{"id":62653,"date":"2024-11-17T12:30:25","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T11:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=62653"},"modified":"2024-11-20T15:26:40","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T14:26:40","slug":"review-nikon-nikkor-z-85mm-f-1-8-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-nikon-nikkor-z-85mm-f-1-8-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f\/1.8 S"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | Nikon Z7ii<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f\/1.8 S is a short telephoto lens that delivers excellent background blur thanks to its large aperture. While it’s ideal for portrait photography, it can also be effectively used for landscape and street photography, thanks to its relatively wide field of view for a telephoto lens. This professional-grade lens is designed for both professionals and enthusiasts. From 2019 to 2023, it was Nikon’s only 85mm option for professional use on Z cameras, until the introduction of the 85mm f\/1.2 S. Let\u2019s take a closer look!<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf<\/a> and Nikon Zfc<\/a>)
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/6.3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Zf | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n85mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n28\u00b030′<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n9 (rounded diaphragm opening)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/1.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.8 m\/2.62 ft from focal plane<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n67 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nNikon Z<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n\u2248 470 g\/1 lb 0.6 oz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n75.0 x\u00a099.0 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n12 elements in 8 groups (including 2 ED glass elements and elements with Nano Crystal Coat)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

IMG<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong>\u00a0Amazon (anywhere)<\/a> for $697 (Affiliate link)<\/em>
\nBuy used: eBay.com<\/a>, ebay.de<\/a>, ebay.co.uk<\/a> from $520 (Affiliate link)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of our readers, Wolfgang, kindly loaned this lens for a couple of months for test and review purposes.<\/p>\n

Handling & Build Quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

Like most Nikon Z lenses, the Nikkor Z 85mm f\/1.8 S features a minimalist design. It appears to be very well built and slightly large for an 85mm f\/1.8 but remains lightweight at just 470g. This lightness is likely due to the lens barrel being made of durable plastic, though the lens mount and the large focusing ring are metal. There is an AF\/MF switch for toggling between autofocus and manual focus, but, as with other Nikon Z lenses, you have full-time manual override in AF mode. This allows you to adjust focus manually by turning the focus ring at any time, even when autofocus is engaged.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f\/1.8 S with its lens hood on a Nikon Z7ii<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although this lens lacks a dedicated control ring, like all Nikon lenses, its large focusing ring can be customized to control manual focus, aperture settings, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, or left inactive<\/p>\n

The lens employs internal focusing, so its length remains constant, and the front element doesn’t rotate when focusing. It comes with a lens hood and front and rear caps. The lens lacks built-in image stabilization, relying instead on the camera’s 5-axis IBIS.<\/p>\n

\"Nikon
Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | mount plate, fron & rear caps<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Autofocus performance, aided by a stepping motor, is fast, accurate, and virtually silent.<\/p>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"MTF
MTF curves | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The MTF chart shows impressive performance, which promises excellent sharpness and contrast with minimal aberrations. The lens design notably lacks any aspherical elements. This choice is likely because the lens is intended for portraiture, and Nikon likely avoided aspherical elements to prevent undesirable bokeh effects in the background.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, centre, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Infinity
Infinity sharpness chart | Nikon Z 85mm f\/1.8 S | Nikon Z7ii | 100% crop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Impressive performance here as right from wide open at f\/1.8 we get excellent sharpness in both the centre and midframe, the corner sharpness is “only” very good. Stopping down to 2.8 makes the centre sharpness phenomenal and another stop to f\/4 makes even the corner sharpness excellent.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the points of interest for portraits at the portrait distance: the very centre, the centre\u2019s inner periphery\u00a0 (1\/3 rule intersection), and the centre\u2019s outer periphery (1\/4th intersection).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Portrait Sharpness Points of Interest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n