We’re getting used to Nikon’s Z-mount primes offering unsurpassed image quality, and the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is no exception. With impressive centre sharpness and minimal distortion, this would make the perfect lens for any wedding, portrait or event photographer. While it would have been nice if the lens went down to f/1.4, the maximum aperture of f/1.8 delivers such a stunning shallow depth-of-field that we didn’t miss that extra 2/3 stop of light. If you’re looking for a high-quality portrait lens for your Z-mount camera, the Z 85mm f/1.8 S is it.
Pros
+
Excellent image quality
+
Impressive sharpness
+
Perfect workhorse lens
Cons
-
Could be lighter
-
Could be cheaper
-
Doesn't go down to f/1.4
Why you can trust Digital Camera World
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
With the introduction of the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S, the Nikon mirrorless Z system has been given a classic workhorse short-telephoto lens that’s perfect for portrait, fashion, wedding and events photographers. With a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, this lens delivers beautiful shallow depth-of-field and allows you to capture photos in low-light conditions.
While a maximum aperture of f/1.8 is respectable, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are a few photographers feeling a little disappointed that this offering doesn’t go down to f/1.4, as in Nikon’s pro-level AF-S 85mm f/1.4G F-mount lens for DSLRs . However, being able to achieve such a wide aperture also typically means a big increase in size and weight, and the reality is that lenses with apertures of f/1.4 can be pretty unwieldy if you’re not working in a super-controlled environment. Plus, if you’re dealing with subjects that are moving – even by just a fraction – then it can be easy for your focus to slip. This is why, if you’re feeling disappointed by the f/1.8 maximum aperture, we’d urge you to look beyond that to judge this piece of glass for what it is.
Nikon will likely have decided not to add an extra 2/3 stop of light because the Z 85mm f/1.8 S is already a little heavy, weighing in at 470g, which makes it heavier than its most directly comparable DSLR F-mount counterpart, the Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1.8G that has a weight of 350g. Nevertheless, the Z 85mm f/1.8 S feels nicely balanced on the Nikon Z 7 or Nikon Z 6 body. With a supporting left hand under the lens barrel you can achieve a perfectly user-friendly shooting experience and put less strain on your wrist.
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S has a wide focus ring and an Auto to Manual switch on the side (Image credit: Future)
Specifications
Mount: Nikon Z mount Focal length: 85mm Maximum aperture: f/1.8 Minimum aperture: f/16 Lens construction: 12 elements in 8 groups Angle of view: FX format: 28° 30', DX format: 18° 50' Focusing system: Internal focusing system Minimum focus distance: 0.8m (2.62 ft) from focal plane No. of diaphragm blades: 9 (rounded diaphragm opening) Coating: Nano Crystal Coat Filter attachment size: 67mm Weight: Approx. 470g Focusing: Auto, Manual Supplied accessories: LC-67B 67 mm Snap-on Front Lens Cap, LF-N1 Rear Lens Cap, HB-91 Bayonet Hood, CL-C1 Lens Case
The centre sharpness on the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is very impressive, giving superbly crisp results (Image credit: Future)
Build and handling
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is sturdy and well built. And while you can’t exactly call it compact, we were happy with the size and didn’t feel that it was in any way unwieldy. There’s a single switch on the lens barrel that switches between Auto and Manual focus modes, which is pleasant enough to use and feels robust.
Taking up over a third of the lens barrel, the focus ring is easy to use and feels nice and smooth. As with other Z mount lenses, when in autofocus mode you can change the focus ring to control other functions, including exposure compensation or the aperture – making it perfect for videographers who require stepless aperture control. You can designate what exactly you want the focus ring to control in the camera’s menu system.
A minimum focusing distance of 0.8m means you have to be quite far away to focus (Image credit: Future)
Performance
Weighing in at more than 100g heavier than its F-mount counterpart, as mentioned above, you could be forgiven for initially being a little confused: mirrorless lenses are meant to be smaller and lighter than their DSLR equivalents, so it could seem counter-intuitive that this lens is so heavy.
However, the upside of the hefty build is that the Z 85mm f/1.8 S’s image quality is nothing short of fantastic. With no noticeable distortion or vignetting, this lens was an absolute joy to shoot with. So sharp it could bring a tear to the eye and sporting lightning fast AF, it deserves to be pride of place in every Z-mount pro’s bag.
Focusing with the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is swift and accurate (Image credit: Future)
In addition, while admittedly more expensive than the 85mm f/1.8 DSLR lens, the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is actually reasonably priced for a Z-mount lens, at £799/$797. In fact, the only lenses that are cheaper are the Z 50mm f/1.8 S at £529/$597 and the S 35mm f/1.8 S at £749/$847. For context, if you wanted to purchase the 24-70mm f/2.8, you’d be set back by a cool £2019/$2297.
Lab tests
Sharpness
(Image credit: Future)
Centre sharpness is excellent throughout the aperture range, though from f/2.8 to f/8 it's nothing short of phenomenal. Corner-frame sharpness isn't quite as high, but it's still very impressive.
Fringing
(Image credit: Future)
As we'd expect for a high-quality prime of this focal length, chromatic aberrations are minimal and you'll be very unlikely to spot any fringing in real world use.
Distortion: -0.1
We wouldn't expect much distortion from an 85mm prime lens, and the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 delivers, producing a virtually distortion-free image.
Conclusion
If you have a Nikon Z camera and you shoot portraits, weddings or events, you might want to put some serious consideration into buying this lens. The only criticisms we can think of are small quibbles that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. Yes, it would be nice if it was a little lighter. And yes, it would be wonderful if it had an f/1.4 maximum aperture. But to fixate on these ‘problems’ would be folly. This is a top-notch lens and any photographer would be lucky to have it in their kitbag.
We would thoroughly recommend the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S to any Z-mount photographer (Image credit: Future)
In our lab tests, centre sharpness proved to be nothing sort of impeccable, while the corner sharpness is very impressive in its own right as well. Virtually distortion-free, this piece of glass really is a fantastic portrait lens and we think it’ll prove to be a big hit among the growing number of Z-mount mirrorless Nikon users.
With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.
