BENOISON 85mm f1.8 Portrait Lens - Z Mount, Manual Focus for Nikon Z9, Z8, Z7, Z7II, Z6, Z6II, Z5, Z30, Z50, Zf, Zfc Mirrorless Cameras

I bought this lens mostly out of curiosity. I ti a completely manual lens so one has to experiment a little with exposures, which is not too much of a problem with the instantly viewable images that digital cameras provide. Shoot, look and adjust exposure settings if required. Focus is mechanism is firm and smooth, very pleasant to use. For me, it has produced sharp and pleasing images. For what it cost, I am delighted with this lens.

The build quality of the camera lens is pretty good. Is comes with a lens and base caps and fitted my camera no problem. The lens requires to be manually focussed which is either a plus or a negative depending on your perspective. I does allow for full control over the picture taking process. After takin a few pictures I was pretty happy with etc results. Overall, a good lens if you are looking for a low cost lens or maybe do not have frequent need for an 85mm lens or not sure if you would use an 85mm enough to justify the branded options.

I've always loved the 85mm focal length on a 35mm camera and have owned a few over the years. This one reminds me of my old T2 mount Vivitar pre-set 85mm f1.8 that I used to own (in operation and optics) but in size is much closer to the old Nikon 85mm f2 (apart from filter size). I guess its a copy of someone elses design from the 60s/'70s etc but who knows.Anyway, it is pleasingly sharp in the centre and has a lovely shallow depth of field, so all as expected for an 85mm. Thumbs up from me, especially at the price!I Bought Nikon F Mount, but use on a Sony A7R as already had adaptor and who knows, maybe one day I might use it on my Nikon SLR if I could ever afford the film. As everyone says, remember its purely manual, no auto focus, no electronics at all, so manual Iris ( its what we used to call pre-set - ie you pre-set the iris before taking the picture - the camera doesn't/cannot do it)Dropped one star because:-Box says Nikon AI which it isn't of course as its a purely manual iris with no iris coupling to the body (non AI, AI or AIs).-Box says filter size 72mm - which it isn't as that is the front of the lens hood size - filter ring on lens is 55mm-Lens itself is not built like a tank, First lens I've ever seen that has a "springy barrel that physically moves the focus ring if you push it. (however it has a pleasing weight and fits nicely in the hand when mounted on camera)-Lens has a very quirky aperture ring that shows "f stops" of 1.8, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4.5, 6, 10, 22. Makes no sense at all as they are not one stop differences and aren't the usual 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 that most lenses would have. Because its manual, this doesn't really matter too much, but bear in mind if you wanted to match the same settings as another lens that was using f5.6 or f8, then that wouldn't be easy.. (but TBH if you did need that level of professionalism you should really be using Cine lenses with T stops and not F stops anyway.-Lens shows some evidence of chromatic aberration in certain conditions eg black lines can go green/turquoise, if out of focus. (see attached image)None of the above would put me off this lens, especially at this price level. It's extremely good value, pleasing to use, quite characterful and just what you would expect from an 85mm on a full frame camera. On a 35mm film camera such as an SLR, I expect it would be frustrating as the viewfinder would go dark as you stop it down, and its probably not a good idea for those people who always use Autofocus, auto iris, stabilisation etc as it has none of them. But for someone who is used to doing everything manually (but doesn't have budget for branded lenses), or for someone who wants to learn and isn't afraid of experimenting, then this is a bargain and definitely not three bad.

Even though its meant to be compatible it's just takes dark photos. .. not beginner friendly.

The 'BENOISON' 85mm f1.8 Manual Focus lens for Nikon cameras has been an absolute gem for me and my photography. It has thoroughly impressed me with its performance on my Nikon D3500. The lens offers an exquisite blend of quality and usability, making it a must-have for photography enthusiasts. Its build quality speaks volumes about the brand's commitment to excellence, and the manual focus mechanism provides a tactile and precise control that many photographers, myself included, find immensely satisfying.What truly sets this lens apart is the stunning picture quality it delivers. The f1.8 aperture allows for beautiful bokeh, making your subjects pop with clarity and detail against a smoothly blurred background. Even in low-light conditions, this lens performs exceptionally well, capturing images with impressive sharpness and contrast. It's a game-changer for portrait photography, and I've been consistently amazed by the vivid and lifelike images it produces with my D3500. The 'BENOISON' brand has outdone itself with this lens, offering both professionals and hobbyists an outstanding tool to elevate their photography. Top marks from me!

Not an official Nikon lens, but that doesn't make it any less suitable for my needs. Very good quality zoom and helps create a clear image. Very happy to recommend it.