Nikkor 85mm 1.8D AF +D7100 video = a big hell yeah

Michael Carter

Michael Carter

Veteran
Many people love the 85mm 1.4 Nikkor - but that sucker's over a grand.

Shot an interview this weekend and grabbed my old AF 1.8 - it's been in the bottom of my case ever since the AF screw dropped out years ago. For a lens you can get for around $300 on the used market - damn.

I'm usually an F4ish kind of guy for video, but I needed the BG really soft here. This is a frame grab (not a still) shot at 1.8. Slight boost to the blacks in post (shot with the Flaat profile).

(I think the focus is a hair foward of her eyes in the grab... sometimes people really need an eyeline for the "facing off camera" look, so I usually set up a monitor to the side and try to watch focus while engaging the subject.)

This guy's now at the top of my case...

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Yes! I still have the older Nikkor-H 85mm 1.8 that I'm consistently thrilled with.

I've never seen a reason to upgrade it
 
The contrast & sharpness at 1.8 is pretty amazing. I come from a fashion background, so I often like a compressed look - this is really a sweet spot kinda lens. The physical size of it's really nice on a rig with gears, too. Not tiny & not ridiculously huge.
 
So... just did a full day of financial superstars interviews. When possible I used the 85mm... when it was tighter, used a 50mm 1.8 or the 28-70 2.8 Nikkor "beast".

That 85 has some kinda mojo. For going longer, I've loved the 100mm 2.8 Nikkor E, but man, that 85 is special. It's got a warmth that is really special. It's a steal.
 
Vintage Nikon glass is the best. You can get it relatively cheap, and everything looks good.
 
mburgh said:
Vintage Nikon glass is the best. You can get it relatively cheap, and everything looks good.
Click to expand...

I don't know that I'd even consider the 1.8 AF "vintage" - I'm thinking it may still be in production? I'm not sure how the "G" lens differs (other than plastic, lamer aperture blade setup, no aperture ring), and then there's the legendary 1.4...

It's not the newest generation of glass though, but more modern than the AIS stuff. That said, the 28 2.8 AIS is certainly a classic for sharpness and low distortion. The 50mm 1.8 AF is pretty much the same optical design for decades - it's a tight lens, plenty sharp, but there's a mojo to the 85 1.8 that's pretty spectacular. For video, the 85 (at least the sample I have) has a really luscious warmth and killer sharpness on APS-C.
 
Michael Carter said:
I don't know that I'd even consider the 1.8 AF "vintage" - I'm thinking it may still be in production? I'm not sure how the "G" lens differs (other than plastic, lamer aperture blade setup, no aperture ring)
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I'd certainly consider it vintage as its design and coatings are around 20 years old. The newer G glass has modern coatings giving the generation a very clean, neutral look.
 
I guess when I think "vintage" it's pre-AF era... like that 100mm 2.8 Series E, which is an insane bargain at around $100 these days...

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