Nikon 105mm f 2 8G ED IF AF S VR Micro Nikkor Lens

The Nikon 2160 105mm f2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens is the world’s first macro lens featuring Nikon’s exclusive Silent Wave Motor and Vibration Reduction. Designed for close-up and macro photography, this camera lens is versatile enough for virtually any photographic situation.

This Nikon 105 millimeter lens features Nikon’s new VR II vibration reduction technology, which allows photographers to shoot hand-held shots at up to four shutter speeds slower than would otherwise be possible, providing sharper images in general and in close-up photography. This lens also features a high-resolution and high optical performance, with a Nano-Crystal coat and ED glass elements that enhance overall image quality by further reducing flare and chromatic aberrations, and contributing to improved color, contrast and clarity. Constructed with an f2.8 lens, this unit includes an internal focus, which provides fast and quiet auto-focusing without changing the length of the lens, retaining the subject’s working distance through the focus range. This lens has a non-rotating front design that is convenient for use with circular polarizing filters and the R1C1 wireless close-up Speedlight system. Specifically engineered for both Nikon digital and 35mm SLR cameras, the Nikon ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor lens helps ensure high quality and high performance for all photographers, from amateurs to professionals, and includes front and rear lens caps, an HB-38 bayonet lens hood, and a CL-1020 flexible lens pouch. The 2160 weighs 27.9 ounces and measures 3.3 x 4.5 inches (diameter x depth).

What’s in the Box
The 105mm f2.8 ED-IF AF-S VR lens, 62mm snap-on front lens cap (LC-62), rear lens cap (LF-1), bayonet hood (HB-38), and flexible lens pouch (CL-1020).

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars The Nikon 105mm Micro-Nikkor
The lens performs as advertised. When used within the suggested parameters the results are great. Not the silver bullet for every situation, but excellent for what it was designed for. The user must become proficient on how to take into account all the attributes of an excellent image. The lens cannot compensate if the lighting,focus, etc. are not optimum. The lens reproduces what it “sees”; no more no less.

5 Stars More than a macro-lens
This is not only a superb macro lens (though the offerings by Zeiss and Leitz are reputed even sharper, and more expensive) but it makes a very good all round 105 mm lens thanks to the vibration reduction. I’ve used this to make many a discreet shot at a wedding with my D300 and I didn’t have to use a tripod, even in dim light. I have also used it to take shots of architectural details in dim light.

The contrast and the bokeh are excellent.

I should add that since its focusing range is so long (from a few centimeters to infinity) this lens is more likely to hunt when autofocusing than a standard 105mm lens, so it might not be the best lens for action shots. You need to be a little patient when using the autofocus.

In many macro situations you should turn the autofocusing off. I’ll let you be the judge.

As for the VR you should definitely turn it off if you are using a tripod: you’ll be wearing the mechanism out less and often the VR makes things worse.

As to sharpness the more formal tests whether on slrgear, popphoto, photozone or the French magazine Chasseur d’Images say it all.

5 Stars Works like a charm
I upgraded from the older Nikon 60mm macro and can see the difference in image quality in the viewfinder. What I didn’t expect was the richness of the colors in the unprocessed frames. This lens shines.

4 Stars Wanted to *love* this lens, but…
I’ll start this review with the following caveats:

1) I rented this lens for a weekend, and probably put 150-200 shots through it. I don’t own it.

2) I don’t spend a lot of time doing macro work, so my lack of skills there (assuming there are some skills specific to macro work) may have gotten in the way of getting full enjoyment out of the lens.

3) I used the lens on a Nikon D300 body, which has its limitations in autofocus (that is, if it gets confused, it sometimes won’t even “hunt”, it will just not do anything when half-pressing the shutter release button).

This isn’t my first experience with fast, pro-quality glass, so my experience won’t be the same as some others here who might be just upgrading from a kit lens (which are nice for the price, but just can’t compare, IMHO). I rented the lens to try it out at a wedding and around the house/yard, and I *really* wanted to fall in love with the lens, but I just didn’t. Yes, it’s got great construction, great image quality, VR, etc.

All that said, I recommend spending $30 to rent this for a weekend and see if it does what you want, before devoting nine hundred bucks to it. I’m happier with my 80-200mm (non-VR) 2.8 lens that I bought for a bit less. It doesn’t do macro, but I’m also not stuck (as I was during the wedding this past weekend) with having a single-focal-length lens on my camera at the wrong time (yes, my mistake). I’m no stranger to prime lenses, and find them to be excellent for image quality (this one being no exception).

What didn’t I like? Two things: 1) focal length is a bit long (for my taste) for use on a DX-sensor camera — I might try the 60mm — at least for what I was using it for; 2) auto-focus was almost unusable in many circumstances — though I understand that many macro/micro photographers use manual focus anyway. Since I already have fast glass that encompasses this focal length, I would only want it for macro work, and I can get a really nice (shorter) manual focus lens for a fraction of the price (only a third to half for a new 60mm AF-D, and less than a tenth for a fully manual older (used) 55mm f/3.5).

So I’m not *not* recommending this lens (I gave it 4 stars, after all), just STRONGLY suggesting you rent one first.

5 Stars Wow!
If you want to go macro, this the lens for nikon and nikon mount cameras.

I do most of my shooting hand held and I have no complaints. I am happy!

Samples here: [...]

Coupled with 2x extender and you enter a word of near micro photography.

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