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

[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!