Photo: Ryu1chi Miwa (CC BY 2.0)
Quick answer
A portrait prime for Nikon FX cameras with an f/1.4 aperture and Nano Crystal Coat.
Pros
- f/1.4 aperture
- Smooth background rendering
- Sharp
- Quiet AF
Cons
- Heavier than the f/1.8G (595 g)
- No VR
Verdict
A well-regarded portrait lens for DSLR shooters.
About this lens
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G: a fast short-telephoto prime lens with a 85mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.4, made for Nikon F mount cameras, with Silent Wave Motor autofocus. A fast short-telephoto prime favoured for portraits.
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G specifications
- Brand
- Nikon
- Mount
- Nikon F
- Focal length
- 85mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/1.4
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 2010
- Optical construction
- 10 elements in 9 groups
- Aperture blades
- 9
- Autofocus motor
- SWM
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.85 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.12x
- Filter thread
- 77 mm
- Weight
- 595 g
- Length
- 84 mm
- Diameter
- 86.5 mm
Specification source: imaging.nikon.com
What can you shoot with the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G?
- Portraits
- Weddings
- Low-light events
Its very wide maximum aperture suits low light and shallow depth of field with strong background blur.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 85mm | 23.9° | 28.6° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 128mm | 16.1° | 19.3° |
Frequently asked questions
Is the AF-S 85mm f/1.4G a full-frame lens?
Yes, it is an FX lens and works on DX as a 128mm-equivalent lens. On FX bodies you get its full field of view; DX bodies apply a 1.5x crop factor.
Does the AF-S 85mm f/1.4G have vibration reduction?
No. Fast shutter speeds are advised for sharp handheld portraits, and the f/1.4 aperture helps keep them up in dim light.
What filter size does the AF-S 85mm f/1.4G use?
It uses 77mm filters. Check the thread size before buying polarizers or ND filters so they fit without step-up rings.
Alternatives for Nikon F from other brands
All Nikon F lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
