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Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G AF-S VR
I had to try this out at my local camera shop. I compared it to the 105 f/2.8D and the 60mm f/2.8D. It’s big. It’s not as heavy as it looks (lighter than my 17-35mm f/2.8D). The quality feel is rather impressive. The AF/M, VR Mode and VR on switches are just in the right place. The manual focusing action is great. The lens felt very well balanced on my D70.
VR Seems to work well for both close and far subjects. I have never owned a VR lens and the motion you could feel was kind of weird. I was able to take sharp shots at a much lower shutter speed (or lower ISO) than the 60mm. This was for both macro and tele shots. Case in point is this photo which is at 1/13th.
The internal focusing is a nice touch as the lens doesn’t get to crazy lengths like the regular 105mm and other macro lenses do. The AF-S focusing is amazingly fast. This lens doesn’t have a limiter switch like other macro lenses do. It doesn’t need it. (Apparently I was wrong. According to the official page for this lens it does. I just didn't see it :/ ) More importantly the AF works. A lot of macro shooters say they use MF most of the time, as I have with other Macro lenses. This lens actually does AF very well. The standard AF-S manual/auto switch is much nicer than the non-AF-S switch found on the other Micro and pro level lenses like my 135mm f/2 DC.
From my “across the store” shots it looks like this lens is a tad sharper than the 60mm f/2.8D, which is regarded as a very sharp lens. However, I wouldn’t take my few handheld shots as a definitive statement on this lenses sharpness. I couldn’t get a sharp macro shot hand held with the 60mm without bumping the ISO so can’t comment there.
I was considering getting the 105mm f/2.8D for some time, but now I am tempted to get this lens. My only beef is the G feature. I really like the aperture ring. My biggest gripe about my D70 is that I can’t use them. I can on my F601 and a G lens is limited on that camera, as it doesn’t have in camera aperture control. Though I would have no VR or AF on my F601 anyways :(
The AF-S, IF and VR features really do make this a far better lens then both the 60 and 105mm Micro Nikkors. Well worth the additional cost over the 105mm. Over the 60mm it's a tough call, especially considering how much smaller (read convenient) the 60mm is.
Price quoted for this lens: $930 CAD (Official Nikon Canada lens)
Update:
Spent some more time with this lens
Overall:
+ excellent build quality
+ surprisingly light
+ sharp
+ VRII
+ easier to switch MF/AF
+ AF-S manual override is nicer than rotating a ring
+ very little hunting
+ takes 62mm filters (great for Close-Up No. 5T and No.6T owners)
- most expensive of the lot
- VR performance not as effective at macro distances as from far. Almost useless at 1:1
- takes 62mm filters (bad for Close up No.0, No.1, and No.2 owners
I've spent considerable time shooting with my friends Tamron 90mm SP Macro (not the new Di one).
This lens is amazingly sharp. Auto Focus is mostly useless at macro distance. It's also a LOT cheaper than the 105mm Nikkors.
Of the Tamron:
+ sharp
+ light
+ cheap
+ AI ring (that's a personal thing)
- slow focus (mechanical)
- extends to almost 2x in length and makes working distance very close
- mostly plastic (very cheap feeling)
- uses neither 52 nor 62mm filters (bad for any Close Up filters)
Also of note: I have yet to actually get a macro lens at all. As I've gotten cheap and just use the 135mm f/2 DC with a 72mm -> 62mm adapter and a Nikon Close-Up No.6T filter. This works very well on Digital as the step down ring doesn't interfere with even illumination. I'd still like a dedicated Macro lens. This will most likely be the Nikkor as I really prefer a Macro lens with IF. But this has become a much lower priority for me.
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The above shot is of the CPU contacts on my 17-35mm f/2.8D
Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G AF-S VR
I had to try this out at my local camera shop. I compared it to the 105 f/2.8D and the 60mm f/2.8D. It’s big. It’s not as heavy as it looks (lighter than my 17-35mm f/2.8D). The quality feel is rather impressive. The AF/M, VR Mode and VR on switches are just in the right place. The manual focusing action is great. The lens felt very well balanced on my D70.
VR Seems to work well for both close and far subjects. I have never owned a VR lens and the motion you could feel was kind of weird. I was able to take sharp shots at a much lower shutter speed (or lower ISO) than the 60mm. This was for both macro and tele shots. Case in point is this photo which is at 1/13th.
The internal focusing is a nice touch as the lens doesn’t get to crazy lengths like the regular 105mm and other macro lenses do. The AF-S focusing is amazingly fast. This lens doesn’t have a limiter switch like other macro lenses do. It doesn’t need it. (Apparently I was wrong. According to the official page for this lens it does. I just didn't see it :/ ) More importantly the AF works. A lot of macro shooters say they use MF most of the time, as I have with other Macro lenses. This lens actually does AF very well. The standard AF-S manual/auto switch is much nicer than the non-AF-S switch found on the other Micro and pro level lenses like my 135mm f/2 DC.
From my “across the store” shots it looks like this lens is a tad sharper than the 60mm f/2.8D, which is regarded as a very sharp lens. However, I wouldn’t take my few handheld shots as a definitive statement on this lenses sharpness. I couldn’t get a sharp macro shot hand held with the 60mm without bumping the ISO so can’t comment there.
I was considering getting the 105mm f/2.8D for some time, but now I am tempted to get this lens. My only beef is the G feature. I really like the aperture ring. My biggest gripe about my D70 is that I can’t use them. I can on my F601 and a G lens is limited on that camera, as it doesn’t have in camera aperture control. Though I would have no VR or AF on my F601 anyways :(
The AF-S, IF and VR features really do make this a far better lens then both the 60 and 105mm Micro Nikkors. Well worth the additional cost over the 105mm. Over the 60mm it's a tough call, especially considering how much smaller (read convenient) the 60mm is.
Price quoted for this lens: $930 CAD (Official Nikon Canada lens)
Update:
Spent some more time with this lens
Overall:
+ excellent build quality
+ surprisingly light
+ sharp
+ VRII
+ easier to switch MF/AF
+ AF-S manual override is nicer than rotating a ring
+ very little hunting
+ takes 62mm filters (great for Close-Up No. 5T and No.6T owners)
- most expensive of the lot
- VR performance not as effective at macro distances as from far. Almost useless at 1:1
- takes 62mm filters (bad for Close up No.0, No.1, and No.2 owners
I've spent considerable time shooting with my friends Tamron 90mm SP Macro (not the new Di one).
This lens is amazingly sharp. Auto Focus is mostly useless at macro distance. It's also a LOT cheaper than the 105mm Nikkors.
Of the Tamron:
+ sharp
+ light
+ cheap
+ AI ring (that's a personal thing)
- slow focus (mechanical)
- extends to almost 2x in length and makes working distance very close
- mostly plastic (very cheap feeling)
- uses neither 52 nor 62mm filters (bad for any Close Up filters)
Also of note: I have yet to actually get a macro lens at all. As I've gotten cheap and just use the 135mm f/2 DC with a 72mm -> 62mm adapter and a Nikon Close-Up No.6T filter. This works very well on Digital as the step down ring doesn't interfere with even illumination. I'd still like a dedicated Macro lens. This will most likely be the Nikkor as I really prefer a Macro lens with IF. But this has become a much lower priority for me.
---
The above shot is of the CPU contacts on my 17-35mm f/2.8D