Sample pictures taken with a Nikon 85mm F/1.8 lens
Pictures taken with Nikon’s Nikkor 85mm F/1.8 Lens.
A mid tele-photo lens with great optics and coatings for better image quality. Great for half body, shoulders and head shots. This lens is an affordable option to the legendary Nikkor 85mm F/1.4. We found it a tad soft at 1.8 but takes off @ f/2.2 and at f/4 & f/5.6 is razor sharp. This lens has more conservative construction compared to its bigger brother the Nikon 85mm F/1.4. Depth-of Field is quite shallow wide open on this lens and we rarely use it under F/2.8. The lens on a Nikon D70, D100 and even a D200 might be a little noisy when focusing. There is a big/better differece in both, AF speed and focus-noise wise when used on my Nikon F5 and any of the Nikon D2 series. Optically the lens is a marvel, razor sharp and little color aberration (mostly visible at wide appertures with high contrast scenes). This lens as well as the 85 1.4 and 105 F/2 DC has a special character when it comes to skin tonality, have that in mind as well before you read the next paragraph.
Let me be clear here, you may have considered a Nikon micro 105VR or perhaps the guys at the forums are suggesting it as well. The micro 105 is a lens designed for a different application. While you can get a nice bokeh and sharpness out of the 105VR, you will get too much contrast and unnatural skin tones. If you are intending to shot portraits every blue moon, be my guest and consider the 105 macro. If you are serious about your portraits, the 85 f/1.8 is the lens to go. Another drawback on the 105 VR vs 85 is the weight and size,
(click below to see what I mean). I promise you wont be disappointed with the 85 f/1.8.
Great for low-light and portraiture within a budget.
–Must get if in a budget, good performer a great value for the $$$!–
Approx street price for the Nikon 85mm F/1.8 Lens: $499.95 USD.
Click below to buy it!
