Review of Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

According provided by lens Nikon 105mm 1: 1.8 Nikkor AI-S many thanks to Dmitry, as well as the store www.fotika.com.ua where can I find this model.

Review of Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Review of Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) is an amazing fast short telephoto lens. Nikon 105mm 1: 1.8 Nikkor was produced only in the version AI-S and only in Japan, from March 1981 to 1993 (12 years). In 1993, it was replaced by a similar autofocus version. Nikon AF DC Nikkor 105mm f / 2D... Until 2016 (for 35 years) it was Nikon's fastest 105mm lens.

Enlightenment of the Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 front lens (AI-S)

Enlightenment of the Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 front lens (AI-S)

Until 2016, there was no faster lens from Nikon with such (or greater) focal length. There were only longer lenses with focal lengths of 135, 200, 300 mm, but their maximum aperture was only F / 2.0, because Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) was a kind of 'border' lens, in terms of aperture ratio and focal length in the entire line of Nikon F lenses. In 2016, the amazing Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.4E ED N saw the light. It is also worth noting that in 2017 Nikon F appeared unique Sigma 135mm 1: 1.8 DG A (ART), and a little later, Sigma 105mm 1: 1.4 DG A (Art).

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

The focus ring rotates approximately 120 degrees, while the lens trunk is slightly lengthened. Focusing is smooth, the lens is pleasant to work with. The front element does not rotate when focusing. The minimum focusing distance is 1 meter. The Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) optical design is based on 5 elements in 5 groups. The lens is very well assembled, the lens body is made of an alloy of metals, and the focus ring is rubberized. Filters are suitable for the lens diameter 62mm.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) has a built-in telescopic hood, which allows you to always carry it with you.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) on ZK

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) on ZK

The aperture can be opened up to f / 1.8, which is a very good indicator with a focal length of 105mm. The aperture ring can set aperture values ​​equal to F / 1.8, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22. By the way, you can set one more intermediate value - F / 2.0. The diaphragm device is built on 9 petals, the diaphragm blades form nuts in the out-of-focus area. It's a pity that Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) aperture blades are not rounded. The lens has a depth of field scale for aperture values ​​of F / 8, 16, 22. The lens has multicolored stripes for depth of field, the color of which corresponds to a specific aperture value. I like old lenses, they have their own peculiarities even in the notation.

Enlightenment and aperture of the Nikon 105mm 1: 1.8 Nikkor AI-S lens

Enlightenment of lenses and aperture of the Nikon 105mm 1: 1.8 Nikkor AI-S lens. In general, the lens is very beautiful.

Due to the fact that this is an old manual Nikon lens without processor contacts, there are specific features of working on modern digital mirror cameras. Information on how to use old lenses of this class can be found in the article on AI-S.

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) aperture blades on ZK

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) aperture blades on ZK

I used Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) on camera with no problems Nikon D700.

Sizes of portrait lenses

Sizes of portrait lenses

Even at F / 1.8, the image is sharp enough, but due to the very low depth of field and aberrations, it can appear soft. The lens exhibits vignette at open apertures and strong chromatic aberrations. When closing the aperture HA decrease. Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) does not suffer from distortion, it can lose contrast in the backlight, and “rainbows” and “bunnies” can appear in the picture.

Optical design Nikon Nikkor 105mm f / 1.8 AI-S

Optical design Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 AI-S

The skate of the lens can be considered an interesting bokeh at F / 1.8.

Sample photos on Full Frame (FX)

Here link to the archive with the originals - 767 MB, 61 photos in .CR2, .NEF (RAW) from cameras Canon EOS 5D и Nikon D700. On a Canon camera, I used a lens with an adapter Nikon Canon. Part of the photo with Nikon D700 shot using a Nikon flash SB-900 и color filter TN-A2.

Sample photos on APS-C (DX)

The same photos with a resolution of 24 MP can be view/download here (Google Drive cloud, 40 final files).

Personal experience

I shot with Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) part of a wedding walk and one small photo session, although focusing through the viewfinder with the widest aperture is quite difficult, but focusing on Live View is quite simple. Because of the wonderful bokeh in the shape of the 'lemons' and, in general, the pleasant pattern, I would like such a lens. When used on Nikon DX cameras due to crop factor EGF will fit 157,5 mm.

But time takes its toll, and, for example, a very cheap autofocus modern YONGNUO LENS 100mm 1:2 (YN100mm F2N, for Nikon F) much more convenient to use due to the presence of auto focus, and a more modern optical design eliminates the small difference in focal length and aperture.

Important: Lushnikov dandelion cannot be installed on Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 without additional modification of the lens. That is why in EXIF aperture value not specified.

Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL N / AI-S and Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Voigtlander Nokton 58mm F1.4 SL N / AI-S and Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Conclusions:

Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S) is a unique fast prime. The main tasks of such a lens: portraits, sports photography (where short excerpt), low light shooting and creative shooting. The lens makes it very easy to control the depth of field. Generally a great portrait lens for full frame cameras.

In the summer of 2016, an even faster and more modern autofocus Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.4E ED N was introduced, and a little later Sigma 105mm 1: 1.4 DG A (Art, for Nikon F).

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 67, on the topic: Review of Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 (AI-S)

  • Cd ripper

    to shoot sports on the body with a manual focus lens?

    the lens is portrait; in the examples there is not a single portrait.

    “Lemons” in bokeh give a lot of high-aperture fixes on open holes, they are more pronounced, the stronger the vignetting of the lens.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      yes, sports - the aperture provides a short shutter speed, remember how you used to shoot on film, for example, in the Soviet Union.
      Rockwell has no portraits either - and this does not bother anyone :)

      • Cd ripper

        you can shoot sports, the question is - is it necessary ...

        but in general, in life there is always room for a feat :)

        http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/04/30/sports-photography-with-the-nex-7-an-exciting-humbling-frustrating-mind-blowing-experience-by-matthew-durr/

      • Borja

        Arkady, with sports, you probably got excited. Excerpts, yes, but in fact, autofocus does not always have time, but here is the manual. They shot in the Union, and not only in the Union, but there was no alternative there. And there were no such claims to quality)) The remark about portraits, in fact, follows from the logic of the article. Perhaps you should pay attention to it))

        • Arkady Shapoval

          I do not recommend it for this plan, but I write that such an option is included in its tasks. The existence of autofocus lenses is a completely different story.

          • Nichiporenko-Zagogulya

            None of the picky lads went ... And the assessment of Arkady and the scope of use impressed me. If it is sharp and very light, then you can shoot even indoors, and everything else - quickness, focusing, etc. - is in the hands of the photographer, in his brains.

  • anonym

    Here it is, the future is in the present ... “Shoot sports with manual focusing?” ... No one even suspects that only 25 years ago the focusing motor was in the photographer's head, and not in the camera, and real masterpieces were created by this head motor ( look at the work of even Utkin, even Donskoy, Baltermants ...).

  • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

    If you still have this lens, maybe Cyprus will help out with a portrait :)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thank you, I will take this into account.

  • Igor

    Awesome lens!

  • Paul

    Thanks for the wonderful review.

  • Andrei

    Arkady, thanks for the next review, it’s interesting to see someone’s impressions of using the lens that is in your own backpack)))
    The lens is very interesting for its combination of the number of aperture blades (it doesn't really help much), aperture and focal length, if you work carefully or are not afraid to damage it, then it is better to use it without a protective light filter or use some of the very expensive ones (I haven't found one in our city yet ). I tried using with him and Marumi MC UV and HOYA DHT ... no filters are better! Regarding the lens control - everything is fine, it is easy to aim, the only thing that upsets is the too small body ring and because of this it is inconvenient to put it on and off the camera (I compare it with 105 / 2,5 NIKKOR-P) According to the drawing, it is not bad, the diaphragm 1,8 is absolutely working, for a portrait that's the thing, but personally I like the above NIKKOR-P more in terms of color transitions, it gives great plasticity and volume.

  • Mari

    Hello, I'm not a professional, but an amateur and I would like to know if this lens is suitable for the D5100 18-55VR Kit camera. I really like this camera, but it lacks the maximum zoom. Tell me please.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Suitable, but focusing will only be manual, better look towards this - https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/10/obzor-nikon-70-300mm-f-4-5-5-6g-ed-if-af-s-vr-zoom-nikkor/

      • Mari

        Thank you so much for such interesting and high-quality reviews!

      • anonym

        Arkady tell me which lens to choose for NIKON D90) thanks

        • Arkady Shapoval

          They say, Nikon N PC-E Micro Nikkor 85mm 1: 2.8D is pretty good :).

          On the case - formulate the question correctly, indicate what you need a lens for.

          • anonym

            I would like good quality photos, clear for the street, walks, and portrait shooting. I'm just an amateur, constantly photographing a child when we walk)

  • Jury

    Arkady, having tested this lens and Nikon 105mm f / 2.5 Nikkor AI, please share your experience: what are the strengths of one and the weaknesses of the other. In addition to the facts (aperture ratio or the number of aperture blades), your personal impressions are very interesting when comparing these two manual fixes. Thanks.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Basic information is described in the reviews. 105 2.5 seemed nicer, and 1.8 colder (these are personal impressions for a couple of days of use, do not get attached to them strongly). Yes, and 105 2.5 cheaper.

      • Jury

        Thanks. That was what was interesting.
        I asked because I am the proud owner of the Nikon 105mm f / 2.5 Nikkor AI. The lens for its money is gorgeous! And the picture and colors and bokeh and sharpness, BUT!
        On the open (mainly when shooting portraits in the daytime and at night), when focusing on the green point (the shutter is released exactly at the moment when it burns unblinkingly), the percentage of getting into the flu is about 20-30. When the focus is on the LP with magnification, everything is easier and easier - 90% of hits. And if the distance to the object is 15-30 meters (filmed late in the evening), then it is almost impossible to get into the grip (do I understand correctly: this is because with LP it is necessary to shoot from a tripod and I just do not see the sharpness of the object normally due to hand shake, but when focusing on green T. the size of the focus point is larger than the lens itself and the green T. just goes crazy) Nikon D5000 camera. Tell me, is this normal for this lens and camera?

        • Dmitriy

          This is not entirely normal. There are several possible reasons: 1) 105 2.5 is not very sharp on the open, 105 1.8 is a little better, just scanty. Therefore, the camera does not “see” the exact focus2) no offense, nothing personal, but “crooked hands”. With it I get pretty stable even on the EOS1Ds mark III (via an adapter) with a wedge focusing screen. But I shoot them ONLY people. This lens is generally not suitable for anything else. 3) Nikon 5000 does not differ in accuracy at all, it is a very simple camera. On D3 / 4 or DF you will not have any problems with any “hands” 4) check, maybe there is a problem in the shake 5) do not shoot in the open. 4-5,6 provide “correct” portrait depth of field.

          But if your hands are shaking so much that 105 mm is already a problem, you just need a stabilizer. I, personally, with a 200 mm lens at 1 / 100-1 / 125 get sometimes sharp pictures, at 1 / 160-209 quite often. And with 1 / 250-320 and a sedentary object, almost always, 98 percent without movement. According to Live View, it is most convenient to focus on Canon 5D with Magic Lantern. Nikonov’s regime is less efficient.

        • Michael

          Perhaps this is a front-back focus with your camera, so you can’t get to the green dot

  • Kirill

    Hello everybody. I would like to add one more point that this lens, exactly like 50 / 1.2 and 55 / 1.2, has absolutely uncharacteristic softness, plasticity, volume for Nikon lenses. The seller from whom I bought this lens completely described his drawing as Leichniy ... He is a gourmet of beautiful pictures and rare / cult lenses. I rarely use 105 / 1.8 in my work ... And even more with the film, there it is revealed in full. I like the thoroughbred softness of this lens, no sharpening and no software is needed, everything is so very calm and sincere)

  • alex

    The lens is good, but is it as much as money is asked for it ... ..

  • REMS

    Great glass. I am very pleased

  • Trex

    Question to the owners. Who bought it for how much, if not secret?

  • Sergei

    hard to find. the price is in good condition 450-600doll.

  • in spite of

    Arkady, between 1,8 and 2,0, isn't it 0,33 feet?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed It’s not always convenient to translate into stops when fractions go.

  • Alexander

    Personally, I shot a football match on Jupiter37a and everything worked out perfectly. This is a question about sports

  • Sergei

    Beautiful girl )

    • Jury

      The girl is beautiful and Arkady is able to work in Photoshop;)

  • Yuriy75

    A magical picture, just mesmerizing! Arkady is a master!

  • Dmitry K

    and small dots in the “lemons” of blur, what's this? dust? Are there bubbles in the lenses or is it really a trick?

    • fotika

      I’m grieving neither dust nor bubbles, you will not see on the frame .. the dust should be like an elephant cacao to see it)))

      • Arkady Shapoval

        By the way, in the gallery there are 5 shots with bikes, where these same "byaks" are visible, were taken with a lens not from Fotika, in the store I took a 105 to redo the review, because the previous examples were shot in winter and were very dull.

        • Dmitry K

          then the nature of these byak is unclear

          • Gene jb

            Most likely the matrix is ​​dirty. Usually, dust on the lens looks different. And fotika - I disagree, enough dust particles.

            • fotika

              do not agree, your right))))

  • Anonymous 1

    On the question of shooting sports ... These are optics of film times, which means that it is convenient to work with it in a system with film devices, unlike digital ones, which had a large and often very large, bright viewfinder with a particularly frosted glass. Therefore, manual focusing even during highly dynamic scenes was not difficult, only have time to predict the moment of focusing with a trained brain ... Not the same situation now. Digital cameras are principally designed for autofocus, and manual focus is just an option just in case. Viewfinders are so unsuitable for direct manual focusing on frosted glass that shooting the same sport is a very big problem! Even long-term film trainings will not help: where it is abrupt, where it is blurred, you cannot understand, you drive the tube back and forth, and the plot has run away !! And by the green light, you squint your eyes, you get distracted from the screen, - again I didn't have time in time! ... Focusing manually is now, perhaps, for unhurried work, when you can painlessly spend a few seconds on setting.

    • Dmitry K

      but I wonder why the viewfinders have decreased? too big mine? did the processor eat the whole place? saving on glass?

  • anonym

    About the size: after d5100 I twisted the d800 in my hands, so there’s not a viewfinder, but a whole window that you don’t look at, but really look at it. Take full frame, get the size. The crop has a physical size matrix, hence the mirror on it, is much smaller

  • Gene jb

    I will send trisotkovich and a photo from the topic about 35-135 to this one. and tell me now that the aperture is not important. Gorgeous lens and awesome pictures!

    • fotika

      we have to write ... something like "are you right?" it is foolish to select optics based on only 1 criterion, whether it is aperture ratio or body material, or the number of aperture blades. I have this lens in my personal arsenal, as well as 85 1.4 ais, it is stupid to compare them with 35-135, as I wrote earlier, of different fields of berries. Each lens has its own place. and it doesn't matter what aperture it has, because in the 1st stage it is produced for people who make a living photo (I do not speak for now, ala d5200 + 18-55)
      all optics had a specific purpose, and if I spoke somewhere on a topic for a specific lens, I only compared it with similar peers in weight / quality / price.

      and do not cling to each of my posts.

      • Gene jb

        I just wrote that I don’t understand zoom lenses outside the normal range, dark, etc. For example, I consider normal 18-55, 18-135, 80-200 on crop and 28-80, 28-200, 24-70 (80) on ff. The rest also have the right to be, but I do not understand the position of the manufacturer and I do not understand the photographers who use them. To do this, it’s easier to take a fix, and it will be better. (we are talking about 35-135)

  • Exhausted

    Universal focal length and aperture — that’s why this lens is good. Does anyone call a bad lens close to that focal and aperture?

  • Zmitser

    Gorgeous glass pattern.

  • Alexander Trekhsotkovich

    Very beautiful girl in the photographs. And the glass is good, but for the kind of money I would never take it :) For it is expensive, and in the picture it isn’t anything unusual in my opinion, so that it costs exactly as much as the autofocus NEW 85ka 1.8-ge
    Overpaying twice would take this:
    Nikon AF 135mm f / 2D DC-Nikkor (with autofocus !!!)
    Or exactly for the SAME MONEY would take this:
    Nikon AF-S 85mm f / 1.8G Nikkor (which I recently foolishly sold, but now I'm sorry)

    • fotika

      comparing 85mm 1.8 and 105 1.8 there is a lot of nonsense, if you are already dodging about the diaphragms. Well, 135, which is closer in character to the picture, is not such a sweet lens, as it seems to some here))) it is actually not working at 2,0 on a sunny day and in bad weather (clouds) they should be shot just right, but its normal sharpness is at 4.0 if you find fault.
      The 85 1.8zh itself, which we recently sold, seemed to me like an ordinary lens without any character and enthusiasm. this is like 50 1.8zh and in the same topic 50 1,4zh. a piece of the lens. and I’ll tell you a secret that the same 85 1,4g is also very little different from the new F glass. there is nothing that would hook in the picture. they are all sharp contrasting glasses (which are F versions) but everything is flat and killed. because we are still carrying 105 1,8 and 135 2,0 for weddings, although the whole park of optics is in the arsenal)))

      ps everyone says that they didn’t take it for that kind of money, but there is a craft but there is for the soul) many Royal Enfield hats also seem uselessly expensive, but they tell everyone their own felt-tip pen to taste.

      • Arkady Shapoval

        It may be a flame, but yes, Z-shki soulless "correct" lenses.

        • Roderick

          Arkady, you write that this lens is Nikon's “milestone” in aperture. I wonder if there are similar (f1.8) or faster lenses with a focal length of 105 in other systems? Thank you in advance for your answer.

          • Arkady Shapoval

            On other systems, there are 135 / 1,8 af.

            • Roderick

              Yes, I know. There is, for example, Soligor 135 / 1.5, Nortiar (Noritar?) 135 / 1.4. But I asked the question exactly on the focal 105. I looked on the Internet, apparently, there are no faster lenses with such focal in nature .This fact, in my opinion, increases the attractiveness of this lens. And what do you think?

  • Nichiporenko-Zagogulya

    I want to say at the end ... Personally, such reviews of expensive elite rare optics annoy me. But not so much as to be offended by the author ... Well, for example, I don’t take offense to tears at a rich neighbor-kurkul: he, a graduate of the PTV model of 1985, blued with tattoos, has a fleet of new foreign cars, auto parts stores, but I have ... not even great.

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