Nikkor P 105 f2.5

[raid]

No, indeed the majority of them are not, before AI they had made ca. 125,000 Sonnars and 190,000 Gauss types. The most obvious distinction would be that all pre AI lenses with "Nikon" on the front ring are the Double Gauss type. The inverse is not absolutely true, the transition from Sonnar to Double Gauss was about a month before they switched from "Nippon Kogaku Japan" to "Nikon", so there are a few hundred "Nikon" branded later type 105'es around (these all have 40xxxx serials).

Thanks for the info.
Both types are great.

 

[bidnez]

I´ve heard about an old pro hand at newspaper photography here, working for one of the dailies; he´s gone digital long ago, of course, but insists on shooting live sports with his old, manual 2,5/105. (The pics; dead sharp).

Some time ago, the lens was so worn down, the guy was close to panic - until a friend/colleague offered him his old one, half forgotten in a bag.

In other words, that lens should be a safe bet.

 

[Vics]

The first version of the SLR lens was a Sonnar. The second version is "improved" but is not a Sonnar. Your lens pre-AI should be the Sonnar version, I think.

Mine is #453291 from 1972 and it's NAI.

 

[Vics]

Some 1960s-70s pros must have thought the lens is too sharp. The two well used 105Ps I got off Ebay had their front elements fuzzed up with brillopad or something. Nice soft focus glow, low contrast pastel colors, and still sharp.

No '60s or '70s pro would have deliberately damaged an expensive lens. To soften it up a bit they might smear a little light oil on a filter and shoot through it.

 

[Vics]

No, indeed the majority of them are not, before AI they had made ca. 125,000 Sonnars and 190,000 Gauss types. The most obvious distinction would be that all pre AI lenses with "Nikon" on the front ring are the Double Gauss type. The inverse is not absolutely true, the transition from Sonnar to Double Gauss was about a month before they switched from "Nippon Kogaku Japan" to "Nikon", so there are a few hundred "Nikon" branded later type 105'es around (these all have 40xxxx serials).

That makes sense. Mine is over 453291 and it says Nikon on the bezel and it's NAI.

 

[ampguy]

P*C here too

P*C here too

Some don't like it because it's a variant of the original Sonnar formula, but I always see better images from the P*C version than the prior formulas (SLR versions) of the 105/2.5. Mine is s/n 507***, one of the best portrait lens ever.

I prefer the multi-coated variation (P-C), it is a very special lens. I have never understood why Nikon didn't bring this lens out as AF.

For whatever it's worth, Steve McCurry's Nat Geo cover "Afghan Girl" was done with a 105/2.5.

 

[Ronny]

Always ready; 105/2.5


Nikon F by Ronny Persson, on Flickr

 

[Dwig]

No, indeed the majority of them are not, before AI they had made ca. 125,000 Sonnars and 190,000 Gauss types. The most obvious distinction would be that all pre AI lenses with "Nikon" on the front ring are the Double Gauss type. ...

The most obvious difference is that the early "Sonnar" design lenses all have a chrome front barrel. The later Gauss-esque version is always black. Also the Sonnar versions only focus to 3.5ft while the Gauss-esque versions focus to 3ft.

Part of the redesign was to improve the close-focus optical performance. The Sonnar type was optimized for infinity while the new design was balanced for something like 2-3m. It was sort of an analog to shooting a landscape focused the hyperfocal distance rather than infinity. The new 105's edge IQ didn't suffer significantly at infinity while its edge IQ at close distances improved.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

The ones (105mm 2,5) with smaller rear element are the older. with larger rear element are newer. The earlier was sharper but had focus shift when stopped down. later this was corrected, but lost some of the superb sharpness. I have both, the older I shoot stopped down, needs good eyes...

 

[raid]

The ones (105mm 2,5) with smaller rear element are the older. with larger rear element are newer. The earlier was sharper but had focus shift when stopped down. later this was corrected, but lost some of the superb sharpness. I have both, the older I shoot stopped down, needs good eyes...

I have the older chrome front Sonnar 105/2.5 SLR lens which I like to use on an FE2. I also like to use the RF version on the M6 0.85.

 

[lxmike]

Always ready; 105/2.5


Nikon F by Ronny Persson, on Flickr

I have a black plain prism F to, they are a joy tpo own a nd look at

 

[Larry H-L]

I agree with RFfreak, the biggest tip off for the Sonnar version is the small looking rear element. On the newer version, the rear element looks really large. I use the P version converted to AI, fabulous lens.

 

[Harry Lime]

I have the single coated 'P' version. For some reason mine is AI'd.

I prefer the bokeh of the post-sonnar version. It's noticeably smoother, although the sonnar has a charm all of its own.

It's sharp at f2.5 and very, very sharp stopped down a little. Love the compact size. Modern lenses are ridiculously bloated.

The 'bloom' from the single coating helps cushion the biting sharpness, when shooting people.

 

[Dirk]

What about the nikkor 105mm f1.8?

Overall, I prefer it to the 2.5 AI that I had. It's a wondeful lens that lets you isolate your subject beautifully. It just snaps into focus on my manual focus Nikons.

 

[Contarama]

Mine is a K lens one of the first few hundred made. I will never convert it.

 

[lxmike]

well after all the endorsements I sucumbed and the 105 will arrived in the next few days

 

[Ronald M]

PC version works as well as the later except in the close range at 2.5.

 

[leicapixie]

Enjoy the lens. It is so perfect on a Nikon-F. Mine AI'D. The Sonnar.

 

[lxmike]

As I type it is in the post, I cant wait,

 

[lxmike]

just a quick few pics of my soon to arrive 105