Nikon 105mm f2.5 ai/ais

[Richard Griffith]

I've had this famous Nikon lens for about 1 year yet hardly ever use it.

Can anyone post images taken with this lens , to inspire me!

 

[daveleo]

why don't you use it and see for yourself what it does ?

what camera body are you working with ?

I've had several of these in "my film days" and the lens is wonderful.

 

[jonasv]

I always kept buying these because I love that lens, how it feels, focuses, renders light and bokeh...

And then I always kept selling it because anything beyond 75mm really isn't for me.

Do you like the focal length? If you do, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better lens at that or any price. If you don't, take it out of the closet and sell it. Then buy another one. And sell it. Repeat...

 

[maggieo]

I've used it on my F3 and now as a 210 on my OM-D. Here's some shots from those and on a borrowed D600- first up, film, followed by D600 and then OM-D:


V8 Ford, September, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Wet Light, July, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Empty Egg, July, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Bob On The Printer Stand, June, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Empty Egg And Bob, July, 2010 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

D600:


Grinding the Coffee, December 23, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Gera Ethiopian Coffee, December 23, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Amelia Pond, December 23, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Michael, December 22, 2012 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

OM-D:


Squirrel, January 11, 2013 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Squirrel, January 13, 2013 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Jackson's Lair, January 13, 2013 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr


Squirrel, January 17, 2013 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

 

[dabick42]

Being AI/AIS, yours is the later Gauss type, as opposed to the earlier pre-AI Sonnar version.

I've got both and they are excellent lenses, sharp enough to make your eyeballs bleed.

You've got one - blow the dust off it, put it on your camera and see for yourself !

 

[Richard Griffith]

Thanks everyone. Some great shots already!

Obviously I known I should dust it off , and go and shoot with it. I think I am so used to using my 50mm, I lack the confidence to focus it quickly when taking portraits. Still if I don't try it, I will never get improve.

 

[Beemermark]

A lens rarely mentioned is the 105/2.8 Macro. I've had both versions of the 2.5 and picked up the 2.8 years ago and have never looked back. Now days I usually just use it for macro work (have too many good zooms that cover the range).

 

[kxl]

If you need inspiration to use this lens then you need look no further than this iconic image.

Sharbat Gula aka "The Afghan Girl" - image by Steve McCurry.

 

[kxl]

A lens rarely mentioned is the 105/2.8 Macro. I've had both versions of the 2.5 and picked up the 2.8 years ago and have never looked back. Now days I usually just use it for macro work (have too many good zooms that cover the range).

The macro lenses are sharper at close range compared to the 105/2.5. I have a Kiron 105/2.8, which is about as sharp as it gets, but for portraiture, I prefer (and my subjects appreciate) the 105/2.5 AIS, which is "sharp enough."

 

[sevo]

Being AI/AIS, yours is the later Gauss type, as opposed to the earlier pre-AI Sonnar version.

Most are. Only about a third of the pre-AI lenses were Sonnar type - the change already was in 1971, starting with #407301.

 

[peterm1]

The 105mm f2.5 is superb especially the earlier sonnar one. I prefer its rendering to the later one (not that there is anything wrong with that one at all). If anyone is looking for a sharp sharp sharp 105mm though I can recommend the micro ones. Well actually in MF lenses I have only tried the 105mm f4 micro. I had this for several years before selling it in an effort to buy something or other that seemed important at the time only to find I miss it a lot. That lens is pin sharp. I am sorry I cannot post images from my sonar 105mm - most were shot with film and those shot with digital are not well organised and I am too lazy to go looking. But I still occasionally pop it on my D700 and give it a run.

 

[steveclem]

How does the 105mm 1.8 compare in contrast and bokeh to the 2.5, anyone try them both?

 

[Dirk]

How does the 105mm 1.8 compare in contrast and bokeh to the 2.5, anyone try them both?

I prefer the 1.8 due to greater subject isolation WO and snappier focus. Bokeh and contrast are about the same.

 

[mfogiel]

Nikkor 105/2.5 P


201213510 by mfogiel, on Flickr


201212732 by mfogiel, on Flickr


20129403 by mfogiel, on Flickr