Another 85mm??? – Moving Pictures

Autumn leaves take on subtle color on this rainy afternoon.

I admit I might have a lens addiction problem.

In my defense, this most recent purchase was delayed for months while I searched and searched for a bargain on eBay.

My new/used Nikkor 85mm f/2.0 sits mounted on my Fuji mirrorless moments after I got it from eBay. In practice, I have a matching screw-in steel hood for it.

I know I already have a couple of 85mm lenses, and that I can make 85mm with several zoom lenses. This 85mm, the Nikkor 85mm AI-S f/2.0, is of 1980s vintage. I had one for years in the 1990s and 2000s, and never used it as much as I should have. I sold it during a period of purge when I went digital, and missed this lens more than any other of the bunch, including the 24mm f/2.0, the 35mm f/2.0, and the 105mm f/1.8. The 85mm kept calling me back.

At my wife Abby's urging, the first frame with this classic lens was of our Chihuahua, Summer. — At my wife Abby’s urging, the first frame with this classic lens was of our Chihuahua, Summer.

Of note is that this lens, unlike my other 85mm lenses, has the vintage Nikkor seven-straight-bladed aperture, and should create beautiful 14-point sunstars.

It's fall in Oklahoma, and a beautiful one. This image was made this afternoon, though when the sun comes out, I'll be at it again. — It’s fall in Oklahoma, and a beautiful one. This image was made this afternoon, though when the sun comes out, I’ll be at it again.

This lens has what I think is an undeserved reputation as not very sharp, but today I was able to get very nice sharpness wide open at f/2.0, with just a tiny squinch of sharpening in Lightroom. And at f/2.0, it yields very nice wispy bokeh.

Welcome back, old friend.

Rain clings to berries on a fence near my garden, shot with my new classic 85mm f/2.0 Nikkor at f/2.0. It sharpened up nicely without adding much noise in Lightroom. The feathery bokeh is outstanding.