The Insane Value of the Sirui Aurora 85mm f/1.4

[@chirsd666]

After a week of scouring the web for info, I finally pulled the trigger and ordered this lens a couple hours before you posted this video. I'm so relieved you like it. Beautiful model and nice shots by the way.

[@kaskoPhoto]

I think you’ll really like it. She is beautiful

[@mikeyjhn]

Back in the day when working professionally I never worried too much about sharpness, bokeh etc if I needed a lens just bought and used it. Clients never ever asked anything about gear it was all about getting the images. The shots look really good and the model has a very interesting and great look you should book/collaborate with her more.

[@kaskoPhoto]

You're right, it's all about the images, and she is amazing!

[@dsimon9s29]

Thanks for posting. Finally, somebody in KZbin says that "regular" folks don't look at bokeh. 😀

[@dpfreedman]

A "truth bomb" if ever there were one!

[@kaskoPhoto]

The first time a client refuses an image because of the way the blurred out background looks. I will change my tune.

[@dsimon9s29]

@@kaskoPhoto As in i prefer bokeh with onion rings and not donut holes or is it cat eyes or vice versa? LOL

[@marcthibault8723]

Shots look great, and themselves is a natural! Thanks! 🇨🇦

[@kaskoPhoto]

You’re welcome!

[@evocati6523]

All that matters in a lens is the results! These photos came out great

[@kaskoPhoto]

Agreed - and thank you

[@photographerwithawalker]

I agree 100%. It is not the equipment that makes you a professional, but the skills.

[@kaskoPhoto]

The equipment can be beneficial - but less is more and more fun for sure.

[@Jwitherow1964]

Live your honest opinion I like this lens

[@nigelpugh7003]

Lovely model a real natural 😁

[@kaskoPhoto]

She is amazing

[@ryan2641-f2e]

The f/1.4 aperture on the Sirui is impressive, but I’m curious-how does it stack up against something smaller like the TTArtisan 75mm f/2 for sharpness and ease of use?

[@kaskoPhoto]

I can’t say as I haven’t tried the TTArtisan. This was amazing to use for me as I just shot it without consideration of focus. All at 1.4 it just worked.

[@michaelryanoliver8323]

The TTArtisan 75mm f2 is for APS-C. 105mm equivalent shooting super 35 on a full frame Sony. I liked it. The 75 made nice images, that I would have to crop out the vignette. But it was not an 85.

[@kaskoPhoto]

@ I’d really like to try that lens. I think that would be a little more manageable.

[@ravinchandra]

@@michaelryanoliver8323if I’m not wrong they released a full frame variant recently. It’s available for Nikon for sure.

[@michaelryanoliver8323]

@@ravinchandra ah, I had the f1.2 pro. Not the f2. Had to look up the receipt.

[@JoshHaley]

Great video. What criteria do you use to decide to shoot with a continuous light and reflected umbrella here, vs the flash over the 8 x8 or other flash setup. And I did appreciate the few on camera flash shots at the end, but curious about the choice/reasoning for the continuous lighting. Thanks!

[@kaskoPhoto]

I wanted to shoot wide open on the lens which a simple LED worked for. And for someone new in the studio, it’s so much easier for them for the first couple shots (or until they are comfortable) to not have the flash.

[@dpfreedman]

If that young lady isn't a model she should be. What a natural in front of the camera!

[@kaskoPhoto]

She really is great in front of the camera v

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@kaskoPhoto]

You bet

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

When you say it missed a few times at close focus, do you mean the AF? Bokeh patterns can be important if the background is busy. Swirly, coma, etc. can be “artistic” or annoying, depending on intent or viewer preferences.

[@kaskoPhoto]

Yes, AF but like I said, user error is more than likely. And I’ve been doing this for 42 years and never paid attention to a background until lens reviewers pointed it out. I normally look at the subject of the image.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@ The subject is of course what folks should consider, but you’re an experienced professional who has trained his eye to zero in on the point of the photo. However, many others aren’t there.

[@kaskoPhoto]

@ I think you have that a little reversed. My clients never look at their images and say “I look amazing but the bokeh balls just aren’t what I was looking for”. The critical eye is always the photographer not the client

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

@ I don’t think you’re getting my point. First, you often might not be using very fast lenses wide open with subjects in front of “cluttered” backgrounds at distances between the subject and background that emphasize fast apertures. Second, there is a clear difference between how lenses with different designs render “cluttered” backgrounds that are obvious to me and many others (swirly, coma, smooth, etc.). Either your trained eye is able to look past those effects, or you don’t often use lenses that can produce them. I use modern and vintage (e.g., Leica 1930s) lenses. They produce markedly different looks.

[@kaskoPhoto]

@ understood. Thank you for your input. Much appreciated

[@the_rat_run]

Oh well, if Pros can't use that lens, they could always send them to me, the results were certainly excellent!

[@kaskoPhoto]

I love the lens. It’s very impressive

Gracias, parece una buena opción para mi a6300

[@kaskoPhoto]

I bet it would be great as you are def getting the sweet spot of the image circle from this lens.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

Kinda reminds me of the look coming from the olympus 75mm 1.8

[@kaskoPhoto]

I definitely agree with that

[@philmtx3fr]

I just bought a second hand Nikkor 85mm f1.4 a little less than the Sirui … the Siruj doesn’t support the comparison .

[@kaskoPhoto]

I’m not sure what that means but I hope you like your purchase!

[@shengyuanhsuphotography7255]

❤well said.

[@ArminHirmer]

True words as usual. Thenyoutube photographers who tell you what you can use or not, are just lacking general skills in photography :D and your new model is a natural

[@kaskoPhoto]

She was great in front of the camera.

[@Weedeogram]

agreed with you , who cares as long as if you can produce beautiful images.😂

[@kaskoPhoto]

And that’s what we do this for, great images.

[@johnyoung1606]

👍👍👍

[@cameraz99]

Nice video. Btw, your pictures will be sharper if you use the EVF and brace both elbows against your body. Less chance of shake.

[@bananaman-zd4lq]

Does she have instagram?

[@kaskoPhoto]

I don’t share that information unless they specifically ask me to

[@bananaman-zd4lq]

@@kaskoPhoto ah ok