Testing RF limits - going long with Nikkor 105/2.5

[Krosya]

Well a while back I started a this thread about 135mm lenses. Thanks everyone who added to the comments there. After reviewing some comments and considering my own style and preferences, I decided against 135mm lens, yet I still wanted to go with something longer than my 90mm Hex, yet a fairly fast lens. Well, it sort of locked me in with ....Nikkor 105/2.5 LTM lens.
I got one and what a beautiful lens it is - mine is in a great condition, clear and clean and super smooth focus. And has original lens hood too (plus caps). Anyway, after trying it out - I see it take a lot more care to focus one wide open. I'm usually pretty good with fast lenses, like CV 35/1.2 and Canon 50/1.2 wide open, but this one takes me more effort. Even more than J-9 at f2. But....results are so much to my liking - I'm very happy to add this legendary lens to my stable.
Here are a couple of pics - nothing special - just a few test shots really. Cant wait to use it more - it's a great yet a challenging lens:

If there are any more users of this lens - please add more pics and opinions on it!

 

[VinceC]

Nice photos. It's truly a remarkable lens. I think it's easier to focus with a Nikon RF camera than a Leica. But still, it's one of the most challenging lenses to focus wide open and close up. Of course, that's also where it shines.

 

[raid]

I have the Nikkor 105/2.5 for the Nikon SLR system and also for the LTM RF system. It is a very special lens, as some of you have found out.

 

[raid]

Here are three more images taken in New Orleans with the RF Nikkor 105/2.5 and Xp2 Super film.

 

[awilder]

Great legendary lens, it's only shortcoming being the need for a separate finder and flare tendency in adverse lighting especially without the hood.

 

[raid]

Great legendary lens, it's only shortcoming being the need for a separate finder and flare tendency in adverse lighting especially without the hood.

The Canon RF cameras have the 100mm frame in the finder, so it is easy to use it for the 105mm focal length.

 

[Tom A]

The 105f2.5 was one of the first Nikon RF lenses that I tried. This was in the early 60's and a visiting photographer from US was using a Nikon RF kit. We decided to swap cameras and lenses for a couple of days. The 105 blew me away - it is smooth, sharp and with just the right contrast for bl/w. I also tried the rest of the stuff, including a 21/4, 35f1.8 and 50f1.4 (his 50f1.1 had collected all the aperture blades at the bottom of the lens!). Ever since, I have always kept a 105f2.5 around, sometimes in Nikon F and these days, both in Rf and SLR mount. Still one of my favourites. In many ways this was the lens that cemented Nikon's reputation - and justifiably so.

 

[awilder]

I was refering to the LTM and use on the owners M style camera. Of course as mentioned, no finder would be needed on a few Canon RF models that had 100 mm frame lines.

 

[Krosya]

Here are some more results from Nikkor 105/2.5 - all wide open: