Nikon Nikkor AF-S 85 mm f/1.8G
3. Build quality
The photo below shows the tested lens positioned next to the Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM and the Nikkor AF 50 mm f/1.8D. You can notice the Nikkor 1.8/85G is definitely thicker and a bit higher than the rival Canon.
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Let’s glance at a comparison between the tested lens and other 85 mm devices with the aperture of f/1.4, presented in the next chart. This time the small weight of the Nikkor 1.8/85G is not surprising but it remains interesting that even there the Nikkor sticks out as optically very complex device – only the Nikkor AF-S 85 mm f/1.4G is more complex than the tested lens.
Now it’s time to look more closely at the casing and the build quality of the tested lens. It starts with a metal mount with contacts. The mount surrounds a rear element which is immobile and 31 mm in diameter. The element is positioned almost on the same level as the contact.
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The proper casing is covered by black plastics. Right next to the mount you can find a white dot which indicates how to attach the lens to a body. Right after that the diameter of the lens increases sharply. When it reaches its maximum dimensions you can see other parts of it. Straight on there is a plate with the name and parameters of the lens and a distance scale, expressed in meters and feet, behind a window. Below, you can find depth of field markings but only by f/16 so moderately useful. On the left there is a focusing mechanism mode switch (M/A-M) and, on the other side of the scale, a serial number of the lens, information concerning the usage of an SWM motor, the internal focusing (IF) and a filter diameter (67 mm) along with the notice that the lens was produced in China.
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The next casing part is a ribbed manual focus ring, 16 mm wide. It works smoothly and is well-damped but it has some slight slack – when you change the direction the first move of the ring doesn’t influence either the position of the elements or a value on the scale. Unfortunately it is an affliction quite often met in cheaper Nikkors. Running through the whole scale takes a turn through 100 degrees. In some situations this value is not enough to guarantee you a necessary manual focusing precision. For example good manual instruments with similar parameters have a manual focus ring working range of over 200 degrees.
At the front of the lens there is a hood mount, a non-rotating filter thread, 67 mm in diameter, and a front element. The front element is immobile, hidden by about 1 cm inside the casing and 4.5 cm in diameter.
When it comes to the inner construction it is quite complex for a 1.8/85 lens - you deal here with 9 elements positioned in 9 groups. Like in the case of the 1.4/85G the producer doesn’t boast of using any special elements. The whole image is complemented by a circular aperture with seven diaphragm blades which can be closed down to f/16. Contrary to a more expensive 1.4/85G model, produced in Japan, the tested lens wasn’t equipped in NanoCoat layers.
Buyers get both caps, a hood and a soft pouch in the box. This accessory kit is quite rich for an amateur device. Many producers offer you just caps at this price point.
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