feet tall and you want to shoot the top...get a ladder and clip up..just make sure you are at the proper distance from the subject. Same principle if it is 20 feet wide. Go get the any lens and you can do the same test ~X(

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish here...do I dare to ask: what is it you are trying to take a picture off?

JJ_SO

Quasar was clearly asking for the area. Answering him with a distance is not his fault. There's also nothing to test, Nikon already gives the maximal scale in the lens' specification.
Nikon gives a scale of 1/8 (=0.125) for the 1.8 and 0.12 for the 1.4G

The width or the height of the sensor divided by this scale gives you the minimal possible area.
FX sensor and 1.4: 23.9mm/0.12= 199.16mm height 36mm/0.12= 300mm width

Quasar

@Quasar: You crack me up. )

What are you talking about...width and height? The distance is from the front of the lens to your subject. It dose not care how high your subject is or how wide it is... it is one directional...get it? If your subject is 20 feet tall and you want to shoot the top...get a ladder and clip up..just make sure you are at the proper distance from the subject. Same principle if it is 20 feet wide. Go get the any lens and you can do the same test ~X(

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish here...do I dare to ask: what is it you are trying to take a picture off?

I want to do some copy stand work, taking pictures of old silver photos which can't be scanned. Some of them are smaller and I was contemplating also buying the 105mm Micro but I've already laid out almost $5,000 on gear in the last week so if I could get away with the 85mm which is sharper and I've already ordered then I can put off the 105mm Micro until later (possibly wait for a sale ).

Quasar was clearly asking for the area. Answering him with a distance is not his fault. There's also nothing to test, Nikon already gives the minimal scale in the lens' specification.
Nikon gives a scale of 1/8 (=0.125) for the 1.8 and 0.12 for the 1.4G

The width or the height of the sensor divided by this scale gives you the minimal possible area.
FX sensor and 1.4: 23.9mm/0.12= 199.16mm height 36mm/0.12= 300mm width

so roughly 11.81" x 7.87" for the 1.4G and 11.34" x 7.53" for the 1.8G.

Thanks, that's what I was trying to figure out. Was that somewhere on Nikon's site and I just overlooked it?

JJ_SO

It's clearly visible in each lens' specification as "Maximum reproduction ratio".

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/singlefocal/normal/af-s_nikkor85mmf_18g/index.htm