Is the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D Lens Still a Good Option?

Last Updated on September 10, 2019 by cameraconsumer

Is a 30-year-old design even relevant today?

Seems like camera lenses these days have a much shorter lifespan than they used to. A single lens type used to be in production for 15 or 20 years. Not the case anymore.

Newer camera platforms, evolution in imaging technology, and current lifestyles have all played a role in the diminishing lifespan of not just camera lenses, but photography equipment in general.

With the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens from Nikon being priced at such a bargain lately, is it worth it, even given the steep discount?

 

Released in 1994, the Nikkor 85mm 1.8D replaced Nikon’s 85mm f/1.8 (non-D Type) lens. Both variations had virtually the same optics, but the updated model came equipped with a chip that provided better TTL flash exposure metering. This “D chip”is where we get the D in 1.8D.

The 85mm lens, in general, is considered the ideal focal length for portrait photography, but does that still apply to older technology? Can you effectively use yesterday’s lens for today’s photograph?

Let’s take a look at the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D AF lens and figure out if it’s still capable of producing the quality shots that you need. If so, we can definitely say that it’s worth it!

Features of the 85mm f/1.8D AF lens from Nikon

The Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D AF lens was designed with awesome optical capabilities and was mechanically sound. Its excellent optics and build quality made it one of Nikon’s best selling lenses – for quite a while!

Unlike the more intuitive lenses of today, this model has a more simple operation. You can’t just grab the ring to adjust your focus – you’ll have to switch from auto to manual focus.

 

It’s a rear focusing lens. The filter ring stays in place – the focus ring is pretty much the only part that moves.

What it lacks (when compared to current lens technology), it makes up for with sound design and quality. It has a 9-blade diaphragm, metal threads, quicker auto-focus, and is smaller in size than its successor.

Key Features

• Compact size
• 62mm filter size
• 28°30′ angle of view
• 18°50′ angle on DX sensor crop
• Capable of subtle background blur effects
• Super Integrated Coating
• Rear focusing – results in faster auto-focus
• f/11 & f/16 depth of field scales
• Can focus down to 36”
• Mechanically controlled aperture

What replaced the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D AF lens?

The evolution of the 85mm lens came with the arrival of the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G lens in 2012. Click on the blue link to check out the price difference!

It features slightly sharper imaging and is slightly lighter in weight (12.4 oz. vs. 13.2 oz.). It does, however, lack in build quality when compared to the D lens.

The lack of quality can be summarized in two phrases: Plastic focus ring, and Made in….China!

Once you get past the decrease in quality, you can begin to appreciate the advancements in optical quality.

The G model incorporates an instant manual-focus override – even budget DSLR’s can autofocus with it. The aperture blades are still set at 9, but are more rounded, which does result in smoother bokeh in your images.

 

A long-standing complaint of Nikon users was the noisy shutter. If you’re one of the photographers bothered by the noisy focusing motor on the D lens, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quiet the new G model is. You can barely hear it! The G takes a fraction of a second longer to focus, but it does so quietly.

 

Some key features:

• Equipped with a silent wave motor
• Quickly switches from AF to MF mode
• Max aperture – f/1.8
• 62′ min focus distance

Reasons to choose the older D lens

Let’s take a look at why you might prefer the 1.8D over the 1.8G lens.

The biggest advantage would obviously be the price. You can generally find the D lens at quite a discount over the newer G model, but what about beyond that? While pricing is commonly the deciding factor between two similar options, why else would you choose the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D AF lens?

 

 

If you like film-like photos – The G lens handles flare better and provides a bit more in terms of contrast. Conversely, the D lens provides pictures that are closer to traditional film results. If that’s your desired outcome, you’ll appreciate what the 1.8D lens can do.

If you prefer simpler tools – The G lens has more bells and whistles – it’s just more advanced. If you prefer a simpler operation, the D lens is for you.

If you want a lens that will last – Not to say that the 1.8G Nikkor is poorly built, it’s just that the 1.8D lens was and is solid! Over the long haul, the D lens will outlast the G lens hands down.

Why choose an 85mm lens?

The 85mm lens is perhaps the most popular focal length for portrait photography. Whereas a 50mm lens is great for group shots at a wedding, an 85mm lens is superior for individual portraits. It provides a tight field of view, with clear magnification. 

50mm is shown below on the left, with 85mm on the right for comparison.

Wide-angle lenses space out the subject(s) of a photo, and make them feel more distant. An 85mm lens on the other hand magnifies, and makes it seem like you’re taking the photograph up close – closer than you actually are. This is what makes it the ideal lens for portraits. Additionally, at lower apertures, an 85mm lens significantly blurs out the background, keeping its focus on the subject of the photo – where it should be.

This blurring provides separation between subject and background that results in the wonderful bokeh prized by portrait photographers. The field of view, magnification, and lack of compression provide for portraits that are vivid, clear, and just right.

But portraits aren’t the only thing an 85mm lens can handle. They’re actually a much more versatile focal length than they sometimes get credit for.

In reality, 85mm is an intermediary length. It’s not quite a wide angle lens, and not quite a zoom lens either. This makes the 85mm length great for confined spaces, like a basketball arena, where you’d like to get close-up shots – but don’t have the ability to get court-side for example.

Final thoughts

It’s hard to go wrong with a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D lens from Nikon. The 85mm f/1.8D is a very versatile focal length. In the right situations, it delivers close-ups that a wide-angle can’t replicate, and focusing capabilities that a more expensive zoom lens struggles with.

It’s not just the ideal lens for portrait photographers. Photography enthusiasts and journalists alike can benefit from its imaging quality, its brighter photos, and the bokeh that an 85mm can provide.

Without a doubt, the 85mm f/1.8D AF lens from Nikkor is still more than useful today, and is definitely quite a bargain!