Portrait Lens Comparison

These tests compare eye sharpness, out of focus background blur (bokeh) and out of focus diaphram light patterns among several Nikon lenses with a Nikon D80 camera. To review lens characteristics, look at the f/8 images that show the maximum mannequin and background detail. Then look at images taken at wider-aperture to compare lens sharpness and bokeh as aperture is opened to f/1.4. Canon lens tests are included below as reference.

I use Nikon cameras for scientific medical photography at work and upgraded my D100 with a D80. I normally shoot portraits with full-frame Canon gear (e.g., EOS-1Ds). However, I occasionally use the Nikon for impromtu candid style portraits at work and tested some readily available lenses.

All images are full frame from RAW files converted with Phase One Capture One 1 Pro v 3.7.6 with slight unsharp mask applied in Photoshop. Cameras/lens combinations were all shot on tripod with aperture priority with custom white balance off the grey card. Lighting is from a bounced tungsten modeling light off a angled wall behind camera, and a modeling light is on the background. The mannequin's right eye is the focus point.

Conclusions: Draw your own conclusions depending on your shooting preferences. My summary of lens performance is at the bottom of the page.

	f/1.4 or f/1.8	f/2	f/2.8	f/4 or f/4.5	f/5.6	f/8
85mm f/1.4 D AF	f/1.4	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
50mm f/1.8 AF	f/1.8	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
28-70mm f/2.8 D AF-S @50mm			f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
60mm f/2.8 D AF micro			f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
80-200mm f/2.8 D AF @ 80mm			f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
80-200mm f/2.8 D AF @ 200mm			f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
180mm f/2.8 D AF			f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 G DX AF @ 50mm				f/4.5	f/5.6	f/8

Comparison of Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 on 1.5x format D80 and Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L on Full-Frame EOS-1Ds Mark II
The full-frame Canon camera with the EF 85mm f/1.2L lens gives the most diffuse out of focus background blur (best bokeh). The Canon full frame camera allows a shorter working distance than the 85mm Nikon lens. Standard setting camera color and tone is more vivid and contrasty out of the consumer grade Nikon D80 than the Canon EOS-1Ds mk II. The greater working distance of the Nikkor 85mm lens on a 1.5x format camera allows greater use of the lens at f/1.4 for portraits than the Canon 85 L. At f/1.4 with the Nikkor, all of the face shot parallel to the sensor plane is in focus (assuming a short nose). With the full-frame Canon camera, the 85L shot at a closer working distance puts both eyes in focus at f/1.4, but the nose and lips are outside the plane of focus.

	f/1.2	f/1.4	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
Nikon D80 and 85mm f/1.4 D AF ISO 400 Standard sRGB Color Output		f/1.4	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and EF 85mm f/1.2L II ISO 800 Standard sRGB Color	f/1.2	f/1.4	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8

Comparison of Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 on 1.5x format D80 and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 on 1.6x format 20D
The more expensive and better built (metal mount) Nikon 50mm f/1.8 produces more diffuse background blur than the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Note the 7-blade diaphragm out of focus light pattern with the Nikkor lens at f/2.8 and f/4 and the 5-blade out of focus light diaphragm pattern with the Canon lens. Both lenses are good light-weight, compact portrait performers at f/2.8.

	f/1.8	f/2	f/2.8	f/4 or f/4.5	f/5.6	f/8
Nikon D80 and 50mm f/1.8 AF	f/1.8	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8
Canon 20D and EF 50mm f/1.8	f/1.8	f/2	f/2.8	f/4	f/5.6	f/8

Summary of Findings with Nikkor Portrait Lenses Tested

• 85mm f/1.4 D AF:
  • This wide-aperture lens produced the best bokeh and gave sharp eye detail through all apertures tested.
  • The film equivalent perspective on the D80 is 128mm.
  • The greater working distance for portraits on 1.5x cameras lets you open the lens to f/2 and f/1.4 and still capture in-focus face detail.
  
  
• 50mm f/1.8 D AF:
  • Best if stopped down to f/2.8 for sharp eye detail
  • The film equivalent perspective on the D80 is 75mm
  • Inexpensive, small and light weight. The sample I tested was a new lens made in China and sold by Nikon USA.
  • This is the only Nikkor lens tested that produced obvious out of focus background light aperture diaphragm patterns (7 blade pattern at f/2.8).
  
  
• 60mm f/2.8 D AF:
  • Sharp at f/2.8 and good blurring of background
  
  
• 28-70mm f/2.8 D AF-S @ 50mm
  • Sharp at f/2.8 and good blurring of background
  
  
• 80-200mm f/2.8 D AF
  • At 80mm: Acceptable eye sharpness at f/2.8 with improved performance at f/4
  • At 200mm: Soft eye detail at f/2.8 which improves slightly at f/4. Performance stopped down is still disappointing to me.
  
  
• 180mm f/2.8 D AF
  • Acceptable eye sharpness at f/2.8 with excellent performance at f/4
  • Performance of the 180mm lens is considerably better at a lighter weight and with a smaller, less-conspicuous profile than that of the 80-200mm near the 200mm range .
  
  
• 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 G DX AF @ 50mm
  • This 4x zoom is a very good performer at f/8 and f/11 in non-portrait applications
  • The need to stop down the lens to f/8 for eye sharpness and associated limited background blurring function make it a more challenging tool for candid portraits.

Index
posted 5 November 2006; revised 6 November 2006.