Best Nikkor SLR lens for B&W portraits

I've been shooting with the Sigma 85/1.4 AF lately. I enjoy it.

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I use a 105 2.5 and a 180 2.8 in BW and Color, film only. I find both are wonderful for portraits. A real surprise was the RF 135 on an S2 using color.
 
yossarian123 said:
The 105/2 DC is probably Nikon's greatest portrait lens. It may have more contrast than what you're looking for, but for portraits it's just spectacular.

And don't forget about the older 85/1.4 AIS.
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+1 vote for the 105/2 DC. it is a fantastic people lens. i just had the nikon 105 f2.5 non-AI converted in the u.s. to AI and will try it this week. i had my first one in the late 60s and can't wait to work with it again.

good luck with your quest

rick
 
mfogiel said:
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After reading your tips, I have bought an old 105/2.5 and 55/1.2 - they should arrive this week... The 85/2 offered had some technical issue, so I am still in the market for it if anybody has one to get rid off - I would prefer an EU transaction in case.
Thanks again.
Marek
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Marek,

How did the 105/2.5 work out? (It's on of my favorites.)

-Charlie
 
The two DC lenses (105/135) are definitely legendary portrait lenses regardless of the system, but focusing issues are extremely common.

When I bought the 105 I had to go through 5 at the shop before I found one which was close enough to spot on with the DC ring set at neutral (the store clerk thought I was crazy, it took almost an hour before I could decide on one).

Your choice regarding the 105/2.5 was a good one. I hope you enjoy it!
 
I have owned the 105/2.5 first version and the 85/1.8 first version.

I kept the 105/2.5 Ai-S and the 85/2 Ai-S eventually, because I could not see any significant differences with the above mentioned, and the Ai-S lenses are more compact and lighter.

I like them both as much but tend to carry the 85 most (really compact).

I may not have had a good copy of the 85/1.8, or I may have an exceptionally good one of the 85/2, because most people on the Internet rave about the first one and say the latter is inferior. But my own experiment didn't confirm this.

The 105/2.5 Ai-S has an exceptional ability to display details in deep shadows while the 85/2 Ai-S doesn't (it may have a more "flat" rendition). This is where the subtle differences between the two lenses might be. Apart from that, they are both superlative lenses.

As for the differences between the 105/2.5 Ai-S and the 105/2.5 first version (Sonnar type) I'd say that they are on par as for sharpness on the focus plane, but the Ai-S lens has a more pleasant bokeh (less spherical aberration, so the OOF areas behind the subject are less "swirly" and more "creamy").

I know that there are people out there now adoring back those pesky spherical aberrations lenses designers have been fighting against for decades, so I won't comment any further... 😉
 
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