BoomerBruce's reviews

Nikon 105mm f/2D AF DC Nikkor

I am new to digital photography with limited technical background. This is my first prime lens. I added it because I love portrait photography. I'm also not afraid of a challenge. This lens feels like the most special of relationships. If you love Boke, this lens is something special.

THE GREAT:
IQ:
Wide open (f/2 with Defocus Control set to R2), this lens produces a display of conjoined edge-softened color that is both stunning and artistic. The "Melt-in-Your-Mouth" Boke has earned my images rave comments from reviewing public that include; "Wow", "Professional", "Magazine Quality" or "I love this image". More importantly: I love these images.

SHARPNESS:
At f/2, sharpness is a thin plane that can be difficult on Autofocus (especially with DC engaged). Stopped down even a bit, edge to edge sharpness improvement is immediate. Stopped down further, (i.e. f/4 or f/5.6) image sharpness is excellent. However, if you appreciate the beauty great Boke will add to some of your photos, then you won't mind using the lens opened up to f/2 with DC R2. Sharpness is overrated! ;-)

COLOR RENDITION/micro-CONTRAST:
Excellent.

CONSTRUCTION:
I love the way this lens feels in my hands. It feels "old school" and reminds me of phrases like "back in the day" we made things that last!.

AUTOFOCUS (Speed/Accuracy):
Fast enough. The lens is actually fairly fast to focus. For most of my portraiture, speed is not an issue. Autofocusing accuracy is another issue (see below). I have not tried to track moving objects with this lens and so will leave informative comments to those that do.

THE COULD BE BETTER:
NIKON INFORMATION:
This lens IS NOT for the faint of heart. It took A LOT of reading, experimenting, on-line videos, and informative sites like this for me to begin understanding "how" the lens works. I would think after all this time, that Nikon would construct a more useful "Users Guide" for this and the 135mm DC lenses.

FOCUS:
As a beginner, focusing this lens routinely eats my lunch! Autofocus (with DC engaged, especially at f/2) is challenging. With Defocus Control engaged, AUTOFOCUS misses, even after refocusing, are frequent. I usually obtain the best and most consistent results in Manual Mode "Live View" with Focus Peaking turned on (D850).

CA/F:
In bright light, high contrast areas, I get more Chromatic Aberration and Fringing than I like. This can be present from f/2 through f/4. I'm sure there is a way to adjust for this. That's my next adventure.

VEILING GLARE:
As mentioned in the article, this has occurred with small angles to the camera plane.

VINETTING:
Some in the corners at f/2 and less at f/2.8.

MACRO/micro:
Non-existent on this lens.

I hope you find this review helpful. I wanted to provide some personal 'real world' experiences for others like myself. I LOVE THIS LENS despite the trials and tribulations that come with it. Reviews and use both simultaneously attracted me, and repelled me, from keeping this lens. Truth be told, I almost returned it. Patience, however, is a virtue not to be undervalued. With practice, this lens continues to produced some of the most visually enjoyable images I have taken.