Why I'm NOT getting the Nikon 85mm f/1.2

I really tried. But I just couldn't make it work. This is why I'm not getting the new Nikon Z series 85 1.2 lens.
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[@RejeRush]

I can definitely understand. The longer I do weddings the less gear I wanna carry. But I’m a 35/85mm guy so I had to get the Nikon 85 1.2 hahaha. Can’t wait until they release the 35 1.2!!

[@lukewtcleland]

Haha nice. Yeah I definitely like the 35+85 look. My wife or second shoots with a 35 and I often get jealous. Ha that less gear like is amazing!

[@guyyowell8547]

I love the new 85mm f/1.2. It’s an amazing lens! The bokeh is so beautiful. This lens, paired with the 50mm f/1.2, just “works” for events. It focuses so fast, especially on my Z8/Z9 combo. Now I’m waiting for the 35mm f/1.2😉. For me, it’s preferable to the 105mm f/1.4 because you can get closer to your subject.

[@lukewtcleland]

You’re not allowed to leave comments on here that change my mind. 🤣

[@guyyowell8547]

@@lukewtcleland LOL! Sorry! I’m only giving you my point of view.

[@caleidoo]

I don't see how a duo camera set with a 50 & 85mm could work for weddings or events. They are way too close, field of view wise. Personally I'm a 35 & 85mm shooter or 35 & 105mm. I don't think I know anyone who walks around with a 50 & 85mm.

[@Gr1ff1D0]

Have you bought the 135 F1.8 Plena yet? I borrowed one for an afternoon. I shot an image up close wide open directly into window light to see how it coped. It produced a really nice image. The nearest eye beautifully sharp and the transition to soft out of focus was beyond anything I have ever seen. Just looking through the viewfinder is enough to let you see how great it is at the things it was made for. Superb lens. You would love it.

[@alanjcravophotography4149]

I’m professional photographer and have a few lenses to my list, but I agree with you and feel the same. I also have the 105mm 1.4 and it’s an amazing lense that I find it hard to sell it and pay 3x more for the 85mm 1.2. The 85mm 1.2 is amazing, but not 3x more amazing than the 105mm 1.4, nooooo way. Not even close. I prefer the rendering of the 105. I’d rather spend the money on a few trips away and with my family and create moments with that money 💰

[@lukewtcleland]

Ooo yeah that 105 1.4 is beautiful! Haha that’s true! More trips!

[@nickcucchiara]

I hear you with simplicity. I'll use a 24-120 for the whole wedding with a D850 because it will handle every shot needed. I've only had to change it once for the 17mm of the 17-35 and took 3 photos to capture an image the client wanted as 24mm couldn't do it. Though I do want the 85mm on the Z8 in the future for not only wedding but for specifically headshot shots. Otherwise I can roll with a 90mm 2.8 to do the same.

[@lukewtcleland]

That's one way to do it!

[@nicolaas7]

It is such a wonderful lens. The pictures you make are coming alive. Vivid nearly immortal. I like your honest way of living.

[@lukewtcleland]

Thanks so much!

[@northofbrandon]

The 1.2's are so huuuuge. The smaller 1.8's make me really think about mirrorless 1.4's and how great / big (or not) those would have to be. I miss my F mount 85 1.4G but sold almost all my F mount stuff to get a z9. :S

[@lukewtcleland]

Ha they are massive

[@fromshadowlands]

I am not planning on buying it either. I already have the Plena 135mm & 50mm F1.2 and I get what I need done with those two. But of course, like you, I'd love to own it, just because.

[@Gr1ff1D0]

I get it but I think you are wrong about this. I never used my 85mm F-mount much, I used the F-mount 105 as a portrait lens. After I swapped to mirrorless, I found that the Z85 1.8 had ‘something’ about it that worked so well that it became the lens I want to use every time. I think you can see from the published photos using the 85f1.2 that it has a look you will find very special indeed. You will resist, you will attempt not to try one and resist renting one, but that will not work. Eventually you WILL find that it is financially possible and then within a few weeks of using it you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. The Z lenses are like that. They challenge you, they change how you think and how you work. You already know it’s true. Wait 3 months and then rent an 85 F1.2. Then you will see the light.

[@lukewtcleland]

Hahah your probably not wrong. 😅 the only deal, is distance from my subjects, especially during receptions. But who knows maybe I’ll make it work. 😌

[@genegao6988]

😀I resisted it for a couple of month, but keep going back to admire the beautiful images people produced using it. Finally I told myself, that's it man, time to admire my own images. pulled the trigger yesterday.

[@quagmire321able]

Lol... I would never be able to get a 50mm, 85mm and 105mm to work well together. I ran around with 85mm lenses as my "go-to" lens for 5-6yrs for weddings, portraits, events, everything because I thought I wanted to have the *best* lens for photographing people, the 85mm does work like 60-70% of the time but it is a little too short to be unobtrusive and be next to impossible to use in a crowd. I have since moved away and relies on a 50 and a 135 now. Having owned 3 85mm 1.2 lenses... they tend to be really large and heavy, I don't think I will ever go back to them. Don't worry, you are not losing much by not buying the Z 85mm 1.2 :-P

[@lukewtcleland]

Ooo great to hear that! Yeah I love the idea of a 50 and 135 for sure. I have the 105, but would love that extra tight option. Thanks for watching!

[@emu256]

You're right, you need the 85mm 1.2 S

[@lukewtcleland]

haha

[@jpunieves]

stumbled upon your channel and now gonna subsribe. planning on covering small and simple pre/wedding events. currently have z5 and 26mm pancake. 85 1.2 costs too much right now here in philippines. im planning on getting 50 1.2 and then pair it with 105 z macro and a godox v1. with your experience, do you think such can cover events? 26 covers wide, 50 for normal and most shotd, 105 for zoom and detail.

[@lukewtcleland]

Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed it! Yeah totally! That’s a good little kit. I shoot 90% of events on my 50 1.2 but it’s great to have a wide and then something tight like the 105. You’re well on your way! Good luck!!

[@tobiasyoder]

Even the advice of just needing a few good primes I’m not sure I buy. If you want bokeh sure, but if you short a style that doesn’t use shallow depth of field then modern zooms are great and sharp.

[@lukewtcleland]

More than just dof, it’s a style of shooting and thought process that I like better. I’m not against zooms, and there was a period I shot only zooms, but I prefer primes now

[@tobiasyoder]

@@lukewtcleland yeah I can understand that from a creative standpoint. With a big zoom range it’s easy to end to just instinctually always zoom to the “obvious” framing. I was more just meaning from a final image quality standpoint you can get away with one big zoom to replace several primes if you don’t need wide apertures anyway

[@davidl01023]

85mm 1.2 is a must! I am a 35/85 shooter so it makes sense to me. Never really liked the 50mm. Have tried it just felt generic.

[@lukewtcleland]

Ah yep that 35-85 life.

[@ghas4151]

With the 50mm, do you ever feel the need for a wider lens on a second body when shooting a wedding? I currently have the 50 f1.2 S and the 70-200 f2.8 S and wondering if I should get a wife prime on a second body. Any suggestions? And yes, that 85 does look tempting, but I’m not a fan of the longer minimum focus distance on 85s. 50 is more my jam.

[@lukewtcleland]

Maybe a few times. But mostly I just physically move back. That's why I keep a 24-70 in my bag. I don't use it much, but for things like group photos etc. If you have a 50 and a 70-200, I would defintiely suggest like a 35 prime. It's a really great focal length or something that is wide, but it doesn't feel wide like a 24mm would. Good point, I didn't even talk about that in the video, minimum focus!

[@willz4reals]

Maybe the title needs to be, Why I’m not getting the 85 1.2 yet…. I appreciate your insight on gear and photography. Great perspective.

[@lukewtcleland]

haha - thanks for watching!

[@ecobooster8298]

You mentioned you use the 105mm, which one? f1.4G, 105 MC, or 2.8 Macro?

[@blakehfreeman]

His other video shows him using the Z105mm macro

[@SteelCity15]

Did you get a Plena??

[@lukewtcleland]

Not yet!

[@thedrunkweddingphotographer]

0:25 I gotta push back on your opinion on skipping the kit lenses. If we need to point blame as to why kit lenses have had a such a rep, it's Canon. They were notorious for selling shit lenses for many years. That said, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus (OMsystem) have had outstanding kit lenses for several years and continue to produce stellar kit lenses today. One that comes to mind is the insanely sharp and versatile AF Zoom Nikkor 28-80 f/3.3-5.6 G Perhaps one of the best kit lenses Nikon has ever made. Even made it to the Nikkor 1000 Nights blog. You have the right to your opinion of course, but I believe we're doing a disservice to those wanting to jump in the community by perpetuating the lie that kit lens should be overlooked.

[@lukewtcleland]

I never said they were bad, I just don’t recommend a zoom lens for beginners that are interested in photography. It creates bad habits in my opinion.

[@MysticApertureStudios]

The reason i am not getting the 85 1.2 is that i dont have money. For weddings, weight isnt an issue coz we hire an assistant to carry our gear anyway

[@lukewtcleland]

Good point! Pack it on the assistant! lol

[@Juventinos]

best camera to get 2023? easy nikon z8, next question

[@lukewtcleland]

Cool cool

[@Tap-a-roo]

If you’re a wedding shooter and you don’t use an 85 1.2, you’re a fool.

[@lukewtcleland]

Fool is my middle name. 😎

[@Emulives]

too expensive.

[@lukewtcleland]

It’s up there for sure

[@devilangel4655]

To Bulky! Prefer smaller like: Sony, Canon 85mm 1.2 style