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ZEISS Otus 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F

BH #ZE8514OZF2N • MFR #2040-293
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ZEISS Otus 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 Lens for Nikon F
Key Features
  • F-Mount Lens/FX Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • One Aspherical Element
  • Six Low Dispersion Elements
Designed without restrictions, the Nikon F-mount Otus 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 from ZEISS is a portrait-length prime distinguished by its apochromatic optical design and refined construction to excel in a variety of shooting situations. The short telephoto focal length pairs with the bright f/1.4 maximum aperture to afford extensive control over depth of field for working with selective focus techniques, and it also benefits shooting handheld in low-light conditions. Suiting shooting at a variety of working distances, a Planar optical concept is employed, along with a floating elements system, to retain consistent sharpness and image quality throughout the focusing range. Additionally, a series of aspherical and low dispersion glass elements are also used to reduce distortion, color fringing, and aberrations for a well-corrected image quality. An enhanced ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating has also been applied to significantly reduce ghosting and lens flare for improved contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.
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ZEISS Otus 85mm f/1.4 Overview

Designed without restrictions, the Nikon F-mount Otus 85mm f/1.4 ZF.2 from ZEISS is a portrait-length prime distinguished by its apochromatic optical design and refined construction to excel in a variety of shooting situations. The short telephoto focal length pairs with the bright f/1.4 maximum aperture to afford extensive control over depth of field for working with selective focus techniques, and it also benefits shooting handheld in low-light conditions. Suiting shooting at a variety of working distances, a Planar optical concept is employed, along with a floating elements system, to retain consistent sharpness and image quality throughout the focusing range. Additionally, a series of aspherical and low dispersion glass elements are also used to reduce distortion, color fringing, and aberrations for a well-corrected image quality. An enhanced ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating has also been applied to significantly reduce ghosting and lens flare for improved contrast and color fidelity when working in strong lighting conditions.

Its manual focus design is complemented by a rubberized focus ring for fine-tuned, precise control over your focus position. Additionally, Otus-series lenses also feature an equally aesthetic and durable anodized metal lens barrel surface along with engraved focusing scales and distinctive high-visibility yellow paint.

Portrait-length prime lens is designed for FX-format Nikon F-mount cameras, however can also be used with DX models where it provides an 127.5mm equivalent focal length.
Impressively bright f/1.4 maximum aperture is well-suited for working in low-light conditions and also provides greater control over the focus position when using shallow depth of field techniques.
Planar optical design affords high sharpness and consistent performance throughout the focusing range to suit photographing at a wide range of imaging scales.
Apochromatic optical design utilizes six anomalous partial dispersion elements to significantly reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations for increased clarity and color fidelity.
One aspherical element controls distortion and spherical aberrations in order to produce greater sharpness and more accurate rendering.
ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating has been applied to each lens surface to help minimize reflections and provide greater contrast and color fidelity.
Floating elements system helps to maintain consistent image quality throughout the entire focusing range, from 2.6' to infinity.
Manual focus design is benefitted by focusing and depth of field scales, which are filled with a high-visibility yellow paint, along with hard stops at both infinity and minimum focusing positions.
All-metal lens barrel has a frosted, anodized surface along with a rubberized focusing ring for both durability and improved tactile control.

ZEISS Otus 85mm f/1.4 Specs

Color
Black
Focal Length
85mm
Aperture
Maximum: f/1.4
Minimum: f/16
Lens Mount
Nikon F
Lens Format Coverage
Full-Frame
Angle of View
28°
Minimum Focus Distance
2.62' / 80 cm
Magnification
1:7.7 Macro Reproduction Ratio
0.13x Magnification
Optical Design
11 Elements in 9 Groups
Focus Type
Manual Focus
Image Stabilization
No
Filter Size
86 mm (Front)
Dimensions
ø: 3.98 x L: 4.8" / ø: 101 x L: 122 mm
Weight
2.51 lb / 1.14 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
4.825 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
11.45 x 6.85 x 5.7"

ZEISS Otus 85mm f/1.4 Reviews

So sharp it could replace my 200 mm L-series

By Jaycinema
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-06-07

After getting this lens I decided to really put it to the test, I photographed a mountain side with a 200 mm L series Canon lens then I photographed the same mountain side with the Zeiss Otus 85mm. I then cropped and enlarged it to match the frame composition of the 200mm and the zeiss image was still a little sharper and had better color! Now I'm a believer!

The Great Secret Advantage of the Otus

By Laszlo
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2019-05-24

Every review of this lens touts its magnificent sharpness and resolution. But thats not why I felt justified in buying this outrageously expensive lens. I rented it for a week prior to my purchase to test it. The pictures below make clear the factor that made my purchase a necessity: its astounding resistance to flare. As you see, this first image of the man by the windowwas taken with the Canon 85 mm f1.2 which I owned at the time. The window behind the subject was open on a white surface reflecting direct sunlight and probably eight stops brighter than the interior. The image is flared out exactly as I expected. That is why I did not ever take pictures with very bright areas behind the subject. I knew the results would be hopeless. Why bother even trying? I then put the Zeiss 85 Otus on my camera and took a picture of the exact same situation. I cannot tell you shocked I was at this result! What happened to the flare? How could the subject hold its blacks with this much back lighting? I was amazed beyond words. It was at this moment I realized that I had to buy the Otus for the simple reason that scenes with intense backlighting are actually very common in everyday shooting. Generally we photographers either dont bother taking those pictures or, if the situation is more mild, put up with the flare problems figuring we can improve things in Photoshop. And it is true that we can reduce the effects of flare but never to the degree that I saw in this picture on the back of my camera without any Photoshop adjustment. This is the primary reason for my buying the lens. As it happens, the lens is also insanely sharp. But I regard that as a bonus. Its nice to have a phenomenally sharp lens but most of my lenses are already quite sharp and the improvement in sharpness would not have been enough to make me fork over the big bucks for the Otus. I include one more comparison of flare reduction with the Otus of a table set with glassware. This, too, is a commonly encountered situation. Though the difference may be more subtle; it is still quite significant. With the Otus I no longer have any concerns about flare when shooting into harsh backlit situations. My results are crisp and contrasty and perfectly sharp. It doesnt get much better than that.

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question

Which adaptor does B & H recommend for the F Mount Lens/FX format if I intend to use the lens on a Sony A7R camera?
Asked by: Robert C.
I'm very happy with the Novoflex NEX/NIK adapter which works well for both Nikon mount lenses with an f-stop ring as well as G type lenses that don't have it. If the lens has an f-stop ring you can keep it at min. aperture (i.e. f/22) and use the blue aperture ring on the Novoflex adapter to set the lens opening or more likely you would set the blue aperture ring on the Novoflex adapter to its smallest setting and use the aperture ring on the lens to set aperture precisely and with click stops. It is very solidly engineered a fits very tightly with no play. Works well with heavy lenses like the Zeiss Otus. The lens release mechanism can be a little stiff, but one gets used to it.
Answered by: Michael K.
Date published: 2018-08-25

Can this lens work on a Nikon FM3A film camera? ...

Can this lens work on a Nikon FM3A film camera? And how about Leica M cameras?
Asked by: luxin
Yes, the ZEISS Otus 14/85 will work on this FM3A camera. For a complete list of compatible cameras, visit our site at: https://www.zeiss.com/camera-lenses/int/photography/content/camera-mounts.html. With regards to compatibility with M mount cameras, yes it can be used with any 3rd party F-mount to m-mount adapter.
Answered by: ZEISS Camera Lenses
Date published: 2019-05-08

Do the camera lens metering and focus indicators ...

Do the camera lens metering and focus indicators work normally when using the FTZ adapter on zf.2 lenses?
Asked by: Russell
Yes, the lens and camera will communicate using the FTZ adapter
Answered by: ZEISS Camera Lenses
Date published: 2019-12-19

Can it be used with a Nikon F5? At all aperture?

Can it be used with a Nikon F5? At all aperture?
Asked by: Mathieu
For an overview of the lens / camera compatibility, visit: https://www.zeiss.com/consumer-products/int/photography/content/camera-mounts.html
Answered by: ZEISS Camera Lenses
Date published: 2020-08-27

Has anyone tried to use a meta bones speed ...

Has anyone tried to use a meta bones speed booster to adapt the EF version to a m4/3? Currently using a GH5 for video.
Asked by: JM
Yes the ZEISS Otus 85mm would be compatible with the Metabones Speed Booster and the GH5.
Answered by: Dan W
Date published: 2019-09-03

What is the image circle produced by this lens? ...

What is the image circle produced by this lens? Will it cover Fuji or Hasselblad medium format sensors?
Asked by: George
The ZEISS Otus lenses are designed for cameras using a 24mm x 36mm format and with image circles of 43.3mm. The use of these lenses on cameras with larger sensors will result in vignetting in the corners.
Answered by: ZEISS Camera Lenses
Date published: 2019-10-08

Has anyone tried adapting the otus 85 to Fuji ...

Has anyone tried adapting the otus 85 to Fuji GFX50 ? Will there be vignetting ?
Asked by: Christian
There would be at least some vignetting using a full-frame lens with a larger sensor like that on the GFX50.
Answered by: Boyd H
Date published: 2022-01-20

Can I put an 86-82mm step down ring and a ...

Can I put an 86-82mm step down ring and a relatively thick filter on without mechanical vignette?
Asked by: Thomas
This combination will create vignetting on the ZEISS Otus 1.4/85 lens and is not recommended.
Answered by: ZEISS Camera Lenses
Date published: 2019-01-23
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