7.6.2012

I wrote an updated review for Amazon's sister site DP Review and feel it's a more well-rounded one, now that I've used the lens quite a lot, now. Instead of replacing the original, which some found useful, I've left this as it was, at the end.I shoot music bands and soloists in dark pubs for the local paper and for the artists themselves, often with no extra lighting and I don't use flash. Rather than use my heavy, very obvious and slower 70-200mm f2.8 Sigma, I've got this gem. I almost always shoot at f1.8, where it's sharp (TOO sharp for actual portraiture) and the resulting bokeh is pleasing and deals with background details (dartboards, TVs, switches, menus!!).On my D700 it's 85mm and on my D7000 it's 127mm,a really useful focal length. At max aperture, combined with both these camera's high top iso's, you can literally get a result out of near darkness.When you've been manhandling a heavy D700 for several hours at a Festival, the lightness of this lens is a revelation, but still strong enough to pick up that combo by the lens. The hood is good and deep and fits much better than many Nikon's, which can be prone to being knocked off (easy in pubs). The excellent handling means I can get down to 1/30 sec, without blur.The SWM is good, quick and near silent. A model or quiet piece of live music (in a church?) doesn't want noise from a lens motor! I'll often use MF though, as it's still not infallible and no system can latch onto low contrast and dark bits and the ring is a good size and the mode is easily switchable.Relatively good value - when compared to the f1.4G and the still evergreen 'D' model that still sells well and is quite pricey secondhand (my original choice).I don't mind the all plastics - it won't go white-water rafting or be dropped out of planes as I skydive (I don't do either, actually).Problems: You cannot attach a teleconverter, as the rear element is flush with the back flange.I think of Nikkor lenses (I still use a couple from the early 70s) as lasting forever - the supposed in-built 10 year lifetime span both worries and disappoints me, a bit.Original review:My review primarily examines the reasons for my choice of this latest "G" series version of a very popular lens.Let's get the quality issue out of the way - this is a Nikon Nikkor prime lens, with a fast, but not the fast-est maximum aperture. Of course it will be sharp at f1.8, even better at f2.8 and by f4.5-5.6, will be able to cut diamonds. That's a given - Nikon would be laughed off the planet, if it didn't.I regularly use a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 Apo, which for many would be a dream lens - and is quite adequate at full aperture, too, thank-you. It's great for a walkabout zoom at night at outdoor festivals and carnivals and such.Now, I know a lot of local musicians and often photograph them in the dingiest, most badly lit places possible. Their lighting is for 'mood', definitely not for photographers! Now, I - and we - can always tell when a stranger photographer (press) encroaches into our domain, as they'll have the biggest kit that money can buy - and then, with another camera, just in case.I now want to be more discreet and also, to enjoy the music more, instead of wrestling with my 1.4kg, 20cm long 70-200mm monster. Sure, you get variable focal length but that will always impose a compromise into any lens design.Take the 85mm focal length, on my Nikon D700, a short telephoto and on my D7000, an equivalent of 127.5mm. I worked out, from my metadata, that a very high percentage of my pictures of solo musicians were taken around the 120-130mm mark. There was a real reason why the 135mm prime lens of old was considered an essential purchase, along with the 28mm, after the standard 50mm. A head/shoulders portrait of someone in a large room at a comfortable distance falls within that focal range; sure I've got my fast Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 HSM as well, for photos of the band, but rarely would I need longer than the 85mm at the long end - and the Nikkor would easily stand cropping, if need be, in any case.I bought an old manual focus Nikkor 135mm f2 on a well known auction site and soon became addicted to this maximum aperture and used it a lot, except with the D7000, it equates to 202mm, which means one has to almost go outside the building to fit anything in! Instead of buying either a brand new 135mm f2 A/F, at about a grand, or an 85mm 1.4 (about the same) I've just bought this 85mm f1.8 'G'. Still fast, but highly usable and with Silent Wave Motor (SWM) AF, for just over one third of the cost of either of those others.Why the new "G"? It does take larger filters - 67mm, instead of 62mm, but few use colour temperature filters these days, anyway - and as many decry, has a lot more plastic 'padding' on it.Secondhand, a very good condition "D" is still so popular, you're looking at £260, easily, with a new one (one of the very few Nikkor lenses Nikon still sell alongside its 'update') being not a huge amount more. IF you're buying brand new, the 'G', again, IF, you shop around, is about that difference again, on top of a new 'D'.Now, to that extra padding and bulk - I've got big hands and am used to handling a big 70-200mm for a day and so, I actually prefer something less dinky. From what I've read, the extra plastic girth actually provides better protection to the SWM motor (cheaper Nikon bodies have no compatibility problems with this lens) and to the glassware. Nikon also say that the lens has a weather-sealed rubber lens mount.SWM - Anybody who's regularly used any lens with SWM, or, for an example, Sigma's alternative - HSM (Hypersonic Motor) - will know how these almost magically flit the focus between closest and infinity in an instant - and silently. If, you've got a nervous sitter, or a pet, or a hushed concert hall, would you rather have a (in comparison) a conventional whirring, noisy AF motor, or silence? If there's ever any lens where the extra cost and virtue of SWM over that of the 'ordinary', it must be this one.Which brings it down to value for money. It's fast, but not the fastest. It's useful, if you have need of one. It could be a breadwinner, if that's your market. It's quality, though made in China, the gold embellishments and 'crinkled' black casing feel assuring and the lens hood is a good size and decently made. The handling is exemplary, manual focus is light, but with resistance, the size/weight ratio ideal, for me. Mine cost me exactly the same as my very old, horrendously stiff manually focussing 135mm f2, which IS made like they made tanks and Volvo estate cars and will probably outlive me - but this is 2012, SWM is genius and Nikon have updated an old favourite, very successfully, in my opinion.In use - the lens IS sharp, very sharp, even wide open. A professional portrait photographer friend described (I lent it to her) its defining powers as "cruel" on the human face, even at f1.8, which at least means the sharpness is there in the first place. She doesn't follow equipment trends but thought the lens cost was about double what it actually is. The only reason why she's not ordering one is because she only uses DX format and likes to be intimate with her subjects and prefers a standard 32mm prime lens.Technical reviews have stated that the lens' performance dips from f11 on, with the smallest aperture, f16, faring worst, due to diffraction. I used it at that, as I needed the depth of field and for all intents and purposes, it's still fine.Handling - on either the D700, or D7000, the lens is the perfect size and the focussing ring falls naturally to hand. Its light weight does not lower the feeling of quality it does not feel cheap or flimsy. In the field, the AF goes from nearest to furthest focus in a fraction of a second and swiftly and easily finds its subject.All in all - a lovely lens that is causing quite a stir among my photographic friends. Sure, it's not the f1.4, but IS the price of a Nikon flashgun, or a Nikkor 70-300mm VR zoom and not the cost of a new D300S body. I'm not saying that the half stop less won't make much difference, but for most it probably won't much, certainly not as much as the cost disparity.

18.4.2012

I have previously owned and used the Nikon 85mm f1.8D and the 85mm f3.5G Micro on my D300 and have now sold both of these lenses as I have purchased this latest 85mm incarnation. The f1.8 series of prime lenses from Nikon give you most of the performance of the more expensive pro f1.4 versions but at a fraction of the price.I only use the lens on DX (crop sensor eg D300s, D7000, D5100, D3100) size cameras, so I can't comment on FX (full frame eg D700, D800, D4) camera usage, but I have found the lens to be tack sharp on my D300, particularly when stopped down a little. Even at f1.8 though, the lens is plenty sharp enough and I won't hesitate to use this for weddings where I put it on the camera

4.4.2012

This lens is an update to the old film lens the 85mm f/1.8D. What are the updates? The lens now has an autofocus motor onboard, so you can now get AF with any Nikon body - even the entry level ones. AF on fast primes is rarely what you could call 'fast' actually I'd say it's a tiny bit slower than the D version. Nikon considers this new generation of G lenses a bit more accurate. I guess this is good, it's what you want with a portrait lens. Keep in mind accuracy for focusing 1.8 glass especially at short range means AF isn't fast, but make no mistake if you set up your camera correctly and use good AF technique you can track moving kids nicely etc so even dynamic portraits are possible.Optical improvements have been made to this lens also,

28.5.2012

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G LensI have the Nikon 85mm f1.4 lens which I use on my FF D700. This is a superb lens, but solid (read heavy) on a large-ish body like the d700, and tiring to carry around all day. Anyway I wanted something more compact and manageable to mount on my d5100, and having achieved such positive results with the larger f1.8 I just bought this lens. (I also use the Nikon 35mm f1.8 on this camera with again first class results).It arrived today and I've been experimenting with it - all with excellent images so far. OK, you won't achieve the pronounced bokeh effect with f1.8 as you would with f1.4 but it's still a fast lens and I've used it in some low light situations with much better results than I would have expected.I'll possibly try it on my full frame d700 soon,

6.10.2012

Used this lens on my D600 for the first time today and I was very impressed with the results. Used it for candids street mainly and it excelled ion this. Even when using it at a distance it did brilliantly. This being an area that trips up a lot of other lenses in that they lose definition and sharpness. I also tried it for landscapes and was equally impressed.The focus is fast and near silent and for the most part accurate. I did manage to get a few unsharp images but this was shooting at 1.8 with moving subjects so 100% would be too much to ask. The manual focus ring was a pleasant surprise in as much as it is well damped with greet feel and easy to use.

5.1.2019

In life, you get what you pay for, and this holds true of lenses, just like anything else. This is a small lens for full frame cameras like the D610, D750, D850, D5 etc. When you buy it, you're buying a nice, small plastic (mostly) lens with a metal joint that mounts the lens onto the camera (though for the price you might wonder why you aren't getting something more substantial).For most of the range, it's a perfectly decent lens. The pictures are sharp, and bright looking. It focuses quickly and quietly too, which is good. The grumble occurs at f1.8. At f1.8, there's vignetting and distortion is more noticeable, while the bokeh isn't as much of a step up from the Olympus 4/3 camera I was using.

18.10.2013

Having used this lens a few times with a Nikon D600 I am really impressed with it's sharpness when used wide-open. In fact it's a bit too contrasty and a bit too sharp for pleasing pictures of female friends and relatives. It shows-up every blemish and it will take a bit of practice, using some photo-manipulation software, to return the image to the pleasing softness which came from using a Minolta MD85mm f2.0, with a 4-point, cross-screen, filter.You won't buy a lens such as this and then expect to start stopping-it-down; so let me assure you: you won't need to. It's very sharp 'wide-open.'It does focus a bit quicker than I could myself; and I can 'blast-away'

27.12.2016

I have only used the lens a little bit around the house today (it was a Christmas present) but I'm pleased it so far. The sharpness seems great even at the edges and the lens feels sturdy and well made even with the plastic body. The focus is quiet and quick even when I've been trying it in a darker rooms. At max aperture you do get a fair amount of vignetting but this is easily corrected in post (Lightroom is worth its weight in gold) and adds a bit of charm anyway. My review does also come with a small warning - be careful which lens you get. On Christmas Eve I opened my 35mm box to find a 50mm lens inside (so clearly a warehouse employee has done well for themselves as the 50 is much cheaper.)

12.8.2013

This is a spectacular lens ..... I would post pix but any capture taken with a modicom of ability would appear sharp at the size allowed on the Amazon site ... this 85 mm 1.8 is SHARP, I use Pro monitors & it really does stand up to scrutiny ..... the build is about the same as my 50 mm 1.8 & my 35 mm 1.8 ... I have the 17-55 mm pro lens but that cost the earth & this is sharper ..yes , it is not as flexible but that is the 17-55 mm's strong point ... indispensible at weddings ! It has quickly become my most used lens ........ but you really do have to be very careful with focusing ....... not cheap but if you can't afford it . save up ! ........ don't waste good money on inferior lenses .....

1.11.2014

I initially purchased the Nikon 85mm 1.4G. It's a great lens but somehow felt a bit fragile with such a huge amount if glass. It was also heavy. The build quality felt a little plastic for the money unlike the nikon pro zoom 24-70mm which is built like a tank.Luckily I was able to sell the lens for pretty much the price I paid for it and I exchanged it for the 1.8G.It's much lighter and doesn't feel as precious. On a D810 the picture quality is the same and feels a little quicker at focusingI never shot the 1.4 wide open as it was too hit and miss and I tend to shoot portraits at f2.If you can't decide between the two I would recommend the 1.8GFor the record I also have the two nikon zooms 24-70 and 70-200.

9.2.2016

I have used this lens for a few weeks. Though Tamron has an nice 45mm and Sigma has the 50mm 1.4 art lens, no regrets. The Nikon 35 1.8 has silky smooth and fast focus. None of the back focus and other issues with the Tamron and Sigma. Additionally, this lens is very sharp with about 4% of the other lens with DXO mark. It has on ED and one aspherical element. What really interests me is the color rendition and contrast - do the images "pop"? Is the color vibrant and true to the actual colors. I am quite happy with this lens and prefer it's color over the 85 1.8 Though it does not have the image quality of the 70-200 2.8 or 14-24 2.8 zoom, it is 1/3 to 1/4 the price. Additionally this lens is light and small.

9.3.2013

For the price, this is absolutely unbeatable. Sure, a couple of hundred pounds is nothing to sneeze at, but in the world of premium DSLR lenses, getting such an optically fantastic lens for this price is amazing. I own some of Nikon's premium lenses that cost 5x what this does, that don't put out images as sharp or contrasty, it's truly professional level image quality at (just about still) consumer level prices.If you own a full frame camera, this will give you crystal clear images corner to corner, fast focus, and a wonderfully thin depth of field for excellent subject isolation, and the bokeh is lovely. Sure there are lenses that will give you slightly smoother out of focus backgrounds,

10.9.2016

I recently bought this lens from Amazon to complement my AF-S 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8. It replaces my old AIS 35mm f2, which is a very characterful lens (and wonderful for portraits) but not really sharp anywhere. I considered the new Tamron and Sigma as alternatives but ultimately stayed with Nikon. I was not quite sure what to expect; some commentators thought it was great, others just average. I think it is a great lens. The vignetting is far less than what I thought it might be, it is very sharp even wide open and into the corners (I use a FX D700, all taken as RAW and developed in Nikon NXD or DXOptics 10, depending on requirements), the colours are stunning, and the distortion is modest and easily corrected anyway.

17.7.2013

After having read the reviews online and watching Youtube videos, I decided to take the plunge on this lens rather than go for the D version.It's a perfect portrait lens. I honestly can't think of a single fault with it nor can I pick any faults with the image quality. At f1.8 the bokeh is simply creamy.I'm guessing the main competition for this lens is the 85mm f1.4G. Which is also an amazing lens but at a much bigger price tag. I suspect most people will never need the extra 2/3 stop given most modern cameras have great ISO capabilities.I know many wedding photographers who like me are using the 1.8G instead of the f1.4G. Unless you seriously need the weather sealing,

22.12.2014

Amazingly sharp, decent enough build quality for typical use, excellent value for money.However, for a portrait lens, sharpness maybe isn't the top priority. It's hard to explain in words but Nikon's more expensive f/1.4 portrait lenses do give pictures that have a slightly less 'harsh' look to them. If you have some extra money to spend, the older 85mm f/1.4D lens gives a slightly smoother rendering for portraits, for about half the price of the newer 85mm f/1.4G lens. I'm sure most people wouldn't even perhaps notice the difference, but if I was starting from scratch, I would go for the 85mm f/1.4D, accepting the fact that the less expensive 85mm f/1.8G lens may actually be sharper wide open.However,

Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G Nikkor - Reviews

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