Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S | Premium large aperture 85mm portrait prime lens for Z series mirrorless cameras | Nikon USA Model

The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S is one of the best lenses for portrait photography on Nikon’s Z series mirrorless cameras. Its premium build quality, sharpness, and large aperture (f/1.8) make it perfect for stunning bokeh and low-light shooting. It is highly recommended for professionals and enthusiasts alike. You don’t need to be a pro photographer to capture amazing shots. You just need to get this.

Over the years I have used many, many short telephoto lenses and this one simply takes the cake as my favorite. It's tempting to think of this only as a portrait lens -- and it *shines* in that role (more in a bit) -- but this is a jack-of-all-trades that can be used for landscapes, cityscapes, event shooting, concerts, etc. etc. etc. Autofocus is quick and accurate on my Z7. Optically, the lens is stellar. It's just a joy to use.And yes, if you want to use this for portraits, you'll have a hard time topping it. The lens is sharp enough especially towards infinity where it's bitingly sharp. Crucially, though, in the portrait distance range, it's just soft enough to take the edge off of that sharpness to not be harsh. The bokeh is very, very pleasant but what makes it really shine is that the transition from in-focus to out-of-focus is just sooooo smooooth. It's about as graceful as the transition zone gets and it really serves to make your subject pop in ways that don't normally happen.There is a little cat's eye effect to out-of-focus specular highlights wide open, but this disappears quickly by stopping down. The aperture maintains a very circular opening at mid apertures so this helps keep the aforementioned good bokeh looking good even as you stop down. For portraits, I like to shoot this in the f2.2 to f4 range but for other subject matter, I honestly have no qualms about using it at any aperture.There may be other 85mm lenses that excel over this one at a certain style of photography (the Sony GM 85mm f1.4 is ever so slightly better at portraits, for example) but nothing I've used so far can compete with this Z lens as an all around short telephoto. So far I've been pleased with every Z lens I've purchased but this one is easily the most recommendable. Simply a stunning optic that you should run, not walk to buy.Very, very highly recommended.

Amazing portrait lens. Don't waste your money on the F1.2... 3x the cost... 1.2x better in limited scenarios.

Very nice but too tight for indoor spaces

Likes: Lightweight, focus is sorta fast but not like my 70-200. Very sharp edge to edge! Bokeh is nice and realistically for a f1.8 lens it's all I need. DoF with faster lens becomes a bigger issue. This lens has good balance.Dislikes: No real dislikes. The ONLY thing I've noticed is focus accuracy in low contrast situations. It does OK but not great. This is on a Z9 and non face/eye/car detection. Just autofocus on a still life subject (e.g. flower). Certainly something I can work with though and not a big issue at all. Haven't tried it in a low light portrait situation yet.

Love this lens. Works great for what I need it for. Image quality is good.

You want to know why so many of us stick with Nikon? Try one of these new Z lenses and learn why. Nikon is simply making the best glass regardless of price. Combine that with their unmatched colors and overall IQ, and you've got the best system to invest in overall.I shoot with more than one system, not to mention Zeiss, Canon, Sigma ART and some Sony lenses.On my new Nikon Z7II, this 85mm prime is besting every other 85mm I own or have owned and it's not even going to be their top of the line.AF accuracy and speed is excellent, bokeh is beautiful and sharpness is stellar, surpassing my Sigma 85 ART 1.4. Basically this is exotic level performance, which is why it's priced higher than 1.8 lenses usually are. Though a F1.2 version is likely to be released, few will need anything more than this lens, which is also fairly compact and easy to handle. 100% professional level stuff with zero downsides. A must for Z system portrait work or fans of this focal length.Sony and Canon have very good 85mm lenses, but this is the winner, at least until the 1.2 is released!

One of my favorite lens ever. Excellent quality excellent Focus excellent weather seal