bourboncowboy Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Does anyone have any thoughts about the Nikon 105mm 2.5 Ai-S lens? I'm thinking about buying one (got talked out of the 35mm lens) and I would like to hear from people who've used one? Thanks in advance for any advice.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnw63 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I think there have been LOTS of thoughts on it. Bottom line...it's a real GOOD lens ! If you use the search button, you'll find a LOT of posts about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglas_green1 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Has anyone heard of this lens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 These pages illustrate the 105/2.5 AI and AI-S, which have minor differences. The AI was equipped with a detachable lens hood. The AI-S came with a sliding hood that, while somewhat less effective, is handier and more likely to be there when you need it. http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/late70nikkor/telephoto/105mm.htm http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/105mmnikkor/105mm25.htm I have the 105/2.5 AI. It's one of the best Nikkors I've tried. Either model would serve anyone well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
declark Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I bought one after reading about it a bit and because they can be had fairly cheap nowadays. It is one of my favorites now. I started out with a N80 and a 24-135 Tamron lens. Have gotten many great shots with that combo, but once I got an FE2 & 105, I prefer it over the auto everything/wonder zoom. The look of the pictures I get is just better, not necessarily sharper, but better IMO. I have taken portraits with the zoom at roughly the 100mm setting that just don't look nearly as smooth. I hate seeing double lines or donuts in background highlights. I know there are lots of great lenses with smooth backgrounds (good bokeh), but the 105/2.5 renders the out of focus stuff so smoothly for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilly_w Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 A search of the archives will likely produce a fair bit of material re: history, performance, etc. The greatest testimony to this lens is its continued longevity; about a 35 year-old, unchanged Gauss design of 5 elements / 4 goups. Wonderful lens and a true classic in the Nikon line-up. Still going strong and available new for over US$ 400. Many buyers clamber over each other for the AI or AIS version, overlooking the earlier P-C version from about '71 or so, w/ the classic-looking hill-and-dale metal focusing ring. The P version was single-coated. All others (P-C, AI and AIS) are multi-coated, w/ some coating variations among them. I'm very happy to have a P-C that sees plenty of action. The fact that the 105/2.5 is reasonably compact w/out the hood attached (P, P-C, AI) or not extended (built-in on AIS) permits frame-filling, yet casual portrait-like shooting. The size is a far cry from most zooms in the 20-200mm range and won't elicit the <point-that-thing elsewhere> bashful response. Go ahead and safely pull the trigger on this one as it will be a long-term and much-welcomed addition! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I predict (holding envelope to forehead)... Kelly will treat us again to one of his favorite photos. ;> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bourboncowboy Posted January 28, 2006 Author Share Posted January 28, 2006 Thanks for all the information. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm trying to create a collection of really nice primes for my F3. These lenses will only shed light on B&W film (unless something goes awry) as I shoot color with my N90s and digital with my D70. My F3 is reserved strictly for my own personal amusement, and I'll be collecting my lenses over time. From what I've gathered, I'm leaning toward buying this lens, but if anyone has anything more to offer on this lens, I'd be more than happy to consider their thoughts - as I'm new to MF lenses and cameras. Thanks for the advice...and please, keep it coming. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninjapan2000 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I also love this lens, BUT...the interior collects dust. I suspect the ancient design includes a focusing action that sucks dust into the interior. The lens has "lived" in the same conditions as my other lenses, but they are still pristine. Or maybe the sealing on my copy is slightly inferior? It doesn't affect images (I bought it new about 5-7 years ago), but it is rather galling. My 20+ year old 200mm f/4 is much cleaner. As are all the other lenses I bought with the 105mm. If you buy one used, try to get some idea of the date of manufacture. If it has existed for several years without collecting dust, perhaps it never will. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Sucks big time like John says. Stay away from it. Too good a lens in such a little package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninjapan2000 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Here is a low-res scan of my all-time favorite portrait. Taken with the 105mm f/2.5 Ai-S.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Yeah, I forgot to add this.. Any lens used by Steve McCurry should be avoided completely. Remember that and stay way away from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johninjapan2000 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 What Vivek (which means "irony" in Hungarian, just kidding) is trying to say is: look at some of the images created with this lens. You will then have no doubts. I have photos of *weeds* that look magical, thanks to this lens. But, really, try to get one that ain't a dust magnet. :-) John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_helleck1 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I thought I might throw in a more serious response. I own the Nikon AI'd 105/2.5 version (the one with the silver barrel). It is a Sonnar design, but still a great lens. However I like the 85mm focal length a bit better. There is really no point to getting both (unless you are a little excentic like me). But honestly you can't go wrong with either focal length for portraits. The 105/2.5 sonnar is a little softer than the AI or AIS versions, but that can be a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Guys - if you put your lens to infinity focus and put a rear cap on it, dust stays out. It's almost magical that way. Another lens that you should avoid because it can collect dust this way is the 35mm f/1.4. What you really want are all the Nikonos lenses, because they're sealed watertight.<p>Mark - what Vivek and others are ribbing you about is that Steve McCurry used this lens and an FM2n to take the famous National Geographic cover which is today known as the "Afghan girl". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Vivek is on a tear today. I'm gonna hafta attach a tongue in cheek icon to his name. I live in Texas. If a lens was gonna suck dust, this is the environment where it'd happen. No such problems with my 105/2.5 AI or 85/2 AI-S. BTW, I'm not sure anybody but Steve McCurry knows for certain what he used to photograph Sharbat Gula, the "Afghan Girl," and her classmates in a refugee camp. According to one website he donated an F90s, which was supposedly used to make that photo, to a charitable auction. Unfortunately I'm not sure the timeline agrees. If I'm recalling the photo of Gula was taken in 1984, six years before the N90 was introduced. And I've read claims that McCurry used an 85/1.4 Nikkor for that session, which was done inside a tent with available light. Has anybody ever read an actual statement from McCurry himself regarding the equipment he used? I've even read blogs (b-o-r-i-n-g) in which folks talked about attending workshops and slide shows hosted by McCurry, hoping to find a definitive answer, but there was no mention of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelging Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 This and the 180mm nikkors are my favorite teles,and since Kelly has not posted his favorite photo with the 105mm 2.5 , here is mine.This was a Non-Ai version, you can not tell just how sharp this lens is, in a online photo. http://www.photo.net/photo/2521222 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 "And I've read claims that McCurry used an 85/1.4 Nikkor for that session, which was done inside a tent with available light." Talk about tongue in cheek (or confusion)! This lens was used by Steve McCurry for the portrait of the Afgan Woman (the same 'girl', years later). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 WTH, I tried to find something about the 105, 85, McCurry and all that in vain.<p> Here is the photos that are referred to (Note: The link is the acknowledgement to where this is from) <p> <center><img src="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/05/images/030307_afghanredeux.jpg"></center> <p> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/03/0311_020312_sharbat.html <p> Steve McCurry was also rumored to be a Nikon user. <p> Now he is seen promoting a Sony Digicam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivek iyer Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Oh, yes! Michael Ging obviated any tussle about what a Steve might have or might not have used!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim_Tardio Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 <i>Has anybody ever read an actual statement from McCurry himself regarding the equipment he used?</i><p>Not an actual statement from McCurry, but the Summer 1998 issue of Nikon World magazine has several McCurry shots and lists the equipment for each shot. Sharbat Gula, the "Afghan Girl," shot was taken, according to the magazine, with an FM2 with the 105/2.5 lens.<p>In the preface to this feature, McCurry states, <i>"I like to work in tight with short, fast lenses, a 28 or 35, a 50, or at most an 85 or 105mm".</i><p>So, it appears that that shot was taken with the 105/2.5...if you can trust the magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klix Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Mark - as should be obvious by now, this lens is a no-brainer purchase. KEH.com has quite a few for sale. From your other post, you had mentioned (I think?) that you only have the 50/1.8 for now, so, IMO. the 105mm makes a perfect 2nd lens. Again, IMO, your third lens should be a 20/24/28 -- For the 24 and 28, get the AIS versions, either 2.0 or 2.8 (I have the 2.8 versions of both focal lengths), and in the 20mm, I have the 3.5 AIS, which I recommend. Good luck. KL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_baker1 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Hi Mark. I just got the 105mm f2.5 ais and so far it is great. KEH, bargain condition for $109. Also just picked up the 200mm f4 for $56. I have the 20mm f3.5 ais as well. So far all I need is the 50mm F1.8 and I'll pretty much be done. Except for when I get some real cash and get the 105/1.8, 20/2.8, and 35/1.4. Oh, and an 85/1.4. And then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_a Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 The 105 is an awesome lens. I had one many years ago. Very sharp and small. Mine was an older version with a detachable hood. Made this image with that lens:<P> <img src="http://www.jimarnold.org/images/data/media/7/amish_girlcopy.jpg" alt="" border="2" align="middle"> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_baker1 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Taken today. http://www.photo.net/photo/4069140 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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