Nikon AF-S 85mm f1.4G Sample Images – Real-World Examples

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/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 f/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.

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 f/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 f/1.8 is well work a look.
• Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/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 f/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 f/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

• B&H Photo
• Adorama
• Amazon

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:

• B&H Photo (Used Department)
• KEH