[Brightcolours]

The 85mm f1.4 does not have great bokeh, for such a lens... a distinct nisen bokeh effect. Of course, it does blur a lot due to f1.4. But great or "creamy" bokeh? Not really.



But the Sigma 85mm f1.4 does not offer creamy or very smooth bokeh either, so the choice for the Nikon mount is a bit limited.



Subject separation-wise, of course, both are great. It is just the quality of the bokeh that fails to impress.



For Nikon, bokeh quality wise, I think I would look at the Nikon AF 85mm f1.8 D instead. Bokeh can still have a bit of nisen quality to it, but I find the rendering more pleasing (as far as I can tell). And it is a lot cheaper, this lens.



Anyway, your friend in determining the bokeh quality of a lens:

http://www.pixel-peeper.com . Here you can clearly find the Nisen bokeh from the Nikons.



Explanation about nisen bokeh:

http://www.sony.ca/html/uf/microsite/Cap...ite/2.html



Bokeh example Nikon 85mm f1.8 D showing double lines, making for busy nisen bokeh in the background:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenyo/44394...otostream/



Bokeh example Nikon 85mm f1.4 D (old version) showing double lines and all over restlessness in the background rendering:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8563769@N05/3917242167

Annoyingly, pixel-peeper does not (yet?) make a distinction between the old and the new version. But on flickr a search gives enough examples that show the bokeh of the new AF-S G version:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ase23210/4938463678/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45595397@N03/4989101766/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/misteroy/54...87209@N24/



Bokeh eamples Sigma 85mm f1.4 EX DG HSM (not yet in pixel-peeper, so do a search in flickr):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidkilloc...464365@N22

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]@N22

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]@N22

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chipkrieger...464365@N22



My unscientific rating of all 3 lenses, I would rate the Nikon f1.8 and Sigma f1.4 higher than both Nikon f1.4's, even though they all are not true bokeh-stars (for 85mm lenses).