Introduction
The Z 85mm f1.2 S is an ultra-fast brief telephoto portrait lens for Nikon’s in depth vary of Z-series mirrorless cameras.It is primarily meant to be used with skilled Z-series full-frame cameras just like the Z9 and Z8, however it is usually suitable with Nikon’s APS-C digicam vary too, the place the efficient focal size could be 127.5mm.Designated with the “S” moniker, lenses on this line are designed for final sharpness (therefore the S). It’s the second f/1.2 lens for Z-series cameras, becoming a member of the Z 50mm f1.2 S prime.Lens building for the Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens contains 15 components in 10 teams, together with 1 ED component, 2 aspherical components and components with Nano Crystal Coating. Nikon claims that this lens is extremely sharp from edge to edge, and with its f/1.2 most aperture is ideally designed for low-light taking pictures.The lens is totally mud and moisture sealed. There are 11 diaphragm blades that are designed to assist produce engaging out of focus areas.Portrait images is the plain type of topic for an 85mm lens, however it’s additionally one thing you may contemplate for different topics together with pet images, nonetheless life images, road images and wedding ceremony images.The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens is on the market now priced at £2999 / $2799 within the UK and USA, respectively.This lens was first introduced in February 2023. It’s designed in Japan and made in China.
Ease of Use
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S is considered one of Nikon’s bigger lenses within the Z sequence, with its measurement and weight being unsurprising contemplating the very vast most aperture of f/1.2.
It’s considerably bigger than the way more compact 85mm f/1.8 S lens – and possibly not one you’d need to contemplate as an “on a regular basis” or “stroll round” lens, however extra for particular taking pictures necessities or occasions, similar to portraits, weddings and so forth.
At 1160g / 2 lb 9oz, it’s even heavier than the 50mm f/1.2 and far, a lot heavier than the f/1.8 model which suggestions the scales at a extra manageable 470g.
Measuring 102.5mm x 141.5mm / 4.1in. x 5.6in. (diameter / size), once more its lots greater than the f/1/8 lens, as you’d count on, which measures 75mm x 99mm.
Having stated all of that, although, it nonetheless balances pretty nicely with full-frame cameras within the Z sequence – we’ve been utilizing it with the Zf, however it could additionally work even higher with the Z8 and Z9.
Though it would match on the Nikon Z APS-C fashions, the smaller measurement of these cameras would make it very front-heavy and customarily unwieldy to make use of.
Equally to the opposite lenses on this line-up, construct building may be very top quality, with a metallic lens mount.
To connect the lens to your digicam, you first have to line up the white dot across the base of the lens to the white dot on the lens mount.
When you’ve achieved that, twist it to lock into place. While you need to launch the lens, it’s good to push down the button together with the lens mount and twist in the wrong way.
Like most Z mount lenses, the outward building is pretty easy and easy. In the direction of the bottom you’ve got the focal size and aperture written (85 / 1.2 S), whereas simply subsequent to it’s a swap for transferring between autofocus and guide focus. When working in autofocus, you may nonetheless manually override the main target if obligatory.
A skinny, ridged ring sits in direction of the bottom of the lens. It is a management ring which will be set to some totally different features by way of the primary menu.
It can have a default possibility, for instance adjusting aperture in aperture precedence, however you may as well assign it to publicity compensation or ISO sensitivity in case you want.
You may even set it to have operate in any respect, which is perhaps useful in case you had been apprehensive about by chance knocking it and altering a setting.
On the centre of the lens, you’ve got yet another management that’s solely discovered on Nikon’s dearer, premium-end Z sequence lenses, particularly a customisable L-Fn button.
Not like the management dial, the L-Fn button will be assigned to a far larger vary of controls, together with metering, switching on uncooked, zooming into the scene (to test for focus), playback and way more. Once more, you may as well have it set to “none” in case you want.
Surprisingly, there is not any OLED show window on this lens, as discovered on the comparable 50mm f1.2 the place it shows both the aperture or focusing distance.
A big ring within the centre of the lens is used for adjusting guide focus. That is ridged and has simply sufficient give to make slight changes simple to do.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t have exhausting stops at both finish that will help you verify if you’ve reached the utmost/minimal focusing restrict.
If you’re utilizing guide focusing, there are some settings you may activate to make it simpler. From the digicam’s foremost menu, switching on focus peaking will enable you guarantee simpler focus, whereas zooming into the scene can even guarantee focusing is on level – which is particularly necessary if you wish to focus manually at very vast apertures similar to f/1.2.
Focusing, in case you select to stay with autofocusing, may be very fast, and really quiet, which makes it splendid to be used in a variety of conditions the place quiet focusing is advantageous – for instance whereas taking pictures video, or in quiet locations similar to church buildings.
A really massive lens hood is provided within the field (HB-106), which you’ll connect to the entrance of the lens. To do that, it’s good to line up the white dot on the lens hood with the white dot on the entrance of the lens.
Merely then twist it to lock it into place – and do the reverse if you need to take it off. You may also flip the lens hood backwards for simpler storage and transportation.
Focal Vary
The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens has a single focal size. If utilizing the lens on a full-frame digicam with DX format activated, or with a DX-camera, the equal focal size is 127.5mm. The angle of view when taking pictures in FX format is 28°30’, and within the DX format, 18°50’.
Chromatic Aberrations
The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens has been designed to the very best optical requirements, and as such we wouldn’t look forward to finding an excessive amount of proof of chromatic aberration. Normally typified as blue or purple fringing alongside high-contrast edges, it’s usually an issue with cheaper lenses.
We struggled to search out any incidence of chromatic aberration showing with this lens, even when analyzing pictures carefully at 100%.
Vignetting
On the widest aperture of f1.2, there’s some slight noticeable shading within the corners when photographing a white wall. This isn’t one thing which is overly noticeable with extra traditional topics, and the impact lessens at f/2.0, earlier than just about disappearing altogether at f/2.8.
Distortion
Pin-cushion distortion is nicely managed in each the JPEG and RAW recordsdata.
Sunstars and Flare
The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S is able to creating fairly good sunstars when stopped-down to f/16, as proven beneath, and flare can also be nicely managed even when taking pictures immediately into the solar.
Macro
The Nikon Z 85mm f1.2 S lens isn’t a delegated close-up or macro lens, however because of its focal size, it’s nonetheless a great possibility to contemplate when taking pictures traditional macro-type topics, similar to flowers. The minimal focusing distance is 0.85 m / 2.79 ft and the utmost magnification is 0.11x.
Bokeh
Bokeh is the phrase used to explain the out of focus space in a picture. It’s usually described in qualitative phrases, similar to creamy, clean or pleasing.
With a really vast most aperture, 11 rounded diaphragm blades, and a mid-range focal size, we’d count on the bokeh from the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens to be nothing lower than stellar, and it actually doesn’t disappoint.
Bokeh right here is rounded and engaging, whereas additionally producing a pure drop-off impact from the primary topic. Since emotions on bokeh will be fairly subjective, we’ve included some examples beneath that will help you make your personal thoughts up.
Sharpness
With a purpose to present you ways sharp the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens is, we’re offering 100% crops on the next web page.
