The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D is considered a classic portrait lens, but it can be used for a wide variety of other photographic applications. Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D (we will call it Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D for short) was introduced in March 1994 and became a replacement for the older version - Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 (no letter 'D', NON-D type).
In total, Nikon has 6 such lenses:
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8 AF NikkorDecember 1987
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8D AF NikkorMarch 1994, Japan or Thailand
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8G AF-S IF SWM NikkorJanuary 2012
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4D AF NikkorNovember 1995
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4GN AF-S Nikkor SWM IF Nano Crystal CoatAugust 2010
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8 S Nikkor Z, July 2019, for mirrorless cameras
All these lenses deserve due attention and have their own characteristic features.
The lens has a short but informative name: Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D, where 'AF' indicates that the lens is autofocus, but autofocus only works when available focus motor in the camera itself, '85mm ' indicate the focal length, 'F / 1.8 ′ to the maximum aperture... Bukovka 'D'indicates that the lens transmits the focusing distance to the camera, which is very important when working with flashes.
Main technical characteristics of Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D:
Review Instance Name | Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D 2023332 |
Basic properties |
|
Front Filter Diameter | 62 mm, metal thread for filters |
Focal length | 85 mm, EGF for Nikon DX cameras is 127.5 mm |
Zoom ratio | 1 X (this is a fixed lens without the ability to change the focal length) |
Designed by | for film cameras Nikon FX |
Number of aperture blades | 9 rounded petals |
Tags | window with focusing distance in meters and feet, depth of field scale for F / 16 and F / 11. Infrared Label |
Diaphragm | from f / 1.8 to f / 16. The lens has an aperture ring (Non-G - lens type) |
MDF (minimum focusing distance) | 0.85 m, maximum magnification ratio 1: 9.2 |
The weight | 380 g |
Optical design | 6 elements in 6 groups. The lens does not use special optical elements. |
Lens hood | Hn-23, supplied, screwed into the thread under the filters |
Period | from March 1994 to 2012, later replaced by Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8G AF-S IF SWM Nikkor |
Manufacturer country | Made in Thailand (some lenses were also made in Japan) |
Instructions | See |
Price | View -> |
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D, with its light weight, is very compact in itself, you can always take it with you and get great photos.
The first thing you pay attention to when you pick up the Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D is its excellent build. Also, I was impressed by the special beauty of the front lens.
Highlights to watch out for
- This the lens can be used on full-frame Nikon FX cameras. It will work great on both Nikon film cameras and Nikon FX full-frame digital cameras.
- Auto focus with Nikon 85mm f / 1.8D lens available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing. An exact and complete list of Nikon CZKs that support auto focus with 'AF' lenses (such as this one) can be found in the 'Auto focus on Nikon cameras'.
- Maximum relative aperture F / 1.8. This is very important aperture. The difference between F / 1.4 and F / 1.8 is 2/3 stops.
- The focal length of the lens is 85mm, a classic focal length for portraits. On Nikon DX cameras EGF lens will be 127,5 mmwhich is also good for portraiture.
- When focusing, the front lens is completely stationary- it does not spin and does not ride back and forth. When focusing, only the rear lens unit moves, this is called the Rear Focusing System. With this lens it will be possible to use various filters without problems.
- The lens has manual aperture ring. To be able to control the value aperture from camera or for automatic installation aperture on modern central control valves, you need to turn the control ring to F / 16 and fix it with a special lever, which is located to the right of the marks aperture. If this is not done, then on a number of cameras, the display will display an error - 'fEE' (ring is not installed aperture) Some cameras having diaphragm rheostatallow you to control the aperture using the ring aperturebut only in metering modes exposure 'M' and 'A'. You can read more about this issue in the section on Non-G Lenses. Ring aperture rotates with clicks, the values F / 1.8, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 are plotted on it; set the intermediate value between pairs of numbers using the ring aperture impossible. Intermediate values can only be set using the camera menu.
- Complete with lens there is a metal hood, which really helps in the fight against flare and glare. The lens hood is screwed into the filter. I use protective filter, screwed onto the lens, and a hood is screwed into the filter, with such a bundle I do not install a protective cap.
- Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D has a window with a focus distance scale in meters and feet, a depth of field scale for F / 16, F / 11 and a mark for working in the infrared spectrum.
Bad sides:
- The lens is very pronounced chromatic aberration on open diaphragms. HA in the field of sharpness disappear only from the aperture F / 4.0. Therefore, if you need a well-designed sharp image without any kind of ghosting on contrasting details in the field of sharpness, the lens will not be able to provide the desired result at values from F / 1.8 to F / 4.0. Personally, I put up with aberrations in portraiture, especially when there are few contrasting details.
- The lens does not have a focus motor, as mentioned above. But still you need to consider that it was designed back in 1994, and then no one thought that Nikon would release a couple of non-powered cropped cameras. You can read more about the focusing motor. here.
- The biggest drawback of this lens I personally consider the factor that he has a very strong competitor in the face Nikon 85mm f / 1.4 AF-D и Nikon 85mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor. In any case, F / 1.8 will lose in luminosity and in figure F / 1.4. At Nikon 85mm f / 1.4 AF-D HA disappear already at F / 2.0, while Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D HA disappear only on F / 4.0. And buying a Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8D will always resent the fact that there is a much better portrait lens. On the Internet you can find millions of dedicated pages. battles Nikon 85mm f / 1.8D and Nikon 85mm f / 1.4 AF-D, and 1.8D wins only at its price. If your camera does not have a focus motor, then a cheap version of such a lens is present only in the face Nikon 85mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor and very expensive Nikon 85mm F1.4G AF-S.
Sample Photos
On the camera Nikon D80:
On the camera Nikon D200:
On a film camera Nikon AF N8008s:
Lens focusing speed F / 1.4dCompared to the Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D, exactly the same. I conducted an experiment: put two cameras side by side, on the first F / 1.4d, on the second F / 1.8D, when you press the focus button, both lenses focus equally quickly from MDF to infinity and vice versa. Most likely, all three lenses are F / 1.8 AF, F / 1.8D, F / 1.4d have the same focusing speed, which may differ slightly from the camera on which the lens is used. Also, the Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D has a faster focusing speed compared to F / 1.8g и с F / 1.4GN
Image quality
At the lens no distortion - this means that the lens ideal for photographing portraits, it does not distort the picture, but also the faces of people. On FX cameras, vignetting disappears only at F / 5.6. Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D sharp from 1.8. The best sharpness falls on apertures from F / 4.0 to F / 8.0, if you close the aperture above F / 8.0, you can only increase the depth of field, since diffraction takes effect.
The lens gives a slightly cool tint. The lens is not very friendly with back and side light. And, for a portrait lens, bokeh is very important, Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D bokeh is normal, sometimes rough. I would like better bokeh quality from a portrait lens. The lens has 9 aperture blades (the number of petals is above average), which allows him to give fairly rounded circles in the blur zone.
My experience
I really love this lens - it is compact, well built, fast focusing and sharp. Of course, due to the lack of modern technologies in it, the Nikon 85mm F / 1.8D is morally outdated, and its updated model Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8G IF SWM almost everything is better. I recommend the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D to anyone looking for a real portrait lens for little money. The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D is the most budget-friendly model of the 'real native tailor'. With this lens, the resulting frames will be much more interesting than with standard fifty dollars.
Differences between Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D (1.8D) and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8G IF SWM (1.8G)
A detailed description of the differences between these two lenses can be viewed here.
This is what the entire line of Nikon Nikkor 85 / 1.8 lenses with auto focus support looks like:
All autofocus 85s
Choosing a good 85mm portrait lens is very important for a large number of photographers. I pay a lot of attention to this issue, therefore I have prepared this list of all such autofocus lenses for full frame cameras with F <= 2 and a focal length of about 85 mm.
Nikon (F, Z mounts)
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor [December 1987]
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor [March 1994, Thailand/Japan]
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4D AF Nikkor [November 1995]
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4GN AF-S Nikkor SWM IF Nano Crystal Coat [August 2010]
- Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8G AF-S IF SWM Nikkor [January 2012]
- Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm 1: 1.8 S [July 2019]
- Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm 1: 1.2 S [January 2023]
Canon (EF, RF mounts)
- Canon LENS EF 85mm 1:1.2 L USM [September 1989
- Canon LENS EF 85mm 1: 1.8 USM [July 1992]
- Canon LENS EF 85mm 1:1.2 L II USM [March 2006]
- Canon LENS EF 85mm 1:1.4 L IS USM [November 2017]
- Canon lens RF 85mm F1.2L USM [May 2019]
- Canon lens RF 85mm F1.2L USM DS (DEFOCUS SMOOTHING) [October 2019]
Yongnuo/YnLens (different mounts)
- Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8 (YN85mm F1.8) [9/6, Canon EF, February 2017]
- Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8 (YN85mm F1.8N) [9/6, Nikon F, May 2019]
- Ynlens YN85mm F1.8S DF DSM (YN85mm F1.8S) [9/8, Sony E, August 2020]
- Ynlens YN85mm F1.8R DF DSM (YN85mm F1.8R) [9/8, Canon RF, May 2021]
- Ynlens YN85mm 1:1.8Z DF DSM (YN85mm F1.8Z) [9/8, Nikon Z, March 2022]
- Yongnuo 85F1.8S DF DSM [9/8, Sony E, August 2022]
Sony / Sony Zeiss ZA / Minolta (E / FE, A mount)
- Sony FE 1.4/85 GM (SEL85F18GM) [February 2016]
- Sony FE 1.8/85 (SEL85F18) [February 2017]
- Sony FE 1.4/85 GM II [August 2024]
- Sony SAL85F14Z / Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4 / 85 ZA T* [June 2006]
- Minolta AF 85mm 1:1.4 (22) (AF lens 85) / Minolta Maxxum / Dynax / G / G+D / G+RS / G+D+LE and other versions of the same lens, A mount [1987]
Sigma (different mounts)
- Sigma EX 85mm 1: 1.4 DG HSM (two sub-versions with different body finishes, for Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, Sony A, February 2010)
- Sigma 85mm 1: 1.4 DG | A [Art] (for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sigma SA, Sony E, Leica L, September 2016)
- Sigma 85mm 1: 1.4 DG DN | A [Art] (for Sony E, Leica L, August 2020)
Viltrox (different mounts)
- Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm F1.8 STM (Sony E/FE + Fujifilm X, 2018)
- Viltrox AF 85/1.8 STM ED IF (Nikon Z, Canon RF, December 2020)
- Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II STM ED IF (Sony E/FE + Fujifilm X, July 2020, light version XNUMX)
Pentax (K mount)
- SMC Pentax-FA* 1:1.4 85mm IF AUTO FOCUS PENTAX 85 [1992]
- HD PENTAX-D FA * 85mm 1: 1.4 ED SDM AW [May 2020]
Samyang / Rokinon (different mounts)
- Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 EF (for Canon EF, scheme 9/7, June 2018)
- Samyang AF 85/1.4F (for Nikon F, scheme 9/7, April 2019)
- Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 FE (for Sony E, scheme 11/8, March 2019)
- Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 RF (for Canon RF, scheme 11/8, May 2020)
- Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 FE II (for Sony E, scheme 11/8, July 2022)
Meike (Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Nikon Z, FujiFilm X)
- MEIKE 85mm AF 1: 1.8 [review] (Canon EF / Canon EF-S, April 2018)
- MEIKE 85mm AF 1: 1.8 [review] (Nikon F, Aug 2020)
- MEIKE 85mm 1:1.8 Auto Focus Lens FF STM [review] (for Sony FE/E + Nikon Z, Canon RF, FujiFilm X, June 2022 + March 2023)
- MEIKE 85mm 1:1.4 Auto Focus Lens FF STM (for Sony FE/E, Nikon Z + Leica L, September 2023, July 2024)
Zeiss (various mounts)
- Zeiss Sonnar 1.8 / 85 T * (Batis 1.8 / 85) [April 2015, built-in stabilizer, Sony E/FE mount, 11/8]
- Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4/85 ZA T* (Sony SAL85F14Z) [June 2006, Sony A/Minolta A mount, 8/7]
- Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4 / 85 T * [November 2002, Contax N mount, 10/9]
Tamron (different mounts)
- Tamron SP 85mm F/1.8 Di VC USD Model F016 (for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A [without VC function], March 2016)
Tokina (Sony E / FE mount)
- Tokina atx-m 85mm F1.8 FE (for Sony E, most likely a complete analog Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm F1.8 STM, January 2020)
AstrHori (Sony E/FE mount)
7Artisans (different bayonets)
- 7Artisans 85mm F/1.8 AF STM [FE, Z, L, July 2024]
Panasonic (L mount)
- Panasonic LUMIX S 1: 1.8 / 85mm [November 2020]
SIRUI (different bayonets):
- Sirui Aurora 85mm F1.4 AF FF [Sony E, Nikon Z, FujiFilm X, October 2024]
Separately, you can still highlight non-classic 85s:
- macro lens Canon Lens RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM [2020, RF]
- longer LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-SL 1: 2/90 ASPH. (2018, Leica l)
- less aperture Sony 85 / 2.8 SAM (SAL85f28) [2010, A]
- shorter SMC PENTAX FA 1:1.8 77mm Limited (1997, K)
- shorter HD Pentax-FA 1: 1.8 77mm Limited (2021, K)
- shorter Samyang AF 75 / 1.8 FE (2020, E) + Samyang AF 75/1.8X (2023, X)
- shorter TTArtisan AF 75/2 (2024, E, Z)
- cropped Samsung Lens 1:1.4 85mm ED SSA i-Function [2011, NX]
- cropped and longer FUJIFILM FUJINON LENS SUPER EBC XF 90mm 1: 2 R LM WR [2015, X]
- cropped and shorter Viltrox AF 75/1.2 XF STM ED IF [2022, X, E, Z]
- cropped, less aperture, macro lens Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 85mm 1: 3.5G ED VR SWM IF Micro 1: 1 [2009, F]
- many 90/2.8 class macro lenses
On the topic, I advise you to visit portrait lens selection page Among the Nikon Nikkor’s native autofocus lenses
Prices for the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm F1.8D lens in popular stores can look at this link, or in the price block below:
Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment.
Results
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm F1.8D is an old but good portrait lens. A new version Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8G IF SWM, which became a replacement for the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D, is generally better than this old man.
Update: there was a review of an inexpensive alternative to this lens in the face YONGNUO 100 / 2.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.
55-300 with D90 draws well portraits in nature ..., especially children from a distance ....
The lens perfectly conveys all the beauty in the picture.
+
good build
good afternoon
If the lens does not close a single aperture. How will this affect the sharpness and illumination of the photo on the open and closed aperture?
There will be errors in exposure and crooked bokeh
For the first time to the author of the site for such a brown site, so often before buying an object, I read here about a new one ... Taking a photograph on the crop D7000 and Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D ... The D700 is powered on a new Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D from the ripped edge to not from 2,0 but from 1,8 I can see ...
Are they suitable for Nikon D3100
No, for d3100 this https://radojuva.com.ua/2013/09/nikon-85mm-1-8-g-test/
nikkor af 85mm f / 1.8d + nikon d200
srdjan, thanks for the Florentomolo exhibition, which lens did you like best for this? Probably 70-300? Is there a favorite of them?
Good afternoon. Nikon d5100 camera. When focusing with this lens, will the focus confirmation be displayed in the viewfinder as a green dot in the lower corner?
It is correct to write - in the lower layers of the coal horizons. Will be.
I really liked the photos taken on the D80 and the lens from the review. such a gentle contrast and the rest, just like I love.
Advertise your channel? oh these anonymous already :)
Good afternoon, what is the difference in Nikon 85mm 1.8d and 85mm 1.8 lenses? what is the first newer I know, but optically there are differences?
Arkady, you are a SADIST, remove the girl naked in the cold, and only mittens from the clothes for polishing the car. BUT VERY BEAUTIFULLY DISCONTINUED. (LOTS-LOTS OF EMBLEMS)
Arkady, thanks for the work and time spent on tests and writing reviews.
Tell me, with a modest budget and the same price for used 85 1.8D and 80-200 MK1, which of these two old men draws best on the same focal (85mm 2.8) and which is still preferable for a full frame for portraits and a leisurely report? THANKS!
85 1.8 by 85 mm will be better. But it’s better to add money and take 80-200 MK2 or Tokin 80-200 ATX-PRO or Tamron 70-200 first versions
Thank you, I'll look for live MK2, because for Tokin there are double reviews in the comments to your review of Toktna, and Sigma and Tamron are more expensive.
Write me in PM, if in Ukraine, there is a friend who sells MK2.
Of course, I'm looking for our nenya Ukraine, I'm not very sure about the quality from Ebey. I'll write to VK ...
In Ukraine, there was a shortage of MK2? It seems that Fotika always sells them and there are ads on the alder. Share a secret, Arkady :)
What is the secret?
What is the secret of finding exactly the familiar MK2 seller?
Please tell me, I have 80-200 microns, but I would have got it 2mm, should I take or not much difference? Thanks !!!
The difference will be. To 80-200 in addition it is better 85 1.4d
And carry an additional almost 2kg?
For some reason it didn't add up. I wanted to answer Arkady's advice to take 80-200 instead of 85mm
“Almost 2kg” is actually 920 grams to be exact :-)
Hello everybody.
Tell me, who knows what inexpensive analogue can replace Nikon 85 1.8d? So that autofocus is not stupid.
The focus on the Nikon 85mm 1.8D is not stupid, it turns the motor in the camera. The price is affordable, it is difficult to find the same quality for the money.
Moreover, in difficult conditions and poor light, this AF lens is better than all the other 85-Nikon.
Find 85 / 1.8D 85 / 1.8 MKI lucky.
I look at many offers, but in the price range of 7000-8000. And the budget for such purchases is still in the range of 5000. I thought maybe there is some good Chinese for that kind of money.
In this price category there is yongnuo 100 mm f2. On this site there is a review of the version for Canon
Then it's better to wait. This one is worth the money. Unfortunately, the Chinese in terms of reviews and examples do not look very successful, but, for example, the 85-s from Sigma comes with F1,4 and expensive, like the native 85-s with a similar aperture. Manual Samyang F1,4 can be taken cheaper than this, but this is a completely different solution.
Filmed at 85 mm 1.8 G. There is no possibility to continue shooting. No lens - no problem :-) I bought the D-version yesterday. In my copy, which is made by the skillful hands of Thais, the worker can be safely considered a hole at 2.0-2.8. From 2.8 to 5.0, the sharpness is very pleasing to the eye. At 1.8 - a little soapy ... I made a small adjustment to the adjustment. The construction is very solid, after 1.8G it really pleases. According to the picture, yes, you can observe "almost nuts", it is not critical for me and everything is correctly described on this page. Today in the lightroom I displayed test pictures. I'm really happy. ..a little offtopic: drawing glass makes beautiful. Compared to the old 50mm 1.8 ... it differs ... I would say with a softer pattern. 50-sharp as a razor..even too often.
Finally I took myself 85 1.8d. I will say that he does not have absolute sharpness at 1.8, not like a fifty dollars, but still. I also note that his thread for the filters is still plastic (correct, Arkady, please, because the review says metal.)
No, he has a metal thread for the filter.
Arkady, look carefully, please, really plastic.
At the moment I do not have 85 / 1.8D on hand. If I personally check, of course I will.
Arkady, I'm sorry, the thread is really metal. It’s just that the case itself is plastic, and there is a thread inside. Sorry, sorry.
Everything is OK. The main thing is that they found the truth
Tell me who knows the site, there is a very large database of photos on cameras and lenses with the prescribed shutter speed, aperture, ISO. The site is not Nashinsky. I can’t remember the address and the search engine does not offer anything suitable
pixelpeeper
Thank you for sure this site
Arkady needs advice. Fuji ZhT10 camera, which portrait lens with MF to choose. Nikon 85 1.8 D or Nikon 105 2.5 AI.
Such a question, can anyone come across the compatibility problem of this lens and the nikonD7100 carcass. Fee constantly gives an error, according to the settings one hundred percent everything is correct, I’ve killed it all day. It works only in one version, when on the manual, from any position, as if with acceleration, you set the aperture to min, this is 1,6. only then the error disappears for a second, in other cases the error always blinks. The lens and camera are also one hundred percent compatible.
Touch, pull the rheostat lever, perhaps even put a piece of paper between the hitch. Rheostat - this thing.
What glass do you recommend for Nikon F4S? I am somehow inclined to Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4D AF Nikkor. I think that it can be successfully used on my Nikon D750.
Dear friends, experts!
Please tell me, I am faced with the choice of a portrait (D7200 carcass, I rent it purely for myself, not commerce) and I want to buy an 85-ku, re-read articles, reviewed the video, but I did not hear specifically which version of the 85-k (D or G) would be better in terms of price and quality. I’m afraid to take a used D-ku, because I don’t know how to check it when buying, except for inspection and connection to the camera. Can anyone sell a good D-ku? Or dump 10k UAH for the G version, despite the fact that I will pull it out, God forbid, 10 times a year. Are both very lame? Maybe there are some differences in the assemblies? I beg for help. Thank you in advance!
I like the way a good lens works on FX cameras on the D 700. Thank you Arkady for your interesting review. 🙏
What a nice girl on a Nikon D80