Fast Glass – When do you need it?

Nikon has released several fast, single focal length lenses, last year.  After some time to shoot them I’m in love!   All are f 1.4 maximum aperture.  85 f 1.4 – 35 f 1.4  and the 24 f 1.4.  They are spectacularly sharp, and very well corrected.  As you would imagine they cost more than $199.   All are just sub $2,000. each!!!   So why would you invest in such expensive glass?  Actually you might if you had to shoot in dismal light, or needed as bright an image as possible for viewing.  If you worked in reasonably good light and had a camera that can shoot in High ISO (6400 and higher)  You can work perfectly well with f 2.8 lenses.   the 24-70 AF-S f 2.8 is a perfect example.  It is razor sharp and reasonably fast. I even find the 24-120 AF-S VR II f 4 to work good in “most” situations.  “Most” is a big word when you are being paid to shoot.  If you have to work in miserable light, you’re gonna want these lenses in your bag.

Another reason you may want such fast lenses is to get very shallow depth-of-field.  Nothing is prettier than a soft, out of focus, background when you want to eliminate distractions.  The faster the lens, the easier it is to get that effect.  One other reason to think about this trio is the exclusive Nikon “N” coatings.  The Nano coatings are the ultimate weapon in the battle against reduced contrast due to  flare.

All in all, if you have the right reason to buy them, these three great lenses look less and less expensive!

the pilgrim

Is there anyway to save some money and still enjoy the fast glass???  Sort of, if you own both DX and FX bodies buy the 24 f 1.4 which on your DX body would be a 36 f1.4 and then add the 85 f 1.8 which is costs almost 1/4 the 85 f 1.4.   You would get 95% of the performance at substantially less than half the cost.  So I have a D4 and a D7000 if I own the 24 mm f 1.4 it will be a 24 f 1.4 on the D4, and 36 f 1.4 on the D7000.  The 85 mm f 1.8 is an 85 mm f1.8 on the FX, a 127.5 mm f 1.8 on the D7000.  Pretty cool………………