AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

A tack sharp lens at an affordable price

I just got the 85mm f1.8G for my d810. I am very happy with this lens. The lens is really fast, sharp and produces great images in low light.

This is an incredible lens. With fast accurate focusing, super sharp, color rich images, it just shines. Mine required no calibration, and measured against a calibration chart was dead on right out of the box. In practice it also focuses quickly. The bokeh is some of the best I have seen for the dollar investment. It is such a joy to use that it may become my most used lens. I read a few reviews elsewhere stating it was too lightweight, but I think those folks are just used to carrying 2lb lenses all day? Sure it weighs less than the AF-S 85 f1.4G but if you consider it is basically equivalent to strapping a 12oz can of soda to the front of your camera body, you´ll find it substantial enough. Nikon really nails it with this lens!

I have d810 and decided to get the 85mm F1.8G. I have the 35mm F1.8. 3 zooms and still have my primes from 1969; the 24mm F2.8, the 50mm F1.4, 105mm. the 200mm F4.0, and the 500mm Reflex. I felt the 85mm and the 35mm new lenses would be for serious uses and would not be too cumbersome. I found this as a refurb and jumped on the opportunity. what a wonderful decision. The lens is fabulous. Sharp and precise. I made a wise choice. Wide open it is a powerhouse,, and at F5.6- F11 wonderful for portraits etc. For a full frame camera--- great detail. And with older primes I am very flexible. Nikon always sold the concept that the lenses never are obsolete.

I LOVE THIS LENS

This lens is amazing. I´ve owned it for 2 months now and I use it all the time. I´m a portrait photographer, so I mainly use it for headshots, and it hasn´t disappointed me yet!

I love prime lenses, This 85mm is no joke, it takes amazing photos. I bought this mostly for outdoor portraits, 85mm on a crop sensor is a little tight indoors, but in a studio setting this is perfect.

In preparing for a trip to India and Nepal, I tested my Nikon 85mm f/1.8G lens on my Nikon D500. The lens worked extremely well and is relatively small and light weight for traveling. With great resolution and an effective 35mm film format focal length equivalent ´´reach´´ of 127.5 mm, this lens should do well for portraiture when I travel to Asia. Below are examples taken at apertures of both f/1.8 and f/5.6.

I favor this lens over my 55mm and that´s saying a lot!
Photos are clean and crisp - AF works beautifully!

I have bought this lens to go with my Nikon D600 for taking portraits and have been using it for the past two years. Ever since I have gotten this, this has become my favorite lens and have not used the other four lenses I have (50mm 1.8D, 35-70mm 2.8D, 24-85mm, and 70-210mm) so much. In the past, I have used the Nikon 85mm f/1.8D, and the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens on different camera bodies, and they both had to be stopped down a couple of stops or so to get sharp pictures. But, this lens produces super sharp pictures even wide open at f/1.8.

Here is my impression:

* Very, very sharp even wide open at 1.8; stopped down a couple of stops, the sharpness is superb.
* Lovely bokeh - super smooth backgrounds.
* The color rendering of this lens is neutral and very pleasing on Nikon D600, especially the skin tones are natural.
* Very good price for the quality, especially compared to the Nikon 85mm 1.4G. The only other lens that I have used and liked as much for sharpness and color rendition in this price range is the Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/2.0.
* Although the build quality is okay, I wish it had a metal body.
* Auto focus is fast enough and the focus seems to be spot on.