Medium telephoto lens designed for extreme close-up photography

The new medium telephoto AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR lens. While the new lens is designed specifically for extreme close-up photography, it is also perfectly suited for portrait, nature and general imaging. Focusing as close as 0.286 m (0.9 ft), this new 85mm Micro lens allows photographers to capture breathtaking close-up images with life-size reproduction ratios up to 1:1, helping to ensure that even the most subtle of subject detail is reproduced faithfully. The new 85mm Micro lens, in conjunction with Nikon DX format digital SLR camera, renders a picture angle equivalent of 127.5mm (in the 35mm or FX-format), providing a natural perspective along with a desirable and practical lens-to-subject working distance.

The NIKKOR Advantage
Specifically engineered for use with Nikon’s assortment of DX-format digital SLRs, the new 85mm Micro lens incorporates a variety of Nikon-exclusive features and technologies including Nikon's Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology, Extra Low Dispersion (ED) glass and an Internal Focusing (IF) design. While optimized for DX-format digital SLRs, this lens is also compatible with Nikon FX-format digital SLRs when used in their DX crop mode. In addition, dramatic close-up perspectives can be captured in beautiful HD video with digital SLR cameras such as the Nikon D5000, D90 and the new D300s.

This lens also incorporates the benefit of Vibration Reduction (VR II) Image Stabilization technology, which gives photographers the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops* slower than would otherwise be possible, while dramatically reducing the image blur caused by camera shake in handheld photography. Nikon VR image stabilization is specifically engineered for each lens into which it is incorporated, ensuring optimum image stabilization benefit. And, unlike camera body-based approaches to image stabilization, Nikon’s lens-based VR also stabilizes the camera's viewfinder image, making composing and capturing images and movies easier.

Nikon’s SWM provides fast, quiet and accurate autofocus performance and Nikon’s IF design further enhances AF performance, while also allowing photographers to manually focus quickly and smoothly. Additional benefits to IF include the elimination of both front lens element rotation and changes in lens length during focusing. A constant lens length improves balance and overall handling, while doing away with front element rotation making the use of front-mounted accessories such as polarizer or the Nikon Wireless Close-up Speedlight System much more convenient.

Optical construction consists of 14 elements in 10 groups, while the addition of an ED glass element minimizes chromatic aberration, enhancing the lens’ ability to deliver stunning, high-contrast images with accurate and well-saturated colours. A rounded nine-blade diaphragm opening allows out-of-focus background or foreground scene information to appear more naturally blurred.
*As determined in Nikon performance tests