![[Lens Review]Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D](https://assets.jerfareza.camera/featured-images/10796-nikon-85mm-f1.8-afd.jpg)
Table of Contents
Second post in 2026. And it’s going to be another lens review of a Nikon lens. This time, it’s a focal length that I never really considered as part of my gear list — the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D.
I have been shooting portraits more intensively than before over the past year, and I have come to see that I prefer to shoot somewhere between 50 and 70mm because that is the range I’m comfortable with when shooting on the streets. I rarely shoot headshots, and when I wanted to change that, what better lens to do that than the classic portrait lens, 85mm? (Others may argue that 135mm IS the classic focal length for portrait, but admittedly, 85mm is more popular at present).
So in the end, I chose to get the 85mm f/1.8. Not the f/1.4 version, because a) f/1.8 is cheaper and b) I thought I wouldn’t be shooting wide open with that shallow depth of field anyway.
Build and Handling
Like other Nikon AF-D lenses, this lens is made from plastic except for the mount, which is metal. If you think that would make the lens lightweight, unfortunately, it does not. Clocking in at 366g, the lens is fairly heavy for its compact size.
Owing to its size, it’s a joy to use. As expected for a portraiture-specific lens, the focus ring is precise. This won’t be a consideration if you are shooting in older Nikon bodies that are compatible with screw-drive autofocus. For this review, I mainly used the lens with FTZ adapter on a Z-mount body, which means I lost the autofocus, or on a film body.
I have no qualms about the aperture ring and handling overall. There is a reason AF-D lenses have some of the best glasses from Nikon lens catalog. They were engineered with quality in mind.
If I have to nitpick, I’m not too fond of how the hood can’t be screwed backwards for storage. And the hood is an important factor to control contrast when dealing with a strong source of light.
Image Quality
I absolutely love using this lens due to the images it produces. They look sharp with characters, not too clinical in my opinion. I tested both film and digital, and the lens just works without a noticeable dip in quality.
What about the bokeh rendered? Honestly, I think they are fine. Sure, an f/1.4 lens might have performed better here, but as I said before, I don’t really shoot with the aperture fully open for portraits because the 85mm focal length is already doing the heavy lifting, making headshots look prominent and three-dimensional (left image). I personally have no problems with the bokeh, as you can see below in the right image.
For a lens from the 1990s, it handles stray flares quite well. As seen in the photo below, shooting against the sun creates rather controlled sun flares, provided the hood is attached.
Conclusion
In the end, though, as much as I like the photos taken with this lens, I’m more than inclined to admit that Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D might have been a little too outdated nowadays. There is nothing bad about this lens, and conversely, nothing particularly special as well.
What this lens can do, there are tons of other 85mm lenses out there that can do it better, like the newer AF-S counterparts (and don’t get me started on Z lenses, they are in a whole different ballpark). These lenses would be the better choice, especially in the bokeh department, if you are into that smooth out-of-focus look in portraits.
Final score for me: 7/10.
For what it’s worth, the saving grace is the price it commands in the second-hand market. It goes around ¥30,000 or $200-ish, which is quite cheap for a Nikon lens. And that’s all it takes for me to love a lens.
Sample Photos
Film
Digital
