105mm f:1.8 Nikkor

[Golem]

Hadn't used this for years but hadda

dust it off for an upcoming job. And

it did need a minor fix to latch into

my newer gear. Last time I used it I

was shooting film. So, it does pay to

check your gear before you pack up !

 

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[Golem]

Soooooo .....

Since this will be the first time using this

with the aid of IBIS, and since it's a lot

bulkier and heavier than the its f:2.5 little

brother, it seemed I should check out what

IBIS can do with it.

 

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Acoarst you can't see much by pixel peeping

a low rez jpeg, so here's an equally low rez

jpeg, but of a tighter crop:

 

 

Now, despite my inviting you to pixel peep,

this is a practical test. I de-mothballed this

lens for some work that I expect will require

marginal handheld shutter speeds, marginal

even with IBIS, and acoarst the usual near

wide open stops. IOW the test is handheld

at 1/30 at about f:2.5 and ISO 1600.

 

I really like the imagery. It's way more than

clean enuf for the purpose, but rendered as

an "image" rather than a "crystal window on

reality". IOW not your "ISO 50 on a tripod"

style, but as a "documentary" illustration, to

me it's near perfect. BTW, it's cropped down

to approximately APSC and has almost zero

post applied.

[addicted2light]

[...] but rendered as

an "image" rather than a "crystal window on

reality".

 

 

Possibly the best wording of why I like using legacy glass more than the newest Asph-something lenses (most Fuji glass excluded, they know their lenses...). And, btw, even the best definition of the difference between film-based (or properly, IMO, post-processed digital) and digital images.

 

BTW, a lifetime ago I was offered the 105/1.8 at a second-hand shop for very little more than the 85/2. Being an 85 junkie I chose that one (great lens anyway), but I'm still kicking myself, if not for anything else for the resale value

[Golem]

Still wondering whether to rely on the 105/1.8

when I can get functionally the same result

from my 85/2.0 which is much easier to hold

that it might produce better results handheld.

 

These are the sort of difference in results that

defies objective testing regimes. The human

element, yada yada etc etc ....

 

Basically, the 85/2.0 is *why* the 105/1.8 got

mothballed so very long ago. The upcoming

work is in Manhattan, so traveling light is no

small thing [to coin a cool phrase] !

[Golem]

Some new-to-me good news on working conditions indicates

I can easily use somewhat shorter lenses, and possibly a bit

lower ISO. Here's a version from an 85/2.0 Nikkor at about

f/2.5, still handheld [1/20 sec this time]:

 

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.... and for the pixel peepers:

 

 

Since the 800 ISO are distinctly crunchier than the 1600 it's

good to know that I could go back to the 1600 or maybe 1250

and shoot the job at comfortable shutter speeds or more DOF.

Life is good.

[pfogle]

I have the 2.5 version, but I also now tend to favor the 85/2, which just seems a better lens, to me. On film, it was always the 105 that ended up on the camera.

[pfogle]

Hadn't used this for years but hadda

dust it off for an upcoming job. And

it did need a minor fix to latch into

my newer gear. Last time I used it I

was shooting film. So, it does pay to

check your gear before you pack up !

 

Nikkor 105mm ff1`8 0283.jpg

Hi Golem,

 

since my last post I've sold both the 82/2 and the 105/2.5, and picked up the 105/1.8

 

I used it on a portrait shoot last week, and loved the results, but got some bad-ish flare. Do you happen to know where I can get a lens shade like yours? It looks better than anything I've seen on the bay...

 

cheers

Phil