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Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AIS Lens / 3100


harmon

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<p>I bought this lens and I like it a lot. It was perhaps not the most logical purchase for the 3100 - but I have a Nikon EL2 I am going to try it with also. I may have read that the focal length of this lens is not actually 105mm on the 3100 - is that right? I would appreciate the experts telling me what this prime lens can do and how it fits (or does not) in a logical lens set for the 3100. </p>
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<p>The focal length is still 105mm. Because your D3100 sensor is smaller than full-frame, the image will be slightly magnified. The 105mm lens on your D3100 will ACT LIKE a 158mm lens on your EL2, being slightly more zoomed in, but the focal length does not change. Give it a try, put the 105mm on your D3100 and take a test photo, perhaps when you are sitting in a chair. Then, put the 105mm on the EL2, and you will notice that the view through the viewfinder is noticeably zoomed out a bit more, you'll have more edges in the frame. That is because 35mm film is larger than an APS sensor, so it is capturing more of the image that the 105mm lens is projecting behind the lens mount. You'll notice that for portraits, you will have to stand a few steps further back, but nothing critical.</p>
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<p>This is one of the all-time classic lenses from Nikon. Some people go so far as to say it is the best Nikkor ever, but that may be hyperbole.</p>

<p>Nikon's own story about it is now at http://imaging.nikon.com/history/nikkor/5/index.htm</p>

<p>I have the older (and slightly different) non-AI version, but it is a wonderful lens. On a 35mm-sensor or 35mm film camera, especially, it is one of the nicest portrait and 'street' lenses.</p>

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<p>John, that is a very very good photograph, a beautiful one. what kind of film? or is it digital and I'm misreading the caption?</p>

<p>Franklin, it's a legendary lens, best or not. (Bjorn Rorslett, whose site you should study to learn abuot Nikkor lenses -- although, no, he's not always right, just usually and their qualities) calls it "truly one of the great lenses of all time", which is about the highest praise I've read him giving. It's certainly in the competition for Nikon's best AIS tele, how's that? Some like the later f/1.8 more. Not I. Neither of the 85s, as good as they are, compare. The expensive (still) 180 f//2.8 ED is a strong competitor though; as is the (extrememly expensive) 200 f/2 ED. But that's it. </p>

<p>Here's a picture of my son taken with the Ai version, this summer:</p>

 

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<p>John, that is a very very good photograph, a beautiful one. what kind of film? or is it digital and I'm misreading the caption?</p>

<p>Franklin, it's a legendary lens, best or not. (Bjorn Rorslett, whose site you should study to learn about Nikkor lenses and their qualities -- although, no, he's not always right, just usually) calls it "truly one of the great lenses of all time", which is about the highest praise I've read him giving. It's certainly in the competition for Nikon's best AIS tele, how's that? Some like the later f/1.8 more. Not I. Neither of the 85s, as good as they are, compare. The expensive (still) 180 f//2.8 ED is a strong competitor though; as is the (extremely expensive) 200 f/2 ED. But that's it. </p>

<p>Here's a picture of my son taken with the Ai version, this summer, up at Boy Scout camp where he worked:</p>

<p> </p><div>00Zg64-420587584.jpg.3e44ce8c529ba6c279bfe812c1898ea5.jpg</div>

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<p>By the way, looking at that photograph carefully and remembering the light, which was strong in spots but not where he was standing, I think I was at about f/4 or f/5.6, which, with Ektar, would have had me at 1/60th most likely in that light -- anyway the plane of focus seems to extend from the top of his front shoulder to his hair somewhat back from his eyes -- a distance of half a meter or less but one would THINK it includes his actual face... But, as I recall, I took the picture just as he started to tell me to hurry up already, so I think that might explain why the eyes, nose and mouth are slightly blurred even though there's sharp focus behind that plane AND in front of it -- from what I can tell. In other words his face was just going into motion. However I'm a bit of a novice compared to many of you so I wonder if I'm seeing it correctly. Perhaps I just missed the focus.</p>
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<p>Hey JDMvW -- That's cool. They're bending truth a bit there, though, as it was not modified "slightly" in 1970; I believe a whole new element was added, taking it from a four-element Sonnar to a five-element something else. Someone correct me if I have that wrong. And was it 1970 or later? I.e., are there five element non Ai versions? Memory....</p>
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<p>I would like to have this one on my Olympus. What about border sharpness (Olympus has small sensor but still some lenses show problems with border sharpness)? What about wide-open shrpness? <br />I use 50/1.4 AIS and this is a good lens. </p>
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<p>Vince, the original Sonnar was a five element lens, too (three glued).</p>

<p>From what I know, you`re right; there are two versions. The first, original "Sonnar" one (5/3), typically asymmetrical (it reminds me the 85/2 for Nikon S/Contax) that changed to the a different "newer" Xenotar (5/4). The barrel was modified or updated several times (up to five times/six versions as I see in <em>photosynthesis, -</em>they could be wrong-).</p>

<p>I think that, as usual, the "legends" and "myths" are based on topics that have little to do with "current reality". For sure, the original "Sonnar" was a great lens in its age, maybe because performance was outstanding, superior or even different to the competitor`s offer. The second design is completely different, for sure it was made to improve the other in many aspects.</p>

<p>Since then, many other lenses has been released, surely with great improvements over the previous ones. But it`s also true that the "Xenotar" 105/2.5 is still "usable" with the current standards, and very appealing with its size and weight.</p>

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<p>I dunno if this is the finest lens produced by Nikon but it definitely is the best investment I ever did in glass. I am stunned to see how well it performs on the new sensor of D7000... It really rocks in available light, producing very pleasant images.<br>

<img src="http://www.graphy.ro/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/D07_2078-Edit.jpg" alt="" /></p>

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<p>In my opinion, the 105 gives you the impression of having a Zeiss lens. I have several contax lenses that I adapted to my nikon and the 105 ais gives you nearly the same picture quality as a planar or a sonnar from Zeiss. This feeling comes not only from the sharpness but also from the marvelous colors that hit the sensor. The 1.8 is supposed to be even better, but for a higher prize.<br>

That said, in order to use your 105 on the 3100, you will have to add a dandelion chip that will give the camera the informations it needs: I did it on my 105 and it works now as a "G" lens. You have to focus manually of course.<br>

Laurent</p>

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<p>I have the earlier pre-AI one too. I use it on my old Nikon F and my Nikkormat, but I've also used it on my D3000.</p>

<p>Look, I'm not a big believer of the popular photography "this lens is better than that lens" stuff. Unless it's a toy camera lens or a cheap zoom, I've never been able to tell from a picture what lens it was taken with. But the 105 is widely-recognized as a great "portrait" lens, and I won't argue with that one.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that it's designed for a frame of 35mm film. If used on a camera with smaller film or sensor, it's not going to use the entire image that comes through the lens. The focal length of any lens is what it is, but it's the equivalent of taking a picture with a 35mm or "full-frame" camera. and then cropping the edges off of it. That lessens its usefulness as a portrait lens somewhat, and I wouldn't consider it a walking around type of lens. It's too much of a telephoto for that. If I was starting fresh instead of 40 years ago, 105 wouldn't be the first I would get. But when you do need that focal length, it's a great one to have.</p>

<p>I took this picture with it, mounted on my D3000. Not too bad for having been taken through a glass window.</p><div>00ZgA8-420653584.jpg.7f34c7ffd6fe4207cf2113d035d9d473.jpg</div>

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<p>By the way, many of the Hove books were a little inclined to exaggeration, but-- as I said-- I didn't make it up on my own. ;)</p>

<p>As for "improving" the Sonnars, it's pretty hard to improve near perfection. My old "Olympic" Sonnar 180mm f/2.8 (P6 mount covering a 6cm image) is one of the sharpest lenses I own, even when used on an APS-C crop, much less a 35mm-sensor body. That legendary design goes back to the 1936 Olympics (the Jesse Owens one). It's no wonder that Nikon was not the only one to adopt the basic design with considerable success. Perfectly legal, by the way, since the post-war Allied Control Commission had released all German patents, etc. for use by the world. Ironically, perhaps, that also included the Japanese manufacturers.</p>

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<p>I've had both the AI and AIS versions. The AI is a little larger and the focus ring turns at a greater angle from infinity to close up making it more precise but slower to focus. The AIS has quicker focus and is slightly lighter in weight, and prices are higher too. Both stop down to f22. The pre-AI version with rubber focus ring stopped down to f32. All are nice to use. </p><div>00ZgSu-420967584.jpg.5487441b2d145510197d0743eaff5347.jpg</div>
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