I bought this for quick portraits and great blur and man it's fantastic. The f/1.8 is tact sharp and at great alternative to the much pricier f/1.4 option ($1500). The performance between the 2 lens is marginal. If you're getting paid as a pro photographer then you may get the f/1.4 but for the rest of us (I gather 95% of us), this f/1.8 is a great alternative. If you google around the web for the reviews, you will find this f/1.8 AF-S be a close second to the f/1.4 with what I would summarize as F/1.4 lens having 2-5% improvement in the picture quality when it comes to better light and better blur. I'll save the $1000 and still produce great quality pictures with this F/1.8.
1. Super light weight
2. Fast focus
3. Tact sharp
4. Awesome low light performance
5. Great bokeh
Below is a summary of how I use all of my lens today and I hope it will help you find what you are looking for if you have similar needs as mine:
* AF-S 50mm f/1.4: Great for infants and walk-around lens on the street. I use this lens most of the time for infant pictures because 1) I don't want to use flash when infants have their eyes open even if I have a softbox/umbrella. 2) lightweight 3) low light performance at f/1.4. I also uses this when I'm out of the house because it's not in-you-face when you pull it out of you bag so people won't notice you. This lens also makes me move around a bit to be more creative vs. just zoom in and out. 50mm lens makes me think more about the shots.
* AF-S 60mm f/2.8 micro: Great macro lens: I use this for very close up shots. I can get as close to less than an inch away even though the minimum focal length isn't listed as being 1 inch away. You will want good lighting since flash will be useless when you are this close to the subject. I take photos of baby lips, eyes, face, hands and feet, & other objects such as jewelry * watches. Basically any fairly stationary subjects that I want to highlight the details and intentional imperfections/wrinkles, etc. I sometimes wonder if I should use this all the time instead of my 50mm but I find the 50mm better at non-macro shots because it focus faster and lets in 4 times more light.
* AF-S 85mm f/1.8 : I use this most of the time for adult portraits and it has very good low light performance as well. I choose this over the f/1.4 version because the other reviews I've read on the web did not justify the extra $1000 spend for marginal performance improvement and unless I am getting paid to take pictures all the time, I don't see the need to pay the extra cost for the f/1.4. This lens also makes me move around a bit to be more creative vs. just zoom in and out.
* AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8: I use this when I just don't know what kind of pictures I could be taking and need to have zoom & I don't have to move around as much. While I don't take landscape pictures (24mm) often, I will use this for a large group outing, birthday parties when I may need to get a wide shot of a lot of people in a room and be able to have a little bit of zoom capability and not have to walk up so close to the people's face. This allows me to get some candid shots when needed. It's fairly heavy at 2 lbs and huge when you put on the hood so I almost never use this lens when I'm on the street because it attracts a lot of unwanted attention. I wouldn't want this hanging on my neck or shoulders for a long period of time.
* AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 vr2 : This is one of my favorite lens only because I can use it for portraits as well (with some lighting support) and I can get really good candid shots since I can be much farther away 10-20ft from my subjects and able to get a nice picture. I do have to crop at times to get rid of the cluttered background but with the D600 camera, I have enough megapixel details to crop my pictures when needed. This is obviously a monster lens so I avoid taking it for street photos even though I've had some nice pictures and experiences on the street but it's so big... I've had people stopping me asking me if I'm a paparazzi and which celebrity I am stalking..... haha. It's almost over 3 lbs so I definitely wouldn't want this hanging on my neck or shoulders for a long period of time.
* AF-S 70-200mm f/4: this is also a great lens and a fantastic alternative to the 2.8 version. At over $1000 less, this is a bargin and great lens if you're taking photos at good lighting conditions (outdoor, have flash or good indoor lighting). Otherwise it may be problematic for you at F/4.
Add to your order
-
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) -
24/7 support when you need it. -
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
2-Year Protection Plan $43.99
3-Year Protection Plan $57.99
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Asurion Complete Protect: One plan covers all eligible past and future purchases (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month
Select a plan
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Select a plan
$426.95 with 11 percent savings
List Price: $479.95 
The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Learn more
Buy this product as Renewed and save $103.96 off the current New price.
Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S FX Nikkor Lens - (Renewed) $322.99 & FREE Shipping
(137)
Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
(137)
Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
Frequently bought together
This item: Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
$426.95
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 26
Only 11 left in stock - order soon.
+
$9.13
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 26
In Stock
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Frequently purchased items with fast delivery
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Compare with similar items
This Item  Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -11% $426.95 List: $479.95 | -36% $509.00 New Price: $796.95 | -23% $1,469.00 New Price: $1,896.95 | $476.95 | -5% $497.97 List Price: $526.95 | -9% $1,546.95 List: $1,699.95 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 26 | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 26 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Mar 25 | Get it Apr 1 - 4 | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | HOTOTRONICS RENEWED | Xpress Products (We track Serial Numbers) | Wholesale Photo | Amazon Global Store UK | Adorama |
| lens type | Telephoto | Standard | Telephoto | Wide Angle | Telephoto | Wide Angle |
| compatible mountings | Nikon F (FX) | Nikon F (DX) | Nikon F | Nikon F (FX) | Nikon F (DX) | Nikon F (FX) |
| lens design | Prime | Prime | Prime | Zoom | Zoom | Prime |
| focus type | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Auto Focus | Ring-type ultrasonic | Ring-type ultrasonic | Ring-type ultrasonic |
| minimum focal length | 85 millimeters | 20 millimeters | 105 millimeters | 35 millimeters | 85 millimeters | 35 millimeters |
| max focal length | 85 millimeters | 20 millimeters | — | 35 millimeters | 85 millimeters | 35 millimeters |
| fixed focal length | 85 millimeters | 20 millimeters | 105 millimeters | 35 millimeters | 85 millimeters | — |
| real angle of view | 18.8 degrees | — | 23.6 degrees | 63 degrees | 18.93 degrees | 44 degrees |
| model name | 2201 | — | — | AF-S FX NIKKOR 35mm f/1:1.8G ED | 2190 | NK3514G |
| max aperture | — | 1.8 f stop | 1.4 f stop | 16 millimeters | — | — |
| diaphragm blades | 7 | — | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
From the manufacturer
About us
Nikon is famous for its cameras and binoculars, but we make a whole range of other products too. For example, did you know we manufacture equipment used to fabricate the semiconductors found in your PC and smartphone? And that we make measuring instruments that detect microscopic defects in electronic components? Nikon technologies contribute to people's lives in ways you may never have imagined.
Fun lens!
I couldn't swing the cost of a 135mm so I thought I'd give this one a try. I have the 35mm and the nifty 50 and now this one, the 85mm. It’s sharp, and a good value for the money. The 135 is still on my wish list but I'm happy with this in the meantime. My main interest is portraiture, and I am a hobbyist (read I take free photos for people I love) so this is more than good enough for my purposes
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
Top reviews from other countries
-
-
-
Pascual lopez AlbaReviewed in Sweden on May 3, 2023
Bra varan snabb leverans och kommunikation ok
*: BlackVerified Purchase - PRAVEEN.RReviewed in India on January 17, 2021
My review after using it for two years
*: BlackVerified Purchase -
Emmanuel FloresReviewed in Mexico on October 31, 2019
calidad/precio excelentes
*: BlackVerified Purchase
