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gabrielgartner
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Registered: May 5, 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 45
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Review Date: May 25, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $700.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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build, bokeh, color rendering
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Cons:
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can focus hunt, heavy
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Probably my favorite all around lens for my d300s. Cheap enough (particularly used) that it's within range for a budget conscience photog (I was a grad student when I bought this). Plenty of availability used too.
Lens is sharp, colors are rendered perfectly. Works as an outstanding portrait lens with great bokeh (where VR is a plus) and obviously as a dedicated macro lens. This is my favorite lens to "city walk" with (I don't have a prime 50mm or 85mm just yet, so we'll see) where it doubles as decent telephoto, while also allowing for some interesting macro city abstracts.
The only downsides are that it's large and heavy (and ridiculously so with the hood on)--when I travel, I would probably prefer something like the 60mm macro. Also, although it's a fast prime, it tends to focus hunt a great deal in low light (even with the limiter on).
Still, if you can get this lens for a reasonable price, do it.
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 May 25, 2012
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NuclearRoy
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Registered: Oct 6, 2011
Location: United States
Posts: 109
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Review Date: Apr 20, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $750.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Macro, build quality, VR
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Cons:
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Heavy
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Upgraded from Tamron 60 f2.0 to this. Center sharpness is comprable to the Tamron but the edges are like night and day, the Nikon wins hands down. The VR on this lens seems even better than some of my other Nikons. It is frightening how it stops the motion in the view finder. You know the camera is moving around, but the image is rock steady. It is also a little louder than my other VR lenses, but well worth the tradeoff. Very nice piece of glass.
(Ignore the review under the 105 f2.8D, sorry)
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Apr 20, 2012
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Dave_EP
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Buy and Sell: On
Registered: May 13, 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1029
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Review Date: Mar 12, 2012
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $625.00
| Rating: 10
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I've looked at this lens for a long time but finally jumped in and bought one, mainly for detail shots of rings, jewellery, flowers and all other details @ weddings.
It's super sharp and fast to focus on both D300 & D700.
I was a little perplexed when I couldn't dial the lens down to f2.8 but realised this is focus distance dependant and Nikon are showing you the real f stop value rather that hiding the fact that it does change (like other manufacturers do).
I wish I'd bought this a long time ago.
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Mar 12, 2012
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polizonte
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Registered: Jan 25, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 8
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Review Date: Oct 28, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $759.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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accurate focus, sharp, good colors, VR
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Cons:
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Hood falls off sometimes, not a major problem
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I own a D700 and have used this since '08 as my close-up w/manual focus and sub-telephoto lens w/auto focus; focus speed, contrast/colors and sharpness are more than adequate for my needs. VR is good for general photography and helps when shooting landscapes from my kayak. I enjoy using this lens more than my former Canon EF 100m macro which cost about $200 less than the Nikon.
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Oct 28, 2010
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Taoguy
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Registered: Feb 12, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 735
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Review Date: Dec 28, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $889.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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I have had this lens for about three months, excellent IQ, much more than just a macro. Focus speed acceptable, much faster than my Canon 100/2.8 which was was and still is one of my favorite Canon lens. Excellent build quality.
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Cons:
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None
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I use it on a D300s, D700 and D3s. As of late I use it more on the D300s as I prefer the crop body for macro. I use both Canon and Nikon although lately Nikon 90% of the time.
When I purchased this lens I hoped it to be on par with the Canon 100 macro, it is and more. A little better than I had hoped. The 100/2.8 did not have VR/IS, but I paid 1/2 as much for it. The new Canon has IS but costs more than the 105 so it is a horse apiece.
The build is very solid, much more solid than my Canon 100 however, the old Canon macro has traveled in my case for 5 years and never failed so I cannot fault it's build quality. I'm sure the 105 micro will perform equally over the next five years. I shoot close ups in 50% of my photography so this is an important piece of equipment for me.
I began using Nikon again about a year ago after using Canon for 20 years. The 105 VR, the 14-24, 70-300, and the 200-400, along with the above mentioned bodies have made the conversion work. I will acquire the 24-70 next and it may end up that the 105 is my only prime w/Nikon.
From Canon L primes to Nikon zooms - go figure.
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Dec 28, 2009
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jlnewland
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Registered: Dec 12, 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 10
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Review Date: Dec 12, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Nikon's best technologies rolled into one fantastic package. Excels at macro, if that's your thing, but where it really shines is as a portrait lens, particularly with the ability to shoot ultra-close or to stand back for more of a flat field. Bokeh is very close to Nikon's best.
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Cons:
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Absolutely none.
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We all know this lens is great for macro. But I use it for portraits, and this is where it shines. I think it's just a tiny bit behind the DCs, the 85 1.4 and the 70-200 -- in other words, IMO, it's one of Nikon's best portrait lenses, and it's the most flexible and convenient of all of them.
Let me make my case briefly. This lens has the sharpness and lovely bokeh that are needed for portraits (you can always soften skin in post, if you really want to). But there are a few things that set it apart:
1) AF-S is incredibly accurate and fast. I rate it with the 70-200 in focus acquisition and the easy ability to manually tweak without flipping switches.
2) It's flexible. Because it's a macro, you can shoot as close as you like. Images are also wonderful if you want to step back and take advantage of a somewhat flatter field that results from long-lens compression. And though it lacks the low-light capability of the 1.4 or the DC lenses (both f/2), the VRII system really does allow a very slow shutter.
3) It has no problems I can find with CA or flare. I suppose this is due to the Nano-Crystal Coating. While the 85 1.4 and the DC lenses may be just a tiny bit ahead of this lens because of their sort of "magical" qualities, they each have some issues with CA or color fringing. (Greenish skin tones are common with the DC lenses, and purple color fringing is common with the 85, although all are easy enough to correct.)
4. The size is perfect, at least for my hands. It's just big and heavy enough to feel gorgeously balanced on a D700 or D3, but it's not a pain to carry like the 70-200. I think the 105 and 135 DC lenses are equally great, sizewise, but the 85 sometimes feels a tiny bit small to me (I love it anyway) and both versions of the 70-200 are beasts to fit in a camera bag and swing around for hours.
5. For what it does, it's cheap. Best of all, you can find these used on craigslist, typically for about $700. I bet the people who sell them bought them for macro and then got tired of shooting bugs. And because it uses 62mm filters, you may already have one, or you can get a good one without spending the money a 72 or 77mm commands.
Don't get me wrong. I own or have owned all the lenses I referenced above, and they are all fantastic. But if I had to pick just one portrait lens, especially if cost were a big factor, this would be it.
Sorry to write so much, but I get the feeling that lots of folks have this lens for macro and don't realize its true beauty. Hope it helps at least one person!
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Dec 12, 2009
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svx94
Offline
[ X ]
Registered: Mar 25, 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 657
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Review Date: Dec 5, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $750.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, good for both macro and portrait, useful VR, work well with extender
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Cons:
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VR has limited help in macro situation. Macro focusing is slow as usual
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I am not a Pro, and got this lens just want to play with it, but fell in love with it and will keep it.
1. Portrait use is just wonderful. Good for indoor half body length portait or head shot. Very sharp and good bokeh;
2. Macro use - haven't master it yet, and hard for me to comment. AF is slow for macro, but that could be the way it is;
3. With extender 1.7x - Nikon website state that the lens is NOT competable with extenders, but in real life, it works just as well. I compare the result with 80-200mm 2.8 AF-S, there is no sharpness drop, and color/contrast is close as well;
4. Overall VR is very effective;
5. When use as normal lens, and focal distance is close, the lens is slower than F2.8
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Dec 5, 2009
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horowitzw
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Registered: Feb 1, 2004
Location: N/A
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Nov 22, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Great image quality, sharpness, build, VR
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Cons:
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VR noisy
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Overall, a real gem.
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Nov 22, 2009
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MagicNikon
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Registered: Jul 9, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 1919
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Review Date: Nov 4, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $850.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Sharp, Built well, Nano Coating, VR
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Cons:
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VR not so helpful at 1:1 distances, Can hunt in low light. Some CA wide open.
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I've owned the 105mm VR several times since it came out. All copies have essentially been identical. For one reason or another, I bought and sold them (once for a switch to Canon, the other becuase i wanted to purchase something else), but I always regretted not having it after it was gone.
Yes, its big and bulk...kind of like an oversized Heineken can. I find that despite it's shortcoming in regards to Purple Fringing wide open, it's still an excellent lens. I favor this for portraits over larger bulker 70/80-200mm 2.8 zooms. Its really of little use for sports as the AF hunts and if you miss focus, its a long way back....
I don't do true 1:1 macros, but I find that the VR is helpful for extreme close-ups of flowers. I love this lens for shooting flowers in the Spring. It's my favorite (and I have owned alot of recent macro lenses...).
This lens is really sharp stoppped down after f/4. It's kind of ridiculous how sharp it is. Some people new to macro lenses may be confused as to why the camera reports a larger than normal smallest aperture at close focusing distances. This is normal. You might see 3.2 when you're tryign to make it go lower....it won't. The camera is reporting the light loss from the close focusing.
Anyway...while it doesn't have the mystique that other Nikkors have...I think that many will find this to be a good jack of all trades in this FL. Its does a nice job for portraits and serves well as a medium telephoto. I like to refer to mine as The Nuge, after Ted Nugent, because even though it likes to hunt, it's all Rock'nRoll baby!
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Nov 4, 2009
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OCphotography
Offline
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Registered: Aug 23, 2008
Location: Denmark
Posts: 284
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Review Date: Oct 25, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Build, razorsharp, VR, lens hood included. (Hello Canon!?)
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Cons:
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Price
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I have had many macro lenses, this is by far the most superior! You can also use it as a portrait lens since it has VR. Overall, a real gem. Forget 60mm, 85mm, save up and get this one. 
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Oct 25, 2009
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KrazyYak
Offline
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Registered: Apr 26, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 28
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Review Date: Oct 23, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Great image quality, sharpness. Great for macros (obviously) and portrait/headshots. No barrel extension.
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Cons:
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Hunts for focus in dim lighting, even with focus restriction on.
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I borrowed this lens from a friend for a few months. I loved using it, and nearly ended up buying it myself (though I went with the 17-55 as a matter of practicality instead). It's still on my list of lenses to eventually get.
The focus distance is really nice and allows for some super tight frames. Additionally, I also used it during weddings as a short telephoto for portraits and headshots.
The biggest issue I saw is that it hunts a lot in low lighting. There is a focus restriction switch you can use when not shooting macro, but it doesn't go far enough in my opinion.
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Oct 23, 2009
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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11
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35761
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May 25, 2012
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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100% of reviewers
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$760.43
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.55
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9.20
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9.5
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