Nikon 105mm f/1.8 Ai-S : Specifications and Opinions

Reviews

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Airy

sent on 15 Febbraio 2021

Pros: Excellent for stage shots (shooting against the light). Mostly comparable to, or better than, the legendary 105/2.5.

Cons: Full aperture (f/1.8-f/2) is rather soft and bokeh is not nice at such apertures.

Opinion: This lens is at least as sharp as the 105/2.5 at comparable apertures. It also has less field curvature. Full aperture is not very useful, due to insufficient sharpness and, sometimes, ugly bokeh; I rarely use it except for B&W, or for isolating distant subjects. This lens is especially good at handling backlit subjects, so it is part of my standard setup for stage shots.

The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Ernestospaziani

sent on 05 Marzo 2021

Pros: optical quality and integrated light strength

Cons: autofocus and weight, soft at full opening and difficulty in focusing always at TA

Opinion: Maybe I am a little too much of a part for my pleasure to use optics of the past are beautiful specimens also to see themselves with the metal fork that looks very artisanal and transmit solidity, at full opening it becomes complicated the focus ... but closing already improves from 2.8 you can find the references very well and the use becomes very pleasant reserving great sharpness and cleanliness

Shirtxyz

sent on 19 Maggio 2020

Pros: Wonderful rendering, excellent sharpness from 2.8 onwards, made wonderful I have already said?

Cons: Weight, a little soft at f1.8/2 for modern canons

Opinion: I add my impressions of use because I see that here on the forum the presence of this lens is a bit like a unicorn. I bought this lens a bit of a moment ago for a bit of a misfit, I wanted to try to dave with a manual lens and I was looking for a portrait optics. Initially I was oriented on the infamous little brother f2.5 but a once-in-a-lifetime offer took this little gem into my hands. I invested another fifty to get it cleaned up from the internal dust and now it can express its full potential. I say that I speak as a Sunday amateur and not as a pro, said this optics give truly noteworthy results. Manual fire is absolutely not a problem (you choose it for this too), the construction and quality are impeccable, although I found the focus ring a hard thread, perhaps due to the age (40 years) but also the rotating masses not indifferent. The removable lampshade then I really like it. It is an optics designed for portraiture and in that excels, a little soft (but usable given the main purpose) to f1.8 and f2 considering the modern canons, has the remains typical of vintage Nikon optics with wide opening. From f2.8 it becomes very good, excellent from f4. I use it on the D750 and I feel great, only defect compared to the little brother are much larger size and weight such force me to leave it at home sometimes since I also have the almost-pocket 85mm 1.8 G. But when you attach it to the bayonet... Wonderful colors especially because really natural, beautiful bokeh despite the unrounded slats (9) and very clean rows. Try it you won't regret it! Now I've got the monkey for the 180th of the same series, but that's another story...

Tzeol

sent on 31 Gennaio 2018

Pros: Portrait optics "very delicate" .... a yield without equal. Beautiful colors, very pronounced bokeh with decisive detachment of the floors.

Cons: Portrait optics "very delicate": for someone, perhaps, could be too "delicate": to get the effect that can return, so to speak, a sigma 105 2.8 macro OS (optical as well possessed by me), you have to "limestone" in excess in post .... distorting, however, the proper and inborn nature of the glass in question. Another negative note is the predisposition to a certain flare in difficult light conditions: in comparison to more modern lenses one has to take this into account and pay attention to it.

Opinion: If one expects "special effects" from the Nikkor 105 1.8, he will probably be disappointed .... I have defined the lens as "delicate", because this is his first and most important aspect. Beware: I did not say unclear, or slightly incised, or "soft" in the TA: no no, far from it: even at 1.8 the photos are very sharp and engraved ... The colors very "analog": you see that the goal was born and was conceived in "pre - digital" times. The detachment of the floors at full aperture is very decisive, similar to that of a 180 2.8, so to speak! The bokeh is very nice but, attention, not beautiful: the 180, which again for example, in my opinion makes better.rnThe manual maf, especially in TA, is an objective limit: really at 1.8 the "risk" of making portraits where the subject has an eye on fire and the other "almost" is very high ... and this, to me personally, is an effectI do not like it. I am also 105 2.5: overall I can tell you that they are two different optics: it would be unfair to better judge the first or the second: their yield is different, very good in both cases, but different ... ..rnThe optic suffers in a fairly pronounced flare: in difficult light conditions, contrast is lost and the image tends to "veil" in a clear way ... rn

Massimino65

sent on 08 Settembre 2015

Pros: All. From construction to excellent image performance.

Cons: Nothing for optical type in question.

Opinion: To say the least sublime sharpness. Blurry gradual fairytale with a unique creaminess and not replicable by other lenses. The mechanics of the very precise diaphragm as all manual focus. Focusing is smooth and soft as all manual lenses. People who like portraiture is worth trying at least once. Moreover, for the portrait does not need auto focus as it requires speed of action, and you can safely focus when focus with all the time you want. If you find it at a good price does not pass this one by. Highly recommended.

Tre Mezzi

sent on 21 Giugno 2015

Pros: Building, blurred, color, opening, design

Cons: none

Opinion: MIDDLE TELE. There are no words to describe how beautiful this lens ... perfect colors, beautiful bokeh, you hold well, built to perfection ... I think it's a lens to try at least once in their lifetime. And 'the only lens that I never sell. I've had it a while but I have not tested to 100% ... I enjoy it slowly. !!!