Next Lens: 105mm f2.8 or 85mm f1.8 - One or both?

[Horoscope Fish]

I looked in to the Tamron as well but it doesn't seem to score as high in the benchmarks for sharpness. The Tokina is still tempting me for price and performance.

I wasn't familiar with the Tokina offering before this thread came up but everything I've read about it has impressed me. I don't think you could go wrong with either the Tokina OR the Sigma.

Seems like you're sitting pretty!
...

 

[RON_RIP]

I had the Tokina and found it to be a sharp lens. It's one drawback to me was that is a heavy lens and somewhat front heavy in my opinion. I was having trouble holding it steady and concluded that I would mostly need to shoot it on a tripod and I seldom use a tripod. So I sent it back and got the 60mm Nikon micro instead and am having better luck with it. I do imagine that in the future most of my lenses will need to have vr. Just the consequence of creeping age. Tokina makes great lenses, I just hope they start building vr lenses in the near future.

 

[Fortkentdad]

...... So I sent it back and got the 60mm Nikon micro instead and am having better luck with it. I do imagine that in the future most of my lenses will need to have vr. Just the consequence of creeping age. Tokina makes great lenses, I just hope they start building vr lenses in the near future.

I have the 60mm Nikkor Micro (AF-S 2.8) and it is a great lens and compliments the 105mm micro nicely giving wide and long micro options. But it is not VR - well at least I don't think it is, mine is not labelled as such. I've also used the 60mm as a regular lens for portaits and such. Has a wider FOV than the 85 for interior group portraits - but you may need to be ready to get up close and personal with your subjects to get the same head and shoulder shot.

 

[Whiskeyman]

For full frame, like you have with the D750, both the 85mm and the 105mm are considered "portrait" lenses. I have both, and the 85mm is sharper by a bit. I don't believe you can go wrong with either one for portrait work. If you need a lens for macro work as well, get the 105; if not, get the 85 and start saving for the 105.

WM

 

[RON_RIP]

No, the 60 mm is not vr but is light enough to control more easily.If I had the 105 I would have to have the vr version. Time and again I revert to my 16-85 vr to get sharper photos. But I am sure that younger, steadier photographers can probably handle the non Vr versions of the 85 or 105 with no difficulty.

 

[nickt]

I've been looking at a 105 also. Mostly just to have a prime in the 100mm neighborhood and double as a macro. Not craving it for macro because I am happy with my Tamron 60mm. The Nikon 105 would only give me about 1" more working distance.
I stumbled on this the other day. Nikon 105mm f/2.8G AF-S VR Review by Thom Hogan
Thom says the VR is not much good at 1:1. He says Nikon hints at that also. I have never shot a macro with VR, but I'm tending to agree. VR would need to be magical to help me on a very close handheld shot.

 

[aroy]

If you want the cool OOF area in portrait then an F1.8 would be much better than an F2.8 in isolating the subject from the background. If you are going to shoot at F4 or more it does not matter. The Nikon 85mm F1.8 is a great portrait lens, sharp even at F1.8.

 

[eal1]

echoing many here but i have both, love both. When i purchased my first Nikon digital, hte D7000, i bought the 105 macro
because of that special capability. IT is a wonderful lens. Later i purchased the 85/1.8 and i love that even more. I rented the
85/1.4 and that renders such a beautiful bokeh, but the difference between the 1.8 and 1.4 costs much too much for my needs.
All in all, when i want to take portraits and family pictures, I generally use the 85/1.8 because it has lovely bokeh, is very sharp and
very light for carrying around all day. Having said that, i wouldn't part with my 105 either. Maybe you should rent both, try them out
to find which you prefer.

 

[eal1]

Sorry, but i neglected to write that i purchased the D610 and use the 85/1.8 on it as my most often used lens. I use it more than my 24-85 zoom; more than my 50/1.4; and more than my 105/2.8.