- Hey everybody. This is Roberto Blake of robertoblake.com
helping you create something awesome today.
So today we're gonna talk about the 85mm f/1.8 lens
from Nikon. And why I think an 85mm
might be the perfect portrait lens.
So I rented this lens for a couple of days from
our friends at Lumoid. They're not sponsoring
this video, but I did rent this from them.
And I got a chance to really play with this
and see what this can do because, like many of you,
I am deciding on what I want to upgrade
in my camera system. Do I want to get a 85mm lens?
Do I want to make the investment in a 24 to 70?
Do I want to go with something else
like maybe a 17 to 55 f/2.8?
I thought about it and when I'm doing video
and photography, there are a lot of points where I'm
actually doing stuff that's more portraiture based.
Stuff that's head shots. Stuff that's talking head.
So I thought about it and this might actually
be the perfect lens. The expense is not too much
if you get the f/1.8. From Nikon? It's about 400.
They're not that much more expensive
in the other camera systems. Overall, the advantages
of the 85mm, are the focal length and it's ability
to isolate subjects. With this focal length, you're
getting much less distortion. You're getting
the ability to creatively crop exactly what you need.
And in terms of isolating the subject
for the background, because of the way it handles
the compression of the background,
it's actually really nice.
This is perfect for an indie filmmaker that wants
to get those tight-in shots and this could be a great
for a second lens as far as on a second camera body,
shooting another angle for the tight-in shot.
So if you're a cinematographer, you're an indie filmmaker,
that could be great for you. Me personally,
I'm a guy who does like to run and gun.
So I don't really need zoom lenses nearly as much
sometimes, because I love that an f/1.8 prime can handle
low-light situations. And then in the case of the 85mm,
I'm getting that compression for the background.
I'm getting the lack of distortion which makes
faces just look much more attractive.
And at f/1.8, I can handle low-light situations
and indoor shooting. So for me, for doing video
and photography, this is a ideal camera lens.
I'm mostly going to conventions that are
in like hotels or I'm going to events that are
in auditoriums. So for me, this lens
fits mostof the situations that I'm shooting in.
Now it's also great for outdoor, because you can get
great candid street shots. And you don't intimidate
your subjects that way, because of that 85mm focal length.
You can actually a little more out of it when you're
on a crop body like the Nikon D3200, or the D3100,
or anything like that. So this could be ideal
for those situations as well and you're not limited
to just doing portraiture. You can do great street
photography with this.
For those of you who are doing something like
New York Fashion Week, this is really a cool lens for you.
Now don't get me wrong. I love my 35mm.
The 50mm is great too, The Nifty Fifty.
And I did enjoy shooting on the 24 to 70 when
I borrowed it from my friend Daniel.
But I do feel like the 85mm
is the sweet spot if you're going to be doing portraiture.
I mean, you don't get the zoom capabilities sure.
But I do feel that with how light this is by comparison
to the 24 to 70, that you've got some really
interesting options there. Because moving around
isn't nearly as difficult when you've got
a lot less weight when it's not nearly as
front-heavy. So I do like that aspect of it.
Overall I think I still will be investing in the 24 to 70.
But if I was going to get something right away though,
because of the low cost, this only being under $500.
It's the portrait lens that I would get.
So those are the reasons that I think that the 85mm
is the perfect focal length in terms of a portrait camera.
And if you're shooting on Cannon, I do know that they have
these in f/1.2 and f/1.4.
Nikon also has a much more expensive
f/1.4 as well. If you feel like you need
that extra little bit there.
And this one is just as sharp.
So that's really not the variable here.
The build quality on the f/1.4 from Nikon is a little
bit more solid. And there is a chance that I'll be
reviewing that here on the channel. So make sure you're
subscribed and you're staying tuned for that.
I'll have a full review on the 85mm f/1.8 as well
as some other videos that will accompany it.
So, I hope you guys will tune in for those and
watch them in the playlist.
If you still have questions about what lenses to buy.
I do have some other reviews here on the channel
so you should definitely check those out.
But you could also leave me your questions in the comment
section below. I'll try and answer as many of them
as I can for you and help you make a good buying decision.
If you want to try this or any other lenses
that I mentioned, you can rent them from Lumoid.
There is an info card up here and a link in the description
for you. Remember, they're not a sponsor of this particular
video, but they are someone that I use for renting
my camera lenses and bodies.
Or if you want to buy any of these lenses outright.
You can go ahead and get them from Amazon using my affiliate
link in the description. That helps you out.
Also helps me and the channel out.
Anyway, like this video if you like it.
Don't forget to subscribe. Check out the other awesome
content on the channel. As always you guys,
thanks so much for watching. And don't forget,
create something awesome today.