Nikon 105 f2.5 lens.
Jan 5, 2016 13:30:12 #
This lens was introduced in 1959 with the original Nikon F. I am not sure if it was also available for their rangefinder cameras.
It had an original Gauss design and the optical formula was similar to that of the Zeiss Sonnar lens. If memory does not fail multicoating began in 1973.
This excellent portrait lens, available today at reasonable prices, especially those made with single coating like mine was one of the first lenses to bring professional reputation to Nikon optics. Another lens that was spectacular in the 70's was the 80-200 f4.5 a lens well known for its sharpness at all apertures. This specific lens changed the reputation at the time of zoom lenses.
These three images were made using the 105 f2.5 Nikkor P of the late 60's with a Nikon D610. They show its sharpness.
I have used other lenses for portraits but I always come back to this one. It built a reputation as one of the sharpest lenses made for portrait photography. I guess today, after more than 40 years it is still true.
It had an original Gauss design and the optical formula was similar to that of the Zeiss Sonnar lens. If memory does not fail multicoating began in 1973.
This excellent portrait lens, available today at reasonable prices, especially those made with single coating like mine was one of the first lenses to bring professional reputation to Nikon optics. Another lens that was spectacular in the 70's was the 80-200 f4.5 a lens well known for its sharpness at all apertures. This specific lens changed the reputation at the time of zoom lenses.
These three images were made using the 105 f2.5 Nikkor P of the late 60's with a Nikon D610. They show its sharpness.
I have used other lenses for portraits but I always come back to this one. It built a reputation as one of the sharpest lenses made for portrait photography. I guess today, after more than 40 years it is still true.
Jan 5, 2016 13:50:18 #
camerapapi wrote:
This lens was introduced in 1959 with the original... (show quote)
William, I have two of those lenses. One that works on my Nikon F, but not on the DSLR and one for my DSLR. I love them both. Excellent lenses and also great with an extension bellows.
--Bob
Jan 5, 2016 14:03:03 #
Jan 5, 2016 14:09:10 #
camerapapi wrote:
This lens was introduced in 1959 with the original... (show quote)
Of the few things in life that I've had stolen, the early '80s, multi-coated, AI-S version of that lens (105mm f2.5) is the one I wish I still had! It was a gem. That and the 85mm f/1.8 of that era were among my favorites, as was the 135mm f/2.8.
I have a very sharp 55mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor (a semi-macro lens without its optional extender) from the early '80s that I intend to use with two different adapters on a LUMIX GH4. The dumb and cheap Fotodiox adapter provides the equivalent of a 110mm f/2.8. Using a .71x MetaBones SpeedBooster with the same lens makes it (effectively) a 78mm f/2 lens, while using a .64x MetaBones Speedbooster makes it act like a 70.4mm f/1.8 lens... all with two stops greater DOF for the respective focal lengths, of course.
I just have to figure out which SpeedBooster I want... They're not cheap, but you only need one for each brand/mount of lenses you have.
Jan 5, 2016 14:19:47 #
Jan 5, 2016 14:36:47 #
Jan 5, 2016 18:33:13 #
Thank you gentlemen for the nice comments. Bob, Mr. White in Michigan makes very reasonable conversions of old Nikon lenses to AI. He has done several conversions for me and they have been great. My present lens was AI converted by him.
I seldom use the lens for "macro" work like I did when I was shooting film. For those occasions when I wanted to make it focus closer I would use a 52mm, 3T diopter lens. My macro shots today are made with the excellent 105mm f4 Micro Nikkor from the late 70's or early 80's.
Only one caveat when using these single coated lenses, do not aim them to the light source because surely flare will spoil the picture.
I seldom use the lens for "macro" work like I did when I was shooting film. For those occasions when I wanted to make it focus closer I would use a 52mm, 3T diopter lens. My macro shots today are made with the excellent 105mm f4 Micro Nikkor from the late 70's or early 80's.
Only one caveat when using these single coated lenses, do not aim them to the light source because surely flare will spoil the picture.
Jan 6, 2016 05:53:25 #
Jan 6, 2016 07:20:16 #
Bill, I have never used the 85mm f1.8. the old or the new version. I figure it has to be also an excellent lens because Steve McCurry used a 105mm AI-S lens in the past, mostly with film and when he went digital he began to use the 85mm f1.8.
I do not know but if I had a Lumix GH4 and was entertaining plans to shoot portraits I would go for one of the Olympus or Panasonic lenses intended for that purpose instead of using that very good Nikkor but that is me.
I do not know but if I had a Lumix GH4 and was entertaining plans to shoot portraits I would go for one of the Olympus or Panasonic lenses intended for that purpose instead of using that very good Nikkor but that is me.
Jan 6, 2016 08:24:28 #
camerapapi wrote:
Bill, I have never used the 85mm f1.8. the old or the new version. I figure it has to be also an excellent lens because Steve McCurry used a 105mm AI-S lens in the past, mostly with film and when he went digital he began to use the 85mm f1.8.
I do not know but if I had a Lumix GH4 and was entertaining plans to shoot portraits I would go for one of the Olympus or Panasonic lenses intended for that purpose instead of using that very good Nikkor but that is me.
I do not know but if I had a Lumix GH4 and was entertaining plans to shoot portraits I would go for one of the Olympus or Panasonic lenses intended for that purpose instead of using that very good Nikkor but that is me.
Well, sure, I want the 42.5mm f/1.2 Leica lens. But I'll buy the Panny 42.5mm f1.7 instead, at 1/4 the cost. It's no Leica, but gets nothing but favorable reviews. That's my "85". The 55 on a dumb adapter is my long macro --- a "110" equivalent. I'm already set on the 35-100mm f/2.8 Panny as my general purpose medium tele zoom. It's okay for portraits in the middle of its range, but I do wish I had something faster. I'd love to find an old 85-1.8 Nikkor and put in on the .64 SpeedBooster. That's a super sharp, 109mm f/0.80 combo!
Jan 6, 2016 09:46:06 #
camerapapi wrote:
This lens was introduced in 1959 with the original... (show quote)
I would be curious to know the distance of your subjects in these great images. According to published sources, the closest focus distance is 47" (as compared to the 16" of the 105 micro).
Jan 6, 2016 09:52:35 #
ssymeono wrote:
I would be curious to know the distance of your subjects in these great images. According to published sources, the closest focus distance is 47" (as compared to the 16" of the 105 micro).
As you well know close focus was not one of the strong points of this lens. I was using its minimum focus distance, I would say around 3 feet.
In those cases in the past when I wanted to get closer I would use the 3T diopter.
For macro work I prefer the Micro Nikkor 105 f4 but that should be obvious to anyone.
Jan 7, 2016 00:18:24 #
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