AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G

This has become my go-to portrait lens. The image quality is amazing even when shooting wide open. Virtually zero distortion and focuses like a champ.

One of the best lenses in my stable

just sold my 85 1.8g and got this lens and oh boy what a BIG DIFFERENCE. everything is tack sharp even @ 1.4 iam very satified with the switch. and if you thinking doing the same too or thinking of buying one go ahead you will be one happy camper :).

First time using this lens was easy. Put it on my brand new D-800, ( last camera was a D-7000 ). Every picture taken was great. The back ground out of focus but the colors of the fall leaves were just what i was looking for. This is a great portrait lens, I´ll be useing this lens a lot.

I bought this lens just before a working trip to Italy. I was to do a shoot of a model at a vineyard in Tuscany. There were to be shots both inside the bodega, the facilities and in the countryside. I normally use the Nikon 70-200/f2.8 in this kind of situation, but I wanted this lens because I´m not always happy with the performance of the 70-200 (I´m not in love with the bokeh). I also went with the Nikon 24-70/2.8 and the Sigma 35/1.4 (which performed brilliantly).

The 85/1.4g performed brilliantly closed down, but the shots I took around f2 outside with high speed sync in open shade were riddled with hideous green and magenta chromatic aberration that took tons of work to remove in post. It was absolutely painful and really ugly. I am including a bit of a slightly blurry outtake so that you can see just how bad it was. It´s all in the hair, the glass and it follows the line of her jaw. Ugh. The final photos looked really spectacular, but the work involved to get there was unpleasant.

So I guess my review is mixed. If you shoot wide open outside, be prepared to deal with the consequences. I guess that I´m disappointed, but that won´t keep me from using the lens.

This is a great lens with fantastic bokeh qualities. I use it with my D4 and am able to achieve desired results with great consistency.

I am semi pro in that I earn money to support my Camera addiction and the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is in my opinion the best glass I have seen even in a medium format equivalent lens this is one of the fastest and cleanest portrait and medium focal length lenses I have owned in a 35mm FX format, Super FAST in low light Sports as in Basketball, and a superb portrait lens with beautiful Bokeh, I couple it to my D3 and D3x and the results are breath taking.

This is simply the best lens I own, hands down. It is a great combination with the D800 for sharp images with incredible bokeh. I use this lens for both portraiture and landscape.

I could write paragraph after paragraph about this lens but everyone before me has said it, so lets keep this simple. There is nothing about this lens that you will be dissatisfied with...absolutely nothing. So if you´re thinking about buying it, stop it and just do it. Twenty years from now it will be one of your most favourite and a classic that everyone talks about and wishes they had.

This lens is a must for all portrait work. I was at a family wedding where I was not the wedding photographer and all the people who saw my images commented that they were superior to the official photographer´s work.
Crisp, tack sharp results are almost guaranteed. Be careful shooting @ 1.4 however, all the subjects must be on the same focal plane or some softness in some faces may occur.
Expensive yes but worth every penny.