GAS496 Loc: Arizona

Thank you for the backup Architect 1776! I have been a member for about 8 1/2 years and seldom respond to posts because of ignorant responses from supposed experts. I don’t even own a digital camera shooting all film formats from 35mm to 8x10 but enjoy the discussions here (most of the time). There are people here that know their stuff and we all can learn from them. The principals of photography and capturing light are the same no matter what cameras we use.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I find that I have a hater following that take every post and try to sidetrack it.
I believe it happens to others as well.
I offend many here when I remind them of the merciless attacks, I saw when I started here years ago, on Canon and the favorite topics were:
1. Canon is always changing lens mounts.
2. Canon DR sucks.
3. Canon Noise sucks.
These were nearly daily diatribes.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

As both a long time Nikon and Canon user, I feel your pain.

1. Nikon kept the F flange mount, but added so many features to it they created a menu of failure opportunities for many of their older lenses. (Which feature of the lens requires which body?) Canon made one major change from FD/FL to EF/EF-S when they EOS system came out. I had an A-1. Did I care? No. They made it worthwhile to update/upgrade by creating one of the most stable and versatile mounts around. Most EF lenses work perfectly — even better — on the R series MILCs.

2. While Canon dynamic range is often demonstrably less than Nikon's or Sony's, in reality that is usually not an issue. Most portrait photographers prefer the look of Canon color. That's not opinion... It is observed fact by reviewing pro lab records. Conversely, Nikon's color seems more amenable to dramatic landscapes and action sports photography (although Canon dominates the latter).

3. Canon noise is often greater than Nikon's, but it doesn't suck. In all my use of Canons, I never had enough noise to complain about. But I never owned a 5Dsr.

There is no perfect camera. The manufacturers have been at it so long, each of them knows their niche markets and serves them well. Smart buyers will learn photography on something cheap, then jump to a brand and system that has the features they need for what they want to photograph.

Inevitably, the brand braggarts spend more time talking about their gear than using it. If you buy the right tools, they recede into the background of your consciousness as you use them... That makes them fun to use, and it makes your work play, and your play enjoyable.

User ID

Be as sorry as you want ... but you and your budz are simply dead wrong if you think you ever showed that FL governs anything other than cropping/framing.

Your experimental observations or your procedures are clearly faulty, most likely both. GIGO. I dont even need to see it.

Using procedure and observation not very different from yours, I have produced the attached photographic proof showing that the Earth is flat:

(Download)

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

The irony here is that you responding to not only one of the biggest brand braggarts here. And not just a brand braggart but one that feels the need to denigrate other brands. I can’t know about his claims of what went on here years ago since I wasn’t here then. I’d hope that somebody that went through that would be mature enough to not perpetuate that behavior.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

It is appropriate to remind the Nikon users that they had numerous "Mount" changes under the guise of the F. Now the Z has made much of the F stuff obsolete even more recent stuff where Canon with the brilliant change over 30 years ago that the Nikon fan boys made fun of for decades has paid off in that the RF mount is fully compatible with the EF series of lenses and if you wish all the old FD/FL/R lenses as well.
And as to DR and Noise Canon now pretty much is on top in those categories.
That is why the complete silence you hear as the Nikon fan boys are eating crow.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Thank you for proving my point.

User ID

Simply no evidence of that what so ever. Youre like news from a parallel universe. Sux to hear of your problems out there. How is weather out there ? Here its mid summer but we have only one sun star, so its mostly pretty reasonable.

Miamark Loc: Florida

I would get either an 85 or 100(or 105). The 85 is the classic portrait lens for head shots and upper body. A 135 is too long and can flatten, i.e, distort facial features. As to aperture, 1.4 or 1.8 is best but be careful with your focus.

Nickaroo

This is the Reason that I Respect Your Evaluations of Pro Equipment.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Good to know.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

All work well. Some have qualities that give you nearly flawless center sharpness with softer bokeh on the edges when used wide open - which can be flattering. Shorter lenses tend to make faces narrower due to the perspective associated with shorter distance to subject, so if you are dealing with a round-faced individual a shorter focal length could be more flattering. Narrower faces can benefit from perspectives associated with greater working distances, making a 100 or longer focal length ideal.

These are very broad generalizations - each lens has it's benefits and disadvantages that would need to be considered. I love the older Nikkor 85mm F1.4 AF-D. Certainly the 85mm F1.8 G has better sharpness corner to corner, as does the newer 85mm F1.4G but there is a special quality missing from the "improved" versions that make the AF-D still relevant and desirable.

Miamark Loc: Florida

I agree. The Nikon 85mm 1.4D is fabulous for portraits.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are many now seeking older lenses for the very reason you state. I look at older manual 85mm lenses on ebay and am amazed at the prices being asked and sold for.