This camera lens features a 5.8x zoom ratio with Nikon Vibration Reduction for sharp images and videos. The Nikon Super Integrated Coating offers optimal color consistency and reduced flare. Learn about different types of lenses ›
I wanted a true 1:1 macro lens that was sharp, smooth, with a high degree of quality for the money. Bokeh effects were of secondary importance to me but this lens does that well, too! I am fully satisfied with this lens! I wouldn't bother posting evaluative photos on the 'net because the quality of tiny photos is irrelevant to my mind. And my eye. During the months of research I conducted I found them to be useless. So I will not post a photo here.
This 85mm lens also works very well for general photography. I've used it for a number of subjects from portraits to still life to nature to actual macro photos of all kinds of things. One of the challenges of macro photography is the shallow Depth Of Field of macro lenses up close. It's not really well suited to most landscapes, of course, being 85mm. It is a very good lens and I recommend it.
I have not had a macro lens before but this one has become my favorite lens! When I pull my camera out of the bag probably 70% of the time this 85mm macro is on it. I have just begun my Nikon journey and have the 18-55 and the 55-200 lenses that came with the D5100 I bought as a kit. I have an old Minolta Maxxum 650si that is my favorite camera but all these lenses are actually better than my old Minolta lenses, even if the camera body is not. And of my Nikon lenses this macro is the best!
So if you're considering taking the leap into the other world of macro, I really don't think you can go wrong with this 85mm. Some may be concerned about the Depth Of Field with f3.5. I can only say that if I wanted to go down to f1.5 or in that range, I can not imagine that DOF being useful for most macro subjects.
I took a close-up, 1:1 shot of my eye and while part of the iris was in focus the center of the lens (my eye's lens and the reflections of light sources) was not and neither were most of the blood vessels... I can't see using f1.5 or 1.8 without focus stacking and I simply don't have time for that. In fact, keeping the subject in focus is the trickiest part of using this lens. That's just macro photography though, part of the unique challenge. Oh, and the way you can manually focus while in AutoFocus mode is very cool and useful. This is a great lens and I really really like it!
What's great about it: Amazing photos!
What's not so great: I really can't think of anything at this time