Overview
The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G lens was kindly provided by B&H – the largest photo reseller in the world that I use more than any other to buy my photography gear.
The highly anticipated Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S is a professional-grade lens that is specifically designed for portrait, studio and wedding photographers that need an ultra-fast, high quality lens with a large aperture of f/1.4 for low-light situations and shallow depth of field to isolate subjects from the background, without compromising image quality and sharpness. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is built to work extremely well on both FX and DX sensors, yielding very sharp results in the center frame, as shown in the following pages of this review. Nikon has incorporated the latest technology and optical formulas to this lens, including AF-S silent-wave focus motor and Nano crystal coating. Just like most Nikon professional lenses, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G has a 77mm filter thread and is also sealed against dust and tough weather conditions for outdoors field use.
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Image Sample @ 1/125, f/13, ISO 1600
In this review, I will be focusing my efforts in showing center and corner sharpness of the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G lens under different conditions, both indoors and outdoors. In addition, I will do my best to provide a thorough analysis of this lens, along with image samples and comparisons against other Nikon portrait lenses such as Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G and the older Nikon 85mm f/1.4D.
1) Lens Specifications
Main Features:
- High performance FX-format f/1.4 medium-telephoto lens is perfect for portraits, low-light applications offering beautiful Bokeh (background blur) and outstanding picture quality.
- Use of Nano Crystal Coat further reduces ghosting and interior flare across a wide range of wavelengths for even greater image clarity.
- Internal Focus (IF) provides fast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens, retaining working distance throughout the focus range.
- Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) enhances light transmission efficiency and offers superior color consistency and reduced flare.
- Optimized for edge to edge sharpness on both FX and DX-format.
- M/A Focus Mode Switch Enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation.
- Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables fast, accurate and quiet autofocus.
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm renders more natural Bokeh (background blur)
Technical Specifications:
- Focal length: 85mm
- Maximum aperture: f/1.4
- Minimum aperture: f/16
- Lens construction: 10 elements in 9 groups (with Nano Crystal Coat)
- Angle of view: 28°30’ (18°50’ with Nikon DX format)
- Minimum focus distance: 0.85 m/2.79 ft.
- Maximum reproduction ratio: 0.12x
- No. of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded)
- Filter-attachment size: 77mm
- Diameter x length (extension from lens mount): Approximately 86.5 x 84 mm/3.4 x 3.3 in.
- Weight: Approximately 595 g/21.0 oz.
- Supplied accessories: 7mm Snap-on Front Lens Cap LC-77, Rear Lens Cap LF-1, Bayonet Hood HB-55, Flexible Lens Pouch CL-1118
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G Image Sample @ 1/640, f/3.5, ISO 200
2) Lens handling
Just like all Nikon professional lenses, the new Nikon 85mm f/1.4 lens is built to last a lifetime with its rugged exterior and metal internals. It is designed to withstand tough weather and is well-protected on the outside against dust and moisture. The lens performed flawlessly under various weather conditions and I even used it in light rain at a high altitude and I did not see any moisture form between optical elements. It has a total of 10 optical elements in 9 groups within the lens and weighs a total of 595 grams, making it very easy to carry and handle. As can be seen below, the lens is both wider and taller than the old Nikon 85mm f/1.4D. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G feels very solid in hands and the focus ring is conveniently located in the front of the barrel, making it easy to manually focus with a thumb and index finger while shooting images or video. Another huge step over the AF-D version is the fact that you can now simply rotate the focus ring while the lens is set in M/A focus mode to manually override autofocus, whereas you had to move the ring to “M” position before you could touch the focus ring on the 85mm f/1.4D. Thanks to Rear Focus, the lens barrel does not rotate or extend, making it an ideal candidate to be used with various filters. The lens comes with the “HB-55″ lens hood, which was specifically engineered for the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G.
Check out the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D page to see major differences between the two lenses, including sharpness tests.
3) Focus acquisition speed and accuracy
The autofocus performance of the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is outstanding, definitely Nikon’s best. When the lens focuses, it virtually produces no noise, due to the Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology in the lens. One of the challenges when working with large aperture lenses like 85mm, is being able to correctly acquire focus on the subject when shooting at maximum aperture of f/1.4. The depth of field at f/1.4 is so narrow, that any movement by you or your subject will certainly affect the focus area and cause the image to have a shifted focus. You have to be extremely careful when shooting at large apertures between f/1.4 and f/2.8 and you need to pay close attention to such things as camera to subject distance, close focus distance, etc. The biggest pain of the previous AF-D version of this lens was its autofocus system and its sporadic behavior in low-light situations. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4D certainly focuses very well when shooting during the day outside, but as soon as the amount of light decreases (indoors or after sunset), autofocus gets unreliable and you have to focus several times in order to get the correct focus. The good news with the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, is that it does not have this problem – amazingly, the lens focused extremely well under all lighting conditions and I had no images with bad focus when I shot in very dim indoors environments. This difference alone is worth upgrading to the AF-S version, since I consider low-light capabilities of the 85mm to be an extremely important asset of the lens. It is very unfortunate when you take a fast lens with you to a concert or some other indoors event and you cannot get sharp images because the lens cannot acquire correct focus. I found myself defocusing and refocusing with the AF-D version a lot and it was certainly getting annoying, so I am glad that I no longer have to worry about that with the 85mm f/1.4 AF-S. Here is a good example of how well the lens focuses in low-light environments:
Click here to see the full JPEG version of the shot (80% Quality @ 2,9 MB).
As can be seen from the above image, the focus is right on the subject’s head, just like I intended. I also shot at the maximum aperture of f/1.4 indoors and did not have a single focus miss.
When it comes to autofocus speed, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is certainly slower than its predecessor though, as can be seen in the comparison page. The full rotation from close focus to infinity and vice versa takes a little longer when compared to 85mm f/1.4D (very similar behavior to Nikon 50mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 50mm f/1.4D), but the difference is not huge. What is more important – the speed of how quickly the camera snaps into focus, or how reliably it snaps into focus? I believe the latter is much more important, so I certainly do not mind the slower speed.
4) Lens sharpness and contrast
Nikon has been releasing outstanding updates to lenses during the last several years, which not only beat their predecessors when it comes to sharpness and image quality, but also set new standards in optical performance. A clear example of this is Nikon 24mm f/1.4G, which is the sharpest lens I have ever held in my hands, surpassing all other old and modern Nikon lenses and getting competitors drooling over its performance. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is no exception – it performs extremely well at large apertures and produces very sharp images at the center, with corners getting extremely good at f/2.0 and beyond, something no previous 85mm lens could achieve (see sharpness tests in the second page of the review). Having said that, my conclusion is that the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is absolutely the sharpest Nikon 85mm lens, easily beating the AF-D and AI-s versions. I do not have the Canon 85mm f/1.2 lens to compare it with, but I am sure the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G will stand well against it, at least when it comes to autofocus performance and focus reliability.
Since the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G performs so well at maximum aperture of f/1.4, I would not hesitate to use it at f/1.4 all the time, unless you need to increase the depth of field to bring more of the subject into focus. I shot the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G between f/1.4 and f/2.8 and I was very pleased with the results – all images came out tack sharp, and color and contrast were truly amazing, certainly top of the class.
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G shot wide open at f/1.4, focused on the basket
I highly recommend downloading and viewing the above image in full size by clicking here (80% Quality @ 2.5 MB). It is unbelievable what this lens is capable of at maximum aperture. The full image has no sharpening applied to it, so you can draw the conclusions yourself!
5) Bokeh
Here is the part everybody wants to know about – how good is bokeh on the new Nikon 85mm f/1.4G and how does it stand against the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D – the “king of bokeh”. It is obviously a matter of personal opinion, but I like the bokeh from the new Nikon 85mm f/1.4G a little better – the background looks softer and has less defined edges. Take a look at the following bokeh comparison:
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D Bokeh
Beautiful bokeh is the sole reason people buy 85mm lenses and the Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-S is no disappointment – as you can see, the bokeh on the 85mm f/1.4G remains to be very good. Whether you use this lens for portraits, concerts, weddings or other types of photography, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G will do a superb job at isolating your subjects, delivering exceptionally beautiful background blur.
6) Vignetting
As expected with any fixed f/1.4 lens, there is a considerable amount of vignetting present when shooting wide open @ f/1.4, but it is almost completely gone by f/2.8. Here is an extreme example of vignetting at f/1.4 and f/2.0 compared to AF-D:
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D Vignetting
The first row is Nikon 85mm f/1.4G shot at f/1.4 (left) and f/2.0 (right), while the second row is Nikon 85mm f/1.4D shot with the same settings. Both seem very similar at large apertures, but the 85mm f/1.4G seems to be showing heavier vignetting wide open. At f/2.8 vignetting starts disappearing and it is completely gone at f/4.0 on both lenses. The vignetting issues can be quickly corrected in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, so it is not a big problem.
7) Ghosting, Flare and Chromatic Aberration
The Nano-Coating glass inside the lens definitely reduces ghosting and flare. Here is an extreme example with the sun in the top left corner:
Flares and ghosts show up in images, depending on the angle and position of the bright light source. I would keep the lens hood on at all times, to prevent accidental flares from showing up in images. Also, if you use a crappy filter, you might get some nasty flare even with the hood on when pointing at a bright light source, so make sure to use only the high-quality multi-coated “MRC” filters from B+W, Hoya or Tiffen for digital cameras. It is also worth noting that the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G does a very good job at handling coma flare at large apertures, which has always been a problem on 85mm lenses.
When it comes to CA/color fringing, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G also demonstrated astonishing results, beating the 85mm f/1.4D in comparison:
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D Chromatic Aberration
The image on the left is Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, whereas the image on the right is Nikon 85mm f/1.4D. As you can see, the fringing on the 85mm f/1.4D is much more pronounced and the full image shows that the corners are especially bad for the f/1.4D.
8) Distortion
Distortion is almost non-existent, with a slight amount of barrel distortion present when shooting at longer distances. The closer you stand, the less barrel distortion you will see. It is really nothing to worry about and the problem can be easily fixed in Photoshop using the Lens Correction Filter.
Example of distortion at close focus:
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G Distortion
Let’s now move on to the good stuff – Sharpness tests. Select the next page below.
Sharpness Test
Sharpness Test
Some technical junk:
- White Balance: Auto
- ISO: 200
- EXIF information is preserved in the images
- Lens was mounted on Nikon D3s FX Camera and Gitzo tripod
- Focusing was performed through Live-View Contrast Detect. After each successful focus acquisition, focus was switched to manual to prevent camera refocusing
- Mirror Lock-Up mode with Exposure Delay set to “On” and remote cable release to completely eliminate camera shake
- Long exposure NR: Off
- Image Format: RAW & JPEG
- Lightroom settings: Default settings, but exposure had to be slightly adjusted for some images
- Lightroom export: sRGB JPEG Quality 80
- Testing was performed at f/1.4, f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4.0, f/5.6 and f/8.0 apertures
- Nothing was moved during testing
9) Sharpness Test – Nikon 85mm Center Frame
Let’s take a look at center sharpness from f/1.4 to f/2.0 (from left to right):
f/2.8 and f/4.0:
f/5.6 and f/8.0:
When shot wide open at f/1.4, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is just a tad softer than f/8.0 in the center, which is incredible.
10) Sharpness Test – Nikon 85mm Corner Frame
What about the corners? Let’s take a look at f/1.4 and f/2.0 (from left to right):
f/2.8 and f/4.0:
f/5.6 and f/8.0:
The f/1.4 image came out a little dark because of vignetting and I specifically did not adjust its brightness, so that you could see the real situation. As expected, the corners wide open @ f/1.4 are a little soft compared to the center, but at f/2.8 and beyond the corners look tack sharp. I did not expect this lens to work this well in the corners and as you will see in the next page, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G stands a world above the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D when it comes to corner sharpness.
Lens Comparisons
Compared to Nikon 85mm f/1.4D
Before I show you the sharpness comparisons between the two lenses, I would first like to point out the major differences. Here is what I compiled in the order of importance:
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G focuses more accurately than 85mm f/1.4D, especially in low-light environments (despite having slower autofocus).
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is sharper in the corners when shooting at maximum aperture of f/1.4.
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G gets as sharp in the corners as in the center when stopped down to f/2.8, whereas the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D never gets sharp in the corners, even at f/8.0.
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G has much less CA/fringing and works better against ghosting and flares than the 85mm f/1.4D. It also handles corner coma better.
- The manual focus override in M/A mode on the AF-S is a world better than the clumsy switch on the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D that needs to be changed every time you switch from manual focus to autofocus and vice-versa.
- Because the metal hood is attached to the filter thread of the AF-D lens, the lens cap would never sit right on the front of the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D, whereas the new 85mm f/1.4G does not have this problem – the hood has been replaced with a plastic bayonet hood that does not use the filter thread, so the lens cap could be put on and taken out very easily.
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is about 35 grams heavier and slightly taller than the 85mm f/1.4D.
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is quieter than the 85mm f/1.4D due to Silent Wave Motor.
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is about $500 more expensive than the 85mm f/1.4D.
- The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G focuses slower than 85mm f/1.4D and yields more vignetting at f/1.4.
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D
With the exception of the last line, everything above says that the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is much better than the 85mm f/1.4D. Let’s take a look at the sharpness of both lenses to see the actual difference both in the center and in the corner frames.
So, how slow is autofocus when compared to the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D? Take a look at the following video that I took earlier today:
11a) Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D Center Frame
Here is how the center compares at f/1.4 (Left: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, Right: Nikon 85mm f/1.4D):
Both lenses perform quite well in the center and all other apertures perform very similarly, see f/8.0:
I cannot see much difference between these, so I can safely conclude that the center performance of both lenses is extremely good.
11b) Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 85mm f/1.4D Corner Frame
What about the corners? Let’s take a look at the corners at f/1.4 (Left: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, Right: Nikon 85mm f/1.4D):
What a huge difference! The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is worlds better than the old AF-D version in the corners. The image at f/1.4 on 85mm f/1.4D looks very soft and blurry, whereas the 85mm f/1.4G is only affected with some extra vignetting.
Here is a comparison at f/2.8:
Wow, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D looks crappy at f/2.8 compared to f/1.4G…
Let’s see what happens at f/8.0:
Just like I have said above, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D never gets sharp in the corners, whereas the new 85mm f/1.4G is very sharp in the corners, almost as sharp as in the center!
Compared to Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II
How does the legendary 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II compare to the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G at f/2.8 and above?
12a) Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II Center Frame
Let’s see what happens with sharpness at f/2.8 (Left: Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, Right: Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II @ 85mm):
As can be seen from the above images, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G beats the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II when stopped down to f/2.8 in the center. What about f/8.0?
At f/8.0, both lenses look very sharp and there is no difference in performance that I can see.
12b) Nikon 85mm f/1.4G vs Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II Corner Frame
Once again, stopped down to f/2.8, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G looks sharper than the wide-open Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II in the corners. Let’s see f/8.0:
Similar to the center frame, both lenses perform equally well when stopped down to f/8.0.
Summary and Image Samples
13) Summary
Photographers buy the Nikon 85mm lenses for their beautiful bokeh rendering, colors and sharpness when shooting portraits at large apertures. As you have seen in this review, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G exceeds expectations by beating both the old AF-D version of the lens and the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G at 85mm. It truly is one hell of a lens for portrait photography and the fact that it focuses dead-on at f/1.4 in pretty much any light makes this lens a remarkable tool for professional photographers that work in challenging conditions and need the highest performance they can get from a prime lens. With the exception of AF speed, it beats the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D in every way and the fact that it actually delivers tack sharp images with accurate focus, easily compensates for the AF speed. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is certainly an ideal candidate for any kind of portrait photography, where subjects are beautifully isolated from the backgrounds and maximum sharpness of the subject is preserved. Like any other f/1.4 lens, you have to be very careful with focusing, as any movement could cause focus to shift due to depth of field, but the good news is that the lens focuses well and spot on no matter what subject you point it to. I shot in some challenging situations with lots of bright backlight and the lens focused correctly every single time, making photography sessions a joy and delivering outstanding results to our clients.
So, do I have anything to complain about on this lens? Absolutely! :) When Nikon filed several patents for the 85mm lens, one of the designs incorporated VR (Vibration Reduction) technology. I was very excited about this and really hoped that Nikon would release a VR version of this lens, but sadly, Nikon took a different route and went with a standard lens design without incorporating VR (or ED glass) into the lens. This was a disappointment for the community, since VR would be extremely useful at this focal length. In addition, had Nikon incorporated VR, it would have been once again a “pioneer”, since no other lens manufacturer has a prime portrait lens with image stabilization. I’m sure Nikon would see a lot more people switching over from other brands just because of this kind of lens. And yes, believe it or not, some people like me and Lola use the 85mm lens religiously and we truly wish it had VR on it. Given that Nikon chose to stay with the traditional way of manufacturing prime lenses, it looks like we won’t see a VR version any time soon, which is sad.
But look at the bright side, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is still an outstanding lens. It is a major update to the 85mm line and I am very glad that I no longer have to deal with the clumsy focus ring of the 85mm f/1.4D and I can easily override focus while shooting images or video without having to move anything on the lens. Ergonomics are excellent, sharpness, colors and contrast are top of the class and the lens is very easy to use and operate. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is a wonderful lens for portraits and deserves a spot in every wedding and event photographer’s bag!
Lustre, Nikon 85mm f/1.4G shot at f/1.4
Click here to download the full version of the file in JPEG format @ 2.5 MB.
14) Where to buy and availability
You can order your copy of the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S lens through B&H and other online/retail stores – it is currently selling for around $1,699.
15) More image samples
All Images Copyright © Nasim Mansurov, All Rights Reserved. Copying or reproduction is not permitted without written permission from the author.
About Nasim Mansurov
Wow, what a beaut. Thats a great review Nasim. Appreciate the enormous effort that went into this.
Thank you SM!
Great review, thanks for the effort!
Thank you Tom!
Насим, спасибо за тест. Я заказал, но пока нет подтверждения:(
Алексей, заказали через B&H или Адораму?
В этот раз через Адораму, так как присоседился к человеку, у которого был большой заказ на Адораме. Но подтверждения на 85-ку и 35-ку нет, а все остальное уже отправилось к нам. Так что, если через БиХу раньше, могу перезаказать через них. Тем более в паре с 35/1.4.
Алексей, Вы уже получили 85мм? Как Вам она нравится?
Получил только вчера. Еще не понял, но эргономика очень нравится. Быстрый, бесшумный.
Wow! Seems to be a nice lens for professional photographers but somewhat out of range for beginners like me.
I am interested in portraits photography and currently I use 35mm f/1.8 DX with my D90. I want to have a prime lens of 85mm or 105mm. I wanted to ask you whether you have used 85mm f/1.8 and can that be considered a good portrait lens? Is 105mm f2.8 vr micro good for portraits?
Amit, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 is a good alternative to Nikon 85mm f/1.4 and it will work well on your D90. I wouldn’t get the 105mm micro for portraits, although you could certainly use it for portraits as well.
How’s the working distance of the 105mm on a DX camera if I would like to use it for portraits? Approximately how far do i have to be from my subject if i want to take a half-body portrait? I read a lot of reviews saying that 105mm is a good portrait lens as well, but most reviews are based on a full-frame camera like D700.
Stephen, for me 105mm is too long on a DX camera – you would have to be quite away from your subject to get a half body shot. Outdoors this is not an issue, but certainly can be a problem indoors.
Actually I’m looking for a portrait lens with a longer range. I’m using a D5000. Quite like the 85 1.4G but abit too pricey for me. so, I look at the 105mm f2.8 macro but not sure whether 105mm will be too long on a DX camera. by the way, I already have a 50mm 1.4G and I find it abit too short. Can’t really ‘capture the moment’ as people always realize my presence and start striking a pose for the camera…lol XD
I have the same lenses as you do and just picked up the 85/1.4G (arriving today!) for the same reason that the 50/1.4G often put me in situations where the subject realized I was capturing them despite the fact that I use a DX body. The 105/2.8 is a great lens, but it REALLY makes taking pictures indoors and in low light highly difficult, since you’re basically forced to step so far back that AF illumination assist is ineffective and manual focus may be a bit difficult in the dark (although, to its credit, the 105′s VR is a definite plus in this situation). Hopefully the 85 will be a good midway between these two.
Thanks for sharing. Is really pleasing lens.
You are most welcome Dennis!
Thanx for sharing, It’s really a great lens
Yes, it is. Much better than the AF-D version.
I use my AFD on both my FM3a and F80′s. The lack of a aperture ring is a real bummer…. which then brings me to my whole issue with AFS and fast aperture lenses. How does one even focus these in manual mode with the crappy focus screens that have come on all film bodies since the mid 80′s and on all digital bodies as it appears that you use?
I too thought that AFS would be great – then I looked back through my original K3 screen and my 1978 K screen and saw just how impossible it really is to manual focus greater than 2.8 with focus screens of the last 25 odd years…
Richard, yes, unfortunately, Nikon is moving away from aperture rings, since they see no future with film. In terms of manually focusing lenses, you are right – most Nikon viewfinders on entry-level and semi-pro/pro bodies have very small viewfinders, so it is certainly hard to manually focus. However, the full-frame cameras have much larger viewfinders and I do not have any problems with manual focus, when I need it. I prefer not to use manual focus if the lens can autofocus, but every once in a while I do find myself in need to focus manually, especially while shooting videos.
Can’t wait to have this lens in UK! USA is as always first for Nikon stuff..
For some reason UK does get the products later than US, but US is certainly not the first, as Richard indicated below.
Nup – Asia is always first. Had it in China for a while already….
Yup, that’s where the first lens samples came from :)
Hello Nasim, i was waiting for this review – thank you very much!
But what would you say about this problem:
http://www.lenstip.com/264.5-Lens_review-Nikon_Nikkor_AF-S_85_mm_f_1.4G_Chromatic_aberration.html
It is disappointment i think…
Michael, you are most welcome! In terms of CA on the new 85mm f/1.4G – it is quite normal. The most important thing is, the level of CA is much better controlled compared to the previous AF-D version, so I still consider the performance to be very good.
Nasim, Thanks for the yet another great review!
For general all-around purposes, would you recommend this 85mm f/1.4G AF-S or 24mm f/1.4G AF-S ? I have a D3 and not a professional. Just wanna get a good fixed lens that I can use it all the time, well most of the time.
Currently, I’m using 50mm f/1.8D and obviously looking for upgrade. I thought about getting 50mm 1.4 AF-S but I figure spend more money and get a different fixed focal length.
can’t decide
Eric
You are most welcome Eric!
The 85mm is a very specialized lens for portraits. I would certainly not recommend it for general photography. The 24mm f/1.4G would work better in that regard…again, depending on what you are shooting.
thanks you very much for the reply Nasim.
I’m just a casual photographer who take every day life kinda pics, range from building pictures, stranger pictures to landscape pictures. I think your recommendation of 24mm f/1.4G is better. Now, I will need to save up some more money for it! Thanks again! -Eric
Thanks for your excellent review Nasim. This is my dream lens for low light portraits but it’s way too pricey for my budget. I’m going to shoot my son’s kindergarten year end show in an indoor hall in a month’s time with my D5000. Would you consider Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro as an acceptable alternative?
Zamsyari, to be honest, I have not played with the Tamron 90mm f/2.8, so I cannot comment on its performance versus 85mm f/1.4G…why don’t you look into the 35mm f/1.8G instead? I was going to recommend 85mm f/1.8D, but it won’t autofocus on your D5000.
Nasin, how often do you use the lens hood? If not always, in which situation it is recomended? Is it possible to number some pros and cons? Thanks, Eduardo.
Eduardo, I always keep the lens hood on for two reasons: a) to eliminate flare when shooting close to the sun and b) protection. I would keep it on at all times – manufacturers ship it with a lens for a reason :)
Dear Nasim – Denver’s #1 Photograper
Best wishes, I knew that you will win!
You are always my best distant teacher of photograpy…..
Keep up good work!!!!!
Thank you Lilantha, sorry for a late response!!!
Great review.
Any idea how this lens compares with the Nikon-mount Zeiss 85mm?
Best regards,
Richard
Richard, I personally do not own the Zeiss 85mm to test the Nikon 85mm with, but I do have some distant friends that use the Zeiss. Their feedback is that the Zeiss is sharper and has better colors, but it does not autofocus, which is problematic for large aperture shots where DoF is super shallow.
Thanks Nasim – I thought this might be the case. I’ve been thinking about using MF lenses and a split image focussing screen and using some of the Zeiss lenses. I’m not convinced yet that this is the way forward though…
Hi Nasim.
In your test you have emphasized the better beahviour of the new lens, compared to the “old” AF-D, in the corners.
My humble opinion is that a lens, specifically designed to be used for portraiture, doesn’t need at all a good sharpness in the corners since the subject is never placed there, therefore this improvement is (IMO) definitely unessential.
Regards,
Marco Brivio
Marco, thank you for your feedback!
I understand that the corner performance might not be as essential for a portrait lens. However, if the new 85mm can render sharper corners, why not look at it as an advantage? As I said in my review, the biggest changes are in accurate focusing, which is the sole reason why I switched to the “G” version. Sharpness tests are only provided as a reference, to show how well the lens performs against other pro-level lenses.
And while I do not normally place my subjects in the corners, it certainly does happen every once in a while, when I need to get a different perspective and/or composition.
Sincerely,
Nasim
Nasim,
Excellent review, just enough detail and quickly to the point as well. Will you be comparing this lens to the new sigma version when that is available as well? The sigma 50 sure is a beautiful lens, better in most ways than the nikon, and while I have doubts that lightning could strike twice I await this comparison before buying either.
thanks
chris
Thank you Chris!
I doubt that the Sigma 85mm will be better than the Nikon version, although you never know ;-) Would love to do a comparison when it comes out…I just need to finish reviewing all Nikon gear I have at the moment first.
Well… for me (and quite a few others on the internet) the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM is definitely better than the Nikkor AF-S G from f/1.4 to f/3.5 at the center frame with wonderful bokeh.
For Portrait, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM is a much better solution (especially for APS-C). Though, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AF-S G has better results in the corners and it’s much better from f/5.6
So… a 85mm Nikkor vs Sigma match could be very interresting…
50mm f/1.4 Sigma vs Nikkor AF-S G sharpness test with a D3X (dpreview)
Thank you for the link Del-Uks, but the Sigma test was done on a Canon body, which basically invalidates the comparison. Both lenses need to be tested on the same body, since different brands have different software algorithms for processing images.
I’m looking forward to read your review Nasim… ;-P
Cheers !
From LensTip : “We rarely publish uncompromising opinions in our summaries but here it would be difficult not to include one. Providing you own a Nikon or Sony reflex camera I personally don’t see any reason why you should buy any brand-name 1.4/85 lenses. The Sigma is cheaper, better and it comes with a longer guarantee – as simple as that. You must be really very infatuated with “Zeiss” or “Nikkor” magical words to prefer their lenses to the Sigma.”
Full review : http://www.lenstip.com/277.1-Lens_review-Sigma_85_mm_f_1.4_EX_DG_HSM_Introduction.html
I’ve ordered mine for $799.- (gray market)… almost half the price of the Nikkor AF-S !
That’s an interesting link, thanks for posting. The Sigma does sound like a good deal!
I am wondering about your bokeh assessment in the 2 images. To me the bokeh of the older 85 looks nicer. It is less nervous than what the new lens is showing. Now, this is certainly only 2 images so it might very well be that the new version is nicer than the old one.
In your example it certainly is not, IMO.
Dustbak, I guess it is a matter of personal opinion – I like the bokeh on the new 85mm f/1.4G a little better. It is obviously not a huge difference, but I believe the 1.4G version looks softer and less “edgy”.
Nasim,
Thank you so much for the review!
I would like to hear your opinion on 85mm f/1.4G AF-S Lens vs 85mm f/1.8D? Which one would you recommend to used with Nikon D3100 or D5000, other than price difference.
If these cameras are your only choices, which one works best with 85mm f/1.8D?
You are most welcome Sue!
Forget about 85mm f/1.8D on D3100 or D5000 – the lens simply will NOT autofocus (it is not an AF-S lens). If budget is an issue, I would get the much cheaper Nikon 50mm f/1.4G instead – it also produces great results for portraits.
Thank you for this review. I’m stuck on which to purchase as well. I’ve been doing a load of research, but I’m still undecided between the 85mm 1.4g, 85mm 1.8d, 50mm 1.4 and 70-200mm for my D90. I’m shooting primarily newborns and families. Advice would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Julia
And I forgot to mention that I really don’t want to cough up $1,700 at the moment, but looking for the next best thing to tide me over until I can get one. But, if it’s an absolute must and the best….I am considering it.
Julia, there is no such thing as an “absolute must” when it comes to camera gear. Work with the budget you have. In your case, I would go with the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G – its low-light capabilities are superb and the lens is sharp enough wide open. The 50mm is Lola’s favorite lens and she shoots weddings with it all the time. The 70-200mm is too heavy for her and 85mm is a little too long for tight shots in her opinion.
The 50mm gets used the most by both Lola and I and it is a phenomenal lens for its price. The new Nikon 35mm f/1.8G is also superb, but it only works on DX and is certainly a weaker lens than the 50mm f/1.4G when it comes to portraits.
Hope this helps.
Thank you so much for your help! I was browsing your site and found more information on lenses relative to the D90 and now I’m a bit confused. You had mentioned that since the D90 wasn’t a full frame in another one of your postings….that you would recommend the 35mm. I take a good bit of time trying to figure out what to purchase, so I haven’t purchased anything yet, but I’m so ready! Again, I want to use the lens primarily for photographing newborns. Are you still feeling the 50mm is my best bet for a D90?
Thank you SO much for your time!
Julia
Julia, yes, the 50mm is your best bet.
Julia, you are most welcome!
In your case, the 85mm f/1.8D will work on the D90. The 85mm f/1.8D is also a great lens, but you have to evaluate what’s important to you. If you need the best Nikon portrait lens available today, go with the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G. If you want flexibility and ability to zoom with a slight compromise on bokeh and low-light capability, your second best bet is the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II. Finally, if budget is an issue, then both the Nikon 50mm f/1.4G and the Nikon 85mm f/1.8D are great alternatives. Obviously not the best, but still very good – a world better than most zoom lenses.
Thank you for the excellent review!
I wish i have read it before purchasing the 85mm 1.4D a month ago :o( .
Iliana, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D is still a superb lens, given its current price and value! Don’t worry about it too much and enjoy those beautiful images with a smooth, creamy bokeh.
Hi Nasim,
First off, thank you for putting together such a wonderful website. I am slowly making my way through your articles and finding them incredibly helpful. My photography inspiration also comes from my children and wanting to capture the everyday with them.
I currently own the Nikon D90 (first had the Nikon D40X) and the 18-200mm lens as well as the 50mm f/1.4G. I absolutely love the prime lens and now avoid the 18-200 for all of the reasons you have described so well in your articles. My plan is to upgrade to an FX camera when Nikon updates the D700 (hopefully by mid-2011) and I’m wondering what my next lens choices should be. My main interest is photographing my children, so I don’t have too much of a need for lenses suited to landscapes/wildlife or macro photography. I was going to invest in the 20-70mm f/2.8 so that I have a reasonably versatile zoom for when I get my FX camera. I’ve read (Thom Hogan’s site is one source) that Nikon may be updating that lens in 2011, so I hesitate to make such an investment and then have the lens outdated within a few months. The other lens I’m considering is the 85mm f/1.4. The reviews on it are excellent. Someone also suggested the older Nikon 105mm f/2 which I’m having a hard time finding reviews on. I have read that it’s a wonderful portrait lens, which gives you a lot of creative potential with the Defocus Control. What do you think of that lens? Should I invest in the 85mm f/1.4 or the 105mm f/2.0, given my plans to upgrade to FX, already owning the 50mm f/1.4.
Thank you again for this website. It’s an amazing resource.
Jane, thank you for your feedback!
If I were you, I would either go with the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, or the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II for your photography. The Nikon 105mm f/2 DC is superb, but takes sometime to learn how to use it well for portraiture. When compared to the 85mm f/1.4G, the 85mm is faster + gives you shallower depth of field at f/1.4. I find the AF performance on the 85mm f/1.4G to be top of the class for prime lenses as well. The Nikon 70-200mm is more versatile and is also a great lens for portraiture. The bokeh on the 70-200mm is not as good as on the 85mm, but ability to zoom in and out might be great for taking pictures of your kids, since you don’t have to run around as much :)
Thanks so much for your advice Nasim. Just one more question…
From your reviews, I understand that you like both the 50mm and the 85mm primes. How do you choose which lens to use? Is your 85 mm “the” portrait lens since it has even nicer bokeh vs. the 50mm? I just wonder if I will still have a need for the 50mm lens once I add in the 85mm f/1.4G.
Jane, if your subjects are only portraits, then the 85mm would certainly replace your 50mm. Please note that 85mm is a little “longer” than the 50mm lens, so you might run into space issues when shooting indoors…
Hi Nasim,
Great review of the 85mm 1.4G, your reviews are always my first place to check out. Right now, I have a Nikon D700 and a 50mm 1.4G, and was wondering if you had any advice on a 2nd lens to purchase. I was debating pairing my 50mm with a 16-35mm or a 24-70mm/24-120mm to cover the wide end. However, I’d say that 75% of my pictures are portraits so I was really taking a look at the 85mm 1.4G. Any advice would be super helpful. Thanks!
Paul, having at least one wide-angle lens is always very helpful for any kind of photography. The Nikon 85mm f/1.4G is excellent, but I would first get a wide-angle lens if I were you… If you shoot professionally and use your gear outside a lot, get the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G. Otherwise, I would go with the Nikon 24-120mm f/4G VR.
Thanks for the lens advice Nasim!
You are welcome Paul!
Hello Nasim,
I recently discovered your website and really enjoy it. The reviews are thorough and really professional. You convinced me to stay away from the 28-300! I have a D90 that I use with a 50mm f.1.4G for portrait and am very pleased with the shallow DOF. I recently bought a D700 and realize that I am missing the portrait lens. Considering that I would have to pay close to $2000 for the 85mm f1.4G, I was wondering if you feel that I would see a big difference between the two combinations (DX with 50mm f.1.4 vs FX with 85mm f1.4G).
thanks a lot for your fantastic site
Mike
Mike, 85mm on FX is just perfect, but I personally use the 50mm on my D700 a lot and I still like it for portraits…
Thank you for such a helpful review.
Hi
Thanks for the excellent review and great comparision!
I’ll like to ask, in terms of Image quality, is the 85mm f/1.4G superior to the 50mm f/1.4G?
Paul, the 85mm is definitely sharper than the 50mm when shooting wide open. Stopped down performance (f/4.0 and beyond) is very similar and color rendition of both lenses is excellent. If you compare bokeh, however, the 85mm renders a much better/creamier background than the 50mm.
Thank you once again!
I guess that’s to be expected, considering the fact that the 85mm is so much more expensive. That being said, does that mean the 24mm is even sharper than the 85mm? ;~)
Regards
Paul
Paul, sorry for a late reply. Yes, the 24mm is sharper than the 85mm…I would say it is currently the sharpest Nikon lens available. But then 24mm and 85mm are for different needs :)
Hi there!
I would really like to buy a 50mm lens because I find that 70mm, let alone 85mm, is too wide even on a full frame camera. So my question is, do you think that the 50mm f/1.4G AF-S is good enough at f/2 (stopped down once)?
Also, I’m thinking of getting the 24mm, 50mm and 85mm f/1.4 primes for indoors, and use the out-dated 17-35mm + lightweight 70-300mm VR on the tripod. I’ll be carrying 5 lenses + a tripod in total. Is this practical? Please help me in my choices!
Thanks once again!
Paul, Lola and I shoot the 50mm f/1.4G between f/2.0 and f/2.8 most of the time – it is very sharp starting from f/2.0 even beyond the center frame.
As for buying 24mm, 50mm and 85mm primes, if portraiture is your thing, then I would certainly recommend all those 3 lenses. As for carrying 5 lenses, I almost never take more than 2 lenses with me at a time, mostly due to weight.
Hey Nasim,
Great pictures like always. I’m debating between 3 lenses now that I saw your review on the 24-70. You stated you wouldn’t recommend it for portrait photography? On a DX camera, which lens would you prefer: 17-55 f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8, or 85 f/1.4. Taking all things into consideration i.e. future proofing, price, optical clarity. Thanks in advance!
Hey Guys. Just a quick bit of advice for Darren. Just want to let you know how I go about choosing lenses. I always buy the best glass I can at the time (camera bodies come and go, but lenses will always be with you) and as a future proofing measure I get full frame lenses. If you have a cropped sensor you will be using the sweet spot of the optics anyways, so it kind of makes things even better for you. As for zoom vs prime. That’s a personal thing. I always thought I liked a zoom until I got my 85mm f/1.4D. Apart from it being a gob smackingly beautiful lens it also made me think about my framing and composition a whole lot more. Which I like. With technology the way it is these days, zooms are just as good, if not better, than primes in some cases so you really get very minimal difference in image quality. Out of your three lenses, not knowing what or how you shoot, I would narrow it down to the 24-70 and the 85. Either of these will blow you away. Good luck on your decision. It’s always a nice problem to have, choosing between such sweet optics as the ones you have listed. :D
Ben, I agree with everything you have said!
Darren, the 24-70mm is OK for portraits, but obviously not going to give you the same creamy background telephoto lenses like 85mm f/1.4G can. If you shoot portraits, get the 85mm f/1.4G. If you shoot landscapes, architecture and occasional portraits, then go with the 24-70mm. Don’t buy the 17-55mm, since it is for DX sensors only.
Hi Nasim,
You don’t recommend the 17-55 as it is only for DX sensor, however what if I am using DX camera. Would you recommend the 24-70mm over the 17-55mm?
Hi, i have an 35 mm 1.8, and a 50mm 1.8 as well. Would the 85 1.4g be not worth it if put on my D90?
also, would focusing on buying primes be ok too? I dont think i will be going to Fx anytime soon.
Drew, it all depends on how happy you are with the 35mm and 50mm lenses you have. There is also the older 85mm f/1.8D, which will work on your D90 and it is much cheaper than the 85mm f/1.4G.
As for primes, I love shooting with primes too!
Hi, I have found this problem. What do you think about?
Loss of light at wider aperture
“We have been very surprised,” explained Frédéric Guichard, chief scientist at DxO Labs, “to find out that some of the gain from wider lens openings seems to be offset by the present state of sensor technology. Our measurements all point in the same direction: as you go further than f/ 4 – to f /2 and wider, the accrued quantity of light falls marginally onto the sensor. A stronger and stronger part of this additional light is blocked or lost. I am therefore inclined to question the real benefit of faster lenses.”
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Our-publications/DxOMark-Insights/F-stop-blues
Ours, I don’t find it surprising that manufacturers increase ISO a little to compensate for the light loss at large apertures. You don’t always buy fast lenses to have more light – there are other things such as depth of field and bokeh to consider when shooting at very large apertures.
Thanks Nasim, I agree with everything you have said.
But there are also the price and the weight. I think a good solution for this problem could be the construction of f/2 lens.
Hi Mr. Nasim.
I’m a starter on Photography and looking for some insight and opinions on my folio. Could you please, take a look to “My Portfolio” on my facebook and send me some comments and rate to my pics on that folder (“My Portfolio”).
By the way, great review on the nikkor 85mm f/1.4G over D.
Regards
Eddie
Thank you for this review. This is the best review of the 85 1.4G I’ve found on the net :D
I appreciated this concise and articulate review (as all your contributions). It’s great you contribute to the photographic communinity as you do. The only thing I found odd was
“This was a disappointment for the community, since VR would be extremely useful at this focal length. In addition, had Nikon incorporated VR, it would have been once again a “pioneer”, since no other lens manufacturer has a prime portrait lens with image stabilization.”
The a850/900 offer stabilization in body, so if you shoot the 85 Ziess, you have a stabilized prime at this focal length. Just thought I would bring it to your attention. Great review. Thanks again.
Nehemiah,
I was specifically talking about lens image stabilization. In-body IS works differently than lens stabilization…for example, when an IS lens stabilizes, you see the effect in the viewfinder, while in-body IS is not visible in viewfinder.
Hello Nassim, I need your help, pls.
My 85mm 1.4G has just arrived (it took forever) and I am in the process of checking it out…While the camera is focusing, I can sometimes hear a little amount of creaking noise coming from the lens. Is this normal?
Thank you in advance
Regarards,
Iliana
Hi Nasim,
Great review, thank you so much! What do you think about using this lens with a D300 camera? Also, I am thinking of using a Hoya Digital Pro UV filter to protect the lens and cut outdoor haze – any thoughts?
Regards,
Dilip
Hi Nasim, hope you could provide some comparison the nikon 85mm f1.4 versus nikon 135mm f2.0 versus
nikon 200mm f2.o, other reviews says its their king of Bokeh.
looking forward to see image comparison side by side!!!
Great test – exactly what I was looking for…
Hello…. masurovs… iloved the way u review the 85mm G nikkor.. SUPERBS…
i think gonna grab this lens ASAP! hhaha..
btw can i ask something, i already had 35mm f/1,4 G. im seeking for wide lenses..
is that okay if i got 24mm G? cos im not really sure cos i already had 35mm… only difference 9mm..
can u suggest me another wide lenses for my D700 nikon.. thanks..
Thank you very much for this review.
—–
I do not agree, that the Sigma 85 is on pair with this Nikon, and I also do not agree, that you can not use this lens for much more than portraits.
I have the old-D, but are thinking about this lens, because the Nikon is SO fantastic in the corners, better than the Sigma, and therefore you can use it for everything – also landscapes.
In fact it has better corner performance, than the 16-35VR-lens.
It is a huge mistake, that only wide-lenses can be used for landscapes – in fact there are some problems in using a wide lens for landscapes (I also have the 24G and love it, and I also have the 14-24),
…. unless you want to shoot a tight foreground and at the same time a distant background, then you have to pick up a wide-lens, but for other scapes :
You are better with more tele, and here this new gem comes to consideration.
The only weakness of this lens is the COMA, but most lenses show that.
Hi Nasim,
What camera did you use in your test shots?
Hi,
After reading your articles of nikon lenses 50mm 1.4 i convince i wanted to get one but nikon 85mm is another good portrait lenses.Which one i should choose since both lense are good bokeh?
thanks
Ken
Hi Nasim,
As you recommened 85 f 1.4 G, I am curious to get this from B&H.
Would you please give me an advice since there is different price if getting it from other webs?
Like Amazon and others.
Imported one is available but USA one. Which one is trustworthy?
Thank you
Hi Nasim,
As you recommened 85 f 1.4 G, I am curious to get this from B&H.
Would you please give me an advice since there is different price if getting it from other webs?
Like Amazon and others.
Imported one is available but USA one. Which one is trustworthy?
Thank you
Angie
Hi, Nasim.
I am looking to get another lens for my Nikon D200. I currently have the 18-200 and the 50mm 1.4. I love my 50mm and gets lots of great shots of my children outdoors with it. I really haven’t played around enough with the settings to get good shots indoors with the lighting. The 18-200 is fine, but I find that most of my really great shots are on the 50mm. This may also have to do with the fact that I am drawn to portrait shots of my children. I am going to purchase a lighting set to take indoor portraits. I am going to get a soft box set. I was thinking about purchasing the 85mm 1.4G for the indoor portraits of my children, but also want to make sure I get a lens that is good for outdoor use as well. What lens would you recommend? Also, any tips on indoor lighting?
Thanks so much and I love your site!!
Sara
Hi Nasim,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reviews. This lens is definitely on my wish list!
Tim
Hi Nasim,
The 85mm 1.8G has arrived! What’s your opinion on this? I was planning to get the 1.4G, but with this launch, I think I’m gonna wait.
Hello Nazim,
I am thinking of purchasing the NIKON 135 f2 DC for my F6. I already own the 70-200 vrII, but I use it mainly with D3S.
What is your opinion about the F6 – 135F2DC SET , does it worth for portraiture?
Bets regards,
Nikos
I bought the 85mm G version last month but this lens gave me problem in dim lights shooting wide open, i pretty sure the lens was acting up I then returned and decided to get 85mm 1.4 D instead brand new for $1000 and could not be happier, thank you for review
Love the 85 1.4G. Phenomenal lens. I’ve had it for just less than a year. However, to my dismay, it is essentially “broken”. The aperture blades no long actuate. I’ve had to send it in to Nikon. Lets see what comes back… Anyway, I’m quite surprised at the failure.
Hola Nasim,
As usual, a really constructive appraisal of a fine lens.
Your opinions would be appreciated on how the performance of this lens would change if used on a D7000 DX body. Would corner sharpness improve much as we are using the centre of the lens?
As a side issue, I am really looking forward to seeing your comments on lens performance with the D800, have you got yours yet?
Regards
Michael
Hey there! Wonderful review on a lens I’m interested in adding to my arsenal :) Thank you! I have a question. I am in need of a lens where I can shoot portraits in tighter spaces (ie. not needing to back up so far to include an entire bridal party in the frame). Would you suggest the 85mm for this? Or if not what other lens(es) would you have in mind for what im asking about? I already have the 50mm f1.4 and it stays on my D700 most of the time. Bokeh and lowlight capabilities are an asset since I’m mainly a portrait/wedding photographer.
Thank you for your input!
Melissa
question for you, because this lens doesn’t have vr…do you have to get out the tripod a lot? Or were any of these shots freehand?
What would you recommend for the new nikon d800. the 85mm 1.8 or the 50mm 1.4 for kids photos, portraits and bokeh
What would you recommend for the new nikon d800. the 85mm 1.8 or the 50mm 1.4 for kids photos, portraits and bokeh.
Thank you very much
Hello there, i just read that theres a new 85mm f1.8g for FX coming next! Do you have any idea when you are getting this lens and i was wondering if you could compare it to the 85mm f1.4g!
Thank you very much
i have been hearing that the sensor on the d800 is bring out some flaws in a couple of lens that were fantastic on the d700 as well as the d3/3s/3x. one is the 85 1.4 and the other 35 1.4. some are saying the 85 1.8 runs circles around the 1.4 when both are set at 1.8. the 85 1.4 only becomes good stopped down but that is not what you buy this lens for and the 35mm1.4 is poor to usable wide open. yet the 24 1.4 is a very sharp lens even wide open. these experiences are from people who work for a living with their equipment and are working with nikon on the d800 af issue. what has been your experience with theses 2 lenses in particular with the d800 in comparison with the images they produced with earlier cameras?
I own a D800, the 35mm 1.4G, and the 85mm 1.4G. Neither lens required any AF fine tuning and their performance at all apertures is exceptional.
All things being equal, it is physically impossible for a lens to be “worse” on a camera with a higher resolution sensor; a lens delivers the same results regardless of the sensor which then samples those results at whatever resolution. A higher resolution sensor can’t “bring out some flaws” except in the sense that some lenses will demonstrate more improved results when compared with other lenses.
In regard to the performance of an f/1.8 vs. an f/1.4 lens, it has often been the case that the slower lens is the sharper lens. You pay a premium for the f/1.4 not necessarily because it is sharper, but because it offers 2/3rds of a stop more light gathering and has a more narrow DOF wide open. Other considerations such as lens coatings and aperture blades may also play a role in color rendition, flare control, and bokeh.
So, if you need the resolution, focal lengths, and the speed, do not hesitate to try the 35mm 1.4G and 85mm 1.4G on the D800.
Thanks for awesome review. I hope you won’t mind me asking a few things. You repeatedly mentioned the beautiful bokeh and the len’s exceptional performance with portraits; unfortunately the ‘portrait’ samples you posted aren’t exactly the beautiful shots I was hoping to see. That roadside photo of the lady and her lapdog and another with the biker doesn’t say anything much about THE PORTRAIT. ( My little Coolpix could do better that.) As you have pointed out in the lens review, at 85mm, the 70-200mm vrll can never match the image quality (sharpness, bokeh, color) of the 85 f/1.4. I was hoping to see that comparative shot; unfortunately you decided to post that horrible planter with pink plastic daisy. I can’t decide now which lens should I buy next week at B&H – Nikon 85 f/1.4 or Nikon 70-200 vrll for my D3. Thanks anyway.
Wow Asterix611, how incredibly rude! “I hope you won’t mind me asking a few things…” when in fact you asked nothing, but offered rude commentary on the author’s choice of example images.
Anyway, I DO have a question that I hope you can help me with. I have lusted after the 85 1.4g since it came out, but haven’t made the purchase yet. And now the 1.8g is out, at less than a third of the price! It would seem you have extensive experience with both. My biggest reason for wanting the 1.4 is good sharp results wide open, for maximum (shallow) depth of field for close up portraiture. I know the final decision is a personal one, but do you have any insight for me to help me choose? Thank you. And thank you for ALL the valuable information that you have here!
Thanks . Great great review , amazing lens
I hope that u just talked a little bit on how it compairs to the 1.8G
Thanks again
Thanks for a well-written a thorough review. I just ordered a 1.4 G, trading in 1.4D. My question is:
How did you find the lens performs at medium to infinity distances? I understand its history and purpose as a portrait lens. However, some of your images were at longer distances, which is of intest to me since I’d also like to use it as a medium telephoto on my D800.
Thanks again,
Bill
Отличный обзор!
вот никак не могу решить вопрос о выборе объектива Nikon Objektiv AF-S 35mm 1.4G или 1.8 G. Люблю снимать со вспышкой, Nikon SB-900. Какой из них лучше подойдет для портретной съемки????
Цена вопрос сторичный,первично качество
Спасибо
Да еще, планируюю купить D800
Спасибо
Юрий
I am a fan of your reviews and bought months ago the 24 – 120 f 4 Nikon and I am very satisfied.
My preferred subject are portraits and therefore I am considering the 105 f2 DC, 105 micro VRII or the 85 f 1,4. Personally I have seen most of my portrait photos are around 105. Which one would you suggest, as I do macro only occasionally and I have the old 55 Macro f 3,5.
I need it in addition to the zoom, as I nee the wide open for the background.
What is oyur opinion?
Thanks
Heinz
So… I have the opportunity to purchase a mint condition, used Nikon 85mm f/1.4D for the same price as the 85mm f/1.8g is being sold for on B&H. I will primarily use the lens for senior portraits and shooting indoor high school sports (basketball and volleyball). Would you recommend the used f/1.4D over a new f/1.8G? I’d appreciate hearing your opinion…
By the way, if you’re ever in need of an assistant, I live locally in the South Metro area…
hi! thank you for your review! I have a question for you. I ve a nikon d7000 with a nikkor 17-55 2.8 and i want to buy one lens to use with them. i m a pilot and I enjoy taking photos in my travels and with my family. i think that the 70-200 2.8 it would be a big complement for my lens, but now with your review i having second thougt maybe the 85 1.4 g would be a better complement to the one I have. Im not sure. what do you recommend me? Thank you, best regard, Vladimir.
Wow, this is an excellent review. Thank you so much Nasim!
Most of my shoots are portrait and currently have Nikon D800, Nikon 50mm f/1.4G, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 and Nikon 85mm f/1.8D.
How does this Nikon 85mm f/1.4G compare to Nikon 85mm f/1.8D? As far the image quality goes, is it significant different? Is it worth the money to upgrade to Nikon 85mm f/1.4G? Or should I upgrade to Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8, although I don’t like its weight and size. I have seen some beautiful portraiture shots taken from Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 with D800, particularly shoulder and head shots. With the Nikon 85mm f/1.8D or Nikon 85mm f/1.4G, will I get the same result?
This review misses the point slightly in that the Nikon AF85mm 1.4D is so good precisely because it is “purposely” optically softened in the corners when opened wide, This gives slightly better bokeh than the G version and allows backgrounds to be blurred in a shorter distance than the G version, it also provides higher contrast in the very centre where it is required for portraits wide open.
http://imaging.nikon.com/history/nikkor/41/index.htm
At landscape apertures their is not so much difference between all good 85mm lenses,
Using very fast lenses is difficult, which is why professional’s tend to like them more than amateurs, the keeper rate is higher on the G version because the depth of field is larger than the D version and easier to use. However if you want to blur that horrible background that is too close to your subject then the D version or the Canon 1.2l MK2 will do the job better than the G version.
Of the 3 above lenses the 1.4G has a tad more bokeh outlining and LOCA. The 1.8 G is not in the same league, due to overly excessive bokeh fringing and LOCA. (relative to the best).
While the Nano coating may reduce ghosting (not a great reported problem anyway) it is not that optically useful in in a telephoto lens. (It could have been done years ago) Nikon appear to have changed the quality of glass with the new version because as shown in you lovely forest example the silver birch trees are looking a bit tarnished.
A good review but could be more balanced on this occasion.
Hi Nasim,
I own a 1.8G and consider upgrading it to the 1.4G, mainly because of the creamier bokeh (from my point of view) Do you think this is necessary or the 1.8 is good enough? I’m shooting kids portraiture and weddings.Thx