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well i decided on the 1.8 over the 1.4. i couldn't justify the price gap right now. i'm really enjoying it so far and it really suits my shallow dof style. big up's to the 85mm !

Oh it seems lovely and sharp... love the almost arty feel to the first image there Rooz.. and the last one is also a keeper.. actually its a frame and keep me thinks..

I like the colours and composition in the 1st one....very nice

Love #3, gorgeous moment that has been well captured.

I am glad you like this lens Rooz. I have just odered it for pretty much the same use.
Another vote for #3 from me.
Regards Colin

very nice, just ordered mine yesterday.

I love mine, I know people rave about the 1.4, but I'm happy with the 1.8 !

thanks all. sounds like a few people either have it or ordered it. will be very interested to hear peoples views on the contrast. i find its by far my lowest contrast lens, far less contrast in the shot than the 50/1.8. every shot below f4 requires a quick L&C adjustment. not a significant issue, but it's a bit of a pain in the butt really. i wonder if its a lens fault or do other people find this to be an issue ?

Rooz
Very unlikely to be a lens issue. These lenses are often used in low light/contrast settings so that may have some bearing?

good point matt. i might give it a run out the back in the sun tomorrow.

mind you...my fifty is generally used in the same conditions and i have no such problem. i should probably clarify here, when i say "lens issue", i mean my particualr lens as opposed to the 85/1.8 in general cos i had read that it was quite a contrasty lens even at large apertures. perhaps i'm just too used to the sigma150mm.

Could you post an image from this lens which you say it's 'low contrast'? Without any sort of post processing?

yepp. i'm borrowing a friends 1.8 tomorrow and will run some quick comparisons. if they both perform the same then i'll post a shot of what i'm talking about. if the other one performs differently, then, well, its kind of a moot point and i'll return it for another copy.

Beautiful pics, I bet your wife is really loving you posting the last one. I don't have an 85mm yet, I have a Tamron 90mm so can't quite talk myself into the 85 but the 1.4 looks like the ducks guts, but the cost is a bit restrictive to those of us on a budget so I'll probably just get the 1.8 too.
maybe one day I'll trade the 90 for a longer macro lens & then I could get an 85mm

Nice sharp images with a nice sharp lens, memorable!

i ran a side by side and there was indeed a fault with the lens. who knows what the hell causes that ?? anyway...who cares ? i swapped it, got home, rattled off 20 images and all are spot on straight away. this is more what i expected.

That's good news!