Nikon 85mm VR Macro

NIKON’S NEW AF-S DX 85mm f/3.5 MICRO NIKKOR LENS ENABLES FURTHER CREATIVITY WITH SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN FOR CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY

The new medium telephoto AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens designed specifically for extreme close-up photography, yet perfectly suited for portrait, nature, and general imaging as well. Focusing as close as 0.9 ft., this new 85mm Micro lens allows photographers to capture breathtaking close-up images with life-size reproduction ratios up to 1:1, helping to ensure that even the subtlest of subject detail is reproduced faithfully. The new 85mm Micro NIKKOR lens, in conjunction with Nikon DX-format digital SLR cameras, renders a picture angle equivalent of approximately 127.5mm (in the 35mm or FX-format), providing a natural perspective along with a desirable and practical lens-to-subject working distance.

The introduction of the AF-S DX 85mm Micro lens further broadens the Micro NIKKOR family and answers a call from serious nature and portrait photographers, generalists and on-line auction specialists seeking superior close-up shooting performance, affordability and versatility."

The NIKKOR Advantage
Specifically engineered for use with Nikon’s assortment of DX-format D-SLRs, the new 85mm Micro NIKKOR lens incorporates a variety of Nikon-exclusive features and technologies including Nikon's Silent Wave Motor technology (SWM), Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass and an Internal Focusing (IF) design. While optimized for DX-format D-SLRs, this lens is also compatible with Nikon FX-format D-SLRs when used in their DX crop mode. In addition, dramatic close-up perspectives can be captured in beautiful High Definition video with digital SLR cameras like the Nikon D5000, D90, and new D300s.

This lens also incorporates the benefit of Vibration Reduction (II) Image Stabilization technology, which gives photographers the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops* slower than would otherwise be possible, while dramatically reducing the image blur caused by camera shake in handheld photography. Nikon VR image stabilization is specifically engineered for each lens into which it is incorporated, ensuring optimum image stabilization benefit. And, unlike camera body-based approaches to image stabilization, Nikon lens-based VR also stabilizes the camera's viewfinder image, making composing and capturing images and movies less fatiguing.

Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides fast, quiet and accurate autofocus performance and Nikon’s Internal Focusing (IF) design further enhances AF performance, while also allowing photographers to manually focus quickly and smoothly. Additional benefits to Internal Focusing include the elimination of both front lens element rotation and changes in lens length during focusing. A constant lens length improves balance and overall handling, while doing away with front element rotation makes the use of front-mounted accessories such as polarizers or the Nikon Wireless Close-up Speedlight System much more convenient.

Optical construction consists of 14 elements in 10 groups, while the addition of an ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass element minimizes chromatic aberration, enhancing the lens’ ability to deliver stunning, high-contrast images with accurate and well saturated colors. A rounded nine-blade diaphragm opening allows out-of-focus background or foreground scene information to appear more naturally blurred.

Price and Availability
The AF-S Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR II lens is scheduled to become available at Nikon authorized dealers beginning early December 2009 at an estimated selling price of $529.95.**

For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

This new lens, along with Nikon’s entire line of photographic, optical and digital imaging solutions, including the recently announced D3S, will be on display at the Nikon booth (#501) at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York, from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24, 2009.

•

Just what the DX ordered., March 12, 2010

By Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA)

It took me some thinking to come up with a criticism if this lens, which is, after all, sharp as a tack, light of weight, 'relatively' inexpensive, and the perfect working length for a DX camera. I finally decided that my only issue Nikon did not throw in an 85mm 1.4 as a two for one deal. Speed is nice sometimes, although crisp shots at infinity to 1:1 is really much nicer. And let's face it, 3.5 isn't all that much slower than 2.8 (Nikon's standard aperture for macro lenses. The decision to make this a 3.5 means a much lighter weight (and slightly lower price) than Nikon's flagship 105mm.

I already own the 60 and 105 macro nikkors which are usually mounted on D300s's. The 60's short working distance get's in the way too often when it gets used on a full frame camera, though. The 105 is a wonderful lens but I find that my aging wrists complain after a few hours hand holding. So it tends to stay in the studio on a tripod. The 85 solves these problems and, as an added benefit, takes wonderful photos.

I'm not going to go into analyses of sharpness or contrast - there are better sources for that. And everything Nikon says about the lens is true. If pushed into a corner I will admit that the 105 seems to have a VERY slightly snappier image (and it should), but for general utility on a DX camera, the 85mm 3.5 is the one to own.