I've owned this lens for years and it was a bargain when I bought it. With the recent fast portrait glass released form Sigma and the updated Nikon 105E, the used prices of this legend are continuing to fall.

It is just big enough to bludgeon someone with, but not so big that you don't want to bring it with you; Built like a tank, bokeh is somewhere between yummy and delicious; Stopped down, it is a really well behaved, sharp lens for studio portraits

It's biggest sins are lacking weather sealing and flare; but that is even debatable because it handles flare rather gracefully

This is a heavy, all metal lens. Even the lens hood is metal. The drawback is I can't turn the hood around and screw it onto the lens while not using it, so risk of loss is high. Otherwise, the lens itself is really nice, takes beautiful, sharp portraits with creamy bokeh, as I expected.

Consistent Output; Durable; Fast / accurate auto-focus; Nice Bokeh; Strong Construction

Heavy

Thank you Richard for running this to the post office for me and sending it so quick! I needed the lens to shoot a wedding and he was right on top of it! I truly appreciate the awesome service and I am so excited to use my new lens!

Flowers, portraits and depth of field are what I love most, so this lens is a dream, love it to bits, I started with the 50 1.4D which was a learning curve, and then the 80-200 2.8 ED which is also good but this lens is just so easy in comparison.

The first thing you notice with this lens is the great chunk of glass that makes up the front element. It is simply awesome. The lens is also quite heavy but this is really easy to live with when you see the results of this beautiful lens. It is tack sharp from corner to corner.

I had one of these once and it was the best lens ever - super sharp, fast focussing and terrific for portraits, nature, and long landscapes like sunsets. Sadly I sold it and all my fixed lenses in favour of a single all-in-one zoom and soon realised what a mistake I had made!

Elegance lens design with metal outer and inner barrel. Everything was made in Japan including the hood. Very usuable at F1.4 with excellent sharpness at F2.8 and onward. I've skipped the so called 50mm standard lens coz I think 85mm is a better focal length for use with FX sensor as a general...

Excellent sharpness and built like a tank

No macro

The 85mm 1.8 is a great lens for those on a budget, offering a lot of the performance of the 1.4. However, if you have the funds, there is simply no beating the 85mm 1.4. It is always a joy to use, will provide you with some of your favorite images, and I wouldn't sell mine for the world.

Fast F/1.4; Unbeatable Bokeh; Pro-quality build

Not AF-S; Heavy due to pro-quality build

I'll try to do my best because my english sucks, so please read this review with Peter Sellers' acce

Incredible sharpness + softness effects; bokeh; build quality; speed; low light abilities; deeeep contrast..

Maybe the price but it's justified; maybe the AF noise but I don't care..

I use this lens for indoor photography and portraits. The fast f/1.4 aperture didn't let me down when I was in the Museum of Natural History last weekend. Even in the room where the elephants are kept I was able to get bright, razor sharp pictures!

Consistent Output; Nice Bokeh; Strong Construction