Nikon 85mm f1.4 (AIS/AFD) Review (the legend!)

[Evin Grant]

85mm f1.4 Nikkor (AIS/AF-D) versions
http://www.nikon-image.com/jpn/products/lens/mf/singlefocal/telephoto/img/ai_85mmf14s/pic_001.jpg

History:
The 85mm 1.4 was introduced in 1982 and instantly became the "It" lens of the day. It was the first Nikon tele to get CRC (Close range correction) and is also the fastest tele lens Nikon makes. In the mid nineties it was udated to an AF verison featuring internal focusing. The optical formmula changed but the performance is virtually identical between the two versions.

Sharpness set at 10% in Adobe ACR.
All photos taken with a Nikon D2x and cropped to apropriate Red 4K equiv. Analysis photos at 100%.
http://www.reduser.net/evin/85mm%201.4%20Nikkor/Wcrops.jpg
As you can see this lens handels infinity with ease. There are some color abberations at f1.4 as well as some loss of micro contrast but overall detail rendering is superb.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/85mm%201.4%20Nikkor/CUcrops.jpg
The close ups show where this lens really shines. Really the limiting factor of this lens is hiting focus, the limited DOF is so razor thin even at f2.8. Performance is just stellar across the range only improving slightly with stopping down. A little sharpening shows how much detail is being recorded even wide open.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/85mm%201.4%20Nikkor/bokehtest.gif
Bokeh:
This lens is the Bokeh king! Smooth and creamy all the way.

http://www.reduser.net/evin/85mm%201.4%20Nikkor/Breathtest.gif
Breathing:
This lens does breath, that being said it it still produces a beutiful transition between focus distances and IMHO is a worthwhile trade off for it's overall performance.

Build and adaptability to cinema shooting:
This is a heavy, all metal beast that can take whatever you can throw at it. The focus draw is adequate on both versions and the distance scale is dead on accurate on the AIS the AF could use some more marks though.

Application:
Any close up or long shot is a perfect use for this lens. Feel free to open her up and shoot at midnight, just be careful focus is extremely thin and almost impossible to hit at f1.4 on a moving subject.

Price/Value:
These lenses go between $300-$500 used depending on condition and boy is it a great deal. I would highly recomend this lens over the more common f2 version which at $150-$200 cheaper. The AF is $1100 new and $900 used, it's worth it if you alreaqdy have a Nikon DSLR to use it on.

Uncompressed Tiffs, 27MB each (Please be patient)
http://www.reduser.net/evin/85mm%201.4%20Nikkor/Tiff/

[Sam Druckerman]

Thanks for another great review, Evan.

I'm so glad I followed your advice and picked one of these up. Thanks for that.

I guess you know the links are not up yet.

[Vincent S]

Thanks Evin, all your tests are great. This one has a lust factor and seems such a popular lens thats is really hard to find. The regular places, KEY,EBAY, show nothing for the older AIS version.

[steevo435]

Looks pretty damn good starting at F2 for what it is...these older lenses must be much more robustly built than newer still lenses, no?
How much would people be willing to pay for these optics re-housed so all currently existing cine accessories (not to mention better focus marks) would work with this lens series?
Anyone have any insight as to if anyone is in planning for a conversion like this?

[Evin Grant]

I believe Samcine and Century used to rehouse these Nikkors. Don't know about now though. The only real advantage would be the longer focus throw, although that is a big consideration with a lens this fast.
check these out...
http://www.visualproducts.com/storeProductDetail03.asp?productID=930&Cat=8&Cat2=18&Cat3=26#bigPic

[Sanjin Jukic]

I still think that Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF is better and cheaper solution for 85 super speed 1.4 still lenses.

http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B8B6F/GraphikTitelIntern/Planar1.4-85ZF_2/$File/objektiv_gross.jpg

Why?

First - Nikon 85mm f1.4 (AIS/AFD) is a really over priced.

Second - With Nikon F mount you will get some other lenses that are even better solutions.

Third - Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF is sharper lens in a wide open (f/1.4) than Nikon 85mm f1.4 (AIS/AFD) lenses.

Fourth - Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF has aperture range:f/1.4 – f/16 that increments: half f-numbers. Nikon not.
http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Planar_1-4_85_ZFen/$File/P1_4_85ZF_EN.pdf

[Evin Grant]

I still think that Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF is better and cheaper solution for 85 super speed 1.4 still lenses.

First - Nikon 85mm f1.4 (AIS/AFD) is a really over priced.
Huh? The Zeiss is listed as $1249 at B&H the AF Nikkor is $1024. Used AIS versions can go as low as $350! I know that's what I paid for the one I tested.



Second - With Nikon F mount you will get some other lenses that are even better solutions.

Third - Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF is sharper lens in a wide open (f/1.4) than Nikon 85mm f1.4 (AIS/AFD) lenses.

Show me a test! And even if it were, it could not be enough to offset the $200 price diffrence since the Nikkor is already performing to the limit of the sensor at f1.4 (Resolution not micro contrast)



Fourth - Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/85 ZF has aperture range:f/1.4 – f/16 that increments: half f-numbers. Nikon not.
http://www.zeiss.com/C12567A8003B8B6F/EmbedTitelIntern/Planar_1-4_85_ZFen/$File/P1_4_85ZF_EN.pdf

That's silly, of course the Nikkors can be set in 1/2, 1/3 or even 1/4 stop increments. In fact the Zeiss clicks at the half stop marks make setting 1/3 stops very hard, I used to have to deal with that all the time on my Hasselblad lenses.

[Don Woods]

Sweet Evin I'v already been looking..

[Sanjin Jukic]

Hmm! I will get cheaper used Zeiss than Nikon here in Austria. Sorry no tests before Fall. It means the time when I will get my RED. Also I would like to learn how can I set the Nikkors in 1/2, 1/3 or even 1/4 stop increments on the RED!? Zeiss are known in industry as one of the sharpest lenses in all apertures. Nikkors are OK but it is a lot of built "mythology" around them. Not all are good as other "alternatives". Almost for each Nikkor you could find a good alternative today. My favorite is Leica (a real legendary brand!). Unfortunately we are not getting simplified Canon EOS mount on the RED that we could get option of Leica - R for EOS adapter. But maybe we will get it from the third parties? Also I collected some rare Leica Visoflex M lenses that are able to fit in Viso M/Nikon F adapter.

[Evin Grant]

I agree about the Leica but I think you may have had some bad apples in your Nikon experience. IMHO Nikon was and is the most innovative optical house in the world. That is not to say they are the best at everything nor that they haven't made mistakes, but the gems are really good and most often affordable because of the proliferation of the Nikon F mount in the 60s-90s and beyond. Now a days it's thier creativity that really sets them apart from the pack, the 18-200, 12-24 and 17-35mm lenses show just how creative they can be. Zeiss lenses are fantastic, especially the cinema primes and the medium format lenses for Hasselblad and Contax. The ZFs are interesting but don't be fooled. They are not made in Germany by Zeiss but in Japan by Cosina, another very creative optical house. I have no doubts they perform well, but they are undoubtedly over priced. It's unfortunate but Zeiss is really banking on their name to sell these lenses, I doubt there is really enough diffrence to even pick them out from the Nikkors when viewing on screen.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Evin you are mostly right about all but I like to have "in my RED house" different options for each focal length. Because I am going to start to work with alternative "still lenses" in 4K RED acquisition, and because those lenses are cheaper than cine lenses, it could be possible to afford without breaking budget a different lens brands=flavors for each focal length and achieve various looks. Zeiss has different look than Nikkor, Nikkors are different than Canons, Canons are different than Schneiders, Leica is different than Cooke etc...

[Eirik Tyrihjel]

The bokeh and breathing links are broke.

But as always I appreciate the tests, and I count on you Evin... I got my first two Nikkors from http://www.keh.com last week (the 24 and the 50mm), purchased based on your recommendations, I feel confident it is a smart move.

[Evin Grant]

Breathing link fixed. Bokeh coming soon.

[Evin Grant]

Bokeh test is working.

[Alexander Nikishin]

Agreed Evin, I've owned this lens (the AIS version) for some time now and haven't had another focal length that topped it's visual quality. This lens is a beast.

[Harrison Diamond]

Glad to see this review, Evin, however there were some notable optical changes between the AIS and the AFD versions of this lens, with the AFD performing better at wider apertures. That is my main reservation about this and some of the other reviews here... but if anything it just means the end results will be even better :)

[Evin Grant]

There were changes and I've owened both versions, although I only own the AIS now. Still, the diffrences were inconsequential in my final analysis, they are both world class.

[Jamon Lewis]

Evin what are the differnces between the 1.4 and 1.8 (besides the obvious 1 stop?) is the 1.4 worth the extra money? Also What do u think about the 105 2.5?

[Evin Grant]

105mm 2.5 is a classic portrait lens, perfect balance of resolution and softness, it's a sharp lens but not very acute (Microcontrast) so it renders facial features more flattering. Are you talking about the 85mm 1.8AI that preceeded the 1.4 or the currently available 85mm 1.8AFD?
Both the 1.8s are much better than the 85mm f2 AIS that is more common. The original AI 1.8 is very hard to find and very highly valued by collectors and shooters who want MF and lighter weight, but it's not as much of a rock star as the 1.4 is. The AF 85mm 1.8 was the first Nikkor I ever bought myself, along with my N8008s. (Wow that dated me) It's very sharp and a great piece of glas by anyones standards except when compared to the 85mm 1.4:ninja:

[Jamon Lewis]

Yeah I was ask'n about the new AFD 85mm 1.8... is the performance is worth the extra money. I have all the lenses i want except the 85 and 135 but im think'n maybe i can get the 105mm in place of one of them or would it be a good addition to both the 85 and 135.

[Evin Grant]

I would recomend the 105mm f2 AFD-DC or the 105mm f1.8 AIS both are more expensive but both are excellent optics and their speed makes them great for shooting in lower light. The DC actually lets you control the amount of out of focus your background is, hence the DC (Defocus Control) monicer.

[Shadow]

The 85mm is a very nice lens but you can't use a follow focus with it, the barrel move forward when you do the focus. For this one, you have to focus from the lens barrel.

[chuck colburn]

Shadow,

That's not true. Before the advent of internal focus all lenses (zooms and primes) traveled on the focus and they were used with follow focus units.

Chuck

[Peter Sensor]

I've tested these on a sharpness indicator - The Nikon was a tad sharper.
I have to add - I love the Canon FD 85mm F1.2 "L".

[chuck colburn]

I've tested these on a sharpness indicator - The Nikon was a tad sharper.
I have to add - I love the Canon FD 85mm F1.2 "L".

Hello Peter,

What is a sharpness indicator? Autocollimator, thru the lens projector?

[Stephen Pruitt]

I use this lens with my Redrock follow focus and my Brevis35 set up all the time. It IS a terrific lens!

Stephen

[Peter Sensor]

Chuck,
It's just a Putora Sharpness Indicator chart type 7A9.
it measures degrees of sharpness in lines per millimeter.
You photograph it at different distances, depending on focal length.
very handy.

[Kenn Michael]

Absolutely LOVE the 85mm 1.4! Gorgeous.

[RougeDP]

I've been a Leica user for decades but I concede the Nikon 85 is a lovely, lovely lense, *especially* on a RED!