review: Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.4 G
Itching to try out the Nikon 85mm f1.4G (B&H /Amazon) during a photo session, I had Jessica model for me. During this short photo session, I used the new 85mm f1.4G and the classic 85mm f1.4D side-by-side. As you can see in the photo above, the lens’ extremely shallow depth of field and superb bokeh, give backgrounds that just melt away.
My first impression already is that lens is even better than I anticipated …
1.) Focus speed
I expected the new Nikon 85mm f1.4G (affiliate), to focus faster, and it is! In using this lens on the D3, it felt like the lens was suddenly just in focus at the touch of the focus button. And it is quiet. Very impressive. If you’re used to the f1.4D buzzing sound as it focuses .. especially when it hunts a bit, then this new lens will be a real treat for you. It really is much much faster. This alone would’ve made it an automatic upgrade for me.
2.) Focus accuracy
Better yet, while I frequently enough got miss-focused shots with the f1.4D during use on shoot, it would appear with this initial test that the f1.4G nails focus at f1.4 more often.
Focusing on a Jessica’s eyes during various simple portraits of her, the f1.4G nailed it more often than the f1.4D in comparison. The f1.4G nailed it pretty much every time. It is difficult making a qualitative assessment here, working hand-held with an f1.4 optic. If either you or your subject moves even slightly, the plane of focus shifts. Despite that, the f1.4G definitely appeared more confident. The focus was accurate and just *there*. So this is a big improvement.
3.) Sharpness at f/1.4
I honestly couldn’t tell a difference. For properly focused shots, you could count eye-lashes on photos taken with either lens. Stopped down to f2.0 and then to f2.8 made a difference to the sharpness on both lenses. However this type of lens was meant to be used wide open, or close to wide open.
4.) Contrast and control of flare
Here is the other Big News! Look at these two photos … taken about 30 seconds apart on two different D3 bodies. No filters. The exact same camera settings, and exact same RAW settings in processing.
First, the Nikon 85mm f1.4G
Then, in comparison, the 85mm f1.4D
Notice how the flare from the background washed out the contrast, as you can see in her black sweater. Now, the image at the top is noticeably warmer. I did subsequent tests, and the f1.4G is indeed slightly warmer than the f1.4D comparing the two lenses on two identical camera bodies, cross-swapping the lenses. But the difference in warmth of the images wasn’t to the extent shown here. So I am assuming what we see in these photographs is entirely due to the flare from the blue-ish / purple-ish tree leaves.
5.) Bokeh
I can’t see a difference in the bokeh in these shots or other test shots. I photographed railings and grid-like iron-work .. things which very quickly show up a lens when it has harsh bokeh. But to my eye, these two lenses had the same great bokeh.
Summary
Final initial assessment of the Nikon 85mm f1.4G (affiliate)
– focus speed is greatly improved,
– focus accuracy is improved,
– and the new lens handles flare like a champ.
If you would like to purchase this lens, it is available from these affiliate links:
– Nikon 85mm f1.4G – (B&H / Amazon)
The f/1.8G lens might be a more affordable alternative. It too is stellar.
– Nikon 85mm f/1.8G – (B&H / Amazon)
I take it you would be using a Nikon 85 mm f/1.4 lens for the long term. Nonetheless, would you compare the recent Sigma version too ?
In terms of portrait – which lens do you prefer? Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 or nikon 85mm f1.4?
“it felt like the lens was suddenly just in focus at the touch of the focus button.”
I was wondering if you use the AF-On button or just half press the shutter and what are your thoughts on one vs the other.
Neil, when you have the time, I would like to know the difference between the f1.4G and f1.4D in terms of edge-to-edge sharpness.
thank you
i would like to ask if the the nikon or canon 85mm can give the same kind of Bokeh if it is used by a crop kind of camera like canon 7D or nikon D300 ?..thanks
Whilst on the subject of lens review, I noticed that in passing you slated the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM. Yet this lens has such good reviews on B & H. Can you say what problems you encountered with the lens, please?
Mike, This article will partly explain my frustration with the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 II lens. And when I saw how superb the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 is, I realized I had been stupid for continually throwing money at Canon in the hopes of getting a sharp Canon 16-35mm f2.8 zoom, when the Nikon existed. Here’s another report on the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 which explains what a magnificent lens it is.
Anyway, after having waded through 5 copies of the Canon 16-35mm f2.8 ver2 lens … of which the first three were horrendously bad, (noticeably poorer than the ver 1 of the lens), …. and the 4th copy had to go in to Canon twice to be calibrated to an ‘okay’ level … and a 5th copy also performed merely ‘okay’ … it is then a lens that I can not recommend in good faith. But, if Canon would send me over a copy that they believe matches their hype, I’ll gladly take a look at it. I’m always open for these considerations.
Thx for review, very intersting to read. What do you think about plastic construction of this lens? I own that lens and the new AF-S 24mm F/1.4 and the cheap plastic construction disappointed me.
Beautiful background choice (and beautiful model…), I love it!
Hi Neil,
I’m very happy to see your post of today (10/26/10 “bokeh – a few notes”) with regard to these pics from the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G. I love your choice of background- a defining quality of your photography- and the purples of the Japanese maple(?) complementing Jessica’s hair color are awesome.
Subjectively, however, I’m not too fond of the bokeh. To my eye, the highlight OOF areas are a bit distracting where the edges are defined.
I’m curious how the Zeiss 100mm f/2 would render the highlight areas (as well as the other lens in your arsenal).
BTW: The difference in contrast between the lenses is remarkable. I’m realizing what many of these terms actually mean– thanks for your great blog.
Hello Neil
I was a canon user until last week, finally switched to a Nikon D3S. So far I have only a 24-70 lens to mount on it.
I came across this post by looking up reviews of this lens, which I’d like to replace my canon 85 1.2.
Excellent timing, thanks for the post and this blog is great, BTW :)
I was also considering a zeiss makro planar 100mm as a portrait lens, do you know this one ?
Pierre .. I have a Zeiss Makro-Planar 100mm f/2 on loan, and posted a single image from it in this post on bokeh. The build quality is spectacular, and the focusing really is silky smooth.But I’m so used to responsive auto-focus that it is hard for me to adapt to this lens. For someone used to a slow considered way of working, it would be a dream. As it is, I prefer the Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR. BTW .. the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS macro is spectacular too.
Hello Neil,
I understand you that the AFS is much better than old AF in the D-lens.
AF is my main and only problem with the D-version. I shoot small kids playing around but also portraits (where they don’t stop moving), also live-scenes at markets etc. The D-lens is poor in nailing sharpness on moving subjects on my D300. I also have unsharpness with the 17-55 and the 50 AFS, but much less. Because of needed DOF, I often use between 3.5 and 5.6 when shooting moving subjects, with shorter than 1/200.
Did you also shoot moving subjects with the AFS-lens? AFS was stll that accurate?
Thanx
Axel, Berlin
thanks for replying, Neil.
yes I just saw your image done with the makro planar, looks pretty good to me.
I can’t decide between the new 85mm nikon 1.4G and the makro planar 100, they’re my favorites of the set.
If those two puppies are performing equally well when it comes to sharpness and contrast, then I’d rather go for the nikon as it has AF. After all, this is 2010 :)
But if the makro planar is really way better in terms of image quality (I know – hard to quantify) over the nikon, then I might just go for it and do some old-school focusing.
Is the image quality out of the zeiss so stellar that it’s okay to not have autofocus in your opinion ?
An interesting observation in using both these lenses.
I stood on the steps, leaning over Jessica for this portrait at f1.4
Now, still focused on her with the central AF sensor, I recomposed the image with the 85mm f1.4G to get this image:
I did the same with the 85mm f1.4D
Here are the 100% crops of her eye for both those images:
I was so surprised at how soft the image was for the f1.4D that I repeated this simple test several times – here and with other images. Same result …
… using center-focus and then recomposing, gave me a crisper image to the edge with the G lens than the D lens. Consistently so.
I’m not entirely confident in the outer AF areas of the Nikon D3, and rely on focus & recompose with the central AF sensor when working with shallow DoF and images where critical focus is important.
So this made me really happy about the new lens.
Now, I’m not sure yet whether this is due to either:
– improved edge-to-edge sharpness with the G lens, or
– the plane of focus is more consistently even from the central to edge areas with the G lens … ie, not as curved.
Either way, I like the results. It makes using this lens more predictable in its behavior for me during a shoot.
Neil vN
Neil,
When you focus and recompose, are you using AF Lock? I have been using the outer AF areas of the D700, and I think you’re right that they aren’t great at AF.
Also, you must be doing the recompose very carefully, since at f1.4, if you camera to subject distance changes, the depth of field will change noticeably.
First of all, hi :) First-time reader of this blog. Love your portraits!
And now onto my question(s). I have a conundrum, researching about this lens like crazy. I want to buy it because I would need it for sports-shooting and portraits as well, (the 70-200 was also considered but I would rarely use focal lengths above 80-90mm), and am using the D700. I’ve read on another blog that the autofocus speed of the G version is quite slower than the D version, and this sounds weird to me (considering that the idea behind the AF-S design is speed), and I’ve also seen that there is a lot of vignetting and coma wide open (this review here: . Considering you say that the 70-200 is your go to lens for portraits, would you recommend it over the 85mm then?
Oh, and so as not to flood you only with questions, just saw your budoir photography, and all I can say is – wow. An inspiration.
Have a nice weekend :)
Thomas
Hi Neil,
I finally made the break from Canon, having been a 30 year user of them.
Got tired of the OOF percentage hits from the bread and butter 24-70mm lens, both my 1D Mk III cameras have had to go back for repairs, my Canon 5D MkII has also been back, 1 speedlite [580EX II] actually fried the very first time I simply loaded batteries and turned it on, so replacement had to be done.
btw: B&H were fantastic about this, I shipped it back to them from Australia and had the replacement in 8 days, fantastic service.
So, I finally had enough and purchased 2 new Nikon D3s bodies, a 24-70mm f2.8 and a 70-200mm f2.8 VR II, 2 SB900s and other knick-knacks.
They are actually in transit as I type.
Each body will have each of above lenses on permanently.
eBay is about to get a truckload of Canon gear coming it’s way shortly. :)
In the very near future I am getting a 3rd D3s body and here is my question.
I want a prime f1.4 lens and was tossing up between the 85 f1.4G and the new 24mm f1.4G lens.
Seeing you own both [gee, I may even have to go down that path of getting both] which would you say you utilise the most. If you had the choice that is with only the option of having 1 of them.
Thanks.
Hi Neil,
Thanks very much for the input, I shall have to seriously get one shortly while the AUS $ is at a high rate, savings are huge overseas than locally. [Seriously, $8000+ on all Nikon gear I purchased, than if I shopped locally].
I will be spending quite a few hours reading manuals and **of course** your site, love the work.
Thanks once again,
Trev
I always wonder why people who seem to struggle with focus issues, switch a whole system / brand in hopes the problems will go away…
As an owner of both Nikon and Canon gear I can attest to each system’s at times idiosyncratic behavior. Given equivalent good lens both systems will handle beautifully some situations and horribly some others (apart from 1DMk3 whose AF would border on bizarre sometimes).
Just my two cents.
Bogdan
Great use of such a great lens!
Check out some more great pics with the 85mm f/1.4G on vigorotaku.com
This lens is absolutely fantastic!
Hi!
I would be very interested in comparishon to the Nikon 85mm 1,8D I own. In my point of view I think the 1,8D is just sharp when closing the Aperture to 2.0 or even more. So there is not that big improvement to my 70-200 VR2 which is pretty sharp even with an open Aperture.
Is this normal? Do you know this problem?
Is the 85mm 1,4 G as “soft” or unsharp when using with an open aperture?
Is this much better on the Canon 1,2 model? So that you can use 1.4 much sharper? this would be my dream lens but is not available for nikon.
Thanks a lot.
Ulf
Hi,
I want to buy two new lenses for wedding photography. I want them for Nikon D3s. The lenses are: Nikon 85mm 1.4G and 24mm 1.4G
Do you think its good idea buy these two lenses. Than I have Nikon 105mm Micro and Nikon 70-300mm
Thank you,
Jerry
I read somewhere, I cant remember where, that prime lenses have better picture quality so therefore I was thinking about them two.
You have tried them, so you can compare which ones have better quality?
I want to buy lenses what gonna have really good pictures. I saw few yours pictures and they are very nice and you took them with fast zooms.
So I am kind of in doubt for which ones I would go…
Jerry
Hi there Neil,
thanks a lot for your answer in the other post theme regarding focus / re-composing.
Just read all the above… **very** interesting!
I also came across different lenses with different re-composing behaviour (so I perceived it, at least), but I never before heard something about differences in the curvature of the plane of focus. Could you name other ressources on the web about these differences?
Could you reproduce this error? Could it be, that other effects (your subject moved, …, the lense has front-focus …) are responsible?
thanks for your great website,
Vicco
Hi Neil,
thanks for the feedback, I will do this!
Thank you for all the insights and information on your site.
Cheers, Vicco
Hi,
Great post but I hope you kindly answer my dilemma,
I am a wedding photographer & I’m thinking of buying the Nikon 85mm 1.4g lens for it purely been used at 1.4 for beautiful bokeh bride shots..
But I have the 70-200 vr2 & 50mm 1.4g with 105 Nikon macro and 24-70z
Would u say is there any need for the 85mm when I have already great lenses, I know the 85 is a specialist lens but is it worth it
Hi Neil,
I think you said it best in one of your last posts noting how this lens would “sweeten” the selection of images that you will get”
I purchased this lens a couple weeks ago and i’m really chomping at the bit to use it at my next wedding.
Granted I love my 2.8 workhorses as well. But “IF” you were to use the 85mm 1.4 where do you think is the most practical application? I feel like I would miss my zooms to much during the Wedding formals…..would you use it in the church? first dance? cake cutting? etc..
As always thinks for the great articles!!
I’d use it mostly for portraits, where I can control my subject’s movement and position.
Very informative. Thanks Neil.
Thank you very much for this review Neil,
I have just uploaded a video comparing Nikon 85mm f1.4 g vs Canon 85mm f1.2 for those who are interested : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbWFTVX0OhI&hd=1
Neil,
Did you ever compare the Nikon 1.4 to the Sigma 85 1.4???
Hi Neil,
Very good review…. I am considering buying a Nikon 85mm lens either the 1.8G or the 1.4G. Based upon your reviews of both lens, I’m leaning toward the 1.8G, because you say the Bokeh is almost if not the same on the two and I don’t think I will benefit from the extra 2/3 stop difference at this time.
That being said, you did comment on the contrast of the 1.4G being stronger that that of the 1.4D, and that the 1.4G is warmer. Did you happen to make a similar comparison of the 1.4G and the 1.8G? I was very impressed with the 1.4G in that regard.
When I purchase, I will make sure to purchase through your links.
Thank you.
great review and good photos with interesting composition
Just received a new 85 mm 1.4 G today and it makes a scratchy noise during the auto focus which is not present on my 50 mm 1.4 or my 300 mm 2.8 lenses. Is this a normal noise?
Nope, it should be silent like your other AF-S lenses.