Optics, lens size and balance.

Mediocre manual focus dampening. Faulty aperature ring.

I have had no luck with this lens. I returned the first model due to soft images after precise focusing measures. I showed proofs and blowups to the store manager who agreed. We scratched it off as a possible lemon. And now my second model is at Nikon because it won't hold the aperture at F4 range, the ring turns off its setting without being touched. The optics are great, but... I have never had this problem with any other Nikon lens, or other brand for that matter, in either manual or auto focus mode. Is quality control slipping at Nikon? What the hell is going on?! And by the way, the sharpness of this lens still falls short compared to my twenty year old 105 2.5 which is simply awe inspiring.

Customer Service

It's in Nikon service dept. right now!!!

Similar Products Used:

28mm 2.8 AIS, 50mm1.8 AF, 35-70 2.8AF, 105mm 2.5 AIS, 80-200 4.0 AI.

Sharp
High Res
Feels right mounted, but thats a personal thing.

Occasional flare with sunset pic's.

Many have posted praise to this lens, and they are right. This lens is simply great. Other than maybe upgrading to the D version this lens is a keeper.

I've only had one real problem with this lens. When I put on the camera, my wife vanishes. She hates her picture taken with this lens, cause it shows everything! If your not carefull this lens can add ten years to your subjects age... A defusing filter or simular might be a good investment if you buy this lens. If you one that likes to show off, this lens also looks very professional just being mounted on a body. Personally optic's are more important to me, but I couldn't help but notice when I first mounted it. My N80 suddenly looked very serious.

Similar Products Used:

None

Excellent optics, no complaints. Certainly capable of delivering professional quality images.

A bit noisy, not well dampened. Prone to flare

I have the pre-D version with 9 aperature blades and its quite sharp. I consider it the 85mm counterpart to my 50mm 1.8 which is also very sharp. It also has great bokeh.

Similar Products Used:

85mm 2.0 MF

Size, Weight, Lens hood, F stop, Quality optics

Still searching, (Manual focus could use more dampening)

When purchasing lens's in the begining...I bought the basic consumer lens Nikon offered. Aswell as Tokina 28-70 proII 2.8---However, as my skill level and requirements increased...My demands for "edge-to-edge" quality became a necessity. So, I sold my Tokina lens. It actually produced nice photos if you weren't looking for flaws. But on a recent wedding which photos were praised...I just gritted my teeth with disgust. NOW, after just 3 rolls of film (fuji npc and kodak royal gold), I am finally sattisfied. I did a girls CD cover, and BAMMMM!! This lens rivals my acclaimed 80-200. My wife could actually see the girls eyebrows, nails, and hair with detail. Color/clarity was outstanding. I better be careful on the next shoots to avoid facial imperfections. After carrying the 80-200 and monopod to just a F100 and 85---Why didn't I buy this thing earlier???

Customer Service

Used for F100--Excellent turnaround.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon AF: 24mm 2.8D, 50mm 1.8, 60mm 2.8D, 80-200mm ED2.8D, 24-120mm etc...

Fash, sharp, includes good lens hood, quick to focus.

None for what it's used for (portraits).

My primes are fast becoming the only lenses I use. For portraits, this lens is fitted with a Hoya Skylight filter and a Tiffen Soft/FX, and the results are beautiful. I really don't need the extra 2/3 of a stop that the 85/1.4D offers, considering it costs 3x what I paid for the 85/1.8D and most of my shooting is not done wide-open anyways. I only wish that Nikon would have included a larger lens cap to fit over top of the lens hood, since it's always on the lens anyways.

As with all my Nikon primes, no regrets.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

16/2.8D Fishy
50/1.4D
85/1.8D
24-120
70-300

I like the lens a lot. It is sharp, fast, and is a convenient size.

The focus mechanism is noisy and it looks like it is all plastic but that is to fool everyone.

If you are interested in candids or portraits and want a sharp, fast lens, this is the one for you. I like it and use it often. One of my favorite lenses.

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Many Nikon lenses

VERY SHARP!! fast f1.8

some noise when turning the focusing ring.

Great lens, this is hte lens I use most, I shoot fashion and it is perfect for portraits. Also I shoot dance in the theater, and it is the perfect lens, since you can sit in the fornt row, and have a short tele with a veru fast aperture f1.8 and still get very sharp photos!

Customer Service

Poor in Mexico City, never used it with this lens though.

Similar Products Used:

Canon´s EF 85 f1.8

Exceptionally sharp
Lightweight
Fast for low light people shooting

None

I have the predecessor to the "D" lens, and it
is still a fabulous lens. I got it 2nd hand for
350CDN too ! at 555uS new it isn't cheap, but
IMHO you get what you pay for: quality

Similar Products Used:

None