The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm ƒ/1.4G is a short telephoto prime designed for Nikon’s FX full-frame F-mount DSLRs. And it’s not to be confused with the 85mm ƒ/1.8G, which is sold at a significantly lower price and is a less refined lens overall.
It’s surprisingly compact. So as much as it’s probably aimed more at portrait and wedding photographers, it’s also a viable option to include in a travel photography kit. And that’s exactly how I’ve been using it.
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Silent Wave Motor AF System
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
I’ve previously posted my hands-on review of this lens, which you can find here. But here’s a selection of sample images I’ve taken with.
Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4G Lens Sample Photos
For a closer look, you can click on each image for a higher-resolution version.
Other Alternatives
Nikon has a number of other lenses around the 85mm focal length, including:
- Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G. This retails for around a third of the price of the ƒ/1.4 (and you can get some even lower prices used). It’s a good lens, but it there is quite a difference in terms of build and performance between the two. But if you’re baulking at the price of the 1.4 and are willing to compromise a little, the ƒ/1.8 is well work a look.
- Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm ƒ/3.5G ED VR. This is designed for Nikon DX bodies. It also has macro and built-in vibration reduction. And, of course, it’s quite a bit slower.
- Nikon Z 85mm ƒ/1.8 S. If you’re shooting on a Nikon mirrorless camera, there’s now a native Z 85mm lens. It’s a little slower than the ƒ/1.8, but it features excellent optics and is priced very competitively. (You can also use the AF-S version on a Z body with the FTZ adapter).
Price & Availability of the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G Lens
Nikon has set the MSRP of this lens at $1599, but it has been out for a while now, and you can often find it for significantly less than that, both new and used.
Buy New
- F-Mount Lens/FX Format
- Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
- Silent Wave Motor AF System
- Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
Buy Used
This lens has been out for quite some time now–since 2010–so they’re pretty easy to find on the used market. Some good places to look include:
More to Check Out
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Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2024-05-18 at 10:53. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.