Lens Testing - Nikon 85F1.8 AF (non-D) - page 1
Non-scientific, seat-of-the-pants shots with a Nikon 85 F1.8 AF lens. When I got my D700 I took out several lenses one at a time to see how they performed on FX.

I've had this lens since about 1994, and I've always liked it on film and
digital DX format. I'm pretty happy with it for portraiture, but I wanted to see how it performed in less-specialized uses so I took it for a walk around the neighborhood.

It is a bit soft wide open, vignettes somewhat, doesn't focus all that closely, and it only stops down to F16, so you can only get so much depth of field. These characteristics make it much more of a specialty (portrait) lens than a general purpose prime. I still like it.

I've had recent issues getting the focus point where I want it when shooting portraits, and I need to carefully check autofocus accuracy with AF Tuning on my D700.

Converted from NEF to JPG with ViewNX 2. For more information, view the EXIF data. Images are not resized.
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F1.8<br><br>Quick test for center sharpness and CA<br>wide open. Some vignetting. Definitely<br>some CA on the letters in the sign.
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F1.8

Quick test for center sharpness and CA
wide open. Some vignetting. Definitely
some CA on the letters in the sign.

 NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8<br><br>Definite vignetting at F1.8.
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8

Definite vignetting at F1.8.

 NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8<br><br>Checking center sharpness wide open.
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8

Checking center sharpness wide open.
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8<br><br>Judging depth of field.
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8

Judging depth of field.

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/3200, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/4000, F1.8<br><br>Getting a feel for plane of focus.
NIKON D700, 1/4000, F1.8

Getting a feel for plane of focus.

NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/500, F8
NIKON D700, 1/500, F8
NIKON D700, 1/400, F8<br><br>Comparing depth of field at F8 and <br>shallower apertures.
NIKON D700, 1/400, F8

Comparing depth of field at F8 and
shallower apertures.

 NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8<br><br>Comparing background cactus at F1.8 to <br>previous shot at F8.
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8

Comparing background cactus at F1.8 to
previous shot at F8.

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F2.2<br><br>Judging sharpness and contrast<br>stopped down just a bit from <br>wide open.
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F2.2

Judging sharpness and contrast
stopped down just a bit from
wide open.
NIKON D700, 1/60, F16<br><br>Judging depth of field at F16, <br>which is closed down as far <br>as this lens goes.
NIKON D700, 1/60, F16

Judging depth of field at F16,
which is closed down as far
as this lens goes.

 NIKON D700, 1/200, F9<br><br>Compare background at F9 to <br>next image at F1.8. But compare<br>sharpness and contrast as well.
NIKON D700, 1/200, F9

Compare background at F9 to
next image at F1.8. But compare
sharpness and contrast as well.

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/2000, F2.8
NIKON D700, 1/2000, F2.8

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F2<br><br>Almost wide open. Compare background<br>to next image at F3.5.
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F2

Almost wide open. Compare background
to next image at F3.5.
NIKON D700, 1/1250, F3.5
NIKON D700, 1/1250, F3.5

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/3200, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/3200, F1.8
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F1.8

 NIKON D700, 1/1250, F3.2
NIKON D700, 1/1250, F3.2
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F3.2
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F3.2

 NIKON D700, 1/6400, F2
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F2

 NIKON D700, 1/6400, F2
NIKON D700, 1/6400, F2
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F2.8
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F2.8

 NIKON D700, 1/4000, F2.8
NIKON D700, 1/4000, F2.8

 NIKON D700, 1/3200, F2.8
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F2.8
NIKON D700, 1/160, F16<br><br>Maximum depth of field, with <br>foreground and background objects.
NIKON D700, 1/160, F16

Maximum depth of field, with
foreground and background objects.

 NIKON D700, 1/125, F16
NIKON D700, 1/125, F16

 NIKON D700, 1/2500, F3.5
NIKON D700, 1/2500, F3.5
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F2.5
NIKON D700, 1/3200, F2.5

 NIKON D700, 1/640, F8
NIKON D700, 1/640, F8

 NIKON D700, 1/2000, F3.5
NIKON D700, 1/2000, F3.5
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F3.5
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F3.5

 NIKON D700, 1/640, F7
NIKON D700, 1/640, F7

 NIKON D700, 1/800, F7<br><br>This was a minimum focus distance <br>test. This lens does not focus <br>particularly close.
NIKON D700, 1/800, F7

This was a minimum focus distance
test. This lens does not focus
particularly close.
NIKON D700, 1/1000, F4
NIKON D700, 1/1000, F4

 NIKON D700, 1/8000, F2
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F2

 NIKON D700, 1/5000, F2
NIKON D700, 1/5000, F2
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F2
NIKON D700, 1/8000, F2