Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D used under $150 sets the stage for this enthralling narrative, offering readers a glimpse into a story that is rich in detail and brimming with originality from the outset. This classic lens, known for its exceptional sharpness and creamy bokeh, has captivated photographers for years, offering a blend of affordability and performance that is hard to beat.
The “D” designation in its name signifies its inclusion of a distance-encoding chip, a feature that allows for seamless communication with compatible Nikon cameras, ensuring accurate autofocus and exposure metering.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D excels in portrait photography, capturing stunning details and creating captivating backgrounds with its shallow depth of field. Its fast f/1.8 aperture allows for exceptional low-light performance, capturing images with minimal noise even in dimly lit environments.
This lens has become a favorite among photographers of all levels, from beginners seeking to elevate their portrait work to seasoned professionals looking for a reliable and affordable option.
Overview of the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D Lens
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens is a classic portrait lens renowned for its sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and affordability. Released in 1996, it quickly gained popularity among photographers for its exceptional performance and versatility.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D is a classic portrait lens, known for its creamy bokeh and sharp image quality. While it’s designed for Nikon cameras, the world of photography is vast and diverse. If you’re shooting with a Sony Alpha a6000, you might be wondering about the best lens options for your camera.
A great place to start your research is this comprehensive guide which covers a wide range of lenses, from budget-friendly to high-end. Whether you’re looking for a portrait lens like the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D or a versatile zoom, this guide will help you find the perfect lens to elevate your photography.
Key Features and Specifications
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens is a fixed focal length lens designed for use with Nikon’s full-frame and APS-C cameras. It offers a maximum aperture of f/1.8, allowing for shallow depth of field and beautiful background blur. It has a minimum focusing distance of 3.2 feet (0.97 meters) and a filter size of 52mm.
The lens is constructed with 7 elements in 6 groups, including an aspherical element that helps to reduce distortion.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D is a classic lens, known for its sharp images and beautiful bokeh, often available for under $150. When using this lens, you might consider adding a UV or polarising filter to protect the front element and enhance your photographs.
A UV filter can help to reduce haze and improve image clarity, while a polarising filter can cut down on reflections and enhance colours, especially in landscapes and skies. These filters can be a great addition to your Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D, enhancing your photography experience.
Significance of the “D” Designation
The “D” designation in the lens name stands for “Distance.” This indicates that the lens features a built-in distance sensor, which communicates with the camera’s autofocus system to provide more accurate autofocus readings, particularly in low-light conditions. This communication also allows for automatic aperture control and depth of field preview.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
- Sharpness:The lens is known for its exceptional sharpness, especially when stopped down to f/2.8 or smaller. This makes it ideal for capturing detailed portraits and other subjects.
- Bokeh:The wide maximum aperture of f/1.8 allows for a shallow depth of field, resulting in beautiful background blur, often referred to as “bokeh.” This can help to isolate the subject from the background and create a more pleasing composition.
- Affordability:Compared to other professional-grade 85mm lenses, the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D is relatively affordable, making it an excellent option for photographers on a budget.
- Versatility:While primarily a portrait lens, the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D can also be used for a variety of other photographic genres, including landscape, street, and product photography.
Weaknesses
- Autofocus:The autofocus system can be somewhat slow and noisy, particularly in low-light conditions. This may not be ideal for fast-paced photography.
- Distortion:While the aspherical element helps to minimize distortion, some barrel distortion may be noticeable at wider apertures. This can be corrected in post-processing.
- Chromatic Aberration:The lens may exhibit some chromatic aberration, especially at wider apertures. This can be reduced by stopping down the aperture or by using software to correct it.
Usage and Applications: Nikon Af Nikkor 85mm F/1.8d Used Under 0
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens is a versatile tool that finds its place in a variety of photographic situations. Its strengths lie in its ability to create stunning portraits, capture compelling events, and excel in low-light environments.
Portrait Photography
The 85mm focal length is widely considered ideal for portraiture, as it produces a flattering perspective that minimizes distortion and emphasizes the subject’s features. The lens’s fast f/1.8 aperture allows for shallow depth of field, creating a pleasing background blur (bokeh) that isolates the subject and draws attention to their details.
This ability to control the depth of field is crucial for portrait photographers who aim to create images with a dreamy and artistic feel.
Event Photography
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens is a popular choice for event photographers who need to capture candid moments in various lighting conditions. Its fast aperture allows for shooting in low-light situations without resorting to high ISO settings, which can introduce noise and grain.
The lens’s relatively compact size and weight make it easy to carry and maneuver, enabling photographers to move freely and capture spontaneous events.
Low-Light Shooting
The lens’s f/1.8 aperture allows for a significant amount of light to enter the camera sensor, enabling photographers to shoot in low-light situations without sacrificing shutter speed or ISO. This capability is particularly valuable for photographers who work in dimly lit environments, such as nightclubs, concerts, or indoor events.
The lens’s fast aperture also allows for creative control over depth of field, enabling photographers to create images with a soft and dreamy aesthetic.
Image Quality and Performance
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens, despite its age, delivers impressive image quality that rivals many modern lenses in its class. This is due to its robust optical design and the use of high-quality glass elements.
Sharpness
Sharpness is a key aspect of image quality, and the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D excels in this area. It delivers excellent sharpness even at wide open apertures, especially in the center of the frame. While the sharpness may slightly decrease towards the edges at f/1.8, it becomes remarkably sharp when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D is a classic portrait lens known for its sharpness and creamy bokeh. It’s often available for under $150, making it a fantastic budget option for photographers seeking a beautiful portrait lens. If you’re looking for a camera body to pair it with, the canon 650d digital camera is a great choice, offering a 18MP APS-C sensor and a variety of shooting modes.
The 650D’s autofocus system will work seamlessly with the Nikon lens, allowing you to capture stunning portraits with ease. With this combination, you can create professional-quality images without breaking the bank.
This sharpness is particularly noticeable when shooting portraits, where the subject’s details are rendered with remarkable clarity.
Bokeh
Bokeh, the pleasing blur of out-of-focus areas, is another notable characteristic of the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D. The lens produces a smooth and creamy bokeh, particularly at wider apertures. This effect helps to isolate the subject from the background, creating a visually appealing separation and enhancing the overall aesthetic of the image.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D is a fantastic lens for capturing portraits with its creamy bokeh and sharp details, often found for under $150. For those seeking to capture distant subjects with detail, consider exploring the world of binoculars that take photographs , which combine the power of optics with digital image capture.
While the Nikon 85mm f/1.8D excels at close-up work, binoculars with cameras offer a unique perspective on the world, ideal for capturing wildlife or scenic landscapes.
Color Rendition
The lens’s color rendition is generally accurate and pleasing, with vibrant and natural colors. It delivers a balanced color palette that faithfully reproduces the colors of the scene. However, some users may find that the lens can produce slightly warm tones, especially in low-light conditions.
Performance in Various Lighting Conditions
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D performs well in various lighting conditions. It is capable of capturing sharp and well-exposed images even in low light, thanks to its fast maximum aperture of f/1.8. This allows photographers to shoot in challenging lighting conditions without compromising image quality.
Comparison with Other Lenses
When compared to other lenses in its class, such as the more recent Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G, the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D offers a comparable level of image quality at a significantly lower price point. The AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G may have slightly better sharpness and autofocus performance, but the difference is often negligible in practical use.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D, a classic portrait lens, can be found used for under $150, making it an incredibly affordable way to capture stunning images with its creamy bokeh and sharp detail. While the lens itself excels at capturing light and detail, you’ll need to convert those negatives into digital files to share your creations.
For this, a dedicated scanner for 35mm negatives is essential, offering high resolution and color accuracy to truly bring your images to life. The combination of this lens and a good scanner is a powerful tool for any photographer seeking to create high-quality, affordable images.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D still provides a compelling value proposition for photographers looking for a high-quality 85mm lens without breaking the bank.
Comparisons and Alternatives
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D is a popular choice for photographers on a budget, but it’s not the only 85mm lens available. Let’s compare it to another popular option, the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G, and see how they stack up.
Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D vs. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is a newer lens that incorporates modern features and technology. It’s a popular choice for portrait photographers and offers several advantages over the older AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D.
Key Differences
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between the two lenses:
| Lens Name | Focal Length | Aperture | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D | 85mm | f/1.8 | $100-$150 (used) |
| Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G | 85mm | f/1.8 | $400-$500 (new) |
Performance and Features
- Autofocus:The AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G features a silent wave motor (SWM) for fast and quiet autofocus. The AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D uses a traditional screw-drive autofocus system, which can be slower and noisier.
- Image Stabilization:The AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G has built-in vibration reduction (VR), which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images. The AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lacks VR.
- Bokeh:Both lenses produce pleasing bokeh, but the AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G generally has smoother and more pleasing bokeh due to its newer lens design.
- Sharpness:The AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is generally considered to be sharper than the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D, especially at wider apertures.
- Build Quality:The AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G has a more modern and robust build quality, with a metal lens mount and a weather-sealed design.
Conclusion
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is a significant upgrade over the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D in terms of performance and features. However, the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D remains a great value option for photographers on a budget. Ultimately, the best lens for you will depend on your specific needs and budget.
Conclusion
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens, despite its age, remains a compelling option for photographers seeking a classic portrait lens at an affordable price. Its sharp image quality, pleasing bokeh, and fast aperture make it a capable performer for a wide range of photographic applications.
Key Takeaways, Nikon af nikkor 85mm f/1.8d used under 0
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens offers a compelling combination of image quality, affordability, and versatility.
- Its sharp image quality, particularly at wider apertures, makes it well-suited for portraiture and other applications where detail is crucial.
- The lens’s fast maximum aperture of f/1.8 allows for shallow depth of field, creating pleasing bokeh and isolating subjects from the background.
- Its compact size and lightweight design make it a portable and convenient option for photographers on the go.
- The lens’s relatively affordable price point makes it an attractive option for photographers on a budget.
Final Thoughts
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D used under $150 presents a compelling case for photographers seeking a versatile and affordable portrait lens. Its combination of sharpness, bokeh, and low-light performance makes it a standout choice for capturing stunning portraits and evocative images.
While the lens may lack some of the modern features found in newer models, its exceptional image quality and affordability remain its greatest strengths. With proper care and a keen eye, this lens can be a valuable addition to any photographer’s arsenal, offering a timeless and rewarding experience.