Nikon started its legacy with glass and seem to be determined to uphold, if not exceed, that legacy. During the era of the F mount for 35mm film and DSLR, we didn’t see much of any lenses faster than f/1 — at least not native lenses with autofocus. When the mirrorless Z mount was announced as part of this new generation from Nikon, it seemed like a chance to finally have f/1.2 lenses. Now, one of most anticipated lenses has been announced: the all-new Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens.
This lens is compatible with full frame/FX format and APS-C size/DX format Nikon Z series mirrorless cameras.
Key Features of the Nikon 85mm f/1.2 Lens
- Focal length of 85mm and f/1.2
- 11-blade aperture
- Custom function button
- Custom control ring
- Weather-sealed
Focal Length and Aperture
A 85mm focal length is widely considered to be a portrait lens. This is because, when it comes to portraiture, photographers tend to like longer focal lengths. This provides a far-off, isolated feeling and the illusion of compression.
Wide apertures also help to separate the portrait subject from busy backgrounds by using shallow depth of field. This keeps the person sharp while the environment becomes out of focus (also known as bokeh). This 85mm does all of that, and more. It has an 11-blade aperture where we would usually see only nine blades. This allows the opening to be just that much more rounded. The more blades, the more circular of a shape you would get to the aperture.
You may be wondering, “What does this even mean?” Well, remember how I said we can isolate the subject by turning an environment into bokeh? The look of that bokeh is affected by a few things — one of them being the shape of the aperture opening. You can see a smoother transition from what’s in focus to what gradually goes out of focus — like a sharp eye leading to a soft-focus corner of a jaw line.
Focusing
In my opinion, this lens has a beautiful, cinematic look. Stopping down on this lens really shows how tack-sharp it is, especially when you have more than a razor-thin depth of field to work with during close-ups. This is nice if you tend to step in closer — like I do — when shooting portraits.
This lens focused quickly for me when using the Nikon Z 9. This is no surprise considering it has two STM motors. These were not only quick, but relatively quiet when using for video. Speaking of video, this 85mm lens seems to have very minimal, if any, focus breathing from what I can tell. The frame stays consistent, within reason, as it’s focusing.
Lens Construction
This lens has an 82mm front filter thread size. This is the same size as the 50mm f1.2 S lens for Z mount, making it a nice pairing. It appears large but the weight feels balanced once mounted.
This lens also has a custom function button you can assign as you wish. Along with this, you’ll have a custom control ring you can assign to various exposure controls, like aperture, ISO, shutter speed, or exposure compensation. The weather-sealed construction and high-quality material is no surprise as Nikon has a long history of well-built professional lenses.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens has been long-awaited and is officially a well-designed, high performing, optical superb piece of glass. This is a welcomed addition to the Nikon Z series for sure. Along with this lens, Nikon has also announced the release of its NIKKOR Z 26mm F/2.8 Lens which is poised to be Nikon’s slimmest, lightest Z series lens. For just under $500, the 26mm lens is a helpful option for street photography or video work.
Check out more photos taken with the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S Lens below:
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