i just got this lens today and when I mount on my Z6 (latest firmware 3.40) and when i used it i thought the shutter sounded strange...then when i checked the d5 settings it's in electronic shutter mode...i can't even select mechanical shutter (grayed out). when i dismount it and mount another lens, it's all good and i can select mechanical shutter without issues. i have silent photography setting OFF.
i read there are lenses that are EFCS only but surely this can't be one of them? or maybe i'm doing something stupid? or is the lens defective?
edit: ok from this same thread at page 5, apparently it's EFCS only. i get it, it helps reduce shutter shock which is useful in macro mode but i don't intend to use it as macro 100% of the time...i'm not going to enumerate the disadvantages of EFCS...i should be able to choose the type of shutter i want to use, Nikon.
dalegaspi wrote:
edit: ok from this same thread at page 5, apparently it's EFCS only. i get it, it helps reduce shutter shock which is useful in macro mode but i don't intend to use it as macro 100% of the time...i'm not going to enumerate the disadvantages of EFCS...i should be able to choose the type of shutter i want to use, Nikon.
akshully, playing around with the camera and lens, and confirmation from the folks in this DPR thread, when set to "Auto" the camera switches from mechanical to EFCS as it sees fit. From the looks of it, it switches to EFCS with SS less than 1/250s otherwise it's on mechanical shutter...which i guess kind of makes sense.
I got a call yesterday that my 105MC is ready to pick up from Service Photo!
Can't wait to get the lens. While I love my Sigma 150mm OS, that lens is heavy and cumbersome with the FTZ on my Z7ii. Looking forward to having a native macro lens in the bag!
That Sigma 150 is well used and not worth selling, so I'll just keep it for when I need a bit more reach to get 1:1 (snakes and such...)
Goofing off bored this evening, done looking at all the lucky folk with their Z9's starting to roll in . So I give you "Ibuprofen and the precision driver" First shot on the 105MC, second shot on the 50MC. Seems there's a place for both in the bag
Does anyone with this lens (and possibly the 85mm f/1.8 S) feel like you could get by with only this lens? I love the idea of macro on the 105mm f/2.8 but I'm not sure if this would be limiting in other areas.
I have both. You can use this as portrait for sure. But 85mm f1.8S has the f1.8 advantage. I can see when the 85mmf1.2S comes out that I might not need the 85f1.8S. But as of right now, they serve different purposes for me.
The 85f1.8S also focus faster than the macro lens.
Flaxh wrote:
All the reviews I read mention that the AF is a bit slow but I'm wondering if that's due to the AF capabilities of the Z5/Z6/Z7 cameras.
Thom Hogan (here) reports that "for general non-macro use the lens focus is typically fast and sure, as you’d expect. One of the things that happens in macro range, though, is that you often have a lot of lower contrast in your subjects, and you’re also moving the focus in very small increments".
I understand that the focus performance is quite good and fast, being sometimes slower in close-ups. At macro distances you should be focusing manually and have the camera on a secure platform if you want precise focus.
I think it's not an issue.
Flaxh wrote:
I am interested in this lens and would like to know if anyone with the Z9 has tested it and can leave some feedback here regarding the AF performance.
All the reviews I read mention that the AF is a bit slow but I'm wondering if that's due to the AF capabilities of the Z5/Z6/Z7 cameras.
Slow or fast is a relative term. Sure, it will never match the AF speed of the 50/85 f1.8S but compare to the previous F mount macro lens, it’s much faster and more accurate(with a Z9). I don’t really use this lens for any other than macro much since I got 85f1.8S.
. So I give you "Ibuprofen and the precision driver" First shot on the 105MC, second shot on the 50MC. Seems there's a place for both in the bag 
