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Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S — Bokeh & Optical Ray-Tracing Simulator
Interactive 3D portrait ray-traced through the published JP2020-173366A optical prescription (12 elements in 8 groups) with a 47.2 mm entrance pupil and 0.8 m minimum focus.
Optical & Portrait Specifications (Upper Body Framing)
| Optical & Portrait Metric | Measured / Patent Value | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Patent Prescription | JP2020-173366A · 12 elements in 8 groups | Traced surface by surface in WebGL2 |
| Entrance Pupil Diameter | 47.2 mm (at f/1.8) | Controls distant background blur disc size |
| Corner Bokeh Roundness (90% Field) | 69% at f/1.8 (≥86% from f/2.8) · -0.5 EV | Mechanical vignetting (cat’s-eye vs. round corner highlights) |
| Background Field of View (Compression) | 24° horizontal | Width of the background room visible behind the subject |
| Upper-Body Working Distance | 3.41 m | Camera-to-subject distance for head-to-waist framing |
| Effective Focal Length (Breathing) | 83.7 mm (-1.6%) | Actual framing focal length at portrait distance |
| Depth of Field (Sharp Zone) | 25 cm (3.29 m – 3.54 m) | Sharp zone at wide-open aperture |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.8 m | Closest focusing distance from the sensor |
Questions
How much background blur and corner cat's-eye does the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S produce?
Wide open at f/1.8, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S has a 47.2 mm entrance pupil (85 mm ÷ 1.8) and 69% bokeh roundness in the 90% corner (-0.5 EV corner falloff, reaching ≥86% roundness from f/2.8). In an upper-body portrait at 3.41 m, the sharp depth-of-field zone spans 25 cm (3.29 m to 3.54 m) with a 24° horizontal background angle of view.
Does the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S show focus breathing at portrait distance?
Based on patent JP2020-173366A, tracing the focusing group at 3.41 m gives an effective framing focal length of 83.7 mm (-1.6% vs. the nominal 85 mm). You can toggle "Match subject size" in the simulator to see the framing shift live.
What optical design is inside the Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S?
The patent prescription (JP2020-173366A) specifies 12 lens elements in 8 groups. The interactive Optical X-Ray above traces rays through every surface in real time.
Related comparisons
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs. Fujifilm XF 56mm F1.2 R WR
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S vs. Nikon 85mm f/1.4 G FX
Compare with similar portrait lenses
- Nikon AF 85mm f/1.8D
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
- Canon 85mm f/1.8
- Canon RF 85mm F2 MACRO IS STM
- Nikon 85mm f/1.4 G FX
- Nikon 58mm f/1.2 Noct-NIKKOR
Also see: depth of field, bokeh, crop factor, lens compression.