And now the new 85 f/2

[Basil]

Since I bought the cheaper f4 version of the 70-200, rather than the f2.8, I was able to also purchase a "refurbished" RF 85mm f/2. I figured the f/2 of this 85mm would be sufficient background blur for things like portraits, etc. (The f1.2 version is 1.5 stops brighter, but costs 5 times as much!)

It just arrived today. Here's the first picture with this lens at 85mm f/2, ISO 5000 1/125th. Lighting wasn't great in the hallway, hence the high ISO

 

[DrEntropy]

I'm liking the idea of the 85mm fast glass as a portrait lens. My APS-C equivalent would be the prime 50mm ∱1.4 picked up on ebay. Now gotta try some head shots... if I can find some cooperative subject besides a cat.

 

[Basil]

If memory serves the crop factor for Nicon APS-C is 1.5 (1.6 for Canon) so that would yield a 75mm equivalent. Nice in-between spot! I was thinking (for a minute) that I might also like to buy a "monster" EF 85 f/1.2 for special occasions, as they can be had used for relatively reasonable money. But the DOF at 1.2 is razor thin and really only useful in very specific circumstances. I mean, even at f2, the picture of my dog above has her eyes in focus but the two of her nose is out of focus! (wonder if she'd have stayed still long enough to do focus bracketing from the tip of the nose to here ears?)

 

[GregW]

The big benefit for me with fast lenses happens before the shutter click. Physically looking through the lens is so much brighter. No idea if there is any gain for an EVF camera.

 

[Basil]

No idea if there is any gain for an EVF camera.

My R5 has a feature (than can be enabled or disabled) that is called Exposure Simulation. As you look through the VF (or on the back screen) the brightness of the scene changes as you change exposure so that you see exactly what the exposure will look like before you take the picture. As I change the aperture (in manual mode) the scene brightness will change. Not sure if the aperture affect what you see through the VF with that feature disabled, but I don't think so.

 

[DrEntropy]

The big benefit for me with fast lenses happens before the shutter click. Physically looking through the lens is so much brighter. No idea if there is any gain for an EVF camera.

I'd think with an EVF it would hamper manual focus if any mode other than auto exposure were set?

I'd have to fondle one of the mirrorless cameras for a bit to run it thru the paces to find out.