Super sharp
Manual Focus very easy with the maximum apperture of 1.8

Barrel made of plastic (but not so bad.
Some risk of flare

A very good invest on a lens. Excelent optical performance with the only drawback of a plastic barrel (if you use to enjoy the MF Nikkors). Very useful for indoor portraits with no need for a flash.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

MF Nikkor 35-70 f/3.3-4.5
MF TAMRON adapt all 2
70-150 f/3.5 and 35-70 f/3.5 4.5

Sharp. Works great with close-up diopters like the 5T/6T (even works well with the cheaper alternatives). Works great on a PK-11A tube. Even works great with a 6T and PK-11A. Nice bokeh, with an almost old-fashioned way of glowing around the highlights.

Somewhat more flare-prone than most primes - the advice to keep the hood on is right on. Close focusing could be a bit better - if you're shooting photos of an infant, a #1 diopter will practically live on this lens. Fortunately, it works quite well with diopters.

t's not much bigger than a 50/1.4, although it's quite a bit heavier. Put the shade on it, and the effect is quite large. By the time you include the screw-in metal shade and a lens cap, it's a pound of lens. Big 62mm front element and nine-leaf diaphragm. A very sharp lens, although I frequently wish it focused closer than three feet. Beautiful bokeh, but watch the backlight. Since my portrait lens was always the 105/2.5, all my "portrait" filters (various grades of warming and softening) are in 52mm. However, there is no problem using them with a step-down ring.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

100/3.5 AF Macro
Nikkor 105/2.5 AI
Nikkor 100/2.8E

quick rear focusing
bright view finder image
sharp end result

No lens cap to cover the lens hood.

Beautiful lens with sharp results. Rear focusing technology is nice and quick. The lens hood requires the nikon 77mm snap-on lens cap. Don't get a cheap cap becuase they don't fit correctly, and can easly be bumped off.
Used with extention tubes is great. Nice for Landscapes, Portraits, Still life.

Customer Service

none required

Similar Products Used:

nikkor 20mm 2.8
nikkor 50mm 1.8

Fast, wide apature
Clear pictures

No rounded diaphrams

I have a head and shoulders portrait of my wife hanging in our bedroom which is almost 1 metre long. You can get right up close and see clearly every eyelash and all the detail in her eye. It focuses fast on my F100 (i haven't experienced AFS yet though), is as sharp as a tack and gives me great pictures.

Customer Service

Non necessary

Similar Products Used:

28AFD 2.8 (latest ver - very sharp)
50AF 1.4
28-200 Tamron (very bad)

Very Sharp and Pretty Colours
No Vignetting

Srew-In Lens-Hood

This Lens is the first choice for Nudes, Portaits, Landscapes and Available-Light.
The Price is very Nice and the Quality on a very High Level.Everyone (using Nikon) should have it in his Foto-Bag.

Customer Service

No!!!

Similar Products Used:

MF Nikkor 1:2,5 100mm

What can I say, it's FAST ! It's also very sharp, and at 85mm good for people shots.

Screw in lens hood, and not cap for the hood when attached

It’s an all around good lens as with most Nikon glass, and at 1.8 it’s fast and worth every penny for people who don’t see the need for it’s sister lens at 1.4 for twice the price.

Customer Service

Not Needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 50mm 1.4 D-AF
Nikon 60mm 2.8 D-AF Macro

Not only tack sharp but with good color rendition. pleasing bokeh.

wish it chould be a bit sharper wide open.

This is the first prime lense I bought and still like it. stepped down to f5.6 and you can hardly find anything to compare with in its class. best buy for the money.

Customer Service

none used.

Similar Products Used:

28-70/f2.8 AFS, sigma 70-210/f2.8

extremly sharp
fast
nice bokeh
colours/contrast
focusses manually well
IF: fast autofocus
lenshood goes along for free

none

Have used this lens for some weeks now, I must say the optics are just amazing. If you do portraits, take care, you will capture every single detail on the film - if used correctly. It could be sharper at f1.8, but I don`t expect it to be for the price, actually for a f1.8 tele at this pricerange (in Denmark you pay about 550 US dollars) it is pretty sharp and still very enjoyable in these available light situations. Stopped down at f5.6 and further it is just perfect. I haven`t experienced any problems with flare, but then again, I always have the lenshood attached. Haven`t tested it without it.
At first I wanted to purchase the 2.8/80-200, but you get better optical results with the 2.8/180 (beautiful piece of glass) combined with the prime 85mm. In this case a f1.8 (can`t speak for the f1.4 version). Furthermore, with the 85mm you can focus at a closer range than with the 80-200 at 80mm, and that is a very important issue to me. So if you like to go closer, stay away from the zoom.
Buttom line: I don`t consider this lens expensive at all, when I see the optical performance it delievers. It is also light and handy, yet sturdy build. If you are into this focal lenght, this is the best Nikkor lens to get...that is: if you don`t have the money (and strength) for a f1.4!

Customer Service

haven`t had to use it so far, hopefully it will keep that way

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor:
AF2.8/24 D
AF1.4/50 D
AF2.8/180 ED D
AF2.8/80-200 ED D

Super super sharp, this len shaper than 105AF2.8

none

I used this len for portriats at my studio without any problem. This len super sharp I never use it before if I know how is sharp I will never Buy 105 AF 2.8. This len super sharp up to enlarge 30x40.

Customer Service

Never

Similar Products Used:

Nikon105 AF 2.8

Fast, sharp, durable. Pro quality at an affordable price.

Watch out for flare.

This is a great lens for the money. I've used Nikon's excellent 80-200 zoom, and decided to trade it in because it was way too heavy. The 85mm 1.8 AF-D is very sharp and robust. Use the provided lens hood whenever possible, since the front element is very exposed. You either like this focal length or you don't. I do, and this lens is near perfect for the money.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

80-200 2.8 AF-D