Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Nikkor Lens’

Nikon 85mm f 1 4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

85mm focal length is considered the optimal choice for portrait work using a 35mm SLR camera. It can be used with D-Series for Nikon mount cameras. Focus type is Autofocus. Maximum focal length: 85 millimeters. Minimum focal length: 85 millimeters. Maximum aperture range: F/1.4. Camera Magnify Power: 0.11. Real Angle Of View: 28.5.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Rarely taking it off!
I have been shooting with this lens for 5 months now and find this is my new favorite lens to shoot with. The 85mm is a little bit too long for me at one point or another when trying to frame my kid in tight area. I have been doing a lot of foot works since I got this lens. Just be prepare to do some exercises when you decided to purchase one if not shooting in a portrait studio.

One small detail that I had noticed though is that the len is “Made In Japan” but the lens’ cap is “Made In Thailand.” Could this be right? Nikon uses lens’ cap from Thailand instead of manufacturing their own in order to save money?

4 Stars Great for portraits but quite old.
Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4 has been hailed as legendary lens for Nikon DSLR or film camera. I think it is because of its unique characteristic but also its age. This lens has been around for thirteen years.

Image Quality and characteristic

Mounted in Nikon full frame camera D700, the lens is sharp at maximum aperture of f/1.4D, which is excellent. Stopped down to f/2.8, the lens become very sharp. But extreme sharpness is not what this lens is made for. It is primarily made for its ability in low light condition, and its ability to create a beautiful out of focus effect in background or foreground.

Because of those characteristic and its fixed focal length, this lens is ideal for portrait. It is also good for candid portraiture such as in wedding. For Nikon pro wedding shooters, this lens is one of must have lens.

Unfortunately, this lens suffers a bit from purple fringing in high contrast area (see sample pic below), it is also susceptible to flare, but not as bad as other lenses.

Auto Focus operation

Because Nikon 85mm f/1.4D does not have built-in motor focus like modern lenses (AF-S) lens, it relies on camera body to focus. It speed will also depend on the camera body. The more higher-end model such as Nikon D700, D3 or D3X will focus faster than the entry-level camera.

When mounted in Nikon D700, the lens focus very fast. Unfortunately entry level user such as Nikon D40, D40X and D60 only can use manual focus because the camera body doesn’t have the capability to focus AF lenses. This lens also create some noise when focusing because lack of Silent Wave Motor.

In sport games such as basketball, the lens has difficulty in continuous tracking. It fails to lock on the object properly resulting in many blur image. I don’t recommend it for sports.

Build Quality

Built quality of this lens is awesome, it is average in size and weight and very nice to handle. The focus ring is smooth. Closest focusing is 85cm, make it not very ideal for macro / close-up photography.

It will come with “metal” lens hood. Unfortunately the lens hood it screw in type and you can’t reverse it for more compact storage. In spite of that, the lens hood is fully metal, so it is better than regular plastic type and a lot more durable.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D vso 85mm f/1.8D

Compare to f/1.8D version, This lens is 2.5 times more expensive, the cheaper lens is not as sharp as f/1.4D in its maximum aperture of f/1.8. At f/2.8, the sharpness is almost equal. The build quality is also a lot worse than the f/1.4D. But the 85mm f/1.8 is more compact and portable.

In Conclusion

You might want to get this lens because of several reasons:

* You frequently shoot at extremely low light condition which f/1.4D is often needed

* You are concern about artistic, especially smooth background blur.

* You are looking for the sharpest lens from edge to edge of the image. (The lens is designed to be sharp in the center “focus” and soft in the corner).

Don’t buy this lens for indoor sports, it is better to get either f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens or lighting equipment.

check out www.radiantlite.com for other reviews

5 Stars Expensive, but worth it since it’s versatile
I’ve had my eye on this lens for some time, but was very hesitant to spend the money on it. I bought it a couple of months ago and have used it almost exclusively on my D90 since then. This is a great lens, and I know it was the right lens for me to add to my photo gear right now.

I agree with previous reviewers, there are 2 main reasons to buy this lens. First, if you shoot in low light conditions this lens performs incredibly well. The other day I was at my kids’ school taking some musical photos for the yearbook. The auditorium manager was out for the day, so we couldn’t turn on the stage lights. We only used the house lights and a very small amount of background stage lights, so it was very dark and I wasn’t feeling optimistic about getting some decent shots. But wide open, the lens was capable of producing sharp, clear, decently exposed images.

The other main reason to buy this lens is the bokeh, of course. It is very smooth and beautiful. However, this lens does take some practice and skill when shooting wide open. It is a very sharp lens even at 1.4, but there is no room for error with focus since the depth of field is so narrow.

One other thing that I really like about this lens is it’s size and weight. It’s hefty and well-built, but isn’t too heavy or cumbersome on my D90. I feel perfectly comfortable walking around with this lens. Sometimes people suggest getting a 70-200mm before or instead of the 85mm, but for me this lens is a much better fit and more versatile. Yes, the 70-200mm also has great bokeh, has a more versatile range, and can be better for indoor sports. But it’s size and weight are a major negative me. I wouldn’t use a 70-200mm for casual portraits, or as a walk around lens, or everyday casual shots. In my opinion, the 85mm is great in all of those situations.

There are some negatives to this lens – it is a little too long on a DX body at times and there are some chromatic aberration and flare issues when shooting wide open.

If you are thinking about getting this lens, do your homework and figure out of this is a right fit for you. For me, it is a very versatile lens and a great performer and I am completely satisfied with it.

5 Stars mfarwell
Ok, I just did it! Ive listed my nikon 80-200 2.8 on ebay. I ordered this lens with alot of anticipation!!!! Ive drooled over the idea way to long.

I feel like a 52 year old kid at christmas getting his first bike. Portraits are my number one addiction, my 2.8 was great in low-light doing stage work{live musicians}. If the 2.8 was what I thought was great I can only imagine what I’ll be able to pull off at 1.4-2.0!

5 Stars More Than Expected
I’ve bought this lens a month ago, and I’ve taken unforgettable photos …

This lens is a Bokeh factory … The portraits are amazing, so dreamy, so isolated.

The built quality is great, metallic. Many complain about the screw hood, I love it, plus it’s metallic too.

The focus is so fast.

I’ve bought a 77mm NC filter mainly to protect the lens …

I know some finds the 85mm in digital = 127.5mm is not easy to handle, specially shooting indoor and in small rooms, but this lens will make you overcome this issue … and if you cannot, then go for 50mm or less.

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Nikon 50mm f 1 4G SIC SW Prime Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Ideal for travel, event, environmental and general photography in a wide variety of conditions, with superb optical formula with ultra-fast f/1.4 aperture Rounded 9-blade diaphragm renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements Aperture Range – f/1.4 to f/16 Accepts 58mm Filter Unit Dimensions – 2.9×2.1 in. (Diameter x Length); 73.5×54.2mm (Diameter x Length)

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Nikon 50mm 1.4 is a Wonderful lens
I really like this lens, it is fast, it is clean and has very good color separation. I am using it on a Nikon D300 (which has a 1.5 multiplier on the the lens) so this works out to be a great portrait lens for me, I highly recommend it.

5 Stars High Quality
This lens was to complement my D700 and has done so. Very sharp lens. Edge to edge very good. A bit getting use to the settings when on fully automatic though. Area of sharp focus is something to watch as well as low light handling where camera shake will blur the photo. Over all a very good “standard” lens.

5 Stars Nice lens =)
I am very very very happy with me new 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW Prime Nikkor lens from NikonD90! Great shooting!

4 Stars Sharp, Quiet, Fast
I had an older f/1.8 lens which I sold a few years ago. This f/1.4 was on my list after I moved up to the FX sensor from the DX sensor.

Not used very much yet and I’m definitely still getting used to it.

I’m happy with the image quality so far but admittedly, I haven’t pushed its limits in keeping up with action shots. But it is very sharp statically.

It’s quiet when focussing. Too quiet to my ears used to hearing the old motors crank the lenses around. Good news, bad news, I guess. I’ll just have to cope!

I haven’t used a lens this fast in a long time and I’ve been knocking into the shutter speed limits on the D700 when shooting in bright daylight at ISO 800. It is a little unnerving but I like to have to dial down the ISO! It provides lots of latitude when shooting in A or S modes.

5 Stars Simply the BEST 50mm lens for Nikon’s Pro Cameras
I took this on its maiden voyage recently on a wedding shoot, and boy did I get so much out of this exquisite lens.

Of course it packs a little more in terms of cost, but the results over my previous 1.8D are astounding.

Some of the most beautiful DOF I’ve captured thanks to this little beast.

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Nikon 70 200mm f 2 8G ED VR II AF S NIKKOR Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

An already legendary fast-aperture Zoom-NIKKOR has been skillfully reengineered to meet the needs of higher resolution D-SLRs and more discriminating photographers. The new AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II incorporates seven ED glass elements in a newly developed optical system and now features Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat to virtually eliminate internal reflections, enhancing saturation and overall image quality. Vibration Reduction II image stabilization allows photographers to shoot remarkably crisp images hand-held at as many as four shutter speeds slower than would be otherwise possible. As with its predecessor, the new AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II will be a must-have for every serious Nikon shooter’s bag. Rounded 9-blade diaphragm Focuses to 4.6 feet – Close focusing provided throughout the entire zoom range for extended versatility. Flower-shaped lens hood – Included HB-48 lens hood, shades the objective from unwanted, image-degrading light. Takes 77mm filters

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Nikon 18 105mm f 3 5 5 6 AF S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

Lens has been Factory-Refurbished to perform as new. Includes 90-Day Nikon Warranty. Designed for Nikon D-series Digital SLR cameras, this lens is compact, versatile and ideal for a broad range of shooting situations, ranging from interiors and landscapes to beautiful portraits a perfect everyday zoom. An ED- (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element minimizes chromatic aberration, contributing to superior optical performance. Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enables fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus. Front thread accepts 67mm screw-on lens filters. Rounded 7-blade diaphragm renders more natural appearance of out-of-focus image elements. Unit Dimensions – 3.0 x 3.5 inch (Diameter x Length) / 76×89mm (Diameter x Length); Weighs 14.8 ounces / 420 grams

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent lens, very luminous
Simply excellent. It allows a great deal of light in the picture, even taking pics indoors or using the zoom. Love it.

5 Stars Exelent lens
This lens was exactly what I expect from it. With a good zoom rate and an excellent luminosity. The VR is great, REALY GREAT, it is amazing the results with low light.

5 Stars It is a very good entry lens for family use.
Pictures taken are sharp and clear, better than Nikon 18-55mm ones. The range is quite enough for family use. It is perfect for those who are too lazy (like me) to take multiple lenses out for trip.

It can be auto-focused in D40X and VR feature works fine, which is exactly as I expected.

5 Stars Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras
Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

I purchased this lens as a gift for use on a Nikon D-200, as the recipient enjoys taking both close-up botanical photos and portraits. This has proven to have been an outstanding choice, particularly with a tripod and the anti-vibration feature incorporated in the lens.

These allow for crystal-clear photos which can easily be expanded to 14″x 17″ when set to the highest-quality .jpeg setting, (and even larger in RAW), with effectively zero pixelation.

Some of the botanical photos my wife has taken are simply stunning, even with most of the basic settings set to Auto (she is still a novice). The zoom, while not huge, allows for much greater flexibility over a fixed-focus close-up lens and the price is extremely reasonable, particularly for what you get.

The White Box came with a sun-shield, a soft cloth lens ‘condom’ and caps for both ends. I would recommend this lens to anyone, novice, or experienced photographer if portraiture or close-in photographs were their requirements.

5 Stars Great Nikkor Lens Quality
The refurbished Nikkor 18-105mm AF VR Lens has been functioning very well. The lens is used with a D-60 Nikon. Both autofocus and manual settings have been easy to work with. Great results.

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Nikon 50mm f 1 8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

A compact and fast lens that is perfect for travel and portrait pictures, as well as general photography / f/1.8D / 50mm / Compatible with 52mm Filters Stops down to f/22 for excellent depth-of-field control

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Wonderful lens! Just get it!!
I’m a big fan of what I call the “blurred” background pictures – subjects in sharp focus, with the rest of the background as blurred out as possible. Of course, you have to overcome the challenges of working with a small Depth of Field (DoF). I also love snapping candids of my kids, many a times, in sub-optimal light conditions. This lens is terrific for both of these purposes.

Some reviews were negative about Autofocus,but it worked just fine, out of the box (didn’t have to change any setting, or set any locks on the lens – just snapped it on as is) on to my D70 – note, some Nikon consumer SLRs will not autofocus with this lens.

I thought for quite a while about the Nikon 50mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras, but the price difference doesn’t seem to justify it. Getting to shoot around 1.8 is good enough for me (remember – DoF becomes that much more challenging when you go down to 1.4).

If you’re a zoom addict, remember that there isn’t any zooming on this. You will have to move yourself to get the right picture composition (or crop later).

I shot a good set with my kids and also on some religious figurines at a friend’s house (see customer image of Lord Ganesha) – love what I see.

This is a great complement to my Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens. Enjoy!

5 Stars Very small and powerfull lens
Well this tiny lens is very powerfull and pictures it take are very sharp. Im very happy with this lens. You can blur the background very easy with it…and much more..

5 Stars Excellent fast lense..u need it !!
Well, i guess every photographer need a fast lense..and this one is the first choice before you end up paying double for f/1.4. Excellent image quality, mind blowing DOF..what else left..manual focus is something u may feel little bad, but u will get habituated. It wont dissapoint you..for sure !!!

4 Stars Great little lens, Does NOT Autofocus with d5000
Excellent little lens. Price is great! Good depth of focus, easy to use, very quick. Good for low-light, indoor, and portraits. I really love it! One hangup is that it does NOT auto focus for my new d5000. Definitely not a deal breaker though for the price and the picture quality. Overall, very happy with it… Happy shooting!

5 Stars The greatest lens ever
This lens is pure awesome. Although i have a d60 and cannot use it for auto focus, the nifty 50 has made me experience and enjoy and become good at manual focusing, which is something every photographer should be capable of.

I highly recommend every nikon dslr owner out there to have this lens

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