Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF

[Shaun Au]

I have a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AIS lens which I plan to use with my RED ONE. Evin's review on this lens test is very helpful. I also own a Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF which I use it as an indoor portrait lens on my DSLR. I'm extremely pleased with it's results. The images are very sharp. The lens also produces much better blur than the 50mm f/1.4 AIS due to a different aperture blade design. It also has an AF/MF selection ring for filming work.

http://www.reduser.net/forum/uploaded/505_1169492532.jpg

[Evin Grant]

This lens is on my short list to test.

[Digigenic]

Aside from some of the CA at wide apertures, it is still considered by many to be the most magical lens of Nikon primes.
(btw, the Zeiss ZF/MF 85 reportedly has unpleasant CA wide open too - it's practically unavoidable with these types of lenses)

If I shoot with a Nikonovised RED, I might also consider a Nikon 105 f2 DC lens.
As I understand it, that lens is just as awesome.

[Evin Grant]

Magical!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/34/69330774_3f5ca355a2_o.jpg

[Shaun Au]

Magical!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/34/69330774_3f5ca355a2_o.jpg

Was this shot with the 85mm f/1.4 AF prime? What was the aperture setting(f/1.4)? It looks beautiful. :)

[Blue]

Was this shot with the 85mm f/1.4 AF prime? What was the aperture setting(f/1.4)? It looks beautiful. :)

Ya. She really does.

[Sanjin Jukic]

Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D could be a mixed pot and in the RED ONE 4K could show maybe some flaws...have a look below

"Verdict

Finding a verdict for the Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D isn't easy. From f/2.8 and up the performance of the lens is superb and neither distortions, CAs nor vignetting are something to worry about. However, at f/1.4 and to a lesser degree at f/2 the lens shows a couple of flaws - the border resolution is "only" good, the level of contrast is reduced and the results show a pronounced degree of purple fringing at harsh contrast transitions and longitudinal chromatic aberrations.

Purple Fringing

Lateral CAs tell only one part of the CA story - purple fringing (PF) is another one. PF can be desired as a blooming effect in out-of-focus highlights around extreme contrast transitions. Unlike lateral CAs purple fringing cannot be easily corrected but they also don't occur quite that often and stopping down reduces PF significantly. At ultra-large aperture settings the Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D has its share of PF as you can see in the sample portion of a fountain shot below. At f/8 the same portion doesn't even show any traces of PF anymore. Please note that PF also seem to be dependent on the image sensor of the camera."

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_85_14/pf.jpg
f/1.4

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_85_14/pf2.jpg
f/8

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_85_14/index.htm

I already decided and I am leaning towards "relatively affordable at around 480 EUR/US$" Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.8 D. My pretty low budget cannot "allow" this sort of risk.

Official lens page
http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/lens/af/telephoto/af_85mmf_18d/index.htm

"Verdict

The Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.8 D was a very boring lens during the tests simply because it showed a exceptional performance in all tested categories. Besides the lab results the lens shows a beautiful bokeh (out-of-focus blur). If I had to name a weakness it may be flare in contra light but it is a minor issue in the otherwise very harmonic package. So if you´re looking for a portrait lens or a similar application where you would like to isolate an object from its environment this is an ideal lens. Highly recommended!"

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_85_18/index.htm

samples:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/6/7069286_97b5aa27cd.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/156863601_16b198944c.jpg?v=0

http://flickr.com/photos/tags/85mmf18d/interesting/


http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/eb/04/77c9a2c008a04526b693b010.L.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/B00005LE75/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_2/102-8305323-8465753?ie=UTF8&s=photo&index=2#gallery

[Jeff Kilgroe]

FWIW, I was chatting with a photographer friend and asked him his thoughts... He has the 85mm f1.4 and used to own the f1.8 version. Conclusion - both are nice lenses, but some differences. The two biggest advantages he found of the 1.4 over the 1.8 lens is much faster auto focus response vs. the f1.8 although its gear drive isn't as quick or quiet as the Silent Wave motor like what's in the 17-35mm lens. This isn't an issue with RED... The other differnce was he felt the bokeh was smoother and more appealing on the f1.4 lens. Other than that only minor issues and the f1.4 model may not be worth the money for many of us (I'm still undecided).

The f1.4 lens is sharper at f1.8 than the f1.8 lens is when wide open. Both lenses seem to perform best from f2.8 to f11, f16 starts to show difraction effects. In the f2.8-11 sweet spot, other than AF and bokeh, the lenses perform nearly identical and both produce excellent images.

Anyway, he upgraded his 85mm lens from the f1.8 model based on essentially this information and he's glad he did. But he also shoots a lot of portraits and events and finds the quicker autofocus to be a godsend with weddings and the like. The smoother bokeh is a nice bonus. So, how that translates into usage with the RED One and how each of us intend to shoot, I can't say.

What does Evin think?

[Sanjin Jukic]

I found one more interesting Nikon D80 Portrait Lens Tests
have a look at
http://www.wlcastleman.com/equip/reviews/d80/index.htm

[Evin Grant]

The 85mm f1.8 is a great lens, I've owned both. It's just not the 1.4. The diffrences are not enormous but the extra useable stop and a half of the 1.4 is worth every penny to those who need it. I just over all prefer the look of the 1.4, even stopped down. But I wouldn't hesitate to use the 1.8, and did for quite a few years.

Purple fringing is indeed an isuue an all but the most recent designed for digital lenses, luckily most narrative situation don't have such high contrast issues and a need for f1.4. I doubt this would be much issue in actual use.

[Sanjin Jukic]

The 85mm f1.8 is a great lens, I've owned both. It's just not the 1.4. The diffrences are not enormous but the extra useable stop and a half of the 1.4 is worth every penny to those who need it. I just over all prefer the look of the 1.4, even stopped down. But I wouldn't hesitate to use the 1.8, and did for quite a few years.

Purple fringing is indeed an isuue an all but the most recent designed for digital lenses, luckily most narrative situation don't have such high contrast issues and a need for f1.4. I doubt this would be much issue in actual use.


Evin you are right about the extra usable stop in Nikkor 85mm f1.4 but it costs you a lot, about $/€ 2.000. And if Leica M Viso to Nikon F mount adapter works well I will go for Leica 90/2 Visoflex Summicron M lens that costs used about $/€ 900. So for the price of Nikkor 85mm f1.4 I will get Nikkor AF 85mm f1.8 D (new) + Leica 90/2 Visoflex Summicron M lens (used) + Leica M Viso to Nikon F mount/adapter (opens new Leica M door for the RED ONE). This could make more sense.

[Evin Grant]

Sanjin,
the Leica M Viso adapter is for Viso mount lenses only, this was an early attempt by leica to use a reflex unit on the M body, you cannot mount any lens shorter than 90mm on it, and even then only in the Viso mount. http://photo-program.myweb.hinet.net/viso/viso-022.jpg

[Sanjin Jukic]

Evin you are right.

Corrections at
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=509

[Dominic Jones]

The 85mm f1.8 is a great lens, I've owned both. It's just not the 1.4. The diffrences are not enormous but the extra useable stop and a half of the 1.4 is worth every penny to those who need it.
Just FYI, the difference between f1.4 and f1.8 is 2/3 of a stop, not one and a half stops...

I agree, both great lenses - the 105mm f1.8 is a cracker too.

[sean90291]

Anybody have an opinion on the Nikkor ED 180mm 2.8?

[Evin Grant]

Just FYI, the difference between f1.4 and f1.8 is 2/3 of a stop, not one and a half stops...

I agree, both great lenses - the 105mm f1.8 is a cracker too.

I know the actual f diffrence, but the 1.8 is a little softer wide open, so useable diffrence is one and a 1/2.

[JW Lee]

What is the screw in filter size for the 85mm Nikkors? Wondering if I can use my Formatt matte box.

[Júlio Taubkin]

The formatt will add strain in the lenses focus barrels and make it really hard to rack focus. You need something rod mounted. I tried using it with nikon lenses on my M2, and despite having all the necessary adapter rings, it doesn't really work... :(

[JW Lee]

Good to know, thanks Taubkin.

[Evin Grant]

What is the screw in filter size for the 85mm Nikkors? Wondering if I can use my Formatt matte box.

77mm for the AF. 72mm for the AIS version.