Carl Zeiss Distagon T* Otus 1.4/55 ZF.2 Nikon mounted on Nikon D5 : Tests and Reviews

Two years after the launch of the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A, the first model in its highly-respected Art line, Sigma has finally introduced an 85mm version.

With a slightly narrower angle of view and a slightly greater image magnification than the 85mm, resulting in marginally more pronounced subject isolation, the 105mm has long been a popular alternative. This new high-speed F1.4 autofocus model from Nikon will eventually replace the earlier AF DC-Nikkor 105mm F2D (defocus control) model, and is currently the fastest of its type.

Nikon’s latest flagship FX-mount, full-frame DSLR — the D5 — is a performance powerhouse, featuring a new 153-point autofocus system and 12 fps burst shooting of up to 200 14-bit RAW files. Designed for the traditional customer base of sports, press and wildlife pros demanding top performance, the D5’s increased 20.8Mp resolution and enhanced low-light capabilities has further broadened the D5’s appeal. As well as boasting enough pixels for advertising, magazine, and even landscape photography, the D5’s image quality improvements at the mid-ISO 1600–12,800 range will interest a range of professionals looking for great results in low light.

With its natural perspective and selective focus at maximum aperture, the 85mm f/1.4 is the perhaps the most coveted of short telephoto lenses for portraiture both indoors and out. This new manual-focus lens from high-end maker Zeiss replaces the earlier 85mm model from the maker’s Classic line, and features a new optical design and an exterior resembling that of the no-compromise Otus models.

Zeiss has replaced its so-called “Classic” range of Nikon ZF.2 and Canon ZE SLR lenses with redesigned models reminiscent of the company’s high-end Otus range. Adopting the scientific name for a genus of birds of prey, the rebranded Milvus lens range consists of several models, with this particular 1.4/50 model featuring an all-new optical design as a replacement for the Planar T* 1,4/50.

Announced in January 2014, the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM is a high-speed premium AF lens with an image circle designed to cover full-frame sensors. When fitted to an APS-C camera, however, the angle of view is equivalent to a 75mm short telephoto.

Designed exclusively for Sony E-mount cameras and the full-frame A7 series models in particular, the Zeiss Loxia 2/50 (50mm f/2), like the Otus ZF models, deliberately avoids AF in favor of a mix of manual mechanical controls and electronic data transfer. Read on to find out how well this lens performs.

In Part 2 of “Best lenses for the Nikon D750” we’re looking at the performance of primes on Nikon’s latest full-frame DSLR. We’ve analyzed over 60 fixed-focal-length lenses on the D750, including Nikon’s own Nikkor brand and third-party alternatives. Covering focal lengths from 14mm through to 600mm, the scores include some of the best results our technicians have ever recorded.

Nikon’s mid-term refresh of the firm’s hugely popular D800 and D800E models resulted in a single model, the D810. Like the D800E it aims to maximize the resolution of the full-frame 36-Mpix CMOS sensor and omits a modified AA filter completely. We’ve analyzed the image quality of over 100 different lenses mounted to the new camera to discover how well this new model performs.

Launched a little over 2-years ago, the first Zeiss Otus model was a triumph in optical and mechanical perfection, and now Zeiss has added a second model to the range, and high speed 85mm with a heady mix of six anomalous dispersion glass elements, one asphere and a floating system to reduce aberrations at close range.  Read on to see how well this new exotic model performs.