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Otus 55 or 85?

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nikonbox

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I've made up my mind to buy an Otus. Was wondering which lens would get more use. i like the short tele a lot but find myself using the wider stuff more. (35 is used the most). my current CZ 100/2 take the short tele place most often so thought i actually need the 55 more but hard to risist the 85? anyone own both or two similar lenses and find themselve using one a lot more than the other.



Current line up 14-24, 35/1.4, 24-70, 100/2
 
are you buying a lens and then trying to figure out what to use it for?

good luck with that.

anyway, according to Zeiss they will be releasing a wide angle lens in the otus line
 
nikonbox said:
I've made up my mind to buy an Otus.

...so thought i actually need the 55 more but hard to risist the 85?
Click to expand...
There is a significant difference between both lenses in field of view.

Otus 55

https://flic.kr/p/nWD7ha

Otus 85

https://flic.kr/p/pynm3x

The DxO sharpness numbers @f/1.4 show us the Otus 55 is a bit stronger in comparison wide open.

The Otus 85mm can be the better focal length for very tight head shot portraits, but it depends on the proportions of the face. Half/full body environmental portraits should be good with both focal lengths.

If I had to choose between the two, it would be allways the 55mm, because it would be more usable indoors, for macro (more magnification) and for landscape photography with its wider field of view.

It is the old ~50mm vs 85mm debate.
 
To the OP: Some of us don't understand your reasoning. You want to buy "an Otus" but you do not seem to know to what uses(s) you would put it? To me, that is 'cart before the horse' thinking. I would speculate that (1) you have discretionary income, given your lens lineup; (2) you are itching to buy something but don't want a long tele; and (3) you are succumbing to the hype by "Zeiss" (i.e. Cosina, manufacturer of off-brand lenses for decades) for Otus lenses with obsolete MF and outrageous pricing. If I were adding a portrait lens, I'd get an 85mm f1.8G Nikkor. Otherwise, I'd go long with 70-200 f2.8 or 300 f2.8 Nikkors if you want to scatter cash.
 
I'd recommend ditching the Otus for the Sigma 50mm Art lens; it's nearly as good optically, has autofocus, is lighter, and it's much cheaper ($1000 vs $4000). There's also a 35mm Art lens by Sigma which is worth considering.

If you want to say that you have the absolute sharpest lens you can possibly get... it isn't the Otus. Rather it is the Zeiss 135mm f/2 T*
 
PSCL1 said:
To the OP: Some of us don't understand your reasoning. You want to buy "an Otus" but you do not seem to know to what uses(s) you would put it? To me, that is 'cart before the horse' thinking. I would speculate that (1) you have discretionary income, given your lens lineup; (2) you are itching to buy something but don't want a long tele; and (3) you are succumbing to the hype by "Zeiss" (i.e. Cosina, manufacturer of off-brand lenses for decades) for Otus lenses with obsolete MF and outrageous pricing. If I were adding a portrait lens, I'd get an 85mm f1.8G Nikkor. Otherwise, I'd go long with 70-200 f2.8 or 300 f2.8 Nikkors if you want to scatter cash.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't get it. If I'm going to drop $4K on a lens I had better well need it and have a defined purpose for it.

Then again, I shoot with an 85 1.8G so what do I know....

Zeiss has their marketing down though...I'll give them that.
 
RodluvanII said:
are you buying a lens and then trying to figure out what to use it for?

good luck with that.

anyway, according to Zeiss they will be releasing a wide angle lens in the otus line
Click to expand...
 
olsenn said:
I'd recommend ditching the Otus for the Sigma 50mm Art lens; it's nearly as good optically, has autofocus, is lighter, and it's much cheaper ($1000 vs $4000). There's also a 35mm Art lens by Sigma which is worth considering.

If you want to say that you have the absolute sharpest lens you can possibly get... it isn't the Otus. Rather it is the Zeiss 135mm f/2 T*
Click to expand...
I do agree with this.

I have the Sigma 50 mm Art, and is fantastic lens. In special considering the price.

At Photokina I did try the Otus 85.

At 1,8 aperture, for a tight portrait you have just a few mm sharp, and that is not always appealing . That would be in my opinion one problem. The second : is MF. Just a small movement of the subject (or the photographer) and the main part of the subject will be OOF. Happened to me , however when I nailed it, was very nice.

The third problem I saw with that particular lens was the OOF areas on the image got a weird fuzzy effect (bad bokeh if you want) . And not in all images. Could not figure it out why.

After returning the lens to the rep, I use the Sigma to take some photos about the same subjects (and persons) and all of them was perfect even if the subject was moving, the AF could follow. Of course the 50 mm will have another angle, and I know the apple and oranges story, but I found this a very important thing at least for myself

Best regards
Joe
 
olsenn said:
I'd recommend ditching the Otus for the Sigma 50mm Art lens; it's nearly as good optically, has autofocus, is lighter, and it's much cheaper ($1000 vs $4000). There's also a 35mm Art lens by Sigma which is worth considering.

If you want to say that you have the absolute sharpest lens you can possibly get... it isn't the Otus. Rather it is the Zeiss 135mm f/2 T*
Click to expand...
The Apo Sonnar 2/135 is great and my favorite lens, but both Otus lenses are a notch above it when it comes to shaprness. The 85mm Otus is truly extraordinary. Give it a try.
 
According to DXOMark, the 135mm is sharper than both Otus lenses (although all are fantastic)
 
nikonbox said:
I've made up my mind to buy an Otus. Was wondering which lens would get more use. i like the short tele a lot but find myself using the wider stuff more. (35 is used the most). my current CZ 100/2 take the short tele place most often so thought i actually need the 55 more but hard to risist the 85? anyone own both or two similar lenses and find themselve using one a lot more than the other.

Current line up 14-24, 35/1.4, 24-70, 100/2
Click to expand...
 
Actually I don't think anyone can take that decision except yourself. You should be familiar with your own shooting habits and what focal length you use most often.
 
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