AF-S 105mm micro VR DOF preview clicking when manual focusing

<p>A friend has loaned me his AF-S 105mm f/2.8 VR micro lens for a try out to see if I want one myself.</p>

<p>When I'm shooting close to maximum magnification I switch the lens to Manual focusing and simultaneously twist the focus ring and engage the DOF preview to determine what I want in/out focus.</p>

<p>As I do this I can hear a very light feathery click inside the lens when the DOF preview is engaged and I twist the focus ring - something I've never experienced in a lens before. Is this sound just aperture blades adjusting according to focus point or something else?</p>

<p>I'm only trying to determine if this is either a fault in this copy or if it's a trait for this model as I may buy one of these and will possibly inspect lenses being offered for sale.</p>

Matthew, just tried that on my 105 VR and I can hear that light click as well.

<p>The AF-S Micro 105 on a digital nikon body will compensate the aperture at close range to keep constant the "effective aperture". This means that when you are close to maximum magnification the aperture mechanism will move while changing focusing.</p>

<p>Francisco, I considered that also, but when I set the aperture on the 105 VR to wide open, I could still hear the click sound. And the click sound is independent of whether VR is on or off.</p>

<p>As far as I know the only way to get DOF preview is to close the aperture blades. It would not be surprising if this makes a little noise.</p>

<p>What Matthew and I are talking about is not merely pressing down the depth-of-field preview button. While holding that button down in manual focus, if you continue to rotate the focusing ring, you will continue to hear some light clicking sound. The more you rotate, the more it'll click.</p>