Gear – Nikon 85mm f/1.4

(credit: bennorz via Flickr / license: CC 2.0)

OK…to start we have to address the nick-name for this lens – “The Cream Machine.” You know that a lens is good when it garners a nick name. And this one gets one heck of a name. It almost sounds like it could be a 70′s porno.

The name actually refers to the out-of-focus areas, also known as bokeh. In typical portraiture, the background is very out of focus due to the short depth of field. With the Nikon 85mm wide-open at f/1.4, you get a smooth, creamy background that is just great.

For a great review of this lens, checkout what Allen Murabayashi, of PhotoShelter, has to say. Allen does suggest that the lens is not right for him. However, if you are a wedding photographer, it is probably right for you. Even if you just do portraits, this lens is probably right for you too.

Too bad it costs an arm and a leg – $1200-1300 for a prime!

See y'all soon,
Hunter

This entry was posted on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:17 am. It is filed under all blog, for photographers and tagged with equipment, gear, lens, nikon, review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.