Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8

According provided by Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 lens (MKI version, Non-d type) huge thanks to the store www.fotika.com.uawhere you can find a huge number of different used photographic equipment, including similar lenses.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8

The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 is the very first autofocus lens in Nikon's 85mm prime lens series. It belongs to the list of old Nikkor prime lenses, the characteristic feature of which is that the focusing distance is not transmitted to the camera (there is no marking in the lens name 'D", "G' or 'E'). Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 can rightfully be considered the cheapest 'real' Nikon Nikkor portrait fixed lens with auto focus, which is suitable for full-size cameras.

In fact, there are two such lenses:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 (discussed in this overview), sometimes denoted 'MKI', or '85mm 1.8AF', or 'AF 85mm f / 1.8s'.
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D (a review of which here) is sometimes denoted 'MKII', or '85mm 1.8D', or '85mm f / 1.8 AF-D'.

The 85mm 1.8 AF version (shown in this review) is the predecessor of the version. 85mm 1.8D.

Here I will only consider the difference between Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D:

  1. The 85mm 1.8 AF version was released from December 1987 to April 1994. Version 85mm 1.8D was issued from March 1994 to 2012. Now both lenses are archived models and in January 2012 were replaced by Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8G AF-S IF SWM Nikkor. I want to note that the company Nikon from 1987 to 2012 (and this is as much as 25 years!) Did not change the optical layout of its budget 85-current.
  2. All 85mm 1.8 AF lenses were exclusively manufactured in Japan. At the same time, only part of the lenses 85mm 1.8D was released in Japan, the rest were made in Thailand.
  3. Version 85mm 1.8 AF does not transmit focus distance into the camera and is NON-D Lens. Version 85mm 1.8D transfers the value of the focusing distance to the camera, which allows more correct operation with flashes in some automatic TTL modes. There is no fundamental difference when shooting without a flash between the lenses.
  4. Versions have a different case design. The design is different in the details, for example, in 85mm 1.8D There is a wider window with a focus distance scale. Also, the 85mm 1.8 AF uses an old-style protective front cover, and 85mm 1.8D - new. Externally, the lenses remain very similar.
  5. Lenses have different ring retainers aperture at F / 16 - 85mm 1.8 AF has a regular latch button, and 85mm 1.8D - switch.
  6. Another significant difference is different enlightenment optics. Version 85mm 1.8 AF uses enlightenment NIC (Nikon Integrated Coating) and version 85mm 1.8DDIH (Nikon Super Integrated Coating). Visually, the front and rear lenses of the lenses are cast in a different color (clearly visible in the pictures below). I did not find any tangible difference in contrast and resistance to side and backlight.
  7. Version 85mm 1.8D It became 35 grams lighter (according to the specification in official Nikon sources).

In all other respects, the lenses are the same, including in speed and accuracy of auto focus. No tangible image quality difference between Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D I did not find.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 version sells slightly less than Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D. I don’t see the point in small savings and recommend buying a newer version of the lens. If you already have Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 on hand, change it to Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D not worth it. Both versions can be safely used for any photographic task - these lenses are well built and can last for a hundred years.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f / 1.8

This looks like Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8:

Below you can clearly see the difference between Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 и Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

On the net I found one funny advertisement for the sale of Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8, which, unlike a lot Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8Dmade in Thailand, was produced exclusively in Japan. Text copied unchanged:

The Made in Japan lettering on the lens barrel “gives”:

  • + 10% to accuracy and speed of focusing,
  • + 15% sharpness at any aperture,
  • + 20% to the durability of the work,
  • + 10% to color rendering and contrast,
  • + 20% to the artistry of the boke pattern,
  • + 30% to show-offs :-)

But, as my experience has shown, this is nothing more than a joke.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D

Sample photos:

You can download RAW source files at this link (55 files in '.NEF' format, 707 MB). All photos in the gallery above were taken on Nikon D700 using protective filter TIAN YA XS-Pro1 Digital MC-UV 62mm. More examples of photos on this lens can be found in the review. Nikon D2H and I have here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

All three Nikon Nikkor 85 / 1.8 Class autofocus lenses:

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)

  1. Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor [December 1987]
  2. Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor [March 1994, Thailand/Japan]
  3. Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4D AF Nikkor [November 1995]
  4. Nikon 85mm 1: 1.4GN AF-S Nikkor SWM IF Nano Crystal Coat [August 2010]
  5. Nikon 85mm 1: 1.8G AF-S IF SWM Nikkor [January 2012]
  6. Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm 1: 1.8 S [July 2019]
  7. Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm 1: 1.2 S [January 2023]

Canon (EF, RF mounts)

  1. Canon LENS EF 85mm 1:1.2 L USM [September 1989
  2. Canon LENS EF 85mm 1: 1.8 USM [July 1992]
  3. Canon LENS EF 85mm 1:1.2 L II USM [March 2006]
  4. Canon LENS EF 85mm 1:1.4 L IS USM [November 2017]
  5. Canon lens RF 85mm F1.2L USM [May 2019]
  6. Canon lens RF 85mm F1.2L USM DS (DEFOCUS SMOOTHING) [October 2019]

Yongnuo/YnLens (different mounts)

  1. Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8 (YN85mm F1.8) [9/6, Canon EF, February 2017]
  2. Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8 (YN85mm F1.8N) [9/6, Nikon F, May 2019]
  3. Ynlens YN85mm F1.8S DF DSM (YN85mm F1.8S) [9/8, Sony E, August 2020]
  4. Ynlens YN85mm F1.8R DF DSM (YN85mm F1.8R) [9/8, Canon RF, May 2021]
  5. Ynlens YN85mm 1:1.8Z DF DSM (YN85mm F1.8Z) [9/8, Nikon Z, March 2022]
  6. Yongnuo 85F1.8S DF DSM [9/8, Sony E, August 2022]

Sony / Sony Zeiss ZA / Minolta (E / FE, A mount)

  1. Sony FE 1.4/85 GM (SEL85F18GM) [February 2016]
  2. Sony FE 1.8/85 (SEL85F18) [February 2017]
  3. Sony SAL85F14Z / Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4 / 85 ZA T* [June 2006]
  4. 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)

  1. 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)
  2. Sigma 85mm 1: 1.4 DG | A [Art] (for Canon EF, Nikon F, Sigma SA, Sony E, Leica L, September 2016)
  3. Sigma 85mm 1: 1.4 DG DN | A [Art] (for Sony E, Leica L, August 2020)

Viltrox (different mounts)

  1. Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm F1.8 STM (Sony E/FE + Fujifilm X, 2018)
  2. Viltrox AF 85/1.8 STM ED IF (Nikon Z, Canon RF, December 2020)
  3. Viltrox AF 85/1.8 II STM ED IF (Sony E/FE + Fujifilm X, July 2020, light version XNUMX)

Pentax (K mount)

  1. SMC Pentax-FA* 1:1.4 85mm IF AUTO FOCUS PENTAX 85 [1992]
  2. HD PENTAX-D FA * 85mm 1: 1.4 ED SDM AW [May 2020]

Samyang / Rokinon (different mounts)

  1. Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 EF (for Canon EF, scheme 9/7, June 2018)
  2. Samyang AF 85/1.4F (for Nikon F, scheme 9/7, April 2019)
  3. Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 FE (for Sony E, scheme 11/8, March 2019)
  4. Samyang AF 85 / 1.4 RF  (for Canon RF, scheme 11/8, May 2020)
  5. 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)

  1. MEIKE 85mm AF 1: 1.8 [review] (Canon EF / Canon EF-S, April 2018)
  2. MEIKE 85mm AF 1: 1.8 [review] (Nikon F, Aug 2020)
  3. 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)
  4. MEIKE 85mm 1:1.4 Auto Focus Lens FF STM (for Sony FE/E + Nikon Z, September 2023)

Zeiss (various mounts)

  1. Zeiss Sonnar 1.8 / 85 T * (Batis 1.8 / 85) [April 2015, built-in stabilizer, Sony E/FE mount, 11/8]
  2. Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4/85 ZA T* (Sony SAL85F14Z) ​​[June 2006, Sony A/Minolta A mount, 8/7]
  3. Carl Zeiss Planar 1,4 / 85 T * [November 2002, Contax N mount, 10/9]

Tamron (different mounts)

  1. 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)

  1. 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)

  1. AstrHori AF 85mm 1:1.8 [December 2022]

Panasonic (L mount)

  1. Panasonic LUMIX S 1: 1.8 / 85mm [November 2020]

Separately, you can still highlight non-classic 85s:

  1. macro lens Canon Lens RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM [2020, RF]
  2. longer LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-SL 1: 2/90 ASPH. (2018, Leica l)
  3. less aperture Sony 85 / 2.8 SAM (SAL85f28) [2010, A]
  4. shorter SMC PENTAX FA 1:1.8 77mm Limited (1997, K)
  5. shorter HD Pentax-FA 1: 1.8 77mm Limited (2021, K)
  6. shorter Samyang AF 75 / 1.8 FE (2020, E) + Samyang AF 75/1.8X (2023, X)
  7. cropped Samsung Lens 1:1.4 85mm ED SSA i-Function [2011, NX]
  8. cropped and longer FUJIFILM FUJINON LENS SUPER EBC XF 90mm 1: 2 R LM WR [2015, X]
  9. cropped and shorter Viltrox AF 75/1.2 XF STM ED IF [2022, X, E, Z]
  10. cropped, less aperture, macro lens Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 85mm 1: 3.5G ED VR SWM IF Micro 1: 1 [2009, F]
  11. many 90/2.8 class macro lenses

I advise you to visit portrait lens selection page Among the Nikon Nikkor’s native autofocus lenses

On sale Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 is not new to find. I recommend a new model for use Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8D, prices for which you can see hereor in the price block located below:

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Results

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 is no different 'D' versions. Despite its age, it can still serve as a very useful, high-quality, budgetary fixed lens for portrait and creative photography.

Update: there was a review of an inexpensive alternative to this lens in the face YONGNUO 100 / 2.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 105, on the topic: Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8

  • Sergei

    Also this stnklom

  • clicker

    AF Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8 japan made, and can found in eBay for 100usd..is this compatible with Nikon D3200?

    • B. R. P.

      Yes, but not fully compatible. AF will not work.

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