Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G vs Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G compared with AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G	NikonAF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G
Overview
Released
Released	June 2011	February 2012
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	50 mm	85 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/1.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/16	f/16
Optical construction
Optical construction	Seven elements in six groups	Nine elements in nine groups
Special elements
Special elements	One aspherical element	–
Coatings
Coatings	Super Integrated Coating	Super Integrated Coatings, according to Nikon USA's announcement
Aperture detail
Aperture detail	f/1.8–16; no aperture ring	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Seven rounded blades	Seven rounded blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	FX 47°; DX 31°30′	FX 28°30′; DX 18°50′
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Nikon F mount; full-frame/FX coverage, also usable on DX cameras. Built-in autofocus motor supports Nikon DSLRs without an in-body focus motor, as Photography Blog confirms	Nikon F mount; full-frame/FX image circle, also usable on DX cameras
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.45 m	0.8 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.15×	0.124×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Silent Wave Motor with manual focus override	Silent Wave Motor; M/A manual-priority autofocus and M manual focus modes
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Minimum 0.45 m; Photography Blog confirms the outer barrel's length stays unchanged and the filter thread does not rotate during focusing, while noting this is not a true internal-focus lens	Internal focusing with a non-rotating front element; minimum 0.8 m from the focal plane
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	Maximum 0.15×; not a life-size macro lens	Maximum reproduction ratio 0.124×
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No lens optical VR	No optical VR, confirmed by both reviews
Design
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	58 mm	67 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	72 mm	80 mm
Length
Length	52.5 mm	73 mm
Weight
Weight	185 g (better)	350 g
Controls
Controls	Manual focus ring, M/A–M switch and focus-distance window; Photography Blog notes depth-of-field markings for f/16 only and no focus limiter	Focus ring, M/A–M switch and focus-distance window
Filter detail
Filter detail	58 mm screw-in filters	67 mm screw-in filters
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	Both reviews confirm a rubber seal at the metal mount. Broader barrel sealing is not established, so no general weather-resistance rating is assigned	Both reviews identify a rubber seal at the mount. Digital Camera World says broader weather sealing is limited; Nikon UK's specifications give no general protection rating
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	Approximately 72 mm maximum diameter × 52.5 mm length	Approximately 80 mm diameter × 73 mm length from the lens mount
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 185 g according to Nikon; Photography Blog reports 187 g, which is not substituted for the maker figure	Approximately 350 g
Lens hood
Lens hood	HB-47 included	HB-62 bayonet hood included
In the box
In the box	LC-58 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-47 bayonet hood and CL-1013 pouch	LC-67 front cap, LF-4 rear cap, HB-62 hood and CL-1015 flexible pouch
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA's April 2011 announcement states 16 June availability. Earliest exact global and first UK day unconfirmed, so June precision retained. Photography Blog's URL includes DX and its image captions refer to 24mm, but the actual review tests this FX 50mm f/1.8G	Nikon Japan records first sale on 16 February 2012. Nikon USA's announcement states March availability in the US