Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G Classic Portrait Lens

I'm an ex-Pentax user and only late in my Pentax experience I acquired an SMC-A* 85mm f/1.4. Sadly I haven't used it much but I got a lot of use out of the truly excellent SMC-M 85mm f/2. This lens makes an interesting comparison. OK, it's auto-focus, not manual, so that makes a difference, but the size differential is staggering - 77mm filter thread as against the Pentax's 67mm. Do the maths - 85mm at f/1.4 needs to be at least 60.7mm across (60.7*1.4 = 85). So the Pentax isn't too excessive at 67mm - but 77mm? It's huge! So it's interesting to see the favourable review of its size as against the Canon f/1.2 version. It's all relative, folks. This lens also has a fearsome reputation and my limited experience so far doesn't contradict any of that. I do wonder though ... MoreI'm an ex-Pentax user and only late in my Pentax experience I acquired an SMC-A* 85mm f/1.4. Sadly I haven't used it much but I got a lot of use out of the truly excellent SMC-M 85mm f/2. This lens makes an interesting comparison. OK, it's auto-focus, not manual, so that makes a difference, but the size differential is staggering - 77mm filter thread as against the Pentax's 67mm. Do the maths - 85mm at f/1.4 needs to be at least 60.7mm across (60.7*1.4 = 85). So the Pentax isn't too excessive at 67mm - but 77mm? It's huge! So it's interesting to see the favourable review of its size as against the Canon f/1.2 version. It's all relative, folks. This lens also has a fearsome reputation and my limited experience so far doesn't contradict any of that. I do wonder though whether my passion for the f/1.4 version was wise as the f/1.8 version looks much smaller and neater, for only just over half a stop of speed. There is now of course the AF-S version, available at twice the price of a second-hand AF-D version. I'm OK with the AF-D - autofocus speed on a portrait lens doesn't matter too much and I MUCH prefer having an aperture ring for when I use this on my FM. And half the price - what's not to like?

I recently bought a Nikon D610 and needed FX lenses. I was using my 30 year old AIs lenses (28 mm, 50 mm, and a 35-105 mm), all of which were capable of good shots but not stellar. and not easy to focus, manually. I also recently go a 17-35 mm f2.8 which is a fantastic lens - but limited as it is to very wide angle shots. I have also a 70-200 mm f2.8, which is a great lens for distance, but very heavy. This lens, I was hoping, would fill in the middle range, with low light capability. It has exceeded my expectations. The 9 element iris provides lovely bokeh. The autofocus is fast and spot-on. It is small and light compared to the other zooms, and yet made of metal and glass. It is sharp and provides great color and contrast. I have used it for portrait and outdoor ... MoreI recently bought a Nikon D610 and needed FX lenses. I was using my 30 year old AIs lenses (28 mm, 50 mm, and a 35-105 mm), all of which were capable of good shots but not stellar. and not easy to focus, manually. I also recently go a 17-35 mm f2.8 which is a fantastic lens - but limited as it is to very wide angle shots. I have also a 70-200 mm f2.8, which is a great lens for distance, but very heavy. This lens, I was hoping, would fill in the middle range, with low light capability. It has exceeded my expectations. The 9 element iris provides lovely bokeh. The autofocus is fast and spot-on. It is small and light compared to the other zooms, and yet made of metal and glass. It is sharp and provides great color and contrast. I have used it for portrait and outdoor scenery. For the money, it is a steal. I got it for a little over $330 with free shipping.

For years I had been making do with a nifty-fifty and a 105mm prime, and using one of my zooms to cover anything in between. I finally decided to plug the gap with the Nikon 85 mm f/1.8 D AF. I am impressed. I test new lenses at various distances and apertures with resolution cards and by photographing the landscape around my house. I am shooting with a D7200 and I like to use ISO 200. I shot in A mode. Then I load the NEF 14 bit images in Capture NX-D and go pixel peeping at 250 to 400%. The 85mm prime thing easily edges out the Nikkor 18-300mm zoom at F/4 to f/11, and does well even at f/2.8. At f/1.8 the 85mm starts to look similar to the zoom, but the zoom is at it's maximum aperture of 6.0 ... so the 85mm has a 3+ stop advantage on light gathering. This is ... MoreFor years I had been making do with a nifty-fifty and a 105mm prime, and using one of my zooms to cover anything in between. I finally decided to plug the gap with the Nikon 85 mm f/1.8 D AF. I am impressed. I test new lenses at various distances and apertures with resolution cards and by photographing the landscape around my house. I am shooting with a D7200 and I like to use ISO 200. I shot in A mode. Then I load the NEF 14 bit images in Capture NX-D and go pixel peeping at 250 to 400%. The 85mm prime thing easily edges out the Nikkor 18-300mm zoom at F/4 to f/11, and does well even at f/2.8. At f/1.8 the 85mm starts to look similar to the zoom, but the zoom is at it's maximum aperture of 6.0 ... so the 85mm has a 3+ stop advantage on light gathering. This is definitely one heck of a good lens. The ebay seller was also good with the description, wrapped it very well, and sent it promptly. Overall, I'm very pleased.