Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S vs Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
SOURCE ARTICLES
Nikon Z 85mm F1.2 S First Impressions
www.thephoblographer.com
The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens is a promising addition to Nikon's lineup, offering a unique character and beautiful image quality. The lens has a plastic body but still feels well-built and ergonomic. It is easy to use and focuses quickly, with accurate eye detection. The lens renders out-of-focus areas and sharpness exceptionally well, making it ideal for portrait photography. The reviewer also enjoyed experimenting with creative filters on the lens. Overall, the Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S shows great potential and is worth considering for studio and wedding photography.
Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm F1.2 S Lens test
www.dxomark.com
The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S lens is designed for Nikon's Z-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. It has a high-speed aperture and is suitable for portraiture, fashion, and indoor sports. The lens has a high optical quality with 15 elements in 10 groups, including two aspherical elements and one ED element. It also features SIC coatings and Nano Crystal Coat to reduce ghosting and flare. The lens has fast and accurate autofocus, as well as support for linear focusing and minimized focus-breathing for videographers. It has an 82mm filter thread and weighs 1160 grams. The lens achieved a high DXOMARK score of 55 for image quality. It has high sharpness at maximum aperture, good transmission in low light, and well-controlled chromatic aberration. It has slight pincushion distortion and some vignetting when wide open. Overall, the Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S lens offers excellent optical quality but comes at a high price.
Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S Review
www.pcmag.com
The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm F1.2 S is a heavy and expensive lens with a bright aperture that is great for isolating subjects and capturing portraits. It has full weather protection and supports 82mm threaded filters. The lens has customizable controls and a manual focus ring that turns comfortably. The autofocus performance is relatively quick, but not instantaneous. The lens performs well optically, with excellent results at wider apertures and smooth backgrounds. Overall, it is a worthwhile splurge for professionals, but the upcoming Nikkor Z 135mm F1.8 S Plena might be a better fit for some photographers.
Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S Review: Astonishing, But Worth the Money?
The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens offers a blend of technical sharpness and creamy bokeh. It has a wide aperture for soft backgrounds and is weather-sealed. However, the JPEG colors are undersaturated and the autofocus struggles with action on some camera bodies. The lens is heavy and expensive compared to the f1.8 option. Overall, it delivers great image quality but falls short in some areas.
Hands on with the Nikon 85mm F1.2: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
The Nikon Z 85mm F1.2 lens is highly praised for its outstanding optical performance, particularly its sharpness and unique bokeh. The lens has a soft and natural background blur, with a subtle and gradual transition from the plane of focus. It features 11 rounded diaphragm blades that create smooth and circular bokeh. The use of ED glass helps suppress color fringing, and the lens construction eliminates any "onion-ring" characteristics. Overall, the lens is described as dreamy, opulent, and desirable for fashion, boudoir, and bridal photography.
1.2: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 lens is highly praised for its bokeh and sharpness. It can produce extremely thin depth-of-field shots at f/1.2, although some may find the shallow depth of field not to their taste. The lens handles flare and ghosting well, especially when the hood is used. It is sharp even when wide open and performs well in terms of focus speed and distance. The only complaint is that the minimum focus distance is a bit far. Despite its size and weight, the lens is manageable during long shoots. The price is justified for professionals who will use it extensively. Overall, it is recommended for wedding, event, and portrait photographers.
1.2 Review & Sample Images by Ken Rockwell
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 lens is a large and heavy lens that is ideal for astronomy and low light shooting. It has great optics and is sharp and contrasty even when shot wide open at f/1.2. However, it is not a practical lens for everyday use and is too short for headshots. The Z 85mm f/1.8 lens offers similar optical performance at a lower cost and weight. The lens has a focus breathing issue and the bokeh quality is only average. Autofocus is slow and the lens is mostly made of plastic. It does not focus closely and does not have image stabilization. Overall, it is a good lens for specific needs but not a versatile option.
Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S review
The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S is a large and heavy lens with a bright focal ratio of f1.2. It has a similar weight to other comparable lenses on the market. The lens features 15 elements in 10 groups and has a minimum object distance of 0.82m. It does not have optical stabilization but can be used with Nikon's built-in sensor-shift stabilization. The lens has autofocus capabilities and a control ring for aperture, exposure compensation, or ISO sensitivity. It is weather-sealed but lacks a fluorine coating. The lens is priced higher than its competitors. Overall, the lens performs well in terms of focus accuracy and repeatability, with minimal focus breathing.
Nikon Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S review
The Nikon Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S is a macro lens for Nikon Z-mount mirrorless cameras. It offers 1:1 magnification, optical image stabilization, autofocus, and an OLED display. The lens has a diameter of 85mm, weighs 622g, and has 16 elements in 11 groups. It has a closest focus distance of 0.29m and a filter-thread size of 62mm. The lens is weather-sealed and priced at 1099 EUR / 1000 USD / 999 GBP. It does not reach beyond 1:1 magnification and cannot be used with teleconverters.
Review: Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
The Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is a standard macro lens for Z-mount mirrorless cameras. It has a solid construction and handles well. The lens has two control rings and a digital display for aperture, focus scale, or magnification. The effective aperture changes with focus distance, helping with estimating diffraction. Autofocus is accurate but slows down in the macro range. The lens has optical stabilization, providing around 2-2.5 stops of stabilization at macro distances.
2.8 MC Macro Review
The Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro lens is a full-frame 1:1 macro lens with excellent sharpness and image quality. It has a close focus distance of 0.96 feet and a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:1. The lens features vibration reduction (VR) for image stabilization and has a weather-resistant design. It has a focus range limiter and a control ring for extra functionality. The lens is compatible with Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras and has a 62mm filter thread. Overall, it is a highly recommended macro lens for Nikon Z users.
Review of the Nikkor Z MC 105 f2.8 VR S: Nikon Z Mirrorless Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
The Nikkor Z MC 105 f2.8 VR S is a sharp and fast macro lens with VR. It is slightly larger than the F mount 105 f2.8 VR but lighter. The lens has a smooth transition in focusing, which is good for videos, but it can be noisy. The color rendering and sharpness are excellent. It can be used as a macro lens or a people lens. The cons are that it is big, focusing could be faster, and the function control dial lacks detentes.
Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Review: A Stunning Tele Macro Combo
The Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is a versatile and high-performing lens that offers outstanding image quality. It is a popular choice among professional photographers for macro photography and portraits. The lens has a weather-sealed and lightweight design, with a focus control ring that allows for smooth adjustments. The autofocus is fast and accurate, although it can be slower when focusing on fine details. The lens delivers sharp images with minimal chromatic aberration and impressive bokeh. It is suitable for a wide range of photography genres, including portraits, landscapes, and macro shots. The only downside is that it does not offer magnification beyond 1:1. Overall, it is a great lens for those looking for a combination of macro and telephoto capabilities.
Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Review
The Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro lens is a versatile and high-quality lens for macro photography. It offers 1:1 magnification and a working distance of 5.26 inches. The lens has excellent build quality, with a lightweight design and weather sealing. It features a large manual focus ring, a customizable control ring, and a function button. The lens also has vibration reduction for added stability. However, it is not compatible with teleconverters. Overall, the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro lens is a great option for macro photographers.
Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm F/2.8 VR S Macro Lens Review
The Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm F/2.8 VR S is a versatile lens that excels in both portrait and macro photography. It offers a 1:1 reproduction ratio and has impressive image quality, especially at f/2.8. The lens is well-built with weather sealing and vibration reduction. It has a focus limiter switch and a user-configurable function button. Compared to the Nikon Nikkor Z MC 50mm F/2.8, the 105mm offers better optics and build quality, but the 50mm is smaller, lighter, and more affordable. Overall, the Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm F/2.8 VR S is a standout lens in the Z Series lineup.
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AI COMPARISON
Comparison Table
| Feature | Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S | Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S |
|---|---|---|
| Aperture | f/1.2 | f/2.8 |
| Focal Length | 85 mm | 105 mm |
| Lens Type | Telephoto, Prime | Prime |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1160 g | 630 g |
| Image Stabilization | No | Yes |
| Min Focus Distance | 0.85 m | 0.29 m |
| Optical Elements/Groups | Info not available | 16 elements in 11 groups |
| Autofocus Performance | Quick and accurate, especially with human detection | Fast in non-macro range; slower at macro distances |
| Bokeh Quality | Soft, natural, with smooth circular bokeh circles | Impressive, minimal chromatic aberration |
| Special Coatings | Nano Crystal Coat to reduce ghosting and flare | Similar coatings to reduce aberrations and flare |
| Filter Thread | 82 mm | 62 mm |
| Price | $2,799.95 | $1,099 |
Summary
Both lenses are designed for Nikon's Z-mount mirrorless cameras, with the Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S being a telephoto prime lens optimal for portraiture and low light situations due to its wide f/1.2 aperture, which allows for significant subject isolation and creamy bokeh. It is heavier and significantly more expensive, highlighting its suitability for professional use, particularly in weddings and studio settings. This lens does not have optical image stabilization but excels in autofocus performance and image quality.
The Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, on the other hand, is a macro lens with a smaller f/2.8 aperture but offers 1:1 magnification and optical image stabilization, making it ideal for detailed macro photography and also quite competent in portrait scenarios. It's lighter and much more affordable, with excellent construction and features like a focus limiter switch and a digital display for practical shooting information.
Recommendations
For Portrait and Wedding Photographers: The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S is highly recommended due to its superb optical quality, wide aperture, and exceptional bokeh, making it ideal for capturing detailed, intimate shots with a shallow depth of field.
For Macro and Fine Art Photographers: The Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is the better choice, offering excellent magnification, image stabilization, and a versatile focal length for both detailed macro work and beautiful portrait photography at a more accessible price point.
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