Heh.....just realized that one silly shot of my son wasn't even done with the 105.....it was right before I put the lens on that day, so got mixed in with a bunch of 105 shots.
The Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 is great with E6 film. I've got countless of portraits on this lens alone, mostly E6 stuff. The render is phenomenal. For landscapes imo, not suitable for it but for isolating subjects and using its special bokeh, it's the right tool.
Two samples below shot on 2004. 1st shot is with a Kodak E200 and 2nd is Velvia 100F. Each film has a purpose. Now, it is up to us how to shape the curve, it's a waste of time. No post processing and cropping on the images below.
This is a fantastic lens. I bought one here from Jim (Grenache) and also found this post there. This is my first MF lens and I had a tough time focusing with it in the beginning, but I am getting a hang of it. Here are some pictures I captured while playing around with it at work. (Parking lot). The last one is my daughter's.
Gary Clennan wrote:
It is a great little lens for the money... Can I have the car? Saw one like that in Milan a few weeks ago. Excuse the crummy film scan...
The day I have two, you can have one
Very nice picture. I couldn't tell it was a scan, but then again, should I be able to.
I've been a bit preoccupied of late on the other thread I created for ALL of Nikon's manual focus lenses, but that isn't to say i've been ignoring this wonderful lens. I've just been posting images taken with the lens on the other thread. I'll drop a recent photo taken here just to keep my proverbial oar in the water...
CGrindahl wrote:
I've been a bit preoccupied of late on the other thread I created for ALL of Nikon's manual focus lenses, but that isn't to say i've been ignoring this wonderful lens. I've just been posting images taken with the lens on the other thread. I'll drop a recent photo taken here just to keep my proverbial oar in the water...
Taken last Saturday wide open. This is what season change looks like in California... palm fronds go from green to yellow gold...
CGrindahl wrote:
You didn't check my profile... I live NORTH of Palo Alto in Marin County where this particular palm tree thrives.
You're right, of course, that palm trees are fairly rare in the Bay Area. I'm drawn to them in part because of the photographic possibilities...
I shot this with the 105 and posted it earlier on FM ...
You are right.. I assumed you were in the LA area. That's good to know though... If you are selling something I want, we can do a local transaction
That's a great shot. I need to find some palm trees myself. They allow for many possibilities. I am so new to photography that I am still taking pictures of my kids and cars
And thanks for starting this thread. This was the primary reason I bought this incredible lens... my first MF.
mobius2005 wrote:
...You are right.. I assumed you were in the LA area. That's good to know though... If you are selling something I want, we can do a local transaction
...And thanks for starting this thread. This was the primary reason I bought this incredible lens... my first MF.
Funny thing about local transactions that by the time you pay bridge tolls and gas it is often easier to do a transaction that involves no more than taking the package to the local post office... Though I have done transactions with folks from around the Bay, the last with a fellow from the peninsula whom I met at the airport to sell a Canon 24L.
Glad you found the 105 and are enjoying it. You might want to check out the other thread I started featuring other Nikon manual focus lenses. They tend to be the best deals available for what is clearly some extremely fine glass. Of course, chasing kids with MF glass can be an exercise in futility... You've got your priorities straight if photos of family are preoccupying your time. Have fun... and when you have something you'd like to drop on the board, give it a shot.
I'm liking this lens more each day. Nothing special here, just a business portrait I did about a half hour ago. But geez, this thing is sharp, and I don't have to do much processing, either. I will now grab this lens for studio headshots before I reach for the old stand-by, the 70-200 VR.
BTW, how's my color on this? I am not loving my monitor these days....
Todd Adamson wrote:
I'm liking this lens more each day. Nothing special here, just a business portrait I did about a half hour ago. But geez, this thing is sharp, and I don't have to do much processing, either. I will now grab this lens for studio headshots before I reach for the old stand-by, the 70-200 VR.
BTW, how's my color on this? I am not loving my monitor these days....
It looks great on my monitor, but what do I know? I've never calibrated my 23" Apple Cinema Display...
I guess only a person who is doing a great deal of shooting could get such good mileage out of both the Nikon 105 AND the Zeiss 100. It seems that each gives you something that works for you. I have to say, your odyssey with the Zeiss is intriguing to me. It would be a shame, of course, if my NAS morphed into a Zeiss obsession, as it seems to have done for a number of folks on this board...
CGrindahl wrote:
I guess only a person who is doing a great deal of shooting could get such good mileage out of both the Nikon 105 AND the Zeiss 100. It seems that each gives you something that works for you.
I was having trouble focusing the Zeiss at first, but slowly getting better now that I have ditched the green dot. They're both excellent portrait lenses, but the Zeiss is more versatile for other uses. Consequently, if my keeper rate gets up where I want it, I may prefer it just for that reason. I also must say, as nice as the Nikkor is mechanically, the Zeiss is even more of a pleasure to use. Smooth, solid, and a very nice weight for my D3. We'll see how it plays out....I recently picked up two other lenses in the 100-ish focal length range (I know, what's wrong with me??)
Here are a couple from just early this evening, from the Nikkor 105:
wonderful pictures everyone. i can't help but notice that everyone is shooting pretty near with this lens. it is actually a shockingly good landscape lens as well (at least on crop) - it is one of my goto lenses for panoramas. sorry i can't show any samples, i didn't get the lens till after i stopped shooting nikon.
One of the great things about this thread and the other one I started on all of Nikon's manual focus lenses, is that every time I visit them I feel inspired to pull of the lens being demonstrated and take them for a spin. It is also wonderful to see other members caught with the bug and making their own investment in some of this old glass. As I said when starting the other thread, there are some incredible values for money to be found in these lenses which in their day were the go to lenses of pros around the world. I'm glad everyone is having fun, since I certainly am enjoying everything folks are sharing here. Thanks and keep shooting. I listen to the rain falling on the roof and find myself wondering what creative things I might be able to do with my camera and 105 on a day like today... I'll drop by again if I come up with something.
J/K thanks, Ryan! 
