Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8
Full-Frame FX Mirrorless
Format & Compatibility Specifications
Z9 Z8 Z7 II Z6 II Zf Z7 Z6 Z5 Z fc Z50 Z30
Z System Z Lenses All Nikon Lenses Flash
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 (67mm filters, 16.5 oz./466g, 2.6'/0.8m close-focus, $797 or about $600 used if you know How to Win at eBay). bigger. I got mine at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
July 2021 Nikon Mirrorless Mirrorless Lenses All Nikon Lenses Nikon Flash All Reviews
Why Fixed Lenses Take Better Pictures
Sample Images
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
These are just snapshots and there are many more throughout the review; my real work is in my Gallery.
These are all shot as BASIC ★ JPGs; no RAW files, NORMAL or FINE JPGs were used or needed.
Palms, Sevilla, Spain, 12:59 PM, 09 November 2019. Nikon Z7, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at f/1.8 at 1/2,500 at Auto ISO 64, -⅔ stop exposure compensation (LV 13.6), exactly as shot. bigger or camera-original © file.
Palms, Sevilla, Spain, 12:59 PM, 09 November 2019. Nikon Z7, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at f/8 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 64, -⅔ stop exposure compensation (LV 13.6), exactly as shot. bigger or camera-original © file.
Mercedes E430, 1:20 PM, 09 November 2019. Nikon Z7, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at f/8 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 15.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger or full-resolution file.
Palm, Sevilla, Spain, 4:05 PM, 09 November 2019. Nikon Z7, Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at f/8 at 1/80 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 13.0), Perfectly Clear. bigger, full-resolution or camera-original © file.
Introduction
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
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The Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 is the most complex and highest-performance 85mm f/1.8 lens ever from Nikon. It's also the biggest, heaviest and most expensive 85mm f/1.8 ever from Nikon; this lens is designed for outstanding optical performance rather than compact size and weight.
It's almost optically perfect. It offers all the optical insanity of the $5,000 ZEISS OTUS 100mm f/1.4 and adds autofocus, at a much lower size, weight and price than the ZEISS. This 85mm is in the same optical class as the OTUS or Sigma ART; it's not fair to compare it to Nikon's other 85mm lenses which are much smaller, less expensive and simpler designs. This 85mm is designed for the glorious new tomorrow of future ultra-high resolution cameras, not Nikon's line of 35mm SLRs and DSLRs which have had the same lens mount since the 1950s.
While this new lens is the biggest and most expensive Nikon 85mm f/1.8 of all time, it's less than half the weight of any of the other lenses with similar performance. Nikon does this by being smarter than the off-brands, taking advantage of the design freedom afforded by not having to clear a reflex mirror and because this lens is only f/1.8 rather than f/1.4 like the others.
This new Z lens has an electronic diaphragm for quiet operation and Nikon claims it's dust and drip resistant.
New is that the control ring is programmable. It defaults to Manual Focus, or make it control aperture or exposure compensation if you prefer.
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
New
"Multi-Focus System" with more than one moving focus group for faster and better optical correction over distance.
Nikon's highest performance 85mm lens of all time — and even Nikon's first 85mm f/2 of 1949 is still an excellent performer adapted to Z cameras.
Nikon's first 85mm fixed lens for their full-frame mirrorless cameras.
Good
Superior ZEISS OTUS-grade optics that autofocus, for a fraction of the price and weight.
Ultrasharp corner-to-corner, especially wide-open at f/1.8.
The big focus ring provides instant manual-focus override by default, or can be set to control Aperture, Exposure Compensation or ISO — or be disabled entirely — at Z7/Z6 MENU > CUSTOM SETTING MENU (pencil icon) > f Controls > f2 Custom control assignment > click right and down to Lens Control Ring > and chose what you want it to do: Focus, Aperture, Exposure Compensation, ISO or NONE.
No distortion.
Nikon claims it's dust and drip resistant.
9-blade diaphragm.
Bad
$797, not $427 for the F-mount AF-S 85mm f/1.8 which also works great on the Z cameras with the FTZ adapter.
Not as small or light as it could be; Nikon is optimizing this lens for optical superiority rather than small size.
Offshored to China; not made domestically in Japan.
Missing
No f/22 setting, only goes to f/16.
No VR switch for in-camera VR.
Format & Compatibility
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This is a full-frame lens which works only on Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras.
It does not so much as even mount on any other camera.
Specifications
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Name
Nikon calls this the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S:
NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses.
Z: For Nikon's mirrorless cameras.
S: Subliminally suggests sexual satisfaction. The "S" designation has no other purpose than subliminal seduction; Nikon and electronics and automobile and every kind of marketer have been using letters like "S" and "X" in model numbers since the 1940s for this same reason. Nikon called their first 1946 rangefinder lens mount the "S" mount, then went whole-hog to the "F" SLR mount in 1959, used "S" again when they updated their AI lenses to AI-"S" in 1983, created AF-"S" SWM lenses in 1998 and here it is again.
Also has:
E: Electronic diaphragm for silent operation.
AF-P: Stepper (Pulse) autofocus motor: silent and ultra fast.
D: Couples distance information to the 3D Matrix Meter.
ED: Magic Extra-low Dispersion glass for reduced secondary chromatic aberration.
RF: Rear focusing; nothing moves externally as focused except the rear element.
Nano Crystal Coat (N): Magic anti-reflection coating that has a variable index of refraction that's far more effective against ghosts and internal reflections than traditional multicoating.
∅67: 67 mm filter thread.
Optics
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 internal optical construction. ED elements.
12 elements in 8 groups.
2 ED extra-low dispersion elements which help reduce secondary axial chromatic aberration.
"Multi Focus System" uses more than one internal focus group.
Nikon Super Integrated multicoating (SIC).
Nano Crystal Coat.
Coverage
Diaphragm
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8. bigger or fit screen.
9 rounded blades.
Electronically actuated.
Stops down to f/16.
Angle of View
28½º diagonal on FX.
(18.7º diagonal on DX.)
Autofocus
Internal focus.
"Multi-Focus System" with more than one moving focus group for faster and better optical correction over distance.
No external movement as focused, so no air or dust is sucked in.
Silent stepper motor.
Focus Scale
No.
Infinity Focus Stop
No.
Depth of Field Scale
No.
Reproduction Ratio Scale
No.
Infrared Focus Index
No.
Close Focus
2.6 feet (0.8 meters).
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:8.3 (0.12 ×).
Image Stabilizer
Rated 5 stops improvement when used with the Nikon Z cameras. The lens itself has no internal stabilizer.
Caps
LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap, included.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap, included.
Filters
Standard 67 mm x 0.75mm pitch standard filter thread.
Hood
Nikon HB-91 hood for Z 85mm f/1.8. bigger or fit screen.
HB-91 bayonet hood, included.
Case
CL-C1 bag included.
Size
2.95" maximum diameter × 3.90" extension from flange.
75 mm maximum diameter × 99.0 mm extension from flange.
Weight
16.455 oz. (466.5 g) actual measured weight.
Rated 16.6 oz. (470 g).
Announced
12:03 AM, Thursday, 31 July 2019, NYC time.
Promised for
September 2019.
Included
LC-67B 67 mm snap-on front cap.
LF-N1 Z-mount rear cap.
HB-91 bayonet hood.
CL-C1 cloth bag.
Nikon's Model Number
20090.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
July 2021
$797 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
About $600 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
July ~ November 2019
$797 at Adorama, at B&H or at Crutchfield.
Unboxing
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
The box is completely unsealed. Just like kids who lick ice cream and put it back in the store freezer or gargle with mouthwash and put it back on the store shelf, there is no way to know if anyone else has been fiddling with your lens, swapping parts and accessories, or even if it's a dropped, returned, damaged or used lens, unless you get yours from an approved online source, since they ship from automated warehouses where no shifty salesmen or other customers ever getting to touch your new lens before it ships. While new $5 CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays and bottles of milk and drinking water are sealed and quite obvious if anyone's opened them, paradoxically Nikon doesn't bother sealing anything, so your only insurance is to buy only from a trusted online dealer.
Performance
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
Overall Autofocus Manual Focus Breathing Bokeh
Distortion Ergonomics Exposure Falloff Filters
Flare & Ghosts Lateral Color Fringes
Lens Corrections Macro Mechanics
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall
The Z 85 1.8 is ultrasharp and almost optically perfect, just as good as the exotic ZEISS OTUS at a fraction of the price, size and weight.
Autofocus
Autofocus speed is moderate. It takes a moment to motor (hum) quietly from infinity to close distances or vice versa. It's not instantaneous.
On my Z7 firmware version 2.0, as with all other lenses on my Z7, in Auto-AF-Area select mode it will tend to ignore a close subject in the center of the frame right in front of the camera if the background is already somewhat in focus. If you're focused at a distance, hold your hand a foot or two in front of the camera and you have to select the single-AF zone to get the Z7 to focus on the hand. Weird, but that's a Z7 problem with all lenses, not a problem with this lens.
Manual Focus
Just grab the focus ring at any time for instant manual-focus override.
It's completely electronic.
If you have a problem with a camera not autofocusing on a close subject, just use the manual focus ring to get to about the right distance and then the AF system will lock in.
Focus Breathing
Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers that the image not breathe because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.
The image from this Nikon Z 85 1.8 gets visibly bigger as focused more closely. This isn't a good choice for movies where you're pulling focus between actors as the dialog progresses.
Bokeh
Bokeh, the feel, character or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, is excellent, as it usually is with 85mm lenses.
Here's a shot at f/1.8 from about headshot distance:
Davis 6250 weather station, 18 November 2019. bigger or camera-original © file. Shot on Nikon Z7 at f/1.8 at 1/6,400 at Auto ISO 64.
As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/1.8 and get as close as possible.
Distortion
The Nikon Z 85 1.8 has no distortion, with or without Auto Distortion Control ON or OFF (> SHOOTING > Auto Distortion Control > ON (at least in Z7 and Z6)).
By "no distortion" I mean that any distortion it may have is less than what would correct with a factor of less than ±0.1 in Photoshop's lens correction filter at distances of 10~30 feet (3~10 meters), which is completely invisible.
Ergonomics
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Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8. bigger. |
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8. bigger. |
There are no secrets here; half the lens is the big metal focus ring and there's but one AF/MF slide switch, and that's it.
You can program the ring in the camera to other things than focus if you prefer.
Exposure
Exposure is uniform across the aperture range. No problems here.
Falloff
Falloff on full-frame is invisible in actual shooting with Vignette Correction left at its default of NORM, except for some negligible corner darkening at f/1.8. As soon as you stop down to f/2.8, it's gone:
Falloff on full frame at infinity, Vignette Correction NORMAL, Nikon Z7.
© 2019 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
If you go out of your way to turn Vignette Correction OFF and then go looking for it, of course you'll see more:
Falloff on full frame at infinity, Vignette Correction OFF, Nikon Z7.
© 2019 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved. |
Filters, use with
There's no need for thin filters. I stacked seven regular 67mm filters and still had NO vignetting on full-frame! I gave up at seven; you probably can use even more without vignetting.
Nikon's using a 67mm thread since the rest of the lens is so big.
Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters. You're not going to have any vignetting with any 67mm filter.
Flare & Ghosts
There are no significant ghosts.
See samples at Sunstars.
Lateral Color Fringes
There are no color fringes as shot on Nikon cameras, which by default correct for any that may be there.
There is some slight spherochromatism, which can cause color fringes on things that aren't in perfect focus. Spherochromatism is a completely different aberration in a different dimension than lateral color fringes.
Lens Corrections
The Z6 and Z7 correct for any or all of distortion, diffraction and falloff, any of which you may turn ON or OFF.
The Z6 and Z7 always correct for lateral color fringes (chromatic aberration), this is part of Nikon's secret sauce and never appears in any menu.
Macro Performance
Macro gets about as close as most traditional 85mm lenses (1:8.3 or 0.12×), and it stays sharp and contrasty even at f/1.8. Remember there is zero depth of field at macro distances at f/1.8, which is why even though the watch face is in focus, neither the hands nor bezel are. The slight color fringes are spherochromatism and only are indicative of areas that aren't in perfect focus; the face isn't even straight-on to the camera in this hand-held shot:
Sadly with all this optical innovation and fancy multifocus system it still doesn't focus any closer than any other regular Nikon 85mm SLR lens, and still doesn't focus significantly closer than Nikon's first 85mm f/2 rangefinder lens did 70 years ago!
Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic Watch at close-focus distance, 17 November 2019. Shot on Nikon Z7 at f/1.8 at 1/4,000 at ISO 64 (LV 14.3). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Mechanical Quality
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8. bigger or fit screen.
The Nikon Z 85/1.8 is a mostly plastic lens with glass optics and a metal focus ring and mount.
Hood
Plastic bayonet.
Front Bumper
None.
Filter Threads
Plastic.
Hood Bayonet Mount
Plastic.
Front Barrel
Plastic.
Focus Ring
Metal.
Rear Barrel aft of Focus Ring
Plastic.
Rearmost Barrel
Section with AF/MF switch: metal.
AF/MF Slide Switch
Plastic.
Identity
Molded engraved and filled with paint on ring between front element and filter threads.
Also engraved and filled with paint on top of rear barrel.
Internals
Seem like plastic and metal.
Dust Gasket at Mount
Yes.
Mount
Chromed metal.
Markings
Mostly molded as engraved and filled with paint.
Serial Number
Laser engraved on bottom of barrel.
Date Code
None found.
Noises When Shaken
Mild clicking.
Made in
Made in China.
Sharpness
Lens sharpness has nothing to do with picture sharpness; every lens made in the past 100 years is more than sharp enough to make super-sharp pictures if you know what you're doing. The only limitation to picture sharpness is your skill as a photographer. It's the least talented who spend the most time worrying about lens sharpness and blame crummy pictures on their equipment rather than themselves. Skilled photographers make great images with whatever camera is in their hands; I've made some of my best images of all time with an irreparably broken camera! Most pixels are thrown away before you see them, but camera makers don't want you to know that.
If you're not getting ultra-sharp pictures with this, be sure not to shoot at f/11 or smaller where all lenses are softer due to diffraction, always shoot at ISO 100 or below because cameras become softer at ISO 200 and above, avoid shooting across long distances over land which can lead to atmospheric heat shimmer, be sure everything is in perfect focus, set your camera's sharpening as you want it (I set mine to the maximum) and be sure nothing is moving, either camera or subject. If you want to ensure a soft image with any lens, shoot at f/22 at ISO 1,600 at default sharpening in daylight of subjects at differing distances in the same image.
These cautions aside, this is an ultra-sharp lens especially wide-open at f/1.8 where most lenses are softer. At f/1.8 the corners are only the tiniest bit softer in the lab at 45MP but you won't notice this unless you're looking way too close in the lab. In most of the image, it's utrasharp even wide open at f/1.8! (remember in my Sample Images that the objects in the corner aren't necessarily in focus.)
Nikon's MTF data agrees with what I see. These MTF curves look the same as the $5,000 ZEISS OTUS' MTF curves!
Nikon's MTF chart at 10 cyc/mm and 30 cyc/mm.
Spherochromatism
Spherochromatism, also called "color bokeh" by laymen, is an advanced form of chromatic aberration in a different dimension than lateral color. It can cause colored fringes on out-of-focus highlights, usually seen as green fringes on backgrounds and magenta fringes on foregrounds. Spherochromatism is common in fast lenses of moderate focal length when shooting contrasty items at full aperture. It goes away as stopped down.
The Nikon Z 85/1.8 has a typical bit of green-magenta spherochromatism; objects closer than the plane of focus at f/1.8 may have slight magenta fringes and vice-versa. I was hoping for less, but oh well.
This all goes away as stopped down.
Mondaine A132.30348.11SBB at close-focus distance at f/1.8, 17 November 2019. bigger or camera-original © file. Shot on Nikon Z7 at f/1.8 at 1/5,000 at ISO 64 (LV 14.6). bigger or camera-original © file.
1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above. bigger or camera-original © file.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 3" (7.5cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a large 14 × 21″ (35 × 55 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 6" (15cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a huge 27½ × 41¼″ (70 × 105 cm) at this same high magnification.
If this 1,200 × 900 pixel crop is about 12" (30cm) wide on your screen, the complete image would print at a mammoth 55 × 82½″ (1.4 × 2.1 meters) at this same extremely high magnification!
Image Stabilization
This lens has no Optical Image Stabilization (OIS, IS or VR (Vibration Reduction)), but it is designed to work with the built-in stabilization of Nikon's cameras.
Sunstars
With a 9-bladed rounded diaphragm, I get pretty good 18-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light at the smaller apertures.
Ignore the crazy rainbow effects at the smallest apertures; these are sensor artifacts caused by taking a picture directly of the sun and exposing for the dark underside of the palm tree.
Click any to enlarge:
Click any to enlarge.
Ignore the crazy rainbow effects at the smallest apertures; these are sensor artifacts caused by taking a picture directly of the sun and exposing for the dark underside of the palm tree.
Compared
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Versus the $5,000 Zeiss Otus 100mm f/1.4 (2019 ~ today)
Compare its construction and MTF data at its review. The optics are similar and MTF curves are the same! (Nikon's MTF is at 10 and 30 cyc/mm whiles Zeiss' are at 10, 20 and 40 cyc/mm.)
While optical performance is the same, this Nikon lens adds autofocus (the Zeiss is manual-focus only) and costs less than one-sixth as much. The ZEISS needs the FTZ Adapter while this Nikon Z lens works directly on Nikon's Z cameras. The Nikon lens is also much smaller and lighter.
I'd pass on the ZEISS unless you're just that kind of person.
Versus an Adapted AF-S 85mm f/1.8 G (2012 ~ today)
The F-mount AF-S 85mm f/1.8 costs only about half as much ($427 versus $797) and works about as well on the FTZ Adapter.
The weight is about the same; this Z lens weighs 16.5 oz. (466g) while the F-mount AF-S 85mm f/1.8 on the FTZ Adapter weighs 17.1 oz./484g (12.4 oz./351g + 4.7 oz./133g).
This Z-system dedicated lens is sharper on Nikon's Z cameras in some specialized laboratory conditions than the older SLR F-mount AF-S 85mm f/1.8 on the FTZ Adapter, but if you have to ask, no, you or I won't see any difference in actual use. Both are extremely sharp.
See also Is It Worth It.
Versus an Adapted AF 85mm f/1.8 (1987 ~ 2018)
The autofocus 85mm f/1.8 will not autofocus on the FTZ due to a design flaw in the FTZ, but this AF lens will couple to the meter of the Z cameras for better metering, more auto exposure modes and better auto white balance.
I'd pass; if you're on a budget get the 85mm f/1.8 AF‑S G which will autofocus on the FTZ.
Versus Adapted Manual-Focus Lenses (1946 ~ today)
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 (2019~) and 85mm f/1.8 AI (1964~1977). bigger or fit screen.
Nikon's first 85mm f/2 came out in 1949 for its rangefinder cameras, and you can shoot that lens on your Z camera, and Nikon's first 85mm f/1.8 came out in 1964. There are many, many Nikon 85mm lenses.
All of Nikon's 85mm lenses have always had excellent performance, even used today with adapters on Nikon's Z cameras.
What makes this new Z 85/1.8 different is that it has even sharper performance in the laboratory in the corners wide-open at f/1.8 (all are equally sharp stopped down at normal apertures), and that of course this native Z lens autofocuses and interfaces best to the Z cameras; using old manual focus 85mm lenses leads to poorer metering and auto white balance due to the FTZ adapter's lack of coupling the lens' actual taking aperture to the camera.
See the same sample images for comparison made with my 1976 85mm f/1.8 AI at it's review. Both images made at f/8 are just as insanely sharp at 45 megapixels, but the shots made with the older manual lenses are more purple in this case because auto white balance was fooled by all the green. Of course if you're crazy enough to shoot at f/1.8 in broad daylight and then look in the corners at large magnification the new lens is much sharper, too, but that's not that important: both are super sharp at f/1.8 in the center where it matters. Also remember that the 1984~1977 85mm f/1.8 was the softest 85mm ever made by Nikon for it's 35mm SLR cameras; the 85mm f/2 AI-s and 85mm f/1.4 AI-s are much better.
Video Version of this Review
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Recommendations
Top Sample Images Introduction
Format & Compatibility Specifications
I got my Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 at Adorama. I'd also get mine at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or get it used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
If you want the sharpest possible 85mm lens for your Z camera, this is it. You can save money with an F-mount AF-S 85mm f/1.8 and use the FTZ adapter, which also works very well.
This f/1.8 lens is especially for people who usually shoot action or moving subjects in low light. It's also for people who want softer portrait backgrounds than we can get with f/2.8 zooms.
I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap so I'm always ready to shoot instantly. I only use a cap when I throw this in a bag with other gear without padding — which is never. The UV filter never gets in the way, and never gets lost, either.
The very best protective filter is the Hoya multicoated HD3 67mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints.
For less money, the B+W 67mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated version and the basic multicoated Hoya filters, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.
Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.
This junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Nikon does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, non-USA, store demo or used lens. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new camera before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
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