Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

by Nikon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2.8 x 3.2 x 3.2 inches ; 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005LE76
• Item model number: B00005LE76
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 9, 2006

Product Description

85mm lens for Nikon SLR cameras

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legendary, April 21, 2006

By 

Photo guy - See all my reviews

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

This lens is highly coveted by anyone that has ever shot with it. The 9-bladed aperture creates beautiful bokeh (the out of focus areas) and the sharpness, color and contrast are amazing. Primarily designed as a portrait lens, it really shines at f/2 to f/5.6 with an amazing 3-D like quality that has to be seen to be believed. The fit and finish are first class, with a nice feel and balance to it. It uses 77mm filters like most other Nikon pro glass and flares quite easily so be sure to use the included metal lens hood.

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant lens, January 2, 2005

By 

B. Cullinan (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

(purchased Jan 2003) I bought this lens to use for "candid portrait" photography, and have captured brilliant images of my two fast-moving sons. The wide maximum aperature (f 1.4) and nine-blade aperature mechanism draw attention to the subject of the photographs by causing things that are not in focus to be blurred nicely. More importantly, this lens is extremely sharp. Its images are very detailed and the color contrast is excellent. I have not had trouble with flare, but when the sun strikes the front element, image contrast suffers. Therefore, keep the large lens shade on when shooting outside. The focus is very fast on a Nikon F100.

The only downsides? Closest focus is not great, and the cost!

61 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't believe your eyes until you see it for yourself, July 25, 2006

By 

Justine Bhandary (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

Stellar lens from Nikon, probably one of the Top 5 best ever made.

Say "available light" and you will see me drool. This lens makes almost everything possible when shooting under low light, concert stages, in-door concerts and of course this is a sublime portrait lens.

Get your metering and exposure readings from a few test shots, and then stick to Manual from there on. Make it do things you think it cannot handle and then let it surprise you with the lighting, the depth of field, the smooth blurred background.

Focusing is fast to me. I dont own the 70-200 AF-S VR [yet] so cannot compare responsiveness in that respect, but I shot a whole evening at a recent athletics event and did not feel that it could not keep up. I had trouble keeping u with the athletes!

The build is strong, all metallic body, the lens hood is a screw-in metallic type.
Some people dont like those in particular but I reckon once you mount your hood, it should just stay there permanently.
There is a way to fix the lens cover even with the hood on. The lens cover is a snap-on type, so just make you go fully in and then release the snaps to see the cover stay put on the glass.

This lens is a gem, no questions asked.
If possible test it before buying it. After all, it may be your style to use this focal lenght on a D2 or equivalent, but I can assure you that once you have seen the results, you will be a believer :)

Save up and enjoy this very fine piece of engineering.

Thank you Nikon!