Can 85mm 1.4g be used for landscape?

[hamlet]

So when it comes to quality the 85mm 1.4g is a very well built lens. But can it be used for landscape and architecture photography? I mean, does it give you the same quality of pictures as the professional wide angle lenses? (minus the wide angle)

 

[astroNikon]

Landscape/ architectural is usually a fairly wide photo, thus one normally uses wide angle lenses and smaller apertures.
but if you are far enough away from the subject, why not ?

but think about this for a few examples.

If you are taking photos of real estate.
You may be able to get a nice outside shot without much of an issue as all you have to do is move further away to frame everything.
But when you get inside you may find that you have a problem, such as you can only get 1/3 of the rooms.

But taking a nature picture of a far off mountain range would be no problem.

Think of what you are taking a picture of.
Then think of what lenses you currently have and at that focal length of 85 how does it fit with your question.

and of course, what do you define landscape and architecture as?

I have an 85, and so far I'm loving it. But truthfully I'm only using it for portrait type photos. period. I have better lenses for landscape and architecture and I know would be a total pain on an 85 if I even could get a good perspective.

When I take pictures of buildings or nature scenes I'm usually at 35 or less. There are times I wish I has something wider than my 18.

Just think of the photos you took of the tall monument, and all the details of the building behind and next to it. How would you set that up if you were using an 85mm vs and 18 ??

 

[astroNikon]

This might be a good thread to read through too
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nikon-lenses/340450-affordable-landscape-lenses.html

 

[jaomul]

Of course it can

 

[astroNikon]

here's another nice thread
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nikon-lenses/342490-triple-threat.html

 

[hamlet]

Landscape/ architectural is usually a fairly wide photo, thus one normally uses wide angle lenses and smaller apertures.
but if you are far enough away from the subject, why not ?

but think about this for a few examples.

If you are taking photos of real estate.
You may be able to get a nice outside shot without much of an issue as all you have to do is move further away to frame everything.
But when you get inside you may find that you have a problem, such as you can only get 1/3 of the rooms.

But taking a nature picture of a far off mountain range would be no problem.

Think of what you are taking a picture of.
Then think of what lenses you currently have and at that focal length of 85 how does it fit with your question.

and of course, what do you define landscape and architecture as?

I have an 85, and so far I'm loving it. But truthfully I'm only using it for portrait type photos. period. I have better lenses for landscape and architecture and I know would be a total pain on an 85 if I even could get a good perspective.

When I take pictures of buildings or nature scenes I'm usually at 35 or less. There are times I wish I has something wider than my 18.

Just think of the photos you took of the tall monument, and all the details of the building behind and next to it. How would you set that up if you were using an 85mm vs and 18 ??

I would probably have to make compromises due to the tight shots. In rare cases even the 18mm wasn't wide enough. But the Bokeh on this lens is so wonderful.

 

[astroNikon]

and "compromises" is what you have to figure out no matter when focal length lens you use for anything.

I could use my 500mm lens for landscape.
The 500 could also do inside real estate photos though with alot of compromises, such as looking at the fine grains of wall paint.

You have the lenses to test this question out for focal length.

The only thing you can't answer yourself is the f/1.4
and as in the photo of your monument, at the aperture, you saw the problems of not enough depth of field - things out of focus.
So you gain low light but lose depth of field with a faster lens.
You can increase depth of field by increasing ISO and changing the aperture.

 

[Overread35]

Within reason any lens can be used for anything

A 500mm can be used for a portrait of a person
An 18mm can be used for a wildlife shot
A 1DMIV can be used for a hammer -- ok maybe not quite.

In general the "use a wide angle for a landscape shot" statements are all about providing a starting point for beginners to get a rough reference point to begin from. This often goes hand in hand for working in standard conditions and producing a standard photo at the end. As each photographer grows and experiences things they'll start to experiment and from there broaden their shooting practice.

They might find that a 70-200mm is good for picking out features in a landscape for their own landscape shot rather than sitting back with 8mm and shooting everything

 

[hamlet]

Within reason any lens can be used for anything

A 500mm can be used for a portrait of a person
An 18mm can be used for a wildlife shot
A 1DMIV can be used for a hammer -- ok maybe not quite.

In general the "use a wide angle for a landscape shot" statements are all about providing a starting point for beginners to get a rough reference point to begin from. This often goes hand in hand for working in standard conditions and producing a standard photo at the end. As each photographer grows and experiences things they'll start to experiment and from there broaden their shooting practice.

They might find that a 70-200mm is good for picking out features in a landscape for their own landscape shot rather than sitting back with 8mm and shooting everything

Very interesting perspective. I couldn't have put it better myself.

 

[astroNikon]

If I may make a recommendation (again).

Go buy yourself a cheap 50mm/1.8 lens ($100 USD used on ebay).
This will teach you so much about apertures versus just kit lenses.
Then the Shutter - Aperture - ISO triangle makes sense.
it's the difference between "knowledge" and "experience & knowledge".

My understanding of low light, aperture and ISO made sense only AFTER I bought one of these for learning.
Then everything in your link that you reference will make more sense too.
The Ultimate Guide to Learning how to use Your first DSLR - Digital Photography School

 

[hamlet]

and "compromises" is what you have to figure out no matter when focal length lens you use for anything.

I could use my 500mm lens for landscape.
The 500 could also do inside real estate photos though with alot of compromises, such as looking at the fine grains of wall paint.

You have the lenses to test this question out for focal length.

The only thing you can't answer yourself is the f/1.4
and as in the photo of your monument, at the aperture, you saw the problems of not enough depth of field - things out of focus.
So you gain low light but lose depth of field with a faster lens.
You can increase depth of field by increasing ISO and changing the aperture.

I don't know if i'll be shooting at f1.4. I would probably only do it on the rare occasions in architecture or landscaping. The main thing i want this lens for is the beautiful quality, being able to isolate details in that perfect bokeh.

 

[astroNikon]

So you like the background "Out of Focus" or Bokeh?

I'm not an expert but I was confusing the two as the same thing, and it's apparently not the same thing.
Since I'm not an expert and I'm still slightly confused about it, we'll let someone else explain.

 

[hamlet]

So you like the background "Out of Focus" or Bokeh?

I'm not an expert but I was confusing the two as the same thing, and it's apparently not the same thing.
Since I'm not an expert and I'm still slightly confused about it, we'll let someone else explain.

Bokeh is the quality of the out of focus parts. You have to look at a picture as a whole, a orchestra where every instrument is as important as the one before or after it. It all comes together in a beautiful piece of art.

 

[Braineack]

I would probably have to make compromises due to the tight shots. In rare cases even the 18mm wasn't wide enough. But the Bokeh on this lens is so wonderful.

Are you going to be trying to get Bokeh in your landscape shots?

IMHO it's way too long to work as a landscape lens.


I'm beginning to think Hamlet is just one really bad troll.

 

[wyogirl]

why would you want bokeh in landscape. Generally landscape needs full DOF. If not, then it isn't really landscape anymore is it...