Nikon Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D Micro

[Syncharmony]

This is the "older" version of the 105mm macro lens that Nikon makes without the VR found in the new version. For pictures from the newer lens, view Phil's thread here. While this isn't as current as the new one, it still takes photos that are just as sharp and does 1:1 like a champ. This isn't a review, so I'll stop rambling and get to the pics.




Large

4 sec
f/13
ISO 100



Large

1 sec
f/16
ISO 800



Large

4 sec
f/16
ISO 800




Large

2/3 sec
f/16
ISO 800

These next two I'm going to post a bit bigger than normal for sake of inspecting sharpness.

Normal



100% crop




Click here for even closer inspection of 100% crop

As you can see, this lens just doesn't quit. You can't find it sold new anymore but if you search, you can potentially find a good deal for one out there. Highly recommended.

[antman]

Wow, shot of the apple key amazed me (I guess it's because I know actualy how big they are normaly )

[albertgunn]

all these pics u take with tripod or handheld?

[Syncharmony]

Tripod, it was indoors at night for all of these shots so I didn't have enough light to handhold and I didn't want to use flash.

[Bernie]

Against highlights this lens suffers from severe fringing.

Nikon D300 - f/3.2 - 1/640 - ISO 400 (click onto the image to enlarge)

[Gregory.Rotter]

Against highlights this lens suffers from severe fringing.

Nikon D300 - f/3.2 - 1/640 - ISO 400 (click onto the image to enlarge)

yup, we're all gonna go shooting macro against a sky What a way to show a lens's qualities, and your lack of ability to show photo's we'd actually be interested in seeing. Let's get back to some photo's that show what this lens can do, not what it can't.

[Tesselator]

Almost all or perhaps all, of these are between f/4.0 and f/5.6
This lens is sharper than the VR G version. It also has a "special" SIC coating which is supposed to be better than "normal" SIC. I mention this because the 105/2.8D is an extremely low flare and low internal reflection (ghost) lens and the Nano-Crystal coating on my G version isn't noticeably different or improved. So if you want slightly faster and quieter AF plus VR then get the G version but if you want the sharpest images with the best micro contrast then get the AF D version or the plain AF version if you don't need the Distance sensor used for working with Nikon's 3D Matrix metering. The AF-S VR G version is actually a new design with a 14/12 arrangement and 9 blades instead of the 9/8 with 7 blades of the AF D and the AF version. Also as you probably know the G version has no aperture ring for manual aperture control. Anyway, you can save a little money and get slightly better images at the same time with the AF or AF-D version if you'd like to.





1/320s, ISO 1000, GH2








1/60s, ISO 160, GH2








1/320s, ISO 160, GH2








1/250s, ISO 320, GH2








1/160s, ISO 1000, GH2








1/160s, ISO 320, GH2







1/2000s, ISO 160, GH2








1/320s, ISO 1250, GH2








1/160s, ISO 160, GH2








1/200s, ISO 1250, GH2, 100% Crop








1/640s, ISO 160, GH2








1/1250s, ISO 1250, GH2, 100% Crop








1/1000s, ISO 1250, GH2






.

[Tesselator]

Here's a few from yesterday. All straight conversion with no processing - except the last one which got dome noise reduction performed on the BG areas:




1/640s ISO320 GH2 - Leap'en Larry







1/640s ISO160 GH2 - Sammy Seegar







1/160s ISO160 GH2 - Scary Berry







1/200s ISO160 GH2 - Zombie Zack







1/80s ISO1000 GH2 - Horse Whisperer Whinny





.

[Tesselator]

And some from a few days ago - with some light processing:





1/200s, f/2.8, ISO 160, GH2 - Still awesome at far distances too.









1/250s, ISO 640, GH2




.

[princekyoto]

wow nice shoot Tesselator, it's amazing noice reduction

[Tesselator]

wow nice shoot Tesselator, it's amazing noice reduction

Thanks, but mostly that's the camera. The GH2 and the OMD from about the same period became quite amazing in the area of noise control over their predecessors. For example with the GH1 I had trepidation shooting anything over ISO 400 and even 400 with lots of darks wasn't great - but with the GH2 I don't mind cranking it up to 3,200 where it's sensible to do so.

I haven't checked but the GH3 might even be better yet - I dunno.

Thanks for the kind words as well, much appreciated!