nikon af 85mm "d" vs reg af

[robo]

Sorry for the newbie question, but what is the difference between the "D" AF designation and AF lens without the D? I have searched FAQs but must be blind. Is the difference going to be important using S2pro? The lens I'm interested in is the 85 mm 1.8 AF D which is highly rated. Would this rating apply to the reg 1.8 AF?

[justinb]

Hello,

The D series designation is for lenses that provide distance information from the lens to the camera. This is also true for G series lenses, which are also D series lenses, but with no aperature ring. Both are among the newest of Nikkor lenses. The only difference you will notice is that some flash functions are not supported with non D lenses. I can't remember the particulars, off hand, but the non D lenses can still be used for TTL flash.

I am not familiar enough with the 85mm lenses to tell you whether the optics are the same between the models, but the non D model should work fine on the S2. I have a late model non D 180 AF that I use frequently on mine - it is the sharpest lens I own, by far.

Justin

[traumlandschaft]

Originally posted by justinb
The D series designation is for lenses that provide distance information from the lens to the camera.

Hello Robo,

as Justin already stated, the additional information of the "D"istance is the only difference between the old and the new Version.

And as he also stated, this distance information is just used while using the Flash - I would not say it is necessary. It depends on how you want to use the lens: I just need it for available Light, so I do not use a flash and I save the extra amount of money (used it is normaly a difference of more than 100$).

In general there is no optical difference between the D and non-D versions, so this has no value for decissions.

My private opinion: save the money.

Regards

Peter

[robo]

:)
Thanks Peter and Justin, thats the info I was looking for. I'll probably opt for the regular AF and save some $.

Rob

[pvalerio]

I have the 85mm f/1.8 AF-D, purchased last year for $300. Very sharp lense. I used with my Nikon F80 (same body as the S2) and the results are great.

Now with the S2 I have a great 130mm (so to speak) f/1.8 lense and it is great.

The main difference with non "D" lenses is the fill flash with 3D matrix (using the on board flash unit or an SB28/50/80..). Since the lense is not providing distance information only basic TTL works.

[Sneakyracer]

Robo, I have a 85mm f1.8 AF-D and its an amazingly sharp lens. I think its sometimes too sharp!!! for portraits. I think its the best lens I have. (it might even be sharper than my 300mm f4 AF ED lens.)
Here are some pics I took with it. The portrait shot was using a nikon sb28 mounted on a stand with a silver umbrella and connected to the camera with a PC cord. Camera set to manual, 1/125 @ f4, the other shot was handheld with the lens at f4.

I actually despekled the portrait shot a bit in p shop to soften it up a bit!

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1603038

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1603039


as you can see, DOF is extremely shallow at close distances (2m or less) even at f4, at f1.8 DOF is insanely shallo as you can see here:

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1603079

85mm 1/40 @ f1.8 , no photoshop involved besides desaturating the image.

[Igor]

Hi Sneakyracer,
the links don't work, is there any way to see your photos?

Thanks.

[Sneakyracer]

Originally posted by Igor
Hi Sneakyracer,
the links don't work, is there any way to see your photos?

Thanks.

oopps sorry, the photos are gone.. :(

[Igor]

I bought my 85mm 1.8D on ebay for $250...

[t.hanz]

Here is a shot with the 85mm 1.8 and SB28, S2, Stofen softbounce on flash. This is my go-to lens for portraits, wouldn't be caught on a shoot without it.
The actual print is really nice!

[t.hanz]

Here is one more, same set up.