Compare all 6 images from this series – see them on my Flickr set.
The amazingly cheap Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 manual focus lens on a Micro Four Thirds camera (The Panasonic GH-1) bokeh and CA test on an extremely challenging subject – a strongly backlit wax mannequin with a multitude of highlights on the pearls – a challenge for any lens wide open – but this lens passes it easily – even with a cheap UV filter and no lens hood!
This image is to show how good the rear bokeh is for out of focus areas at f/1.4 but at closer focus than the others in this series to give even shallower depth of field – look at the pearl highlights in the rear.
AWB in artificial light.
No cropping.
RAW file with no post-processing performed other than Lightroom export with resizing and compressing for the web and its default standard sharpening.
This len gives me similar imagery to my Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L lens at f/2.0 on my Canon 1D Mark III camera at 1/5th the price and less than half the weight (see here for my comparisons) – no wonder my Canon stays at home now!
The amazing 1920’s flapper styled wax mannequin and pearl-beaded head piece belong to Ken Gray and Alister Reid Gallery of Melbourne who created the pearl jewelry and kindly consented to me photographing it in their store, as well as creating unique, high quality, individualised jewelry which can be re-fashioned from your existing jewelry – if you are in Melbourne, check their work and gallery in Collins St.
As I love this lens so much, I bought another one from Ebay tonight – this time in a Nikon mount so I have greater versatility:
I can let my friends use it on their Nikon (it is better than my friend’s mark I Nikkor 85mm f/1.4)
I can use it with AF-confirm adapter on my Canon 1D Mark III as a 110mm field of view f/1.4 (it is way better wide open than my Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 lens)
I can use it on my Four Thirds dSLR and gain image stabilisation as well as AF confirm giving me an effective 170mm field of view f/1.4 IS lens.
I can use it on my Micro Four Thirds and have easy live view magnification, and if I want, via the LensBaby Tilt Transformer, I can convert it into a tilt lens.
