Nikon AF 85mm f/1.8D Nikkor Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

mohawk51
( Expert)

Review Date
May 15, 2009

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 1 of 60

Price Paid: $390.00 from B&H

Summary:

This lens, I like. I like a lot. Photozone did a lab test on this lens and the 1.4D. This lens outperforms the 1.4D in distortion, resolution, chromatic abberations and vignetting from each of their respective widest openings to F11. Check it out. I just don't see the point of spending 3 times as much for the 1.4D (Unless you do portraits for a living). The bokek on the 1.4 is nicer. I shoot landscapes, what would I need for bokeh for? Heck, you could go through (3) 1.8D's for the cost of (1) 1.4D. Not likely! Save your money for other goodies in the photo world.

Strengths:

Sharpness, Contrast, Weight and a Fast lens. What more?

Weaknesses:

None really noted.

Similar Products Used:

Everything Nikon.

Customer Service:

None needed.

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

bhobg
( Intermediate)

Review Date
March 28, 2009

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 2 of 60

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

Sensational lens. For such a reasonable price you get a brilliant medium telephoto. The image quality is magnificent in low light for concerts. Portraits are great too. Bokeh is lovely and sharpness is absurdly good.

Colors are also much richer here than on my 55-200 VR zoom. I also use this for soccer with very pleasant results. i can't wait to shoot billiards with this. I can't imagine the f/1.4 version of this focal length being three times better.

Highly recommended to all serious Nikonians. It won't autofocus with the D40 or D60 but I have a D80.

Strengths:

Sharpness, colors, bokeh.

Weaknesses:

None.

Similar Products Used:

50 mm f/1.8, 30mm f/1.4

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

Axle
( Intermediate)

Review Date
February 6, 2008

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 60

Price Paid: $500.00 from Henry's

Summary:

f/1.8 telephoto for under a grand...yes please.

Alright so I've used this lens for a couple weeks now and only now realizing how awesome it is. For portrait and photojournalism options this lens is brilliant, set it to f/8 slide on a flash with a lightsphere on it and you have your self a portable studio.

Really sharp with a clean bokeh at f/8. A little soft at full aperature (f/1.8). I've used this to shoot people, objects, and various events and it hasn't failed me.

Strengths:

* super fast autofocus
* sharp
* low profile telephoto
* FAST! Great for concerts or low light events

Weaknesses:

* a little soft at full open aperature

Similar Products Used:

None

Customer Service:

none required

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

xml5000
( Expert)

Review Date
September 8, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 4 of 60

Price Paid: $290.00

Summary:

A really good purchase for me. Totally sharp, accurate colour rendition, actually sharper I think than the F1.4 version cost 3x more +. A wonderful lens.

Strengths:

Sharpness, colour rendition

Weaknesses:

build not pro like, but not bad either

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

VinnyP!
( Intermediate)

Review Date
July 5, 2006

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5,
5 votes

Review 5 of 60

Price Paid: $120.00 from Used

Summary:

A good value lens that easily fills a gap in most kit bags. If you are a portrait specialist then this lens is not for you, also if you regularly take pictures in low light again the 1.4 85mm or 50 will be higher on your list. But if like me 2.8 zooms and tele lenses are fast enough for 95% of your work and you don't work much in a studio then used or new this represents great value and produces good results. Its sharp and because of the bright image manages to focus very fast despite having no internal motor.

On a digital SLR it allows you to be a good distance from the subject when used as a portrait lens and can throw the background out of focus with a quite pleasing bokeh. It also performs well in low light situations (being a 127mm 1.8 equivalent) like a theatre but the noisy AF may prove annoying.

It handles well except for the fact the focusing ring doesn't disengage when in AF. Its well made robust and optically sound. I would buy it again and it would be good value at more than I paid for it. Not many lenses you can say that about.

Strengths:

Lens speed, image quality and build quality.

Weaknesses:

Noisy (none IF) AF, focusing ring is fiddly and turns under AF.

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.