10,5 mm Nikon rangefinder lens

[JonR]

Friends;

I have just bought a Nikon 10,5 f/2,5 rangefinder lens at a local auction:



I have allways liked this length of a lens with my SLR´s (Fm2 + Series E 105 mm lens for example) and/or DSLR´s (D80 with 105 mm MICRO) for portraits etc. However in the rangefinder world there seems to be a clear preference for the shorter lenses and I have seen relatively few photos taken with the 10,5 cm lens.

What´s your relationship to this Nikon rangefinder lens - any comments or thougts!?

Jon

 

[VinceC]

For Nikon RF shooters back in the late 1950s, this was THE telephoto to carry, and it's still my do-all telephoto. Sometimes I prefer an 85/135 combination for more flexibility, other times I just carry the 105. Afterall, it was good enough to be the regular issue for National Geographic shooters (along with an SP and 35/1.8).

Most RF shooters use Leicas, and all Leicas have a reduced image viewfinder, making it difficult to shoot beyond 90mm. The lifesize finder of the Nikon system makes it just as easier, or easier, to shoot the 105. And, of course, both the S3 and SP cameras have framelines for the 105.

Congratulations, you just bought a wonderful lens.

 

[Tom A]

Jon, you just got one of the lenses that justifies the entire Nikon RF system! The 105f2.5 is one of the great rangefinder lenses of all time - just as the 35f2 Summicron and the 21/4,5 Biogon for Conatx.
I still have 3 of the 105's, two for Rf's and one for the Nikon F. If I have to use a longer lens than the 75mm, it is usually the 105 that I go for.
Newer lenses might have a bit more resolution and higher contrast - but none of the has the rendition of the 105f2.5.
It is a big lens though and it takes a certain amount of stamina to drag it around, but it is worth it! Works great on the S3 (and on the S4}. I find that the multiple frames in the SP clogs up the finder a bit.

 

[ruben]

Has this one been produced in Contax mount ?

 

[splitimageview]

This is 3 of my favorite lenses...LTM, F, and S mount. 🙂

 

[wjlapier]

This is one of my favorite lenses. I have the 105 f/2 for my D300. I wanted a three lens RFer kit and chose the 105 for my tele end.

 

[dexdog]

Has this one been produced in Contax mount ?

Yep, it was. I have one, but generally prefer the Nikkor 85mm lens in Contax mount because it is a lot lighter, smaller and easier to focus. Nothing against the lens, it is a great performer.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Friends;

I have just bought a Nikon 10,5 f/2,5 rangefinder lens at a local auction

Hi Jon, I picked up one of these lenses just two days ago. Looks like I've got the exact same version as yours right down to the hood and cap. Looking forward to trying it out 🙂

Jon

 

[JonR]

Thanks for comments! Looks as I am not alone to like this focal length... I will try it out during Easter now if we get some good wheather here in Sweden.

Interesting to hear that it was a favourite for the National Geogr. shooters !

/Jon

 

[splitimageview]

I came across a 105 with the bayonet hood today, have never seen one before. Anyone know the scoop on this variation?

 

[raid]

The Nikkor -PC is a Gauss design that was started after 1972, whereas the P version was a Sonnar design.

Here are some photos taken with the Sonnar 105mm/2.5:

http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/s...657#post777657

 

[jonmanjiro]

I came across a 105 with the bayonet hood today, have never seen one before. Anyone know the scoop on this variation?

This is the first version of the S-mount 105/2.5 (s/n's in the 8***** range) with the correct hood. The second version (s/n's in the 9***** range) came with a clip-on hood. I think the only difference between the two versions is the hood type.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Here's the lowdown from Bob Rotoloni's latest Nikon RF book! The s/n's for this lens are grouped from 812001 to about 821239 for the first series, and 912501 to about 926158 for the second series, for a total of 21,720 units according to factory records. The changeover from the bayonet type hood to a clip-on hood occured late in the first series, some time after lens no. 819694. In the book there's a photo of lens no. 820313 which no longer has the two studs for the bayonet hood, and the INF marked has been changed to a sideways 8. In total, 6,086 were made in LTM, 1,485 were made in the old Contax mount, and 14,149 were made in Nikon S-mount.

I saw a Contax mount version last weekend, and was about to buy it, but then I noticed the white "C" on the barrel ....

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I recently picked up the 10.5cm f2.5 in LTM. Great on a Leica M3. The hood for the 85mm F2 SLR lens is a good match for it. The Correct hood made for it cuts into the Rangefinder patch of the Canon RF cameras, with the exception of the Canon 7.

The "Stud" hood may be the correct hood, but if you bang it on something the stud can get ripped out of the lens. I had a user 10.5cm F2.5 that had this happen to it. The clip-on hood is more practical.

 

[JonR]

Tested the lens today and I think I will be using this one a lot... does not feel heavy at all - on the contrary it feels just perfect to work with. I just hope that the first test roll will come out as good as I expect also...

One question: Linked to the DOF-scale there is a red line and then also a red "R" on the left part of the scale between 2,5 feet and 8 feet. On the right hand side of the scale there is just 2,5, 4, 8.... Can anyone explain what this is ??

Also - unfortunately for me the scale is in feet -- is it possible to find 10,5 mm lenses with a meter scale, or ?? More or less common ?

Jon

 

[VinceC]

The red line shows infrared focus (when using infrared film, you focus normally, then manually adjust ... most older SLR lenses show this as well).

These lenses are available in meters. Don't know percentage.

The mass of the lens is about the same as a camera body. So they are very well balanced. When mounted, I usually carry it by the lens barrel, not by the camera body. The mass also allows for very steady hand-holding. With some practice, you can routinely hold this lens steady at 1/30. Sharpness is up to modern standards, and out-of-focus rendering is superb. I use mine with a generic screw-on hood that is nearly always mounted.

 

[JonR]

Thanks Vince - your comment on well balanced and being able to carry it by the lens barrel was spot on what I felt today when testing it. Maybe I am also influenced by having used the Nikon 100 & 135 mm lenses a lot with my FM2 (several houndred rolls with this combination for sure over the years) and also more recently using the 105 Micro with my D80.... I find that for portraits, family shots etc that type of focal length is perfect... you can get good close-up shots without having to disturb people to much. I have tried the 135 mm with my Nikon rangefinders but have not found that combination to be that very user friendly.

Jon

 

[VinceC]

Back when I carried two RF bodies, my long lenses were 85/2 and 135/3.5. These days, I'm pretty much always using just one RF body along with something digital (like my cell phone). In that case, the 105 is a good compromise for a single telephoto lens.

 

[raid]

The Nikkor 105mm/2.5 is one of the best Nikkor lenses ever made.
I find it an overall superb lens.
A 25mm-50mm-105mm is a good travel combo.

 

[VinceC]

Recently, my travel combo has been 28/3.5; 35/1.8; 50/1.4; 105/2.5. The 35 is mainly for low-light work, when the 28 is just too slow. I like the CV 25/4 very much, but I'm not fond of separate finders.