The Nikon 85's... 1.4 or 1.8?

ChristopherCoy · Mar 5, 2021

I know the 1.4 is nicknamed the "cream machine" but does that smoothness translate to any other apertures? Is there a difference between the 1.4 and 1.8's micro-contrast or sharpness at smaller apertures (i.e. f4 or above)? Any other reasons to prefer one over the other?

I think I'm going to sell my 50mm G lens, and round out my AF-D assortment with the 35mm F/2, and the 85mm of one variety or another. This will leave me with the 24mm 2.8, 35mm 2, 85mm 1.?, and the 105 2.8 macro. I'm going to have all of these AF-D lenses modified to work across all of my cameras from the F2 to the D700.

narsuitus · Mar 5, 2021

I own both. I purchased the 85mm f/1.8 back in the early 1970s. It was the second lens I purchased for my Nikon F bodies (the 35mm f/2 was the first).

Years later, I had Nikon AI it.

Decades later, I purchased the 85mm f/1.4 primarily for the auto focus to use with my F4, N70, and auto focus digital SLR bodies.

Slightly telephoto lenses by Narsuitus, on Flickr

ChristopherCoy · Mar 5, 2021

narsuitus said:
I own both. I purchased the 85mm f/1.8 back in the early 1970s. It was the second lens I purchased for my Nikon F bodies (the 35mm f/2 was the first).

Years later, I had Nikon AI it.

Decades later, I purchased the 85mm f/1.4 primarily for the auto focus to use with my F4, N70, and auto focus digital SLR bodies.

Awesome. What were your findings? Which did you/do you prefer and why?

voceumana · Mar 5, 2021

I have the 85mm f/1.8 and it is razor sharp. The focus on manual is on the free-moving side, but works fine. In terms of sharpness, it's insanely sharp.

BradS · Mar 5, 2021

Both are optically excellent. The most obvious differences are...
1. size and weight
2. f/1.4 is 2/3 stop faster than f/1.8

macfred · Mar 5, 2021

I have the AF D 85mm f/1.8. This is at f/2 :

narsuitus · Mar 5, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
What were your findings? Which did you/do you prefer and why?

I prefer the f/1.4 because I need the extra light gathering and I need the auto focus.

I prefer shooting lenses with similar maximum apertures.

In the old days, my 35mm f/2 and my 85mm f/1.8 worked well together.

Today, my 35mm f/1.4 and my 85mm f/1.4 work well together.

I use my f/1.8 as a backup to my f/1.4. I will not part with the f/1.8 because it has great sentimental value and optically it is still a great lens.

benveniste · Mar 5, 2021

I found the 85mm f/1.8D's bokeh to be less than optimal. This slushpile "shot 37" demonstrates why. (I was burning off the last shot of the roll after a portrait session.) Note how the brightwork on the chair rendered. While I eventually switched to a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX, I still occasionally use an 85mm "D" Nikkor. The 85mm f/2.8D PC to be exact.

mshchem · Mar 5, 2021

narsuitus said:
I prefer the f/1.4 because I need the extra light gathering and I need the auto focus.

I prefer shooting lenses with similar maximum apertures.

In the old days, my 35mm f/2 and my 85mm f/1.8 worked well together.

Today, my 35mm f/1.4 and my 85mm f/1.4 work well together.

I use my f/1.8 as a backup to my f/1.4. I will not part with the f/1.8 because it has great sentimental value and optically it is still a great lens.

This is where I'm at too. I love Nikon AF-D lenses. I have the 28 mm f1.4, and the 85 f 1.4.
85 1.8 is a terrific lens.

Huss · Mar 6, 2021

I just bought the 85 1.8G for my F6. DIdn't want the 1.4 because preferred the size/handling of the 1.8.

ChristopherCoy · Mar 6, 2021

benveniste said:
Note how the brightwork on the chair rendered.

I see no problem here.

cramej · Mar 6, 2021

I had the AF-D 1.8 and really liked it except that it had noticeable CA on my D200, which was always a complaint from users of that lens. For digital bodies, it required both green and magenta correction. I sold it for a reason unbeknownst to me now but I would buy one again.

Greg Kriss · Mar 6, 2021

Over the years I have owned and used pretty much every version of Nikon's 85mm lens. I finally settled on Nikon's 5th and final version of their f/1.8 optic with the AIS conversion. I believe this was the only version of the f/1.8 optic that had the hard rubber focusing barrel. This lens along with a 35mm f/2.8 AIS makes up my most enjoyable to use compact Nikon outfit. Plus both optics are great for shooting IR with.

Charles Escott-New · Mar 6, 2021

I am sure my level of skill doesn't justify the extra for the 1.4 but I like it for the background and the big lens is lovely to look at !!! The two af-d lenses I couldn't give up are the 20 and the 180 and I do like my 50 1.4. Af-d lenses are so well made. All the best, Charles.

NB23 · Mar 6, 2021

Ive shot over 200k shots with the 85 1.4D.

Pastel colors, low contrast, ancient look.

Henning Serger · Mar 6, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
I know the 1.4 is nicknamed the "cream machine" but does that smoothness translate to any other apertures? Is there a difference between the 1.4 and 1.8's micro-contrast or sharpness at smaller apertures (i.e. f4 or above)? Any other reasons to prefer one over the other?

Christopher, here are two tests of both lenses made under completely identical test conditions:
1.4 / 85 AF-D:
https://www.opticallimits.com/nikon_ff/538-nikkorafd8514ff
1.8 / 85 AF-D:
https://www.opticallimits.com/nikon_ff/622-nikkorafd8518ff

And here the assessment of B. Roerslett of both lenses:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html

I own and use regularly the 1.8/85 AF-D, the 2.5/105 AI-S and the AF-D 2/105 DC.
The 1.8/85 AF-D is an excellent lens, with an outstanding price-performance ratio. Its strengths are
- already quite good sharpness at open aperture (better than the 1.8/50 AI-S and 1.8/50 AF-D), but with less contrast ( a bit soft, like the 1.8/50s; that is typical for most Gauss type 1.8/50 and 85 lenses)
- very good to excellent sharpness and contrast from 2.8 on stopped down
- very even performance over the whole frame (much better than the 50 Nikkors)
- very fast and accurate autofocus
- good manual focus
- very effective lens hood, no problems with flare
- compact and relatively light
- robust: my 1.8/85 is serving me very well without any problems for 23 years now.
- outstanding price-performance ratio.

Concerning the bokeh of this lens: I have never had any problems with it. It is certainly not worse compared to the 2.5/105 AI-S (and have you ever heard someone complainig about the bokeh of that lens?). The 1.8/85 AF-D has even a (generally more "bokeh-friendly") 9 blade aperture, the 2.5/105 has a 7 blade aperture.
In direct comparison the AF-D 2/105 DC is optically the best of these three (portrait) lenses (it is a league of its own). Followed by the AF-D 1.8/85 and the 2.5/105 AI-S (both are very close in performance).

Best regards,
Henning

Charles Escott-New · Mar 6, 2021

That sounds like a very good plan Mr. Coy, I have also settled on af-d lenses as the mainstay of my Nikon work, for everything from my D4 to Nikon F, no need to modify as my early film cameras are plain prisms. My list is 20, 20-35, 50, 85, 105 and 180. The first and the last being my favourite lenses. My skill level does not justify an 85 1.4 but when I saw the size of the lens glass my "you only live once" excuse kicked in and I bought it, childish I know ! The background is nice. All the best, Charles.

The Nikon 85's... 1.4 or 1.8?

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