Lens: Nikon micro-Nikkor 105/2.8 VR
Vintage: Current
Lens Mount: Nikon F-mount
Needed Adapters: None
Preferred Mounting: Normal (not reversed)
Filter Thread: 62 mm
Controls: The lens has several controls including a focus ring, VR on/off, focus limiter, manual vs
autofocus. It is a G-series lens and doesn't have an aperture ring. The lack of an aperture ring limits its
use on a bellows and for reverse mounting. If you want to use an extension ring it will need to have all of
the electrical and mechanical connections to work properly (current Kenko tubes seem to work OK).
I really like the easy to move focus ring on this lens. The light action allows for very easy setting of focus
with a high degree of fine control. Compare this lens to the 200/4 AF micro and you will see a huge
difference. I love the 200/4 micro, but the focus ring on it is very stiff.
autofocus. It is a G-series lens and doesn't have an aperture ring. The lack of an aperture ring limits its
use on a bellows and for reverse mounting. If you want to use an extension ring it will need to have all of
the electrical and mechanical connections to work properly (current Kenko tubes seem to work OK).
I really like the easy to move focus ring on this lens. The light action allows for very easy setting of focus
with a high degree of fine control. Compare this lens to the 200/4 AF micro and you will see a huge
difference. I love the 200/4 micro, but the focus ring on it is very stiff.
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Resolution vs Aperture: This lens displays
effective aperture in the viewfinder - the aperture
adjusted for magnification. This makes testing for
a specific aperture more difficult as the aperture
numbers change as the focus is changed. I
tested at the maximum magnification of just over
1:1. that means that the aperture listed on the
graph are twice the normal aperture setting.
This lens is sharpest at an effective aperture of
f/13 - roughly equivalent to the typical setting of
f/6.7. To get the sharpest pictures at 1:4
magnification you will need to set the aperture to
about f/8, f/10 at 1:2, and f/13 at 1:1.
Ths highest resolution is seen at an effective
aperture of between f/8 and f/10 (or f/4 to f/5).
effective aperture in the viewfinder - the aperture
adjusted for magnification. This makes testing for
a specific aperture more difficult as the aperture
numbers change as the focus is changed. I
tested at the maximum magnification of just over
1:1. that means that the aperture listed on the
graph are twice the normal aperture setting.
This lens is sharpest at an effective aperture of
f/13 - roughly equivalent to the typical setting of
f/6.7. To get the sharpest pictures at 1:4
magnification you will need to set the aperture to
about f/8, f/10 at 1:2, and f/13 at 1:1.
Ths highest resolution is seen at an effective
aperture of between f/8 and f/10 (or f/4 to f/5).
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture: This lens
show atypical behavior in the corner sharpness
(as far as my experience goes). I believe that this
is related to the complexity of the design and
internal moving elements.
I found that it shows very sharp edges when wide
open - good for focusing the lens. As the
aperture is closed down the corner sharpness
decreases and is worst in the f/11 to f/16 range
(coincidently the sharpest apertures for the
center of the field). Even though the loss of
sharpness in the corners measures around 30%
in this region, the pictures really look pretty good.
There is very little fuzziness on the edges in
real-world imaging.
I think that with a internal focus design and the
fact that lenses are moving around in relation to
each other when the focus is changed,
compromises will have to be made in the design.
You can't correct for all aberrations at all focus
points.
The edges do sharpen up as the magnification is
decreased and is quite good through most of the
normal macro range (see next section)
show atypical behavior in the corner sharpness
(as far as my experience goes). I believe that this
is related to the complexity of the design and
internal moving elements.
I found that it shows very sharp edges when wide
open - good for focusing the lens. As the
aperture is closed down the corner sharpness
decreases and is worst in the f/11 to f/16 range
(coincidently the sharpest apertures for the
center of the field). Even though the loss of
sharpness in the corners measures around 30%
in this region, the pictures really look pretty good.
There is very little fuzziness on the edges in
real-world imaging.
I think that with a internal focus design and the
fact that lenses are moving around in relation to
each other when the focus is changed,
compromises will have to be made in the design.
You can't correct for all aberrations at all focus
points.
The edges do sharpen up as the magnification is
decreased and is quite good through most of the
normal macro range (see next section)
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens shows good resolution and sharpness
throughout the normal macro range. the MTF50
is about 1060 lw/ph at 1:1. Anything above 1000
is good at 1:1 and anything above 1200 lw/ph is
stellar (see Pentax 100mm bellows lens for
comparison). Shorter focal length lenses will tend
to have slightly better numbers, but that is the
price you pay for extra working distance of a long
focal length lens.
The resolution numbers are very good across
the macro magnification range and either
out-resolves or is very close to out-resolving the
detector throughout (Nikon D200 detector). You
will not lack for image detail with this lens.
I added a third line to the graph showing edge
sharpness vs. magnification (at f/13) to show that
the edge sharpness is very good at
magnifications lower than 1:1.
What makes the edge sharpness atypical is that
it worsens with increasing magnification. Lenses
that block focus (all of the lenses move as a unit
away from the detector) tend to show better
corner sharpness as the magnification rises.
This lens shows good resolution and sharpness
throughout the normal macro range. the MTF50
is about 1060 lw/ph at 1:1. Anything above 1000
is good at 1:1 and anything above 1200 lw/ph is
stellar (see Pentax 100mm bellows lens for
comparison). Shorter focal length lenses will tend
to have slightly better numbers, but that is the
price you pay for extra working distance of a long
focal length lens.
The resolution numbers are very good across
the macro magnification range and either
out-resolves or is very close to out-resolving the
detector throughout (Nikon D200 detector). You
will not lack for image detail with this lens.
I added a third line to the graph showing edge
sharpness vs. magnification (at f/13) to show that
the edge sharpness is very good at
magnifications lower than 1:1.
What makes the edge sharpness atypical is that
it worsens with increasing magnification. Lenses
that block focus (all of the lenses move as a unit
away from the detector) tend to show better
corner sharpness as the magnification rises.
Street Price: ~$900
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center of
the field and moderate fringing (1-2 pixels) on the periphery - worsens with
increasing magnification. This fringing will be visible on the edges of images in
certain high-contrast situations. JPG's produced by the camera will commonly
correct for some of this color fringing. They can also be corrected in
post-processing to a certain extent.
the field and moderate fringing (1-2 pixels) on the periphery - worsens with
increasing magnification. This fringing will be visible on the edges of images in
certain high-contrast situations. JPG's produced by the camera will commonly
correct for some of this color fringing. They can also be corrected in
post-processing to a certain extent.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is very good, typical for a modern macro
lens.
lens.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing.
Conclusion: This is a macro lens that performs very well in the macro range of magnification. There is very
little to complain about except for a little corner unsharpness at higher magnification (not particularly visible)
and moderate color-fringing (typically at least partially correctable). I have not noticed either during the typical
coin macro photography that I perform. I use this lens a lot for my coin photography (Probably my #2 lens. I use
my 85 PC micro most).
The internal focus design is helpful in that the lens doesn't extend toward the subject as the focus is set
(important for bug photos, not so much for coins). The longer focal length makes this an ideal lens for coin
photography. Good working distance allowing for good lighting, but not so much that you need a really tall copy
stand.
The f/2.8 maximum aperture also makes for a bright viewfinder and easy focusing when doing macro work.
little to complain about except for a little corner unsharpness at higher magnification (not particularly visible)
and moderate color-fringing (typically at least partially correctable). I have not noticed either during the typical
coin macro photography that I perform. I use this lens a lot for my coin photography (Probably my #2 lens. I use
my 85 PC micro most).
The internal focus design is helpful in that the lens doesn't extend toward the subject as the focus is set
(important for bug photos, not so much for coins). The longer focal length makes this an ideal lens for coin
photography. Good working distance allowing for good lighting, but not so much that you need a really tall copy
stand.
The f/2.8 maximum aperture also makes for a bright viewfinder and easy focusing when doing macro work.
Basic Function: Internal focus macro lens, no change in length with focusing.
Appearance:
Aperture: 9 blades, nearly circular across all aperture settings.
Image Samples:
About 1:3 magnification, f/13, cropped horizontally and resized
About 1:3 magnification, f/13, 1 to 1 crop:
No problems.
No problems.
1:1 magnification, f/13, resized:
1:1 magnification, f/13, 1 to 1 crop:
Good detail.
Good detail.
Performance: Sharpness vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 105VR shows sharpness performance
that varies from outstanding at the low-end to
good at the high-end of its macro magnification
range.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 105VR shows sharpness performance
that varies from outstanding at the low-end to
good at the high-end of its macro magnification
range.
Performance: Resolution vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 105VR shows very good resolution
performance across the macro magnification
range.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon 105VR shows very good resolution
performance across the macro magnification
range.
