On Wed, 21 Jun 2000 05:16:43 -0700, Rich wrote:

>I am looking to get a nice Nikon 85mm lens as a faster portrait
>lens to complement my Nikon 105 f/4 macro (which I use mostly
>for macro work anyway and I find the f/4 too slow for street
>portraits and such).
>
>Questions:
>
>What are the major differences between the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4,
>1.8 and 2.0 models? (Other than speed of course!). Also are
>the AF versions better than the MF ones (for sharpness or
>clarity)? I have heard the 1.4 is better used for studio work
>because of it's tendency to flare and unless you need the extra
>speed the 1.8 is quite sufficient (as it is better priced).
>What about the 2.0? It sure is better priced and I have heard a
>little bit softer....so is the 1.8 THAT much sharper and better
>than the 2.0? And is 1.8 vs 2.0 THAT much of a difference for
>light?
>
>Thanks so much for your comments and if anyone has any for sale
>please let me know!

I have several MF 85mm f2 Nikkors for sale...
You can visit the Nikkor evaluation list on my
web site (under "I babble") for more, or:
the Nikkor 85mm lenses are all excellent, and
differ mostly (subtly) at wide stops near closest
focus - the old MF 85mm f1.8 multicoated version
is very "snappy"; the later 85mm f2 is also excellent
even at f2 except near closest focus, where the
MF 85mm f1.4 with its floating element is sharper
(though its contrast is a tad lower at wide stops
[flare is not a problem]; the 85mm f1.8 AF is
excellent throughout, though a tad less good near
infinity in the corners near wide open; I have not
tried the 85mm f1.4 AF, but it has an excellent
reputation; the f2 is the smallest, the AF f1.4
the largest; any will serve well, though I would
not choose the f2 if most of your work is wider
than f4 and also closer than maybe 4'... (and the
difference between f1.8 and f2 is not worth worrying
about).