Product Description

Nikkor 35mm Lenses Behind every lens is a history of Nikon quality and innovation that has consistently set new standards of excellence. Nikon s most remarkable innovation may be its consistent use of the Nikon F lens mount which makes your camera compatible with literally hundreds of Nikkor lenses. Even when you re using the most powerful Nikkor super-telephoto lens, your pictures will be clear and sharp, with exellent color rendition. That s because many Nikkor telephoto and super-telephoto lenses are made with ED glass, a Nikon innovation that virtually eliminates the color fringing common with regular lens glass in longer focal lengths. Autofocus capability for easy indoor or outdoor portraiture. Exceptionally compact for a telephoto lens. Focuses down to 36 inches. An excellent choice for your first telephoto lens. Accepts 62mm filters HN-23 lens hood. Wt. 14.6 oz. Dim. 2.8 x 2.3 . Item Specifications: Product Description: Nikon Nikkor telephoto lens - 85 mm Lens System: Telephoto lens Mounting Type: Nikon F Lens Aperture: F/1.8 Focal Length: 85 mm Min Focus Range: 33.5 in Focus Adjustment: Automatic, manual Lens Construction: 6 group(s) / 6 element(s) Special Functions: Tele Filter Size: 62 mm Length: 2 in Weight: 13.4 oz

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13558 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Nikon
• Model: B00005LE75
• Released on: 2003-08-01
• Dimensions: 4.33" h x 4.33" w x 7.09" l, 1.13 pounds

Features

• The AF 85 f/1
• 8 is a portable medium telephoto that is ideal for portraits
• A high-speed telephoto lens with RF (Rear Focus) technology for fast AF operation
• Very compact and light and ideal for indoor or outdoor portrait shooting

Manufacturer's Description
Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.PRODUCT FEATURES:Compact and portable telephoto lens that is ideal for portraits;Rear focusing for fast AF operation;Subtle blurring of background for beautifully natural and evocative portraits;An excellent choice for your first telephoto lens.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful, exciting and affordable
This is a beautiful, exciting and affordable lens with specifications only marginally less than the much more expensive Nikkor 85 f/1.4D Af.

This is a different lens depending on whether you are shooting film or digital. On film, it is at the short end of portrait lengths, suitable for head and shoulders or wider shots. On digital, which crops the lens by 1.5, it is at the long end of portraits, suitable for head shots, or for head and shoulders at a greater distance. On digital it also qualifies as a sports lens.

This, and the 1.4 cousin, are firm favourites for digitial portraits, and here is why:

First, the measured quality of both these lenses puts them among the best that Nikon (or anyone) has ever produced at any length. The 1.4 measures marginally better, but only marginally.

Second, the relative speed of these lenses gives much more control over depth of focus than the fastest zoom lens: even professional zooms only manage f/2.8. Again, the 1.4 gives a little bit more, but the 1.8 is still substantially ahead of other options.

Third, the length is exactly right for digital portraits. One of the results of the smaller size of the digital sensor is that you get more depth of focus than with the equivalent length of lens for film. Therefore, in order to get the same reduced depth of focus which is often used for portraits, you need a longer lens. The traditional lens lengths for film were 85-105mm for portraits, which would equate to 57-70mm on the digital sensor _in terms of field of view_. Going further out, to 85mm as this lens does, recovers the deliberately shallow depth of focus.

Fourth, this lens (and its cousin) give a very bright viewfinder picture, which also assists autofocus. If you spend half a day peering through the f/4-5.6 of a typical zoom lens, and then you look through this lens, it's like switching the lights on or cleaning your glasses. This is a _very_ enjoyable lens to photograph with, and also gives you a much better picture of what you are going to get.

Finally, this is ideal for grainy, moody portraits shot in available light, just because it does let so much light through.

I love this lens -- it's small, unobtrusive, and very light, and at a very competitive price. True, you could probably have lots of fun with a zoom lens for the same money, but you would not achieve the same scorchingly beautiful, razor sharp next to beautifully blurred that this lens provides. If you do have about twice as much money to spend, you would be advised to look at the f/1.4 as well, but you might still decide that, in terms of bang for your pound, this lens won't be beaten.

Low light master
I use this on a FX camera, so my review is based from that:

Build quality: It's plastic, but it feels tough, there isn't any play in the zoom ring and the aperture ring when locked is solid as if it never moved. I bet this lens can take a pounding, but one thing to note is that it is NOT weather sealed, and water may get inbetween the zoom ring and body, and also between the aperture ring and body, so be careful in these conditions. The front element is HUGE and it gathers so much light, I use it at night and get steady hand held shots on a D700, I am truly impressed by that alone. It's actually quite a low profile (not much more than the 50mm 1.4G) and as such its quite inconspicuous.

Features: The autofocus is fast and responsive, and not loud at all. Hardly EVER hunts, and does very well in low light (probably thanks to the huge front element) There isnt a manual focus over ride, but there is a switch on the lens for manual focus, or you can use the camera body (if on there)

Image quality: This lens is so sharp at 1.8 and when stopped to 5.6 it is flawless. Above f8 though the diffraction takes place so try to use it below f8 for best results. It's colour rendition and exposure balance is always spot on so you can rely on it to relay great results to your camera all the time.

Conclusion: Very highly recommended, its a great lens for studio work and portraits. For the price, I'd go for this over the 1.4 version. Hope this helps.