Nikon's affordable 85mm portrait prime for F-mount — sharp, lightweight, and an excellent value on the used market.
The Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D launched in 1994 as an affordable alternative to the 85mm f/1.4D for portrait and event photographers. It provides classic short telephoto rendering on Nikon F-mount bodies with D-type distance communication for improved metering.
Optically very good — sharp from f/2.5 with pleasant bokeh rendering. At f/1.8 there is slight softness and some longitudinal chromatic aberration that adds character for portraits. The screw-drive AF requires a body-mounted motor — no AF on entry-level Nikon DSLRs.
Nikon F mount with 62mm filter thread. Weighs just 380g — very lightweight for an 85mm. No VR stabilisation. Full-frame coverage. Minimum focus distance 85cm. 7 aperture blades (not rounded) which can produce slightly angular bokeh highlights at certain apertures.
Extremely common and cheap used — one of the best portrait lens bargains available. The 7-blade diaphragm and screw-drive AF are the main compromises. The AF-S 85mm f/1.8G successor is better in every respect with ring USM and rounded blades. A classic budget portrait lens.