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Nikon 85mm f/1.8

AF and AF-D NIKKOR (1987-2018)

NEW: Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 (2019-)

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Compared   Recommendations

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Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D (metal 62mm filter threads, 12.9 oz./366g, 2.8'/0.85m close-focus, about $460 new or $350 used). enlarge. This free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially this link directly to it at Adorama, at Amazon or used at this direct link to it at eBay (see How to Win at eBay), when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks! Ken.

 

April 2012    Nikon Reviews    Nikon Lens Reviews   Other Reviews

NEW: Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G: the new plastic consumer version for more money.

NEW: Nikon 50mm and 58mm Bokeh Comparisons.

Why Fixed Lenses Take Better Pictures

Nikon High-Speed 50mm Lens Sharpness Comparison 09 Sep 2010

Sample Images from California's Central Coast June 2010

85mm Lens Specifications Compared 23 June 2009

85mm Lens Central Sharpness Comparison 23 June 2009

85mm Lens Corner Sharpness Comparison 23 June 2009

 

Optics:
Mechanics:
Ergonomics:   No instant manual override
Usefulness:
Availability:
Overall:

 

Introduction       top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Compared   Recommendations

Compatibility    History    Production

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The Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF and AF-D have superb optical and mechanical quality. They have been among Nikon's most popular lenses for many decades, and rightfully so.

They have superb performance, especially for use on the 36 MP Nikon D800.

As a rear-focus lens, nothing moves externally as it focuses except the focus ring. The all-metal filter ring stays put!

You always have to move the switch on your camera to switch between auto and manual focus. If you just want to grab the ring to focus at any time, get the newer, dinkier Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-S G.

I prefer this original lens to 2012's new plastic made-in-China G version. This original lens offers a better 9-bladed diaphragm, superior mechanical quality that will last a lifetime, isn't gelded so it works on every camera, has a hard infinity-focus stop, metal filter threads, faster autofocus and smaller size than the new G 85/1.8.

 

Compatibility       intro      top

This is an FX lens, and works especially well with on FX, 35mm and DX Nikons like the D4, D800, D800E, D7000, D700, D3X, D300s and F6. It works fantastically on manual-focus cameras like the F2AS, F3, FE and FA, since it has real manual-focus and aperture rings that work exactly as they should.

The 85mm f/1.8 AF-D and AF works great with almost every film and digital Nikon camera made since 1977. If you have a coupling prong added to the diaphragm ring, it's perfect with every Nikon back to the original Nikon F of 1959.

The only incompatibility is that it will not autofocus with the cheapest D40, D40x, D60, D3000, D3100, D5000 or D5100, but if you focus manually, everything else works great. These cameras have in-finder focus confirmation dots to help you.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AF, AF-D (screw)" column for this lens.

 

History       intro      top

There are two almost identical version of this lens: the original AF version from the dawn of Nikon's autofocus made from 1987-1994, and today's AF-D version, made since 1994.

The only minor difference is the addition of the "D" feature which couples focused distance to the camera for exposure calculations, which only matters with flash. This review applies equally to either version.

The way to identify them is by the "D" on the newer lens (as "1:1.8 D" on the front and side, or by the little slide lock just above the aperture ring. The older AF lens is simply marked "1:1.8" and the little lock above the aperture ring is a better and more complex spring-loaded and rotating pushbutton affair.

 

Production       intro      top

Nikon has made over 300,000 of these lenses.

Nikon made over 100,000 of the original (1987-1994) AF version, and has made more then 225,000 of the current AF-D version — so far.

 

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D. enlarge.

 

Specifications         top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Compared   Recommendations

Name        top

Nikon calls this the Nikon AF NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8 or f/1.8D RF.

    NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for their lenses.

    D: Couples distance information to the Matrix Meter (from 1994).

    RF: Rear focusing; nothing moves externally as focused except the rear element.

    ∅62: 62mm filter thread.

 

Optics        top

6 elements in 6 groups.

Multicoated.

Rear focus; nothing moves except the rear element and focus ring as focused.

 

Diaphragm        top

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D

Front, Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D. enlarge.

9 straight blades.

Stops down to f/16.

 

Coverage        top

35mm film, FX and DX.

 

Focal Length        top

85mm.

When used on a DX camera, it gives angles of view similar to what a 129mm lens gives when used on an FX or 35mm camera.

 

Angle of View        top

28.5° diagonally on FX and RealRaw.

(18.8º on small-format DX.)

 

Close Focus         top

2.8 feet (0.85 meters).

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio        top

1:9.2.

 

Hard Infinity Focus Stop?        top

Yes.

This is great for astronomy; just turn to the stop and you have fixed laboratory-perfect focus all night.

 

Focus Scale        top

Yes.

 

Depth-of-Field Scale        top

Yes, for f/11 and f/16.

 

Infra-Red Focus Index        top

Yes, white dot in depth-of-field scale.

 

Aperture Ring        top

Yes.

Full-stop clicks.

 

Filter Thread        top

62mm, solid metal.

Does not rotate or move, ever.

 

Size        top

Nikon specifies 2.30" (58.5mm) extension from flange by 2.81 " (71.5mm) diameter.

Nikon specifies the earlier AF version as 71mm (2.80") diameter.

 

Weight        top

The D version weighs 12.892 oz. (365.5g).

The earlier non-D AF version weighs 14.155 oz. (401.3g).

Nikon specifies 13.4 oz. (380g) for the current AF-D (1994-today) version.

Nikon specifies 14.6 oz. (415g) for the earlier AF version (1987-1994).

 

Hood        top

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D box

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D and included HN-23 metal hood.

HN-23 metal screw-in, included.

 

Teleconverters       specs       top

TC-200/201, which are manual-focus only.

TC-14A, which is also manual-focus only, and Nikon further warns that there can be some vignetting.

 

Quality         top

Made in Japan.

Made in Thailand since 2010.

 

Nikon Product Number

1931.

 

Announced

December 1987.

AF-D version: March 1994.

 

Pricing       intro      top

 
Corrected for
inflation, 2012*
Dollars at the time*
1988
$520
$270
1991
$450
$270
1992
$445
$275
1994
$475
$310 (after rebate)
1995
$590
$395
1996
$490
$340
1997
$490/560**
$345/395**
1998
$420/500**
$300/360**
1999
$440/490**
$325/360**
2000
$435/505**
$330/385**
2005
$390/405**
$335/350**
2009
$475
$450
2012
$425/460**
$425/460**

* At full NYC discount. Very few people bought their lenses this inexpensively before 2005.

** Gray/USA.

 

Performance       top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Compared   Recommendations

Overall    Autofocus    Bokeh    Color   Coma    Distortion

Ergonomics   Eyeblow   Falloff    Filters   Focus Breathing

Ghosts   Hood    Lateral Color Fringes    Mechanics

Sharpness   Spherochromatism  Sunstars   Survivability

 

Overall       performance     top

The Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF and AF-D is among Nikon's best lenses of all time, as are most 85mm to 105mm lenses.

 

Autofocus       performance     top

Overall

Autofocus is fast and sure, however you must move a mechanical switch on your camera to swap between manual and autofocus.

 

AF Speed

Autofocus is fast, faster than the new 85mm f/1.8 G!

AF speed is super fast on every Nikon, even the old F100 and F5.

One full turn (two half-turns) of the AF screw pulls focus from infinity down to 16 feet on the original (1987-1994) AF version, and down to 12 feet on today's AF-D version (1994-today).

 

AF Accuracy

AF is always right on, especially on the 38 MP Nikon D800, and especially at f/1.8.

 

Manual Focus

Manual focus is perfect.

The metal internal-focus ring flicks with a fingertip.

 

Bokeh       performance     top

Bokeh, the character of out of focus backgrounds, not simply how far out of focus they are, is good enough. If you want out-of-this world bokeh, get the Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-S G.

Spherochromatism will also affect bokeh depending on the color of your background.

Here are crops from the center of 100% FX 12MP (D3 or D700) images, focused on a reference phase lattice at 3 meters (10 feet) with synthetic reference vegetation at 15 meters (50 feet). Printed full-image at this size, these would be about 42 x 28" (105 x 70cm) prints, at least as seen on most 100 DPI computer monitors:

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D Bokeh Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D Bokeh
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D Bokeh Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D Bokeh

 

Color Rendition       performance     top

The color rendition is the same as my other Nikkor AF lenses.

 

Coma       performance     top

The Nikon 85mm f/1.8 has no coma, whoo hoo!

Coma (saggital coma flare) often causes weird smeared blobs to appear around bright points of light in the corners of fast or wide lenses at large apertures. In lenses that have it, coma goes away as stopped down.

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 Coma

Full-frame image, 8 seconds at f/1.8, ISO 200, Nikon D3.

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 Coma

Crop at 100% magnification from lower left.

 

Distortion       performance     top

The Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D has no visible or measurable distortion at any distance. Whatever it may be, it's less than what would take a factor of ±0.1 in Photoshop's lens distortion filter to correct. Bravo!

 
FX and Film
0.0
0.0
30' (10m)
0.0
0.0
10' (3m)
0.0
0.0
3' (1m)
0.0
0.0

© 2012 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

Ergonomics (handling and ease-of-use)       performance     top

Ergonomics are straightforward: if you don't mind moving the AF-MF switch on the camera to swap modes and keep your fingers away from the focus ring while it's autofocusing, everything else is perfect.

The 85/1.8D feels perfect. It's a precise, tough and well-built instrument.

 

Eyeblow       performance     top

The rear element of the 85mm f/1.8 AF-D moves a little as focused, but not enough to notice any air blow out of the eyepiece.

 

Falloff (darkened corners)       performance     top

Falloff on FX is visible at f/1.8 and f/2, and gone by f/2.8.

It won't be an issue at all on DX (see crop factor).

I've exaggerated this by shooting a gray field and placing these on a gray background.

 

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D falloff on FX and film at infinity, no correction.

f/1.8
f/2
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D falloff Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D falloff
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D falloff Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D falloff
f/2.8
f/4

© 2012 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

 

Filters, use with       performance     top

There is no problem with vignetting, even with combinations of thick filters.

The metal filter ring never moves.

 

Focus Breathing       performance     top

Of interest mostly to cinematographers focusing back and forth between two subjects, the image size from the highly advanced rear-focusing Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D doesn't vary much as focused.

If you're pulling focus through the entire range, image size is minimum at about 10 feet (3 meters), and grows slightly at infinity and at closer distances.

 

Ghosts       performance     top

As shown at Coma, there are no significant ghosts.

 

Hood       performance     top

The screw-in metal hood is included.

It's so much nicer than the plastic turd included with the Chinese 85/1.8G.

 

Lateral Color Fringes       performance     top

There are no lateral color fringes on the D3 or D7000, which corrects them automatically.

There is some spherochromatism, which is a different aberration.

 

Mechanics and Construction       performance     top

Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-S G

Rear, Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D. enlarge.

The Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D is a tough, all-metal lens encased in a plastic cover.

It's a lot tougher than the new plastic 85/1.8G.

 

Filter Threads

Solid metal.

 

Hood

Solid metal.

 

Hood Mount

Solid metal.

 

Barrel Exterior

Plastic.

 

Focus Ring

Solid metal; rubber covered.

 

Depth-of-Field Scale

Yes.

 

Internals

Metal.

 

Aperture Ring

Plastic, pained numbers.

 

Mount

Dull-chromed brass.

 

Markings

Paint.

 

Mounting Index

Engraved line filed with white paint.

 

Identity

Nikon 85/1.8 engraved identity ring

Engraved metal identity ring.

Front ring: engraved metal, filled with white paint.

Barrel: paint.

 

Serial Number

Laser engraved onto bottom rear of aperture ring.

 

US Model Signified by

"US" prefix to serial number.

 

Rain seal at mount

No.

 

Noises When Shaken

Mild clicking from the diaphragm blades and actuation system.

 

Made in

Thailand since 2010.

Made in Japan 1987-2010.

 

Sharpness       performance     top

Warning 1: Image sharpness depends more on you than your lens.

Warning 2: Lens sharpness doesn't mean much to good photographers.

With those caveats, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D is super sharp at every aperture even on the 24 MP Nikon D3X and 36 MP D800, even the first 1987 version, even out to the corners at f/1.8!

Of course diffraction limits performance at smaller apertures depending on the resolution of your camera. The 85/1.8 is so sharp that f/4 is its sharpest aperture; on the D3X and D800, diffraction makes the image, under ideal test conditions, slightly softer starting at f/5.6!

It's super-sharp on a D3X and D800 even wide-open at f/1.8 edge-to-edge, and gets even slightly sharper stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4.

To get this level of sharpness, you really have to have your technique well dialed-in. If you're out of focus, or your subject isn't flat and well-aligned to your image sensor or film plane, sloppy technique limits sharpness more than anything to do with this lens.

Diffraction means that the 85/1.8 is much softer at f/8 and smaller if you're really looking closely, as it is with all lenses. Most lenses aren't as good as this 85mm, so diffraction's degradation at smaller apertures isn't as obvious with them.

 

Spherochromatism       performance     top

Like many fast, long lenses, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 shows some spherochromatism.

This aberration, called "color bokeh" by laymen, renders mild green color fringes around background highlights, and magenta color fringes around foreground highlights.

If you're not in perfect focus, it will put these color fringes on bright highlights. It's not the lens' fault; it's yours for not being in perfect focus.

 

Sunstars       performance     top

With its straight 9-bladed diaphragm, the Nikon 85/1/8 AF makes exquisite 18-pointed sunstars with bright points of light.

Sunstar, Central Coast, 19 June 2010

Sunstar and Rockwell, Ragged Point Resort, 19 June 2010. enlarge.

 

Survivability       performance     top

Unlike the new 85mm f/1.8 G which is mostly plastic and depends on a proprietary ultrasonic motor for its heart, this classic screw-focus AF lens has nothing to break inside of it that a good independent repairman can't fix for you 50 years from now.

The plastic on the outside of this AF and AF-D lens is simply a cover to keep it from freezing to your skin in arctic cold; the internals are metal.

 

Compared             top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Compared   Recommendations

Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF

Nikon 85/1.8 K, Nikon 85/2 AI-s, Nikon 85/1.4 AI-s, Nikon 85/1.8D, Nikon 85/1.4D and Vivitar 85/1.4. (enlarge; actual size at 106 DPI).

 

Nikon 85mm lenses compared

Nikon 85/1.8D, 85/1.8G, 85/1.4G and 85/1.4D. enlarge.

Nikon has made a lot of 85mm lenses in its day. In rangefinder days, it called them 8.5 cm lenses. Even my 8.5cm f/2 lens for my Nikon SP is super sharp; all Nikon's 85mm lenses are superb.

This 85/1.8 AF is optically superb, compact, well-made and handles well. There's no reason to look any further, unless you'd rather have a dinkier plastic lens in exchange for instant manual-focus override or need autofocus on Nikon's cheapest DSLRs (then get the 85mm f/1.8 G), or want the ultimate in Heavenly bokeh, for which you deserve the unmatched 85mm f/1.4 AF-S G. For the smallest size, I've always loved my 85mm f/2 AI-s.

 

See also:

85mm Lens Specifications Compared 23 June 2009

85mm Lens Central Sharpness Comparison 23 June 2009

85mm Lens Corner Sharpness Comparison 23 June 2009

NEW: Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G January 2012.

 

Recommendations       top

Intro   Specifications   Performance   Compared   Recommendations

I love this lens so much I own at least two of them! I especially love the fast focus and 18-pointed sunstars I get from its 9-bladed diaphragm.

I have no love for the dinky new 85mm f/1.8 G. Why would I want to pay more for a plastic lens with a downgraded 7-bladed diaphragm?

This is a lens to get if you don't have an 80-200/2.8 zoom. The zooms tends to be almost as sharp and almost as fast, so don't ever carry both at the same time.

I strongly recommend this lens if you want a superb fast prime portrait lens or general-purpose fast, short tele at a reasonable price. It's the one fixed tele I'd grab along with a wide lens for day-to-day shooting.

If you own the 28-300mm VR, forget any fixed lenses in this range; you'll probably not ever pull out a fixed 85 if you have the zoom.

If you have a zoom and want a lens to blow-out backgrounds into smooth, soft colors at a reasonable price, shoot it at 200~300mm, and you'll get the same effect or better than an 85mm lens at f/1.8. If you want a fixed tele for blurring backgrounds at a reasonable price, get a manual-focus 135mm f/2 or 180mm f/2.8 instead. Longer focal length has much more to do with blurring backgrounds than maximum aperture.

If you want an 85mm with incredible ability to blur backgrounds and keep the subject ultrasharp, the extraordinary 85/1.4G is even better than this 85mm AF-D.

So, especially bought used, this 85mm f/1.8 is among Nikon's best lenses ever, at a very reasonable price.

If you find all the time I put into sharing all this research for free, this free website's biggest source of support is when you use these links, especially this link directly to it at Adorama, at Amazon or used at this direct link to it at eBay (see How to Win at eBay), when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks! Ken.

 

Deployment

Hint: the included HN-23 metal hood screws into the lens' 62mm threads. The front of the hood has no threads, however any of the Nikon snap-on 77mm plastic lens caps pop right on the front of the hood. If you don't change filters, you could leave the hood on all the time and use a 77mm cap!

Hint: The focus ring moves even during autofocus, so keep your fingers off it.

I'd keep a Nikon 62mm NC filter on it for protection on digital cameras, or when shooting color print film, or B&W film indoors.

I'd use a 62mm Hoya Super HMC 81A filter with Fuji Velvia 50 or other color slide film.

I'd use a Hoya 62mm yellow filter outdoors with B&W film.

 

More Information: Written review in Popular Photography, February 1999, page 76.

 

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Thanks for reading!

 

 

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

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