Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR

by Nikon

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B003ZSHNE0
• Item model number: 85mm f/1.4G
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 17, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This updated classic mid-range telephoto lens delivers incredibly sharp images and its fast f/1.4 aperture ensures a bright viewfinder image as well as beautiful background blur. Well suited for portraits, general purpose and low light work.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f1.4G Lens Highlights

Sample image taken with the NIKKOR 85mm f1.4G lens.

Ultra-fast classic portrait lens
High performance f/1.4 mid-range telephoto lens offers a bright viewfinder image along with beautiful background blur (bokeh).

Nano Crystal Coat
Use of Nano Crystal Coat further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.

Additional Features

• Optimized for edge to edge sharpness on both FX and DX-format D-SLRs
• DX-format D-SLR the angle of view is equivalent to a focal length of 127.5mm in FX/35mm format.
• M/A Focus Mode Switch enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation.
• Internal Focus (IF) provides fast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens, retaining working distance throughout the focus range.

Product Description

This updated classic mid-range telephoto lens delivers incredibly sharp images and its fast f/1.4 aperture ensures a bright viewfinder image as well as beautiful background blur. Well suited for portraits, general purpose and low light work.Use of Nano Crystal Coat further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Improves on one of the great all time lenses, September 1, 2010

By 

Busy Executive (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR (Electronics)

I own the prior version of this lens (the non-AFS 85mm 1.4), and it's one of my all time favorites. There's something almost magic about it for me - I almost can't take a bad picture with it.

So when Nikon released the updated version, I was a little hesitant to upgrade - at least until I went to audition the new lens in one of the big NYC camera shops. After using the new lens firsthand, I just couldn't resist. Now, I own the new one, and the older one is on eBay.

To be clear, by my eye, there's not a huge difference in image quality, as the older lens was already excellent on all counts. The updated version is maybe slightly sharper in the corners on an FX body, colors seem perhaps a bit more vivid, and it seems a bit less prone to flare when you point it directly at a bright light source. It focuses a few inches closer than its predecessor and weighs maybe an ounce or two more. Still, it's not like one is "bad" and the other "good" - just slightly different, and not at all a dramatic difference for most users.

To me, where the compelling value comes from is the new AFS focusing setup, making autofocus nearly instant and incredibly accurate. Thanks to the wide f/1.4 aperture, you always get a bright image, and on both my D3 and D300, focus is blindingly fast and dead-on accurate. This was my only real gripe with the previous lens, and I found myself often either missing shots because of the slow autofocus, or I'd spend a lot of energy manually focusing instead of composing the exact shot I wanted. Now, with the new 85mm f/1.4G, I get fantastic image quality, plus much better and faster handling - and to me, that makes it worthwhile.

Still, the older lens is no slouch, and I suppose if I had neither one and was on a tight budget, I'd certainly have no trouble going with the older lens. There seems to be maybe a $500 premium to get the AFS version, although that might narrow as more lenses get into the market and we see some better discounting.

Of course, if you're questioning whether to upgrade, the pro-grade Nikon lenses hold their value very well, and although I haven't sold mine yet, I'm thinking I'll get 80% of what I paid for it when it was new several years ago, and that makes the transaction easier to handle.

Definitely recommended.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faster Focus - Better Lens, September 8, 2010

By 

Michael Allebach "Tattooed Bride Photographer... (Philadelphia, Pa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR (Electronics)

The new lens is faster to focus and more accurate than either the 85mm 1.4D or 85mm 1.8 D. I have used both and shot over 50,000 photos with the 85mm 1.8 D as it was my bread and butter for several years. Is this a better lens than it's predecessor? YES!

If you already own the 85mm f/1.4 should you go out and sell it? Probably not, unless you are a mainly prime shooter. On the other hand, if you are looking for an upgrade to the 85mm 1.8 and use it heavily this may be a great buy. I mainly stick with the 35mm, 85mm & 135 lens in Nikon. I find that primes actually help my creativity. This lens will be my new workhorse.

Update: May 4, 2011

As a wedding and portrait photographer this has become my main lens. If I had to guess, I would say during engagement photography I use this lens 80% of the time and during a wedding around 40%+ of the time. I use this on my D700 and switch between this, the 35mm 2.0 and 135mm 2.0 and sometimes the 70-200mm. Using the 85mm all day instead of the 70-200mm all day is a back saver.

After shooting over 30,000 images through this lens all I can say is....Amaaaazing.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "float away in a dream" kind of lens, October 17, 2010

By 

Minyan Zhu "Jinx" (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR (Electronics)

I procrastinated on getting this lens for a few years now, with the mentality of "why would I pay a grand plus for a 85 prime when I already have the 70-200 2.8 that covers the zoom range already?" It seemed pretty redundant to have overlapping focal lengths.

However, day after day, the recurring thought that popped into my mind is, " I should get this lens." So after two + years of waiting and procrastinating, I saw the AF-S version and jumped on it!!
I have to say that the colors and contrast that I get from this lens at f/1.4 rivals or exceeds my 70-200mm @ the f/2.8 setting. It's been sitting on my camera ever since the first day I received it.

This lens is MUCH MUCH sharper then the Nikkor 50mm 1.4 wide open!! and renders Bokeh (the dreamy looking areas of the image) with such poetry that it makes my brain dance every time I look at the images produced by this product @ 1.4

The 3 Feet min focusing distance is a much welcomed feature compared to the relatively far 5 feet min focusing of the 70-200 zoom. It allows you to get closer to the subject and offer a more communicative shooting experience.

The secret to good photography is imagination + interesting subjects + fantastic lens

I'm happy to report that this lens is the most fantastic lens that I have ever used!