In 1959, Nikon launched their first pro-spec single lens reflex film camera, the Nikon F, after which they spent the next few years designing and producing a system of lenses to complement the new camera. Five years after the launch of the F, in 1964, Nikon released the system’s first 85mm telephoto lens, the Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8. This fast prime lens was intended to be used as a telephoto photojournalism lens and in portraiture, and it would remain the only F mount Nikon 85mm for some fifteen years, until its replacement by the Nikkor 85mm f/2.
I’ve used most of the Nikon 85mm lenses which have been released over the last fifty years, including the mentioned 85mm f/2, the cost-effective AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4, and the stunning Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 S for Nikon’s mirror-less Z system. But I’d never used the 85mm that started it all, the Nikkor H for the original Nikon F. That is, until recently.
I’ve spent the past month shooting this chunky, old cylinder of metal and glass and my experience with it has been interesting. The Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8 isn’t an especially easy lens to use, if we’re accustomed to auto-focus and modern convenience, but if we slow down and put in the effort, it rewards us with some truly gorgeous images that are only possible with a lens of its particular quality and vintage.
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Origin, Design, and Variants
Many of Nikon’s first F mount lenses were derived from lenses made for their S series rangefinder cameras of the 1950s. Nikon had developed a nice 85mm lens for this system, the PC 8.5cm f/2, a lens which was inspired by the classic Zeiss Sonnar and featured five elements in three groups. While this lens was rather remarkable in its own time, Nikon opted not to adapt it to their new camera, but instead to develop an entirely new 85mm lens for their F mount. The optical design of the Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8 features a double-Gauss design comprised of six elements in four groups.
The original version of the Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8 was produced from 1964-1972 and features a large scalloped focusing ring made of aluminum, as well as single optical coating. Examples made from 1972-1977 feature a rubber-gripped focus ring and multi-coating, an important improvement signaled by a new designation in the lens name: Nikkor HC.
All versions of the lens feature the same 6-bladed automatic aperture.
No examples were originally produced to be compatible with the later AI or AI-s F mount cameras which came along starting in 1977 with the Nikon F3. That said, Nikon offered AI mount conversion service for any of their lenses beginning in 1977, so many examples of this lens can be found today as AI-converted examples. As original, the lens will only work on Nikon SLRs made prior to 1977. If the lens has been converted to AI-mount, it will mount to a massive variety of Nikon SLR and DSLR cameras made between the 1970s and 2010s. The concern about Pre-AI versus AI evaporates when the lens is adapted to a modern mirror-less camera – in this configuration, they all work perfectly in full manual and aperture-priority modes. This is the predominant way that I shoot my vintage lenses.
Build Quality and Handling
Like all of Nikon’s manual focus lenses from the 1950s through to the AF era, the Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8 is an impressive piece of mechanical engineering, and a prime example of precision machining. Made entirely of metal and glass, it has that lovely feeling of dense quality that so typifies the manual focus era of film cameras and lenses.
It weighs approximately 430 grams (about 15 oz), and measures 2.8″ length x 3″ diameter (71 x 76mm).
The barrel, aperture ring, mount, bezel, and focusing ring are all made of metal, and each has been designed intelligently to aid use. The barrel features fine knurling to aid mounting and unmounting to the camera, and this is carried through to the aperture dial, which click beautifully into its detents in full-stop increments.
My early version’s focus ring is the large scalloped design, and it spins with gorgeously dampened weight. The focus throw of approximately 180 degrees is long, but this helps to make precise focus a smoother and easier job. Close focus distance is approximately 1 meter (later versions focus closer, to about 0.85m). There’s a color-coded focus scale, an infrared focusing index mark, and the focus distance is labeled in both meters and feet.
The lens is fully manual, meaning that the aperture and the focus will need to be set by the user. This is achieved by spinning the respective rings to the desired setting. Open or close the aperture, and then focus on our subject. Normal stuff for people who grew up using manual focus lenses, or who have used them before in the modern era. For those new to this sort of device, (especially those who use mostly auto-focus lenses with in-camera lens controls), there will be a learning curve.
Mounted on a classic Nikon film camera, such as my Nikkormat EL, the lens is perfectly balanced and works like a dream. When mounted via an adapter to my mirror-less Z series cameras, it suffers a bit from the necessary inclusion of the Nikon F to Nikon Z mount adapter, making the whole package a bit longer and heavier. It’s not egregiously bulky, and in fact, compared to a modern Z series 85mm lens (or indeed, nearly any of Nikon’s Z series lenses), the ancient Nikkor is pretty damn compact.
Optical Design and Image Quality
The Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8‘s six-element, four-group optical design is a simple and classic design, and since my version benefits only from single-, rather than multi-coated optical elements, we should not expect modern optical perfection. Like any vintage lens, this Nikkor creates images with distinct character.
That said, my results have been surprisingly clean, sharp, and contemporary in many cases. There’s no distortion, and images are contrasty and sharp.
When shot wide open at f/1.8, images from this lens do naturally present a softness in the center of the frame and a distinct softening at the edges. But by f/2.8 these issues are all but solved, and by f/4 they’re effectively gone. By f/5.6, it’s incredibly sharp across the frame, easily comparable to many modern lenses. This sharpness is complemented by excellent color rendition—natural yet vivid, with an almost painterly quality that feels balanced but rich. The lens handles color in a way that isn’t over-saturated; it’s pleasingly accurate but has a warmth that makes images feel inviting.
One caveat is that the lens can flare quite dramatically in certain lighting situations. This can be a problem, particularly if we’re used to modern coatings that all but eliminate flare, but it can also be a creative asset. Used intentionally, the lens’s propensity to flare adds another layer of character to images.
Bokeh, the quality of the out of focus areas of an image, is nice. It’s not perfectly smooth, but the OOF elements are nicely blended and pleasant, never distracting unless we’re shooting at an aperture of f/4 or smaller.
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The lens shows some slight chromatic aberration around high contrast edges, especially when the aperture is wide open. But to fret over something like this is a bit counter-intuitive. Anyone interested in shooting a 60-year-old lens should know what they’re getting into, no?
Its slightly soft rendering wide open produces flattering portraits that feel softer and more forgiving. Skin tones look beautiful, with a warm rendition that many vintage enthusiasts find difficult to replicate with modern (ie. perfect) lenses. Paired with a digital camera, the lens produces softer contrast and a more organic feel, which along with its lovely color rendering, unique bokeh, and the natural falloff at wide apertures, provides a more film-like look.
If we’re searching for a clinically superior lens, we can opt instead for the lens which replaced this one. The Nikon Nikkor 85mm f/2 is smaller, lighter, and a better optical performer than the Nikkor H Auto reviewed today. But the newer lens will also produce images that look… newer. If we’re looking for a classic lens with characterful images, the Nikkor H is going to be the best F mount 85mm.
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Final Thoughts on the Nikon Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8
The Nikon Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8 is a surprising lens. Its characterful rendering, creamy bokeh, and all-metal build make it a standout, even some sixty years after it debuted. While it may not match the technical perfection of modern optics, its imperfections are precisely what make it so special.
For portrait photographers, videographers, and anyone who values character over perfection, the Nikkor H Auto 85mm f/1.8 is a unique and rewarding choice. It bridges the gap between the analog and digital worlds beautifully, breathing new life into images with a warmth and personality that’s hard to find in contemporary lenses.
Sure, you’ll need to be patient, and there’s a learning curve if you’re used to auto-focus, but the rewards are worth the effort. This lens isn’t for everyone, but for those who appreciate vintage glass, it’s a classic that adapts beautifully to the demands of the digital age.
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Great review of a great lens from the good old days.