I have an opportunity to pick up a Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S for a relatively cheap price. Does anybody have any experience with this lens? The focal length and speed of this lens entices me.
Gregory.Rotter wrote:
I've heard the 2.5 is better.
All is relative.
The 2.5 is sharp wide open, also in the corners (one of the best lenses indeed), and VERY compact, BUT the 105 1.8 will deliver the same performance from 2.5/2.8 onwards and gives you a one stop advantage over the 2.5. This is an advantage for low light photography (concert shots for instance). The 2.5 is really excellent but the 1.8 is really special... both are nice oldies.
I've always loved the look of images I've seen with the 105 f/1.8, more so than the 105 f/2.5. I'd enjoy having one someday, it looks like it has character
What's cheap? Saw one recently going for $450, far too much. But made me sad that I past one up at $215 a couple of years ago. Like Jammy have always liked the images I have seen from this lens.
Well, I had a deal going for $300, but it turns out the focus ring was way too stiff. There's a BGN 105/1.8 on KEH for $370, but I'd have to call to see exactly what classifies it as BGN. Adorama had one for $500 a few days ago, but it looks like someone picked it up. Purely an impulse buy, considering I just picked up a cheap Rokinon 85/1.4. :P
I would still love to see some samples though, if anyone's got some (preferably FX and wide-open). (:
I had one. Stopped down to f/4 and beyone it is simply flawless. From 1.8-2.8 though it really depends.
In relatively sunny conditions it will ghost and flare regardless of what you do. This provides a soft dreamy look at f/1.8 which progressively gets better. At f/2 it was better, but still relatively difficult to get a sharp image in decent light. At f/2.8 it could be from ok to very good, depending on lighting conditions. At f/4 it is all gone and it is ridiculously sharp.
However, take it out at night or in a gig or some kind of situation like that and it works very well even wide open.
So, for me, it was either a f/1.8 lens in the night or a f/4 lens in the day. As for size and weight, I really don't find it that big or heavy, the handling (focus & aperture ring) are a joy to use and I found the size really good, the width allowing a nice grip.
The 105/2.5, by contrast, was far too narrow for me. I also had a 105/2.5 which was better (depending on lighting conditions) at f/2.5-2.8 but from f/4 there was no difference between the two.
I have also used the 1.8 with a short 12mm tube for close-ups and it worked very well with it.
I don't think anyone should buy the 105mm f/1.8 expecting it to be tack sharp wide open, you should buy it for the dreamy look panos.v is talking about.
The lens has, what looks to be, lots of spherical aberration wide open and mechanical vignetting. That's partly responsible for its interesting boke. It's not an all purpose lens, and IMHO it's become overpriced. I still want one, or a modern version with AF
