Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens USA

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

My interest in photography started in the 1960 as a serious amateur, with both 35mm film and 4x5 view cameras. I was fascinated by both photographing small animals and architecture, sort of the opposite poles of the art. I ended up using mostly a Leica and then NIkon F. For architecture, I would tilt the easel on my enlarger to try to achieve perspective control. But I missed the shift features of the view camera. So, I decided to get this lens and experiment, now using a Nikon D7000. So far, this lens has proven very good, and an excellent tool for my level of experience!

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

This lens is sharp and easy to use if you know your camera movements. I've used it for food shots and was able to shift the plane of focus to a narrow plane running diagonally through the frame, which made all the difference in the shot. The tilt and shift functions give you the ultimate control in table top, product, and other still life shots. Worth every penny!

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Even if you are not using the "PC" functions of this lens, it is a sharp micro lense and provides some terrific images.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

The tilt function gives me full control of the depth of focus for close/macro photography.
The shift function is very useful for panoramas and creating high resolution pictures, imitating the medium format.
One regret: not being able to have tilt and shift in the same plane.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Like other pc-e lens series, this Micro it's a powerfull tool to reach the perfection.
Very accurate, solid and sharp.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Very happy with the lens. I use it for architectural photography for setting up tight shots and framing them carefully. Fast lens allows low light use. Sharp lens with great construction.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Excellent lens, very sharp. I've been using the shift function for landscape panoramas and I couldn't be happier with the results. I'm still playing around with the tilt functions and find it very easy to get those miniature toy like shots. There is quite a bit of vignetting in the far corner when the lens is both fully tilted and fully shifted on a FX sensor. Its a fun lens in that it allows view camera capabilities with a DSLR.
The one complaint that I do have, and this is a HUGE one, is that the lens is NOT a fully manual lens. On a full manual camera, or if you add a Nikon extension tube, you will loose all functionality of the aperture.
Come on Nikon get with the program and update you extension tubes to be compatible with the computer age, and your own equipment! Must go third party (Kenko) for this one.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

When commercial photography was done with big format analog cameras we were able to correct parallels and to get in focus the whole image by using the different movements of the camera. Then the all-digital era came and if we wanted to keep using our big format cameras we needed to attach to them a digital back that could represent an investment of several tens of thousands of dollars. Now, for less than two grands we can convert our SLR in a parallel-correction-get-everything-in-focus digital image generator.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

This is a very versatile lens and allows one to focus on the entire subject plane. This creates all kinds of creative opportunities. The one thing I would have liked in the manual is better instruction on how to use the lens properly. This is not a lens that you will get used too immediately but once you do it's amazing.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

I have the 105/ 2.8 macro on board, However if you are really into macro and wan't total perceptive control you can now stop your research.
" Do not buy this lens" unless you have your photographic skills in order.This lens is defiantly for the advanced photographer. You must have the skills to be able to keep up with this magnificent interment. Get ready to do some real macro photography and separate your photography from the common everyday macro shots you see everywhere.
We have been blessed here in Oregon this winter, with mild weather. I took this baby out last sartirday and located an old 1948 international pickup truck that had been left in the woods forever. The light was perfect and so are the photographs.
I hope that this review well help those photographers who still take photographs, NOT PICTURES .

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Sharp, fast, easy to use, unparalleled perspective control for DSLR photography. View camera experience helpful in understanding application of swing and tilt adjustments. Ideal for my table-top, stitched pano, creative, HDR and architectural applications. A marvelous special purpose DSLR lens for the serious photographer needing or wanting advanced perspective controls. Manual focus is easy and desirable with this fast 2.8f lens when determining focus points and DOF. I use it with my D3x in the field and, when in the studio, tethered to my laptop – works well in both situations. I have a full set of Nikon lenses but find this lens meets my needs more often than originally anticipated. I would recommend it for anyone needing or wanting the perspective control this lens offers. Expensive but very pleased with the results.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

I love this lens, when photographing products at a low angle I have the depth of field I need with the movement of the lens. I now have the sharp edges corner to corner that I had with a 4x5 camera.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

This is a manual focus lens that requires learning - and it's best companion is nothing less than a pro-grade Nikon (D3X or D700) to deliver the best results. Produces incredibly sharp images, with the right focus bokeh, if you know what you're looking for. Tilt swivels move very smoothly with no creep. Even though construction is strong, this is NOT a lens to be tossed around - needs care in handling.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

The image quality from the lens is very sharp. The build is excellent. But it's very difficult to get the hang of. I think this is true of all tilt/shift lenses, the difficulty isn't specific to this one lens. I also think the focal length is slightly awkward for t/s, (even more so if you're using a DX camera). The 24mm would have been an easier range to work with. I use it on my D200 and D3. The controls take time to get used to. I've let my friends borrow it and they've had the same difficulty.

If you purchase it, don't take it off your camera until you fully understand how it works. Become familiar with how the shift influences the photo vs. the tilt, and how much of each you need to apply -- full shift or full tilt is often overkill.

To me, this is a specialty lens that you shouldn't get unless you have either disposable income, or a very specific need like product photography, landscape work, or the need to make things in the distance look tiny. You CAN take incredible pictures with it. A brief internet search will show you what you can certainly achieve, but it takes a lot of practice in my opinion.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Nikon always gives it's all and this is no exception. Fantastic collar, very smooth barrel action with a great window of focus. Only practice will make you perfect with this lens.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

This lens gives perfect images from d2,8 till d22



it is razor sharp- and handles flare very well ( a problem with the d1,8 85mm nikkor (hat is also a great lens and a lot cheaper)

It has no distortion also not when shifted-

it is also designed for high quality macro and tilt can also be very useful there
It is ready for the d4 in the sense of image quality
It is manual focus - but when getting used to that you will be able to focus quite fast - but you need a good viewfinder ( D3, D3x-D700)

the tilt and shift let's you redefine photography.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

This is a very sharp lens...period. I'm familiar lens, as I owned the older version and sold it. This new version "PC-E" has much less CA and more contrast than the older version, unless I just had a bad copy. Anyway, the tilt/shift function is very useful for macro photography, as well as the smaller apertures i.e. F/22 and F/32 with no diffraction. Yes, the older version can stop down to F/45, but it was not useful for me. My main use of this lens is for landscapes and floral photography. The next great feature is the electronic aperture button vs. the older plunger style. This is a great convenience, since you can think more about the subject matter than the metering; this lens will work in auto aperture mode with the newer digital bodies.

Comments about Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D Manual Focus Lens:

Very precise and smooth focus
Excellent contrast
relative ease of use on the D3 and D700