Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

(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!

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!

I didn't expect this lens to be so astonishingly good.

I've read all the reviews and all the tests, and I've used my share of older Nikon AF and AF-D lenses, and I expected a performance from this lens along the lines of what I'd experienced with other, similar lenses - just with the addition of the legendary bokeh that everybody seems to buy it for and the giant fast aperture.

Instead what I got is a lens that exceeds its spec sheet, exceeds the performance implied by every formal test I've ever seen of it, and exceeds nearly every expectation I had for it.

Here's why:

Any lens will tend to lose acuity as larger apertures are used. This is due to spherical aberration and occurs to very different degrees in different lenses, but occurs to some degree in every lens. Tests of this lens show this loss of acuity to a similar degree to that which occurs in its smaller f/1.8 sibling, which I found to be mediocre wide open, and to most of Nikon's older AF and AF-D primes, the performance capabilities of which I'm also familiar with and not always particularly impressed by.

Yet while those other lenses are indeed diminished in terms of image quality as their wide-open aperture is approached, the 85/1.4 doesn't seem to lose a thing in terms of the visual impact of its images no matter how wide it's opened up. Even wide-full-open at f/1.4, this lens gives stunning images with excellent sharpness, excellent contrast, and beautiful colors that leap right out of the image in full three-dimensional glory.

The reason, I suspect, has to do with the fact that the perception of sharpness in an image is not at all the same thing as pure optical acuity. Acuity is the element effectively measured by performance tests, which look at the loss of contrast on a tiny scale barely resolvable by a digital sensor. Quite different is what our eyes perceive when we look at an image. The "snap" we find striking when looking at a stunning photo has to do with color and contrast on a somewhat larger scale, and also with other factors in the image as a whole, such as the contrast between in-focus and out-of-focus parts of the image. Under close inspection at full magnification, it is clear that this lens, like any other, loses acuity at very large apertures. The overall color and contrast, though, the snap and pop that makes images look vibrant, alive and three-dimensional, does not diminish. That is extraordinary in an f/1.4 lens. It means that I can take a photograph of a colorful, detailed subject with this lens at f/1.4, and with another excellent lens at f/5.6, and the image made by this lens will have at least as much of those qualities, even viewed with moderate magnification, as the f/5.6 image will have. That is the reason this lens deserves its legendary reputation.

Of course, that f/1.4 image will also have the beautiful bokeh that this lens is famous for, and it will have a degree of de-focus (not the same as bokeh, which is the QUALITY of the de-focus) that can make the background meld into a soft blur of color mere inches from the plane of perfect focus. That of course is also what this lens is legendary for. Many lenses can create de-focus, though: wider, slower lenses can do it close-up, and longer, slower lenses can do it at similar distances - and some, to my eyes at least, have bokeh that is just as nice as the 85/1.4. What makes this lens remarkable is the combination of those qualities: excellent quality of bokeh, degree of blur controllable all the way to extreme at f/1.4, and a rendering of the in-focus part of the image that is just superb, and that loses not one whit of perceived quality even at wide-open aperture. That is a combination that will let you make magic.

It is not perfect. This lens' biggest optical flaw is something that is most commonly called purple fringing. This is a chromatic aberration that occurs in out-of-focus contrast transitions and can also, I believe, be called longitudinal chromatic aberration. It occurs because different wavelengths of light are focused slightly differently as they pass through the various lens elements, and it is very noticeable in certain types of images if you look closely. The lens is also susceptible to flare, so it's important to take care to shade the front element, if possible, when shooting into backlit scenes. These qualities do affect the usability of the lens to a degree, but this lens is a rather specialized tool, and knowing when to use it, and how to use it properly, should be considered a reasonable requirement for anybody who wishes to benefit from its extraordinary capabilities.

Perfection is one way to greatness, and there are lenses out there that come close to perfection without being extraordinary in any particular way. Some of those lenses are deserving of five-star ratings. This lens does the exact opposite, being extraordinary despite significant imperfections, and I give it five stars as well. It is utterly unmatched, probably by a wide margin, and probably at any price, at doing what it does well. Regardless of its relatively minor imperfections it is, with a capital "G," one of the Great Nikon lenses.

Notes:

- This lens has a near complete lack of any of the latest Nikon buzzword tech: there are no ED elements and no aspherical elements, it does not have Nikon's close-ratio correction (CRC) floating-element design, and of course it does not have AF-S focusing. It could probably benefit from all of those things, the first two of which would no doubt help with its issues with chromatic aberration. It does, however, have Nikon's excellent "SIC" lens coating, which I suspect is responsible, along with a good overall optical design, for its excellent performance in terms of contrast and color rendition, especially wide-open. Having fewer elements than the complex zooms no doubt helps as well, as each air/glass and glass/glass interface causes some attenuation in lens performance. The complex zooms with multiple ED and aspheric elements seem to need those tricks, while this lens gets by without them.

- Compared to the 85mm f/1.8D: In my humble opinion, there is no comparison. This lens suffers from none of the 1.8 lens' relative lack of contrast in comparison to Nikon's newer lenses: in fact just the opposite - it seems, if it's possible, even contrastier and more vibrant in its rendition of colors than even the best of them. That alone gives its images a subtle, but noticeable, bump in quality compared to the f/1.8. This lens' wide-aperture shots don't lose the punch that the 1.8D's do. And while I didn't personally find the 1.8D's bokeh to be particularly nice, this 1.4D does certainly live up to its reputation in that area, being equal to the very best. Even if you never shot this lens wider than f/1.8 it would be twice the lens the 85/1.8 is. These differences are modest but not small, and they show up in every image. The difference between greatness and competence is often subtle. Here, to my eyes, it is nevertheless very clear.

- This lens uses 77mm filters, which is very handy for most Nikon users as that has been the standard pro filter size for twenty years or so now. To get the most out of this lens you will really need to invest in at least one high-quality neutral density filter of 2-3 stops. This will allow you to shoot the lens in brighter conditions and still benefit from its control over depth of field. I have two 2-stop ND filters and sometimes use both of them together, which the lens handles well, although focusing can become difficult. Another good investment might be a very high-grade, multi-coated protective filter, which can be helpful in diminishing the flare that this lens can suffer from. I recommend Hoya's excellent "HD" filters, the best I've used at helping to control flare.

- Focus is very accurate on my sample. That is a very important consideration for a lens with such a narrow wide-open depth of field, and I've had more than one fast lens whose wide open performance was effectively ruined by inconsistent focus. While this is not an AF-S lens and consequently lacks the subtle, incremental ability to track motion that AF-S lenses tend to have, it is extremely good for still shots even at f/1.4.

I've had my eye on this lens for some time, but was very hesitant to spend the money on it. I bought it a couple of months ago and have used it almost exclusively on my D90 since then. This is a great lens, and I know it was the right lens for me to add to my photo gear right now.

I agree with previous reviewers, there are 2 main reasons to buy this lens. First, if you shoot in low light conditions this lens performs incredibly well. The other day I was at my kids' school taking some musical photos for the yearbook. The auditorium manager was out for the day, so we couldn't turn on the stage lights. We only used the house lights and a very small amount of background stage lights, so it was very dark and I wasn't feeling optimistic about getting some decent shots. But wide open, the lens was capable of producing sharp, clear, decently exposed images.

The other main reason to buy this lens is the bokeh, of course. It is very smooth and beautiful. However, this lens does take some practice and skill when shooting wide open. It is a very sharp lens even at 1.4, but there is no room for error with focus since the depth of field is so narrow.

One other thing that I really like about this lens is it's size and weight. It's hefty and well-built, but isn't too heavy or cumbersome on my D90. I feel perfectly comfortable walking around with this lens. Sometimes people suggest getting a 70-200mm before or instead of the 85mm, but for me this lens is a much better fit and more versatile. Yes, the 70-200mm also has great bokeh, has a more versatile range, and can be better for indoor sports. But it's size and weight are a major negative me. I wouldn't use a 70-200mm for casual portraits, or as a walk around lens, or everyday casual shots. In my opinion, the 85mm is great in all of those situations.

There are some negatives to this lens - it is a little too long on a DX body at times and there are some chromatic aberration and flare issues when shooting wide open.

If you are thinking about getting this lens, do your homework and figure out of this is a right fit for you. For me, it is a very versatile lens and a great performer and I am completely satisfied with it.

Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 has been hailed as legendary lens for Nikon DSLR or film camera. I think it is because of its unique characteristic but also its age. This lens has been around for thirteen years.

Image Quality and characteristic
Mounted in Nikon full frame camera D700, the lens is sharp at maximum aperture of f/1.4D, which is excellent. Stopped down to f/2.8, the lens become very sharp. But extreme sharpness is not what this lens is made for. It is primarily made for its ability in low light condition, and its ability to create a beautiful out of focus effect in background or foreground.

Because of those characteristic and its fixed focal length, this lens is ideal for portrait. It is also good for candid portraiture such as in wedding. For Nikon pro wedding shooters, this lens is one of must have lens.

Unfortunately, this lens suffers a bit from purple fringing in high contrast area (see sample pic below), it is also susceptible to flare, but not as bad as other lenses.

Auto Focus operation
Because Nikon 85mm f/1.4D does not have built-in motor focus like modern lenses (AF-S) lens, it relies on camera body to focus. It speed will also depend on the camera body. The more higher-end model such as Nikon D700, D3 or D3X will focus faster than the entry-level camera.

When mounted in Nikon D700, the lens focus very fast. Unfortunately entry level user such as Nikon D40, D40X and D60 only can use manual focus because the camera body doesn't have the capability to focus AF lenses. This lens also create some noise when focusing because lack of Silent Wave Motor.

In sport games such as basketball, the lens has difficulty in continuous tracking. It fails to lock on the object properly resulting in many blur image. I don't recommend it for sports.

Build Quality
Built quality of this lens is awesome, it is average in size and weight and very nice to handle. The focus ring is smooth. Closest focusing is 85cm, make it not very ideal for macro / close-up photography.

It will come with "metal" lens hood. Unfortunately the lens hood it screw in type and you can't reverse it for more compact storage. In spite of that, the lens hood is fully metal, so it is better than regular plastic type and a lot more durable.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D vso 85mm f/1.8D
Compare to f/1.8D version, This lens is 2.5 times more expensive, the cheaper lens is not as sharp as f/1.4D in its maximum aperture of f/1.8. At f/2.8, the sharpness is almost equal. The build quality is also a lot worse than the f/1.4D. But the 85mm f/1.8 is more compact and portable.

In Conclusion
You might want to get this lens because of several reasons:

* You frequently shoot at extremely low light condition which f/1.4D is often needed
* You are concern about artistic, especially smooth background blur.
* You are looking for the sharpest lens from edge to edge of the image. (The lens is designed to be sharp in the center "focus" and soft in the corner).

Don't buy this lens for indoor sports, it is better to get either f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens or lighting equipment.

check out www.radiantlite.com for other reviews

With my older film Nikon cameras, my absolute favorite lens for almost every occasion was the 105mm f/2.5 lens. The razor-sharp clarity, the high speed, I LOVED this lens.

Now, lo and behold, for my Nikon digitals, the 85mm f/1.4 is like my old favorite, only faster! Long enough to get no distortion on portraits, fast enough for avaiable light close-ups in the garden. And as sharp as the old 105. I think I'm in love...

I have been using this fantastic lens for 2 months now and believe me it blows my mind every single day. The pictures I have taken with this baby beyond imaginations. I bought it without even testing it, I had just done a research about this lens online and I've found out was it was one of the best nikon lenses ever made. So I spilled the cash and went for it, boy was I ever glad I did that. Build quality is solid all metal and lens is razor sharp, but the beauty of the light it captures is so amazing. If you are a serious photographer you should own this gorgeous portrait lens. I know I will be working with this lens for years and years. I mounted on a D70 and it made my D70 like D2X that's how brilliant were the images. I did lots of portrait shootings with lens wide open at f/1.4 background is very blurry and colors are fantastic.Now that I purchased a D200 from amazon.com it is a blast to use it.
Thanx Nikon

Prime Time: I am addicted to fast, prime lenses and this Nikkor does not disappoint! The large aperture makes using the SLR viewfinder a pleasure - super bright, minimal fatigue. Images taken with the 85mm 1.4 are sharp and easily demonstrate the advantage of shooting RAW especially when viewed at 100%. Truly amazing when seen on high resolution monitors. And available light is no longer that elusive quarry. To these ends - sharpness and speed - there are alternatives. Many online reviewers speak highly of the 85mm 1.8 and this sister to the 1.4 is a classic that ranks very high in terms of value. Nonetheless, the smoothness of the out-of-focus portions of images taken with the 1.4 is something that just has to be seen. This is the proverbial stuff of legend. Nikkor's execution of this optical formula is arguably second to none and when taken in the context of comparisons to German glass one can maybe rationalize value despite the high cost.

Wow Factor: This lens has a nice balance in its proportions. Check out the NikonUSA website and the D3 digital body. This is the lens that completes that picture. And it is an imager to boot!

Of note: The resultant magnification from this or any focal length depends on the format or size of the light sensor. Nikon currently has only one digital body with a 35mm-film equivalent sensor and that is the D3 (Fx format). Any other digital Nikon body (Dx format) will result in greater magnification (1.5x).

Cons: My other lenses (24mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4) have been relegated to the cupboard. For now...

You know they say that 'nothing is absolutely perfect in this world. But I must say that with this lens you can get as close to perfection as a lens can. I just love the 'bokeh' it creates and would like to add my support along with countless others as to what an excellent lens this is. I like how it's nice and heavy and this brings back memories of my F4 days - that solid and heavy handling of yesteryear's film generation. And I can enjoy it all over again in the new digital era.