Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras

Top positive review

An Extraordinary Performer, a Best Value Buy, Plus Several Alternatives and Some Tips

Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2017

What a find! This is one of Nikon's best lenses and yet it is one of its cheapest--a remarkable bargain. In particular, it is an exceptionally sharp lens. It just might become the sharpest that you own. You have to try out this lens to appreciate just how excellent it is. And as you know, the better and larger your camera sensor’s size and resolution, the better performance you will get with the right lens & camera coupling. That is what DxOMark’s benchmark tests are based upon, pairings, and you can see on that site that this lens is very highly ranked. Basically it matches the performance ranking of this Nikkor 85 1.8G's heavier big brother that is $1,100 more expensive and equally highly regarded 85 mm f1.4Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras. In my tests, although I love that lens too, I did not find what I needed in its performance wide open so why pay more? Some of my colleagues counter that it has better glass and a heavier build that is well worth the difference. It is a heftier lens, solidly built but just not the best choice available for my travel kit or budget. In a blind test I doubt I could distinguish which print came from which of these two Nikkor 85mm lenses.

On the other end of the price scale, if you are on a tight budget you can still find deals on older 85D auto focus lenses like these ones presently starting around $300 on Amazon,Nikon 85mm f/1.8D Auto Focus Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras - Fixed. There is also a faster, well respected, more expensive model, the 85D 1.4 that still has many loyal fans,Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras. All of these Nikkor 85 mm lenses offer very good to excellent optical quality. In general, from what I have seen over the years I think most newer lenses have more contrast and better color saturation because of improved internal coatings but the optical quality of the older glass is still superb. The "D" models have advantages of distance scales for DoF and infinity hard stops. As a Nikon user you have a lot of 85mm lenses from which to choose. And if you do not need auto focus Nikon's even older lenses might interest you and come at a great price. As a general rule, the problem with manual focus today is that digital cameras do not usually offer view screens that are close to being the most appropriate for manual focus and that is compounded by modern lenses' barrels, except for Zeiss, that no longer make it easy to control critical focus by offering more distance to gradually move the barrel as needed. Yes, I can and do manual focus but it is not remotely as easy as it was to control focus as in the film camera days when cameras used specialized screens and lenses were designed exclusively for manual focus. Otherwise my recommendations would be a bit different.

Do I have a list of Cons? Just two. The Nikkor 85G does not have image stabilization. Frankly, that would not be reasonably expected at this price, currently about $476. I have rarely, if ever, had image blur using this lens in the studio or outdoors. In part, that is also explained by using it most of the time between f4 and f5.6 at fast shutter speeds so motion is a less likely factor and the auto focus is dependable. Nonetheless, if you have any problems keeping your camera steady without a tripod, then the lack of VR would not be your best choice. Read on below for an 85 mm lens from Tamron that is also very sharp and it has image stabilization. One problem often reported for this Nikkor that I do see is CA on edges where there is quite high contrast. Thankfully, LR and other programs quickly and easily remove it. An lastly, although not really a con, this lens is not intended to be used for things like landscape photography. It performs best at or near wide open depending upon how much DoF you require. That doesn't mean you can't use it. It is still a good lens stopped down but there are simply better lens choices for things like landscape. You can still go ahead and use it in a pinch.

Third party alternatives? There are lots. I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the highly regarded 85 mm lenses that other manufacturers offer including my favorites if budget no longer matters. Zeiss offers several, terrific 85 mm lenses both old and new. But for most folks their higher price and lack of auto focus could be deal breakers. Tamron offers a new, highly rated alternative with auto focus for $749 that is distinguished by being the first 85 mm lens with image stabilization (VC),Tamron AFF016N700 SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD Lens (Black). I have not used it but but there are sufficient reviews that agree it is exceptionally sharp, that the VC is effective, but there are also some reports of consistent focus issues. In general, if the user is not at fault, there are two common kinds of trouble. Any manufacturer's lenses can suffer from focus shift but thankfully, unless the lens is damaged, that can be fine tuned in-camera to correct by the user. The other kind is more complicated and it only affects third party lenses' in their auto focus compatibility. It is a quite a different focussing issue. All third party lenses can have such problems with Nikon because it does not share its proprietary, secret handshake between camera and lens to ensure the highest level and consistency of auto focus compatibility. Companies have no recourse except to reverse engineer. But care must be taken in doing so to avoid patent infringement. In fact, Nikon successfully sued Sigma for a lot of money on that account c. 2011.

Sigma makes my highest recommendation for an 85 mm lens, the recently released, 85 1.4 lens from its renowned Art series,Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon F (321955)which at this time sells for $1,200. What distinguishes Sigma from competitors so far is that it came up with a good, cheap solution that can correct focus shift and any compatibility problems (so far) with Nikon cameras, using its affordable $59 dock,Sigma USB Dock for Nikon. The dock does not work with every Sigma lens but it covers all of the Art series plus some others. I have had excellent results with these lenses. IMO, their 50 1.4 Art lens is the best lens I have ever used in terms of sharpness and resolution although there have been Leica and Zeiss lenses that are also stellar. This Art series is an especially great match for my Nikon D800e. At this moment, the Sigma 85 1.4 Art is the highest rated lens overall at DxOMark. And just like the Sigma 50 1.4 Art, this newly released Sigma 85 1.4 Art lens rivals the performance of the esteemed Zeiss Otus lenses at their respected focal lengths. The Zeiss Otus 85 mm 1.4 lens,Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Apo Planar ZF.2 Series Manual Focusing Lens for Nikon DSLR Camerasis outstanding, manual only, and at $4,400, is by far the most expensive 85mm lens you can buy that fits a Nikon. Zeiss offers other excellent performing 85 mm lenses for less with a Nikon F mount but they all are manual focus only and are still relatively expensive such as the Milvus 85 1.4,Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F. Older, very good Zeiss 85 mm lenses will be less. I admit that I am a fan of Zeiss. Its lenses have always demonstrated a distinctive look with remarkably attractive color rendering and contrast. Just don't expect to see Zeiss lenses with auto focus for Nikon.

Before you buy an 85 mm focal length lens which I will assume is for portraiture, what are the best alternatives? This is a subjective matter. First of all nothing I can recommend is going to be as fine a performer or nearly as inexpensive as this Nikkor 85G AND also be as small and light weight. And of course, if you do primarily want it for portraits, 85 mm has been a favorite focal length for generations. But don’t feel constrained by convention. For example, some people prefer 50mm for portraits. However, if your subject has any feature that is larger than average you might find a 50mm lens exacerbates that. The counter argument would be that knowledgable posing technique and post production can minimize such problems. You will also being working closer to your subject for better or for worse. But if you do prefer a "normal" lens and you especially love bokeh, the Nikkor 58 mmNikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Camerasis exceptional for portraits. Sometimes it gets a bad rap but I think it is easily misunderstood because of its intended purpose. It is a kind of speciality lens because of the impressive way it makes distinctive transitions moving between what is sharpest to areas that are out of focus. The bokeh is remarkable, as good or better as anything I have seen. But again, that is a subjective matter. I just do not consider it to be an all purpose normal lens although I know people who disagree although with a few caveats.

Overall though, for portraiture, I recommend looking within the focal range of 85, 105, and to a lesser extent, 135 mm primes or else weigh the trade offs in using a relatively light weight zoom like the excellent Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 lensNikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Nikkor Zoom Lenswhich costs about $1,400. I offer that range because there is never a single answer for all of us about what best suits our personal needs so keep your options open to begin with. If you like to work in low light obviously you will appreciate the fastest lens models at any focal length. But they will tend to be considerably larger, heavier and more expensive. No flying submarine exists although I come back to our little Nikkor 85G 1.8 lens that IMO just might come closest to offering a compelling case for being the best compromise. And you can't beat its quality for the price. Nonetheless, there are several alternatives I have mentioned here that deserve your consideration.

If feasible, nothing beats a side by side comparison of lenses using tests that are appropriate in covering everything it is you like to do and that you do the most frequently. See how it feels in yours, the balance with your camera as well as its optics. Those are the keys. Cameras come and go but it is solid planning to buy the best lenses you can when you can. It is very old but wise advice. I wish you great success in your hunt.

34 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Dwight

A great value for the money

Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2013

PROS:
Nice lens. Light weight lens. Good working focal length for portrait use. Nice wide aperture creates some creamy bokeh, not the best but very pleasant. This quick glass allows for sharp shots handheld without a tripod, even in low light. Lens is convenient to use walking around town. I am now using it more then my 24-70 zoom when I am just carrying around the camera for random shots. This lens works on all Newer Nikon cameras, unlike the AF-D 85mm I compare it to below: the AF-D only works on some Nikon bodies that have an internal AF motor.

CONS:
Cheaply made plastic construction externally. The older AF-D 85mm is much sturdier build quality. For pro use this lens wont cut it, more of a consumer build - disappointing. The AF speed is oddly slow for some reason. My AF-D 85mm focuses faster? But for portraits this is not a big issue. A bigger issue is the significant edge falloff on this lens when shooting on an FX body. My camera does FX and DX, and edge falloff is non-existent in DX, but in FX it is very visible, so plan to crop heavily or spend considerable time in post processing correcting it.

BOTTOM LINE:
A great value for the money. The performance of this lens is terrific for the price. At about 1/3 the price of the f/1.4 85mm this lens is actually pretty comparable in every way other then the obvious extra stops. So save $1000 and get this lens.

23 people found this helpful

2,222 total ratings, 1,215 with reviews

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From the United States

John McPhee

An Extraordinary Performer, a Best Value Buy, Plus Several Alternatives and Some Tips

Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2017

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

What a find! This is one of Nikon's best lenses and yet it is one of its cheapest--a remarkable bargain. In particular, it is an exceptionally sharp lens. It just might become the sharpest that you own. You have to try out this lens to appreciate just how excellent it is. And as you know, the better and larger your camera sensor’s size and resolution, the better performance you will get with the right lens & camera coupling. That is what DxOMark’s benchmark tests are based upon, pairings, and you can see on that site that this lens is very highly ranked. Basically it matches the performance ranking of this Nikkor 85 1.8G's heavier big brother that is $1,100 more expensive and equally highly regarded 85 mm f1.4 Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras . In my tests, although I love that lens too, I did not find what I needed in its performance wide open so why pay more? Some of my colleagues counter that it has better glass and a heavier build that is well worth the difference. It is a heftier lens, solidly built but just not the best choice available for my travel kit or budget. In a blind test I doubt I could distinguish which print came from which of these two Nikkor 85mm lenses.

On the other end of the price scale, if you are on a tight budget you can still find deals on older 85D auto focus lenses like these ones presently starting around $300 on Amazon, Nikon 85mm f/1.8D Auto Focus Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras - Fixed . There is also a faster, well respected, more expensive model, the 85D 1.4 that still has many loyal fans, Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras . All of these Nikkor 85 mm lenses offer very good to excellent optical quality. In general, from what I have seen over the years I think most newer lenses have more contrast and better color saturation because of improved internal coatings but the optical quality of the older glass is still superb. The "D" models have advantages of distance scales for DoF and infinity hard stops. As a Nikon user you have a lot of 85mm lenses from which to choose. And if you do not need auto focus Nikon's even older lenses might interest you and come at a great price. As a general rule, the problem with manual focus today is that digital cameras do not usually offer view screens that are close to being the most appropriate for manual focus and that is compounded by modern lenses' barrels, except for Zeiss, that no longer make it easy to control critical focus by offering more distance to gradually move the barrel as needed. Yes, I can and do manual focus but it is not remotely as easy as it was to control focus as in the film camera days when cameras used specialized screens and lenses were designed exclusively for manual focus. Otherwise my recommendations would be a bit different.

Do I have a list of Cons? Just two. The Nikkor 85G does not have image stabilization. Frankly, that would not be reasonably expected at this price, currently about $476. I have rarely, if ever, had image blur using this lens in the studio or outdoors. In part, that is also explained by using it most of the time between f4 and f5.6 at fast shutter speeds so motion is a less likely factor and the auto focus is dependable. Nonetheless, if you have any problems keeping your camera steady without a tripod, then the lack of VR would not be your best choice. Read on below for an 85 mm lens from Tamron that is also very sharp and it has image stabilization. One problem often reported for this Nikkor that I do see is CA on edges where there is quite high contrast. Thankfully, LR and other programs quickly and easily remove it. An lastly, although not really a con, this lens is not intended to be used for things like landscape photography. It performs best at or near wide open depending upon how much DoF you require. That doesn't mean you can't use it. It is still a good lens stopped down but there are simply better lens choices for things like landscape. You can still go ahead and use it in a pinch.

Third party alternatives? There are lots. I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the highly regarded 85 mm lenses that other manufacturers offer including my favorites if budget no longer matters. Zeiss offers several, terrific 85 mm lenses both old and new. But for most folks their higher price and lack of auto focus could be deal breakers. Tamron offers a new, highly rated alternative with auto focus for $749 that is distinguished by being the first 85 mm lens with image stabilization (VC), Tamron AFF016N700 SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD Lens (Black) . I have not used it but but there are sufficient reviews that agree it is exceptionally sharp, that the VC is effective, but there are also some reports of consistent focus issues. In general, if the user is not at fault, there are two common kinds of trouble. Any manufacturer's lenses can suffer from focus shift but thankfully, unless the lens is damaged, that can be fine tuned in-camera to correct by the user. The other kind is more complicated and it only affects third party lenses' in their auto focus compatibility. It is a quite a different focussing issue. All third party lenses can have such problems with Nikon because it does not share its proprietary, secret handshake between camera and lens to ensure the highest level and consistency of auto focus compatibility. Companies have no recourse except to reverse engineer. But care must be taken in doing so to avoid patent infringement. In fact, Nikon successfully sued Sigma for a lot of money on that account c. 2011.

Sigma makes my highest recommendation for an 85 mm lens, the recently released, 85 1.4 lens from its renowned Art series, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon F (321955) which at this time sells for $1,200. What distinguishes Sigma from competitors so far is that it came up with a good, cheap solution that can correct focus shift and any compatibility problems (so far) with Nikon cameras, using its affordable $59 dock, Sigma USB Dock for Nikon . The dock does not work with every Sigma lens but it covers all of the Art series plus some others. I have had excellent results with these lenses. IMO, their 50 1.4 Art lens is the best lens I have ever used in terms of sharpness and resolution although there have been Leica and Zeiss lenses that are also stellar. This Art series is an especially great match for my Nikon D800e. At this moment, the Sigma 85 1.4 Art is the highest rated lens overall at DxOMark. And just like the Sigma 50 1.4 Art, this newly released Sigma 85 1.4 Art lens rivals the performance of the esteemed Zeiss Otus lenses at their respected focal lengths. The Zeiss Otus 85 mm 1.4 lens, Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Apo Planar ZF.2 Series Manual Focusing Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras is outstanding, manual only, and at $4,400, is by far the most expensive 85mm lens you can buy that fits a Nikon. Zeiss offers other excellent performing 85 mm lenses for less with a Nikon F mount but they all are manual focus only and are still relatively expensive such as the Milvus 85 1.4, Zeiss Milvus 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F . Older, very good Zeiss 85 mm lenses will be less. I admit that I am a fan of Zeiss. Its lenses have always demonstrated a distinctive look with remarkably attractive color rendering and contrast. Just don't expect to see Zeiss lenses with auto focus for Nikon.

Before you buy an 85 mm focal length lens which I will assume is for portraiture, what are the best alternatives? This is a subjective matter. First of all nothing I can recommend is going to be as fine a performer or nearly as inexpensive as this Nikkor 85G AND also be as small and light weight. And of course, if you do primarily want it for portraits, 85 mm has been a favorite focal length for generations. But don’t feel constrained by convention. For example, some people prefer 50mm for portraits. However, if your subject has any feature that is larger than average you might find a 50mm lens exacerbates that. The counter argument would be that knowledgable posing technique and post production can minimize such problems. You will also being working closer to your subject for better or for worse. But if you do prefer a "normal" lens and you especially love bokeh, the Nikkor 58 mm Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras is exceptional for portraits. Sometimes it gets a bad rap but I think it is easily misunderstood because of its intended purpose. It is a kind of speciality lens because of the impressive way it makes distinctive transitions moving between what is sharpest to areas that are out of focus. The bokeh is remarkable, as good or better as anything I have seen. But again, that is a subjective matter. I just do not consider it to be an all purpose normal lens although I know people who disagree although with a few caveats.

Overall though, for portraiture, I recommend looking within the focal range of 85, 105, and to a lesser extent, 135 mm primes or else weigh the trade offs in using a relatively light weight zoom like the excellent Nikkor 70-200mm f/4 lens Nikon 70-200mm f/4G ED VR Nikkor Zoom Lens which costs about $1,400. I offer that range because there is never a single answer for all of us about what best suits our personal needs so keep your options open to begin with. If you like to work in low light obviously you will appreciate the fastest lens models at any focal length. But they will tend to be considerably larger, heavier and more expensive. No flying submarine exists although I come back to our little Nikkor 85G 1.8 lens that IMO just might come closest to offering a compelling case for being the best compromise. And you can't beat its quality for the price. Nonetheless, there are several alternatives I have mentioned here that deserve your consideration.

If feasible, nothing beats a side by side comparison of lenses using tests that are appropriate in covering everything it is you like to do and that you do the most frequently. See how it feels in yours, the balance with your camera as well as its optics. Those are the keys. Cameras come and go but it is solid planning to buy the best lenses you can when you can. It is very old but wise advice. I wish you great success in your hunt.

34 people found this helpful

Helpful

ReconScout

Another Top of the Line Nikkor

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2013

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

In reviewing the Nikon 85mm 1.8 I was torn between a technical review versus a practical review. I will go out on a limb and provide a practical review for this lens since every technical aspect of this lens has been covered by specialty sites, other photographers, and technicians, far more advanced than me.

As a part-time freelance professional, my lens selections are both critical and constantly shifting depending on my projects. I simply do not earn enough money part-time to justify spending thousands of dollars on a single prime lens or maintaining an inventory of lenses worth tens of thousands of dollars. Often, I will sell lenses I am not using so I can realign to my shifting needs. However, after using the Nikon 85mm 1.8g, this is one of two lenses (the other being the Nikkor 50mm 1.4g) I doubt will ever leave my bag.

The Nikon 85mm 1.8g is one of the best bargains and best performing lenses for beginners, hobbyists, advanced hobbyists, and real part-time pros (those that earn some money from their work). It is a very significant upgrade from any kit lens, which I always recommend you stay away from anyway if you intend on going advanced (mom and dad sideline shooters are fine with nearly any of the kit lenses though). My two main prime lenses I will never get rid of are the Nikkor 50mm 1.4g and the 85mm 1.8g. They effectively serve as my main portrait lenses (on a DX) due to their tack sharpness, low light capability, and bokeh (ability to blur background).

The Nikkor 85mm 1.8g lens is a quality build and provides 127 mm focal length on a DX sensor such as the D300s or D7100. Beginners should not get lost on the focal length "differences" between DX and FX sensors though. It is not as heavy as the Nikkor 85mm 1.4g (of course- the 1.4g is metal) but maintains a quality build by any measurement and many will appreciate the lighter weight and smaller size, especially on the smaller D600 body (compared to D800 or D4). Both come with a reversible lens hood whereas the 1.4d does not. The 1.4g does provide better low light performance, sharpness, flare resistance and richer color, but at 3x the cost. Regardless, the 1.8g comes in close second. Compared to the 85mm 1.4d, the 1.8g is both shorter and lighter while about as wide. The 1.8g also uses 67mm filters which are less expensive than the 77mm filter size of the 1.4d. Based on the small price difference between the 1.4d and g, I would definitely recommend the 1.8g. Compared to the 1.4g, I would still recommend the 1.8g due to cost savings. If money was not a factor, I would go with the 1.4g but to be honest, I am not at that level of shooting where I can leverage the performance differences consistently. However, it is these little performance differences between gear that add up and allow full time pro shooters to stand out from an every crowded field of aspiring professionals. If I was a full-time photographer, the 1.4g would definitely be in my kit. But, for far less, I believe the 1.8g provides about 95% of the performance that the 1.4g provides.

The primary use of my 85mm 1.8g is traditional and environmental or lifestyle portrait work. The sharpness is clearly noticeable as is the low light performance. The lens is very sharp even at f1.8 and only gets sharper from there (check f2.2!). Colors are rich and vibrant and focused subjects almost pop out of the picture. I found myself relying on this lens even more than my 50mm 1.4. The auto focus speed of the 1.8g on both a D300s and a D800 is incredibly fast and the manual focusing ring is smooth as butter with manual over ride in auto. Little to no distortion visible. I did notice some CA at f4 but Lightroom easily fixed this. Note, the CA was not constant and was limited to situations involving direct sunlight.

In short, unless you are Jeremy Cowart or someone similar making tens of thousands a shoot, the Nikkor 85mm 1.8g will serve you exceptionally well and most likely take your photography to a new level if you have the skills. Providing about 95% of the same performance (some say 99%) as the 1.4g, hands down, this is a winner of a lens and a new permanent fixture on my cameras.

44 people found this helpful

Helpful

Fruitielicious

Love this for portrait!

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2013

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

I bought this for quick portraits and great blur and man it's fantastic. The f/1.8 is tact sharp and at great alternative to the much pricier f/1.4 option ($1500). The performance between the 2 lens is marginal. If you're getting paid as a pro photographer then you may get the f/1.4 but for the rest of us (I gather 95% of us), this f/1.8 is a great alternative. If you google around the web for the reviews, you will find this f/1.8 AF-S be a close second to the f/1.4 with what I would summarize as F/1.4 lens having 2-5% improvement in the picture quality when it comes to better light and better blur. I'll save the $1000 and still produce great quality pictures with this F/1.8.

1. Super light weight
2. Fast focus
3. Tact sharp
4. Awesome low light performance
5. Great bokeh

Below is a summary of how I use all of my lens today and I hope it will help you find what you are looking for if you have similar needs as mine:

* AF-S 50mm f/1.4: Great for infants and walk-around lens on the street. I use this lens most of the time for infant pictures because 1) I don't want to use flash when infants have their eyes open even if I have a softbox/umbrella. 2) lightweight 3) low light performance at f/1.4. I also uses this when I'm out of the house because it's not in-you-face when you pull it out of you bag so people won't notice you. This lens also makes me move around a bit to be more creative vs. just zoom in and out. 50mm lens makes me think more about the shots.

* AF-S 60mm f/2.8 micro: Great macro lens: I use this for very close up shots. I can get as close to less than an inch away even though the minimum focal length isn't listed as being 1 inch away. You will want good lighting since flash will be useless when you are this close to the subject. I take photos of baby lips, eyes, face, hands and feet, & other objects such as jewelry * watches. Basically any fairly stationary subjects that I want to highlight the details and intentional imperfections/wrinkles, etc. I sometimes wonder if I should use this all the time instead of my 50mm but I find the 50mm better at non-macro shots because it focus faster and lets in 4 times more light.

* AF-S 85mm f/1.8 : I use this most of the time for adult portraits and it has very good low light performance as well. I choose this over the f/1.4 version because the other reviews I've read on the web did not justify the extra $1000 spend for marginal performance improvement and unless I am getting paid to take pictures all the time, I don't see the need to pay the extra cost for the f/1.4. This lens also makes me move around a bit to be more creative vs. just zoom in and out.

* AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8: I use this when I just don't know what kind of pictures I could be taking and need to have zoom & I don't have to move around as much. While I don't take landscape pictures (24mm) often, I will use this for a large group outing, birthday parties when I may need to get a wide shot of a lot of people in a room and be able to have a little bit of zoom capability and not have to walk up so close to the people's face. This allows me to get some candid shots when needed. It's fairly heavy at 2 lbs and huge when you put on the hood so I almost never use this lens when I'm on the street because it attracts a lot of unwanted attention. I wouldn't want this hanging on my neck or shoulders for a long period of time.

* AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 vr2 : This is one of my favorite lens only because I can use it for portraits as well (with some lighting support) and I can get really good candid shots since I can be much farther away 10-20ft from my subjects and able to get a nice picture. I do have to crop at times to get rid of the cluttered background but with the D600 camera, I have enough megapixel details to crop my pictures when needed. This is obviously a monster lens so I avoid taking it for street photos even though I've had some nice pictures and experiences on the street but it's so big... I've had people stopping me asking me if I'm a paparazzi and which celebrity I am stalking..... haha. It's almost over 3 lbs so I definitely wouldn't want this hanging on my neck or shoulders for a long period of time.

* AF-S 70-200mm f/4: this is also a great lens and a fantastic alternative to the 2.8 version. At over $1000 less, this is a bargin and great lens if you're taking photos at good lighting conditions (outdoor, have flash or good indoor lighting). Otherwise it may be problematic for you at F/4.

30 people found this helpful

Helpful

A. Hudson

Excellent Short Telephoto Prime

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2012

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

I owned both of Nikon's 50mm AF-D lenses when I shot with a D90 and enjoyed the field of view for pictures of children at play. Ever since moving to a D700, I missed having a similar FOV from an AF lens as I was not impressed with the 85/1.8D and did not want to pay for either the expensive 1.4G lens or the failure prone Sigma EX f/1.4 version. Once Nikon announced this lens, I preordered. I've previously owned a Rokinon 85M-N 85mm F1.4 Aspherical Lens for Nikon (Black) which offers incredible performance and value for slower-paced shooting. I found focusing to be a bit difficult for moving subjects from f/1.4-2.0 as the focusing ring of the Rokinon could not match the handling of Nikkor AI-S lenses. Nikon's 105/2.5 AI/AI-S is another excellent lens of similar focal length, but I often find it a bit long for my taste.

Shaprness -- The sharpness from f/1.8 is excellent in the centers and very good out to the edges and corners. Stepping down makes everything a little better still. The resolving power of the lens exceeds the sensor of the D700 (and D3 and D3s).

Autofocusing Speed/Accuracy -- Not as fast as some of the older screw-drive AF lenses, but perfectly acceptable for my uses so far. Accuracy is excellent, and right now, I'd count the few misses in proper lock as my fault for being unfamiliar with the AF system of the D700.

Flare/Ghosting -- Nikon didn't include their nano-crystal coating on this lens, but I have yet to produce any flares or ghosts while shooting straight into the sun or with the sun near the frame. I do keep the hood on at all times though.

Bokeh - Very nice and pleasant. Much better than anything that comes out of the older 1.8D.

Color/Contrast/Saturation -- The color cast is neutral, like each other Nikon that I've owned going all the way back to my 1978 vintage 28mm f/2 AI. The contrast and vividness of the colors is excellent matching other newish lenses like the 35/1.8G and besting older lenses with less advanced coatings.

Construction/Build Quality/Misc. -- This lens resembles all of Nikon's newest non-consumer zooms. It won't outlast any of my solid metal AI and AI-S lenses, but it isn't going to fall apart quickly either. Metal mount, presumably metal internals, and composite/plastic outer surface. The mount does have a gasket for weather sealing. The focusing ring is nice and smooth for an AF-S lens. Hood does a good job of shielding the front element. The lens feels solid, yet light. Balances nicely on a D700 (and probably on a D800, D300s, or D7000 too). Filter size is 67mm which would pair nicely with the newly upcoming 28/1.8G which makes for a nice two lens kit with common filters on an FX body. If you like to shoot slightly longer lenses, those two provide the same FOV as a 42mm and 129mm on 35mm, which are normal and a classic head and shoulders portrait lengths.

Excellent lens. If you have a D version and like it, keep it. If you are looking for an 85mm autofocusing lens, this is the one to buy.

15 people found this helpful

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S. Gable

Great Lens with Beautiful Bokeh

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2012

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

I was looking at the 85mm lens. I was torn between the 85mm f/1.8G lens and the 85mm f/3.5G Micro lens. While I enjoy taking macro/micro shots, I wanted a lens that was sharp and had good bokeh. I also wanted to use the lens for general photography. I was spoiled using my 40mm f/2.8G micro lens as it does a great job with both micro and general photography. I decided on the 85mm f/1.8G lens. I haven't looked back.

This 85mm f/1.8 is a sharp lens with beautiful bokeh. I use this lens with my Nikon D7000 which equates to a focal length of 127.5mm. It took awhile to get used to the distance or focal length. I usually have to take a step or two back to get the object/subject to focus.

I currently use the lens for florals and garden pictures. The pictures are sharp from f/1.8 through f/16. The bokeh is beautiful at f/1.8 through f/2.8. Creamy is the word that comes to mind. I've been really happy with the results from this lens.

I've posted some pictures in the gallery. There's a few florals (e.g. daylilies) and I also took some pictures of the packaging for this lens.

I'll be back to post any updates and additional pictures.

** Update 07/12/12 **

I've had the chance to use this lens over several days taking pictures for a VBS event at my church. This lens does an amazing job with portraits. I set my D7k to Aperture and f/4. The bokeh is beautiful. I like how my focused subject appears to pop out of my pictures. Love this prime lens even at 128mm (DX). I've figured out how far (distance) I need to stand away from my subjects. My pictures are very sharp! Great lens!

** Update 08/09/12 **

This has been my "go to" lens for the last several weeks. I'm using this lens for taking candid shots and portraits of people. I mentioned before that I have to take a step or two back when I compose my pictures. I love doing this as I don't appear to be intrusive with my camera. Sometimes folks don't even notice I'm taking their pictures.

I've been using this lens in low light and haven't been disappointed. I love the results I'm getting.

** Update 09/02/12 **

This lens is now on my camera full time. It has become my favorite fixed prime lens (over my 50mm, 40mm, and my 35mm). I'm still getting great results whether photographing inside or outside. My images are always coming out sharp with lovely bokeh.

** Update 09/23/12 **

I used this lens for a class photo shoot using my D7000. Set my aperture around f/4 and f/5.6. I was extremely pleased with the end results. Pictures were sharp. I'm having a blast with this lens!

** Update 11/10/12 **

I'm now a proud owner of the Nikon D600 full frame DSLR camera. I mounted this 85mm lens and what a beautiful combination. Now I know what other reviewers mean when they say it's a fantastic portrait lens. It truly is! I'm getting beautiful results and it's great to be able to use this lens as a true 85mm.

** Update 10/02/13 **

I had another opportunity to use this lens for another class photo shoot, but this time with my D600 camera. The portraits came out beautifully. Sharp pictures with lovely bokeh at f/4. No surprise that this lens and my D600...a great combination. One of the students peered at the back of my camera to see what the pictures looked like. Her comment: "Wow...the pictures are clear!"

271 people found this helpful

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Matchouz

I thought my favorite lens was the nifty fifty, but THIS one is EXCEPTIONAL

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

Probably my favorite lens right now for portrait photography! Gorgeous bokeh, super sharp images and it's decently fast.

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Margot MacGill

Mid-range and portrait photographer's best friend

Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2024

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

I'm not a professional, but I am consistently stunned by the quality of photos I'm capable of taking with this lens.

It pairs perfectly with the Nikon D3400, and is extremely easy to acclimate to, even for novice photographers.

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Sean

Will stay attached to my D800 most of the time

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2012

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

I recently purchased a D800, and since I didn't own an 85mm prime, this seemed like the right lens to add to my collection. I tend to buy mostly used, screw driven lenses, so this is my first AFS lens.

The first thing I looked at were the aperture blades. The rounded design maintains a very circular aperture up to f3.5. At f4 and above, it starts to progressively show the more heptagonal shape with more defined blade overlap.

As many reviews have noted, it is not the fastest focusing lens but the focus is accurate and very good in low light. There is more mechanical noise than I expected for a "silent" wave motor... but it is quieter than my screw driven lenses. The manual focus ring is different than I am used to. It does not rotate during auto focus which is fine. During manual focus, you can continue to turn it past the minimum and maximum ranges. There is a little feedback in the ring when you hit the stopping points... but its not a hard stop. I don't think its really an issue... I'm just not used to AFS lenses.

The build quality is a little disappointing compared to the all metal lenses I have purchased over the years, only the mount is metal. Unfortunately the filter mount seems to be plastic, so I'll need to be a little more careful screwing filters on. The upside to the mostly plastic construction is that the lens is not overly heavy. The lens mount has a thin rubber lip which fits over the camera mount to seal it. I'm not sure how well this will hold up... looks like it might tear easily. An o-ring design seems like it would be better to me.

The image quality in my opinion is great. I always smile when I see nice big front and rear elements on a lens... makes me feel like I am getting what I paid for. You can judge yourself by the many examples around the web. I'd put it in a league with my other favorite lenses 300mm f/4 edif and 50mm 1.2 with a bit more bite in sharpness and contrast.

In the US, Nikon lenses have a 5 year warranty when purchased through an authorized dealer (Amazon is one) so keep the warranty card and a copy of the receipt.

I wanted to add a comment on the packaging. I'd read reports about lenses coming from Amazon in large boxes with insufficient padding. Mine arrived in an appropriately sized package, with enough air bags to keep it from sliding around in the box... so maybe Amazon is listening.

I would really like to give this lens 4.5 stars... 5 for image quality, and 4 for build. I gave it a 5, because in the end, its all about the images.

24 people found this helpful

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LGO

Review of the Nikkor 85m f/1.8G AF-S versus other Nikkor 85mm AF lenses

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2012

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

DESCRIPTION OF THE LENS FOR THE NOVICE OR BEGINNER

This lens is light, compact affordable, but produces very impressive results. I highly recommend the use of this lens for portrait, events and for landscape. Despite it being a fixed focal length and not being able to zoom, I highly recommend this lens for beginner Nikon dSLR users who own only the kit zoom lens that came with the camera. This lens allows you to shoot at low light and/or to blur the background of the subject of the photo. This prime lens is a safe, affordable and way to see for yourself how good a prime lens can be as against the kit zoom lens. It also shows what the other Nikon professional prime and professional lenses are capable of should you get serious in this hobby.

REVIEW OF THE LENS FOR EXPERIENCED USERS

What follows is a quick review is based on my use of this lens for around 2-weeks. It is intended for those already familiar with Nikkor's line of 85mm prime lenses but are wondering how this lens compare with the other Nikkor 85mm autofocusing lenses that Nikon makes. This review is based on my own copy of the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D, 1.8D, 1.4G and 1.8G.

AGAINST THE NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8D

The Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is bigger than the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D but is a bit lighter. Unlike the 85mm f/1.8D, this lens comes with a reversible hood which does a good job in protecting and shading the lens. With the hood reversed, the 85mm f/1.8G becomes much more compact than the 85mm f/1.8D with the hood installed. But with the hood installed, the wider lens barrel and the wider and longer hood makes the 85mm f/1.8G significantly bulkier than the 85mm f/1.8D.

Reflecting the bigger-sized lens, the 85mm f/1.8G uses a 67mm filter while the 85mm f/1.8D uses a 62mm filter. As the "G" suffix indicates, the 85mm f/1.8G does not have an aperture ring while the 85mm f/1.8D has an aperture ring (see notes below in the 85mm f/1.4D for the significance of this).

The older Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D have always been very sharp at the center and at the corners even when used wide-open but the new Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is stll a bit sharper still. Despite being bigger and wider, the 1.8G has slightly more vignetting wide open than the 1.8D but this quickly reverses in favour of the 1.8G from about f/2.5 onwards. The two areas where the 1.8G has improved significantly over the 1.8D is in having better bokeh and also having less purple fringing when shooting wide-open. The 1.8G focus speed is a bit faster on a D7000 than the 1.8D on the same body. In addition, the 1.8G autofocus is now consistently more precise and significantly quieter.

Priced reasonably, this 85mm f/1.8G lens can auto focus on Nikon bodies that do not have a built-in focusing motors (such as the Nikon D3000, D3100, D3200, D5000, D5100, D40, and D60). For those who use this focal length regularly, upgrading from the 1,8D to the 1.8G is easy to justify. For 1st time buyers of the 85mm lens, I highly recommend choosing the 1.8G over the 1.8D given the minimum price difference between these 2 lenses.

AGAINST THE NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4D

The Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is of the same width as the than the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D but is shorter and also significantly lighter by 200 grams. Unlike the 85mm f/1.4D, the 85mm 1.8G comes with a reversible hood which does a good job in protecting and shading the lens. Unlike the 85mm f/1.4D which uses a 77mm filter, the 85mm f/1.8G uses a 67mm filter.

Wide-open at f/1.8 to f/2.5, the new Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is sharper at the center, borders and at the corners than the 85mm f/1.4D. At f/2.8 and above, the 85mm f/1.4D improves considerably. The bokeh of the 85mm f/1.4D is still better and creamier but the 85mm f/1.8G is no slouch in this regard. There is also less purple fringing on the 1.8G than on the 1.4D used wide-open. Focus on the 85mm f/1.8G is a bit faster than the 85mm f/1.4D on a Nikon DX D7000 but the difference is small and insignificant. Focus precision between these two lenses are about the same but the 85mm f/1.8G focuses much quieter than the 85mm f/1.4D.

The primary advantage of the 85mm f/1.4D over the 85mm f/1.8G is primarily in it being 2/3 of a stop faster and it having an aperture ring. The 2/3 stop advantage is significant for still and video while the aperture ring is very helpful for use in video. The aperture ring is also particularly helpful in still photography when using this lens with an adapter on m4/3 and NEX bodies as it allows the use of precise, easily set and repeatable aperture settings. This is the reason why I still have the Nikkor 85mm 1.4D and 1.8D lenses even after getting the 2 new Nikkor 85mm 1.4G and 1.8G lenses.

For portrait photography where the subject is framed at or near the center, I would likely still opt for the 85mm f/1.4D but for anything else where the 2/3 stop advantage is not used, I would likely choose the 85mm 1.8G.

AGAINST THE NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G

In terms of size, the 85mm f/1.4G is significantly bigger and heavier than the 85mm f/1.8G. Both lenses comes with reversible hood. The 85mm f/1.4G uses a 77mm filter while the 85mm f/1.8G uses a 67mm filter.

In terms of performance, the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G is better than the 85mm f/1.8G in all respects. The 1.4G is a bit sharper, has better bokeh, less vignetting at the same aperture setting, even less purple fringing, better flare resistance, better micro-contrast and richer color. It's very tough to compete against the 85mm f/1.4G when it comes to performance. Yet while the 85mm f/1.8G comes up a bit short, it comes in at a close second. At almost 3x the cost, it is not surprising that the 1.4G is better than the 1.8G. Whether one should get 1.4G or the 1.8G will depend on how much one is willing to pay more for the small performance difference. Consideration should also be given to the bigger size and weight of the 1.4G vs the 1.8G.

For someone who already has a Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G, would it still make sense to get a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G? The answer is yes if one needs a smaller, lighter and more compact 85mm. I use this lens with my smaller Nikon DX bodies as well as with my Sony NEX and Panasonic GH2. The 1.8G smaller size and lighter weight would also be a very good match for the rumored upcoming Nikon full frame in a small body, the D600.

344 people found this helpful

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Nathan

Taking the plunge for a Prime Lens

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2015

Style: Lens OnlyVerified Purchase

This is a sharp, fast, and versatile lens capable of getting great shots when your subject is either very small, very detailed, or sufficiently far away from the lens to capture enough of it in the frame.

Shooting at f/1.8 is fun - the opportunities for throwing backgrounds into dreamlike bokeh are endless, and the lens stays sharp even as you close the aperture down, though it becomes noticeably softer after about f/11.

The autofocus is quick and quiet - but it is best in at least moderate light and with a detailed, light subject. With the 18-55mm kit lens, my D3200 typically has very little trouble focusing on its subjects, but this lens periodically makes it very challenging to get a shot off as it hunts around. My immediate reaction is typically to reach for the focus ring and do it myself, but there's a little design problem here: if the hood is mounted backwards, it covers the focus ring entirely as wells as the M/A-M switch that would let me at least maintain the focus I have already. So the hood has to stay off - or be mounted forward every time the lens is taken out of its case. However, with even fair lighting this is not at all a problem and focus is split-second and accurate.

Most importantly, in this case, is the lens length itself. As a prime lens, 85mm can seem restrictive compared to 35mm and 50mm lengths and not long enough to really qualify for use in picking out distant details. Is this awkward in-between place worth the $500 you'll spend on this lens? If you (like me) have a zoom telephoto with 85mm in its range, try it out for a little while at exactly 85mm to find out - and if not a camera store might be a good place to try this. However, with creativity and a little legwork this lens can take many shots that a wide angle lens at first seems the only solution to - often with better and more interesting results. The length is perfect for shooting out of car windows, shooting beautiful portraits, flowers, and in combination with the (typically) very rapid autofocus it's possible to get great shots of fast-moving pets and animals, too. This is not to say that there are no drawbacks to using a long prime- the length is silly for shooting indoors with lots of people and sometimes I miss having the option to zoom in a whole lot further to catch the feathers off of birds flying way off. But the photos are lovely and sharp. Do I wish it had vibration reduction? Periodically, yes, and particularly at night. However, as someone who abhors camera flashes for any number of reasons, shooting at f/1.8 in a darkened room is still really nice.

In conclusion, this is a great lens - I've gotten some awesome pictures out of it, many of which would have been impossible with a smaller aperture, and several which would have been pretty boring if I'd been using a wider lens. Does the autofocus bug me? Yes, but usually only because I often ask it to focus on dark objects in a dim field, which is hard to do anyway. So weigh what you need out of a lens and if you want stunning bokeh, sharp and bright images, spectacular contrast, and a sturdily built lens, then this is for you.

9 people found this helpful

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