Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

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Archive 2010 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Paul Yi
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p.1 #1 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I just bought this lens off Craiglist......and wow..!!!
I think this lens is definitely one of the best alternate lens for portrait, especially for the price.
Very sharp wide open with nice background blur....
This is straight out of camera with no PP.

Feb 02, 2010 at 11:47 PM

ht1948
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p.1 #2 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

This one of the Nikon legends

The price has been going up steadily the last few months. Congrats on the purchase.

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:33 AM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #3 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I'll have to try this lens during daylight, but I'm really impressed with the color, sharpness, and the bokeh...
And it's so small that I can easily put it in my pocket...

Feb 03, 2010 at 01:22 AM

helimat
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p.1 #4 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I quite like mine, although I haven't had a whole bunch of time to try it out due to the inclement weather.

Feb 03, 2010 at 03:35 AM

CVickery
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p.1 #5 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I picked up a early non-AI version of this lens for next to nothing and like you Paul I've been very impressed. It won't replace the Contax 100/2 but it has a very nice look and at the price I can justify owning both. Another Nikon lens that I just picked up that isn't often discussed but seems nice is the 28/2 AI. I hadn't been too interested in the Nikon line since the early adapters that I had were sloppy and unpleasant to use, but the newer adapters seem to have licked this problem. Nikon seems to have a few gems for the 'alt' crowd.

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Feb 03, 2010 at 03:41 AM

sebboh
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p.1 #6 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

i agree, this lens has very good sharpness and contrast with the smoothest bokeh of any lens i own at all apertures.

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some grain added in post:

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Feb 03, 2010 at 05:16 AM

ulrikft2
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p.1 #7 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I love this lens!

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Feb 03, 2010 at 06:56 AM

yukselserdar
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p.1 #8 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

this is the best lens nikon ever made, if you ask me

And the bokeh is just amazing.

congrats

Feb 03, 2010 at 09:18 AM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #9 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I did some google searched this lens, and indeed found it to be known as a legendary lens to many Nikon users.
Yeah... It won't replace my c/y Planar 100, but the lens' characteristic is different enough for me to keep it.
Again, the quality, price, size make this lens one of the best alternate lens in this focal length.

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:00 PM

you2
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p.1 #10 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

The Colours look off or at least different compared to the zeiss. Is this my imagination or do you also agree ?

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #11 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Mine was straight right of camera.
Just resized from Raw...

It's definitely different color from Contax, but I personally like it.
I think it has more 'true' color to it.

Feb 03, 2010 at 12:59 PM

gasrocks
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p.1 #12 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Can't think of a better classic portrait lens, even at twice the price.

Feb 03, 2010 at 01:34 PM

rsrsrs
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p.1 #13 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

hi,

how much cm is the MFD ?

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Reinhard

Feb 03, 2010 at 01:46 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #14 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I'm thinking 1 meter ... but I have to double check...

rsrsrs wrote:
hi,

how much cm is the MFD ?

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Reinhard

Feb 03, 2010 at 02:31 PM

gasrocks
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p.1 #15 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

My notes say 3 feet.

Feb 03, 2010 at 04:43 PM

Marcel VanEerd
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p.1 #16 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I have the older Nikkor-PG non-AI version as well, and it delivers... I have to compare it still against my super-multi-coated Takumar 105/2.8, but I doubt that the Tak will be better.

Feb 03, 2010 at 04:49 PM

Gary Clennan
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p.1 #17 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I finally bought one of these last week and it is indeed a great performer. It's a joy to use.

Feb 03, 2010 at 05:46 PM

madamasu
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p.1 #18 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I just came back from a trip to India using leitaxed Leica lenses mostly with my D700. But when I was at the marvellous Sufi-shrine at Nizamuddin in Delhi with a friend, we swapped lenses and I took some pictures with his 105/2.5. The picture quality is simply astonishing, and I think it looks pretty 3D-at least to me (f 2.8 ISO 800)
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4319153522&size=large

Edited on Feb 03, 2010 at 07:51 PM · View previous versions

Feb 03, 2010 at 06:45 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #19 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Paul Yi wrote:
I'm thinking 1 meter ... but I have to double check...

rsrsrs wrote:
hi,
how much cm is the MFD ?

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Reinhard

It's 39"

I bought four, kept the best, and still find it a hair soft. -but for portraits, yes, fabulous.

I'm sort of shocked at how crisp (and just plain excellent) ulrikft2's pics are, above.
He must have one of the best examples on the planet.

-and one of the best eyes!

-----------------

This lens also does 3D exceptionally well. - Strangely well, for a lens that isn't razor sharp. Where did I put those test pics....

Edited on Feb 03, 2010 at 07:16 PM · View previous versions

Feb 03, 2010 at 07:07 PM

veroman
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p.1 #20 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Hi Paul. Congrats on the 105. I've had one for quite some time ... one of the latest versions ... and love it, too. I've used it on my Canon 5D II w/adapter for some really stellar images. Before that it was extensively on my D2x. Enjoy ....

- Steve

Feb 03, 2010 at 07:15 PM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #21 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Found 'em.

Just some test pics of my favorite subject. (I don't get out much!)

Notice that the Canon 85 is sharper, but then look at how much more the CD's seem separate and in front, with the Nikon pic. Also the top of violin #2, how it is clearly separate from the wall-foam.
To my eyes, the difference is quite significant.

The Nikon also has richer colors, almost a glow, which is unusual for an Ai-s lens, but also where the Canon always falls short, IMO. You can see that same "glow" in Paul's first pic, above, and in madamasu's pic (look at the fruit.) This effect is very flattering to skin, which surely is one reason this lens is so nice for portraits. - especially for older folks with bad skin.

Canon, then Nikon:

2012 © Cableaddict

Feb 03, 2010 at 07:35 PM

Paul Yi
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p.1 #22 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Thank you for sharing that ...
The transition from in-focus area to out-of-focus area is very smooth, and yet able to maintain some 3-D look.
Very interesting lens indeed...

I'll have to shoot more pictures in daylight to get more out of this lens, but, so far, it looks very promising...

Feb 04, 2010 at 02:02 AM

Gary Clennan
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p.1 #23 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

I just picked up this lens last week and love it. Haven't had any time to put it through it's paces, but here are a few quick snaps:

Feb 04, 2010 at 04:14 AM

helimat
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p.1 #24 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

The last one is great, Gary.

I am sure I have posted this before, but I wanted to add that on top of being a great portrait lens, it makes a fine birding lens as well...

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Feb 04, 2010 at 04:36 AM

Cableaddict
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p.1 #25 · Nikon 105/2.5 AIS

Paul Yi wrote:
The transition from in-focus area to out-of-focus area is very smooth, and yet able to maintain some 3-D look. Very interesting lens indeed..

Yes, it's an interesting phenomenon, and probably belongs in the "3D" thread.

I tend to agree with Brainiac's idea that plasticity is, at least partly, caused by good micro-contrast. - But this lens breaks that rule. Another that does so is the Vivitar Series-1 135/2.3 (early Komin, non-vmc version)

Hmmm. Perhaps they don't break that rule. Could these lenses have high micro-contrast, yet only medium sharpness? I must admit, I've never really understood what micro-contrast is.

Feb 04, 2010 at 04:42 AM


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