Is the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D a good portrait lens for a D750?
Asked 3/7/2017
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I have a Nikon D750 and want a fast 85mm portrait lens. I’m considering the Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D because I could also use it on my Nikon F4 film body. A salesperson warned me that this older D-series lens, introduced in the 1990s, may not be a good match for newer higher-resolution digital sensors. My main concern is autofocus accuracy rather than autofocus speed or noise. Is the 85mm f/1.4D a poor choice on the D750?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
7
Yes.
There is no reason I'm aware of that makes the 85mm f/1.4D a bad choice for a D750. According to reviews, it is a very good lens, both in terms of optical quality and mechanical stability, as is mentioned for example here. (In fact, the author of this blog specifically mentions that the lens works well on the D800).
Autofocus and electronics of the 85mm f/1.4D are fully compatible to all the new Nikon cameras that have a focusing motor. This includes all the models with a three-digit model number such as the D750.
According to the MTF data published by Nikon here and here, the difference in sharpness between the D version of the 85mm f/1.4 and its newest successor is very small. This makes me believe that the salesman at your store may have just wanted to sell you a new, more expensive lens.
Originally by user61271. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user61271
9y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
No—the 85mm f/1.4D is not a bad match for the D750. The D750 has an in-body focus motor, so this screw-drive AF-D lens is fully compatible for autofocus and metering.
There’s also no general rule that a well-made 1990s lens is unsuitable for a newer digital sensor just because the sensor has more megapixels. By reputation and published comparisons, the 85mm f/1.4D remains a strong optical performer, and differences versus newer versions are not dramatic.
That said, if your top priority is shot-to-shot autofocus consistency, a newer lens with an internal motor and more modern electronic focus communication may have an advantage. Screw-drive lenses rely more on mechanical coupling, which can be somewhat more affected by wear or environmental conditions than newer electronically driven designs.
So: the 85mm f/1.4D is a reasonable and compatible choice for a D750, especially if sharing it with an F4 matters. If you want the best possible AF consistency on digital, a newer AF-S-style 85mm may be worth considering.
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