Nikkor 85mm f/2 AI and 85mm f/1.8 K

[Jack Dahlgren]

My 85mm f/1.8 K arrived last night. Looks like the only use it has seen was sitting on a shelf.
It performed well in the low light of the parking lot.

I’ve never had a lens in the range between 55 and 105, but I always liked 55mm focal length on a D200. It is long enough to get some subject separation, but short enough that you don’t need to be far away. 105 is a bit too long at times.

I’m excited to get it out in the daylight to try it out.

[John Geerts]

Good luck with your 85/1.8K  I am sure you will like it.

Shot these portraits in dim pub light, the last one even with ISO 12.800 with the Nikon Df

[Jack Dahlgren]

Some characteristics:

Slightly bluish cast to backgrounds when wide open:
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It handles bright points of light in a nice but distinctive way.

I've cropped the images to show these more closely. They are less prominent in larger images.
Six pointed specular stars:
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Hexagonal highlight bokeh:
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The rendering of the lens is rather charming and old fashioned. I feel like converting everything I take with it to black and white.

[richardHaw]

that's what I found out too as i mentioned in my blog (check my sample pictures)

the pictures have "soul"  if it sings it will be like little richard 

[Jack Dahlgren]

that's what I found out too as i mentioned in my blog (check my sample pictures)

the pictures have "soul"  if it sings it will be like little richard 

Yes it definitely has the 3D look you wrote about. I’m not sure why, maybe focal length but it reminds me of my old TLR.

[richardHaw]

this is what some Zeiss lovers call "perfect imperfections"

the true Sonnars used this philosophy maybe an optical engineer can help us understand this better but according to what little I know it just means that Zeiss used the imperfections to creative effect in order to make it useful instead of detrimental to the final image and make these imperfections compliment each other. another that comes into mind are the true Tessars wherein the center is sharp but the edges are terrible. this gave the image a nice unique look and this is why true Tessars are on the slow side. Zeiss made 2.8 Tessars but they were terrible compared to the 3.5 Tessars.

[David H. Hartman]

The 85/2 has had a weak reputation compared to the older 85/1.8, but my AIS version has always performed well, consistent with other Nikkors of similar vintage. I wonder if the AIS version has some improvements? Perhaps I should run some side by side comparisons ...

I suggest testing these lenses at 2 meters and 5 meters using f/1.8, f/2.0, f/4.0 and f/5.6 for the K and f/2.0, f/4.0 and f/5.6 for the AIS. If you find a strong winner in the range of f/2.0 to f/5.6 I think you'll find the difference will disappear by f/8.0. You may find the AIS softer at f/2.0 and perhaps f/4.0 at 2 meters with good bokeh. At 5 meters you may find less difference. 

Dave

[richardHaw]

I suggest testing these lenses at 2 meters and 5 meters using f/1.8, f/2.0, f/4.0 and f/5.6 for the K and f/2.0, f/4.0 and f/5.6 for the AIS. If you find a strong winner in the range of f/2.0 to f/5.6 I think you'll find the difference will disappear by f/8.0. You may find the AIS softer at f/2.0 and perhaps f/4.0 at 2 meters with good bokeh. At 5 meters you may find less difference. 

Dave

I will do a test as soon as my hay fever goes away 

this will make things clearer for everyone.

[Robert Camfield]

My observations confirm some of the thoughts expressed below: the 85mm F2.0 (AI, for me) is soft across the entirety of the frame at near distances - say, <4 meters. This appears to hold true regardless of aperture; nor is bokeh particularly good. However, performance improves substantially beyond 6-10 meters, where F4.0 seems to be best for center of the frame resolution.

Robert

[Jack Dahlgren]

More from the f/1.8 K
hexagonal bokeh on display

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[Zang]

I have got 85mm f/2 AI with wobbling and dried focus ring for about $100. It is razor sharp at wide open near minimum distance. The below was shot handheld and cropped a bit as I composed randomly.