According provided by lens Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control many thanks to Alexander Fetisov.
Review of Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control is a unique lens that is highly regarded by many photographers as a good tool for creating portraits. In the review, I will refer to it for short as 'DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D'. This lens belongs to the DC-Nikkor lens line, which contains only three lenses:
- Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control, presented in this review. It was produced from September 1993 to August 2016.
- Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 135mm 1: 2 Defocus Image Control (MKI), a longer telephoto version of the previous model. It was produced from October 1990 to December 1995.
- Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 135mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control (MKII), version updated to 'D' type. Produced from November 1995 to the present day.
The prefix 'DC' stands for 'Defocus Control' - 'Control of the out of focus', or 'Control of defocused image'. Translated into a more modern language, this is the function that is partially responsible for controlling the bokeh.
Rumor has it that after the huge success of the Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 135mm 1: 2 Defocus Image Control (MKI) lens, Nikon decided to release a simpler model of the super-legendary 'portrait lens' and introduced the DC-Nikkor 1993 / 105D in 2 ... In any case, the DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D, like its 'big brother', is a top-level professional lens, it's just 3 cm “shorter” :).
On youtube.com once there was a wonderful channel NHHC (Nikon Help Hotline Center), which in great detail and clearly described the capabilities of Nikon lenses and rare subtleties and techniques when working with lenses and Nikon cameras. The channel was closed, and all videos from there were 'cut'. Each lens NHHC gave a brief description, I remember exactly that for 'DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D' it was said 'poor man's 135/2 DC-Nikkor'-' DC-Nikkor lens for those on a limited budget ':).
View of the Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control from the bayonet side (the rear lens is almost invisible)
DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D has been assembled for centuries, almost all of metal, including with a metal hood and metal thread for filters. Only the aperture ring and the installation ring focus mode are made of plastic, and this is a bit upsetting. DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D has a metal mount with one black screw, which serves as a kind of mark for quick installation of the lens on the camera. The lens weighs 640 grams and looks great on any camera.
Aperture blades and lens illumination Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control
Auto focus is fast. Focus time from infinity and back (tested on camera Nikon D700) exactly the same as the lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical... When focusing, of course, noise is heard from the running engine and gears. A lot of time has passed, and many very interesting lenses have not yet been updated to versions with a built-in focusing motor. For example, this DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D is released 'as is' and has not been updated for over 20 years!
The lens has an internal focusing type (neither the front nor the rear lenses move during focusing). The front filter diameter is 72 mm.
The focus switch is made in the form of a ring and has its own lock, preventing accidental transition to another mode. When switching to manual focus mode, it is enough to use only the switch on the lens, you can leave the switch near the camera mount (do not Nikon 180mm 1: 2.8D ED AF Nikkor it was also necessary to switch near the bayonet). The focus ring remains fixed during autofocus. In manual focus mode 'M', the focus ring rotates approximately 100 degrees. Focusing manually is convenient, the focus ring is rubberized, although I would like it to be a little wider. The minimum focusing distance is 90 cm and the maximum zoom ratio is 1: 7.7.
There is a window on the lens with a focus distance scale. IPIG Scale is for F / 16 only. There is also a tag for working in the infrared spectrum.
The infinity label is strongly stretched. This is due to the fact that the Defocus Image Control system affects the focus and produces the so-called 'focus shift', in order to compensate for it, the mark with the '∞' sign was specially stretched.
Enlightenment of the front lens Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control
To control the degree of blurring of the far and foreground background, there is a special ring on the lens, which is responsible for Defocus Image Control. The ring is equipped with a blocking button - you must press this button before turning the ring. In order to blur the background more strongly, you should rotate the ring towards the white 'R' mark (from the English 'REAR' - 'back'). In order to blur the foreground more strongly, rotate the ring towards the white label 'F' (from the English 'FRONT' - 'front').
The numbers on the Defocus Image Control ring correspond to the aperture number F on which the survey is taking. It is recommended to set the ring shift to a number not exceeding the set aperture value F. For example, if shooting at the aperture value F / 4, it is recommended to set the values R2, R2.8, R4, F2, F2.8 using the Defocus Image Control ring. 4, FXNUMX. If set to a higher value, the image in focus may become blurry. For the best effect, it is recommended that you use the Defocus Image Control number equal to the number of aperture on which you are shooting.
Important: you can not use the Defocus Image Control ring, in which case the lens turns into a regular fast fix. Just leave the Defocus Image Control ring at zero (neutral) mark.
Optical Designs for DC-Nikkor Lenses
In essence, Defocus Image Control simply allows you to control the level of spherical aberration. If you carefully look at what happens when the Defocus Image Control ring rotates, you can see that in the middle of the lens a group of lenses is located just behind the front lens (the group is visible on the optical diagram of the lens in the image above). It is noticeable that the optical circuits of DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D and DC-Nikkor 135 / 2D very similar.
The Defocus Image Control ring rotates a little further than the R / F 5.6 values.
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control Defocus Image Control Ring
Very important: when the Defocus Image Control ring rotates, focusing fails. You need to focus after a value has been set using the Defocus Image Control ring.
Very important: the Defocus Image Control function does not make the subject in focus less sharp, this function only controls the degree and nature of blurring of the far or near plan (if you do not set the R / F number more than the number of the aperture on which the picture is taken).
Feature: Defocus Image Control function is creative, therefore, you can still rotate the Defocus Image Control ring more than the aperture requires, while the image in the sharpness zone becomes 'soft' and thus the 'Soft Focus' effect can be achieved. But this is more a consequence than the main task of this function. For example, you can set it to R5.6 using the Defocus Image Control ring and shoot at F / 2.0 :). This is very useful because the lens is very 'sharp' and sometimes oversharpening is very negative when shooting portraits.
Feature: when you rotate the Defocus Image Control ring towards 'F', the foreground blurs more, but the background becomes the opposite - harder. That is, we treat one thing and cripple the other. But, based on the fact that in 99% of cases it is necessary to blur the background, and defocused objects in the foreground are rare, then the 'hard' blurring of the foreground when you rotate the Defocus Image Control ring towards the 'R' side can be neglected.
Focusing Distance Scale Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control
It's important: auto focus with this lens is available only when using him on cameras with built-in motor focusing.
Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras with a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will focus automatically:
- D1, D1h, D1x, D2x, D2xs, D2h, D2hs
- D3, D3x, D3s, D4, D4s, D5, D6
- Df
- D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90
- D7000, D7100, D7200,D7500
- D100, D200, D300, D300s,D500
- D600, D610, D750, D780
- D700, D800,D800E, D810, D810a, D850
- Fujifilm FinePix S1 Pro, S2 Pro, S3 ProS3 Pro UVIR, S5 ProIS Pro
- Kodak DCS PRO 14n, DCS Pro SLR/n
Exact list Nikon DSLR cameras without a built-in focus motor, on which this lens will not focus automatically:
Only auto focus and sound confirmation of focus will not work with these cameras, all other important functions, such as automatic exposure metering and automatic iris control, will work well.
You will find a lot of useful information on the types of cameras and lenses Nikon here.
The lens has a manual aperture ring. To be able to control the value aperture from camera or for automatic installation aperture on modern central control valves, you need to turn the control ring to F / 16 and fix it with a special lever, which is located to the right of the marks aperture. If this is not done, then on a number of cameras, the display will display an error - 'fEE' (ring is not installed aperture) Some cameras having diaphragm rheostatallow you to control the aperture using the ring aperturebut only in metering modes exposure 'M' and 'A'. You can read more about this issue in the section on Non-G Lenses. Ring aperture rotates with clicks, the values F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 are plotted on it, it is impossible to establish an intermediate value between pairs of numbers. The presence of the aperture control ring allowed me to use the lens with a Canon EOS M camera.
Diaphragm comprises nine petals. On covered diaphragms, circles in the blur zone look very nice, without the effect of nuts or notches (closed diaphragm example).
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control
The built-in hood is easy to set in the active position. In the raised state, the hood is easily fixed and does not spontaneously fall back. The inside of the hood is covered in black velor (how nice!). You can shoot almost always without a hood, since the lenses of the lens are pretty deeply seated in the lens barrel. Installing a light filter does not interfere with raising the hood.
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control with raised hood
The rear lens of the lens is almost completely transparent and you may not even notice it. Perhaps this is not even a special lens, but an ordinary multi-brightened glass that simply serves as protection for the inside of the lens. During focusing, this lens remains stationary.
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control Rear Lens
Anyway, the DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D is one of the best portrait lenses for Nikon cameras. If you are looking for a good lens for this genre, then my article will help you with this'Nikon portrait lens'. Question '135 or 105 ′ difficult, but if there is no limitation in funds, then I recommend looking at 135 mm :). In addition, Nikon has two more very interesting 'stacks': Nikon Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.8 AI-S и Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm f / 1.4E ED.
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control on the camera Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro
Of course, with a focal length of 105 mm and a huge (for such a focal length) maximum aperture of F / 2.0 it is easy to achieve a narrow GRIP и shoot with blurry background.
dimensions Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII ED SWM VR IF and Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control
The lens is very sharp, even at F / 2.0 and even around the edges of the frame (only the corners are slightly sagging). Sharpness at F / 2.0 is no worse than macro lenses, such as Tokina Macro 100 F2.8 D AT-X PRO N / AIS. On my Nikon D700 sharpness at f / 2.8-f / 5.6 just breaks the sensor! No distortion, normal vignetting at F / 2.0, weak chromatic aberration at F / 2.0. The only frustrating thing is freezing (aberrations, due to which the contrasting details in the out of focus areas are colored purple and green). On open diaphragms, frigging can be very noticeable in the eyes; when the diaphragm is closed, it decreases. Friging is common in fast and super fast optics, only true apochromatic lenses like the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 125mm f2.5 (and other APO-Lanthar) can really fight it.
Here link to the archive with the originals - 728 MB, 44 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the camera Nikon D700. When shooting was used protective filter L37c 72mm Nikon Japan and various Defocus Image Control settings. On Nikon DX cameras EGF lens will be 157,5mm, which will require you to move away from the subject a little further.
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control on the camera Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro
Personal experience
You need to get used to the lens. When I took test shots, I noticed that on my camera Nikon D700 focusing errors periodically appear, they are not systematic, but they are enough to draw serious attention to this. I noticed that when using Defocus Image Control the focus is blurred more often (perhaps just a subjective opinion), perhaps focusing errors are simply related to the small depth of field at 105 mm focal length and F / 2.0. I was pleased with the excellent sharpness at F / 2.0, and especially with the smooth tonal transitions from the sharp-to-unsharp zone, the overall 'volume' of the images and pleasant bokeh. At the edges of the frame, the glowing points in the out-of-focus area turn into lemons, visually twisting the background. I'm still not used to the Defocus Image Control system, it is a rather subtle tool that you need to know how to use. A bit annoying in the lens is the freezing and 72 mm filters instead of 77 mm.
Price
The current prices for the Nikon 105mm f / 2.0D AF DC-Nikkor lens in popular online stores can be viewed hereor in the price block:
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Results
Like it or not, the Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm 1: 2 D Defocus Image Control remains a unique lens. His creative potential is very great. The image and build quality are top notch. Passing by near such a lens is very difficult.
Update: In August 2016, it became known that the lens was discontinued and is an archive model among Nikon Nikkor lenses. This does not mean that the lens cannot be bought new, but only means that it will no longer be available. To replace him in the summer of 2016 came a faster and more modern Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm 1: 1.4E ED N.
Update 2: there was a review of a very cheap alternative to this lens in the face YONGNUO 100 / 2.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
And a spiritual review, and a lens. And special thanks to Arkady for the Snow Maiden. Already, the soul has warmed up, although I do not like the New Year’s orgy. Thanks!
Good review.
Thank you.
You can shoot another girl. This is all pokotsanaya and acne.
Ah yes comment! The top of idiocy.
for criticizing the models (unfair and not smart) BAN
ban_set
the girl, by the way, is very interesting, and is dressed in resonance with the topic (I don’t know whose merit), respect :)
Stop blaming, cuckolds. No need to make a cult out of the cap. Not all women are beautiful.
Hello. I bought this lens. I thought for a long time. Very satisfied. The lens was created only for the portrait and this is its strength. I use de focus, understood and dealt with it. I have a nikon d700 auto focus for a portrait works well because this is a portrait lens (not fast and not slow). There is no front and back focus. The new lens was brought from Japan. In general, knowledge of physics and education excludes the appearance of chromaticity and other aberrations, even on a bright day at diaphragm 2,8! Learning mate part guys! I really like the lens that flies, I even bought a protective filter for it without UF effect (I don't want the filter to decide which zone of the light spectrum to remove for me), because they do not shoot landscapes ... For this bokeh and blur had to be paid dearly. Guys, take your lens, be happy. You just need to understand him, his character and he will give you gorgeous photos. Well, patience from you! Here is a snapshot of ISO 200 parameters, exposure 1000, aperture 3,2, R2, deliberately increased by this value, there is no loss of sharpness, but a slight blur appeared. Nikon d700 camera. Good pictures to everyone!
Hello. I bought this lens. I thought for a long time. Very satisfied. The lens was created only for the portrait and this is its strength. I use de focus, understood and dealt with it. I have a nikon d700 auto focus for a portrait works well because this is a portrait lens (not fast and not slow). There is no front and back focus. The new lens was brought from Japan. In general, knowledge of physics and education excludes the appearance of chromaticity and other aberrations, even on a bright day at diaphragm 2,8! Learning mate part guys! I really like the lens that flies, I even bought a protective filter for it without UF effect (I don’t want the filter to decide which zone of the light spectrum to remove for me), because they don’t shoot landscapes ... For this, bokeh and blur had to be paid dearly. Guys, take the lens and be happy. You just need to understand him, his character and he will give you gorgeous photos. Well, patience from you!
And can you give contacts that I could order from Japan?
Thank you.
Please tell me, how does this monster of portraits behave on Nikon 7000? Of course, shooting only on the street or in large rooms, such as theater halls, etc.
Thank you.
It will lead perfectly, like an ordinary small glass, very sharp.
Thanks for the reply.
There are many mixed reviews regarding this lens on the Nikon 7000.
This is in the backlight, plus defocus konrol.
“The DC-Nikkor 105 / 2D is built to last, almost all of metal, including with a metal hood and metal thread for light filters. Only the aperture ring and focus mode ring are made of plastic, and that's a little upsetting. ” The part of the body with the lens name, in which the focusing distance window, is also made of plastic. This element plays very well. an important role in the mechanical strength of the lens and Nikon made it out of plastic, which greatly upset some owners, who also thought that they had a thing assembled for centuries, but were mistaken.
Incredibly cool lens !!
Very beautiful model in the photo.
Guys, these DIC lenses can't be bad by definition! Questions and discussions from the series - and what is better than 105 135 and maybe also with the 85th one is compatible with feelings as for me from the area of delirium. The entire line is good by default - the rest is just taste. All in quality are comparable to the L-kami from the Boot. Searching for flaws in a model is generally nonsense. Another respect and respect to the author.
The new 105 is better. Both technically and by drawing. It is a pity that it will be 2 times more expensive and heavier. She hits the 85th fast aperture too. 135s greatly compress the perspective, so I think the best portrait range is 85-105. And necessarily f1.4.
I got this lens and I never regret it ... I took it used but it looked like it was from a store and got it relatively inexpensively.
Very sharp, fast, beautiful bokeh .. sits perfectly on my d700 with a booster. Took for portraits and chose between 80-200 and this. Of course, 80-200 is good, but still, when comparing, I chose 105 ku. I don’t know how on other Nikon models, but on my camera the motor noise is not noisy and not annoying ,? my 50mm is louder.
If someone is chasing new products then take 105 1.4 ... but in fact there is more marketing. In comparison, the price of 105 f2 dc versus 105 f1.4 is ridiculous. Today it can be found for $ 500-600 and in very decent condition.
Here, too, I came across a choice of 105 2.0 vs 85 1.4d, somewhere else in the distance I have a Vaida 85 1.8g rented for 700.
And if you compare this lens with the Nikon 85 f1.4D
Between them will be a big difference in the picture in the same conditions? How they will have work in the backlight and what a difference in bokeh.
If you had a heading about comparing such monsters
Did anyone download the archive with examples? No one had any questions? Is everything okay? Is the lens at a height?
On my Nikon D700, sharpness at F / 2.8-F / 5.6 simply 'tears' the sensor - a shameful lie, look at the pictures - and sharpness by nine in the camera
9 - this is for previews, in the review there is a link to the raves, you can look at it raw. No one here is trying to deceive anyone)
Thanks for the review! Yes, an interesting lens, I wanted to try it on a portrait and not only. The photographs presented show good quality, this lens and its additional features you need to try yourself to understand.
Author, the first photos on the background of a wall with flowers should not be invested in the archive! Profuse acne on the female cheeks does not look at all attractive. Still, the photographer must take care not only of technical tests, but also of the appearance of the model and not be allowed to present it in this form to the audience. There must be self-discipline.
Here is an overview of the object, not the model. If you upload photoshopped pictures, this is no longer a review. And for the press, please - correct.
I downloaded the archive with full-size photos from this glass. I’m thinking about acquiring it. D700 and F5 cameras. I looked carefully at the examples and it seems to me that somehow you gently reacted to the misses of autofocus. Obviously, they arose very often and it is not entirely clear for what reason. It seems like this glass is famous for razor sharpness, and even in the d700, the focus system is not the worst. I wonder what the problem was.
The problem is the slightest displacement of the model or the photographer or both in relation to each other. DOF in the open, even from portrait distances - a few centimeters. If you get directly into focus (~ 50% chance), the sharpness will pleasantly surprise you.
In principle, the same applies to other high-aperture telephoto lenses - 85 / 1,4, 135 / 2,0, 180 / 2,8 - one way or another it is difficult to get super accurate into focus.
Thanks for the review, informative and interesting
Hello. Faced the question of choosing a portrait lens. 85 and 105 1.4 do not look new because of the price tag. 85 1.8 boring in drawing. The lens from the review is normal, but the mistakes are very embarrassing, the originals were rocked, the drawing is not bad, even very good, but the accuracy is not very good. For commerce, I really don't want this behavior. I looked towards 105 2.8 micro VR, so there are also some drawbacks, the main one is that full-height photos without bokeh in infinity, which greatly limits the creative potential. Once again I have to look at 70-200 2.8. you can still buy humanely. In general, I would be glad to hear the opinions of people about what is better to choose for a portrait, since I myself did not hold all of the above in my hands. Maybe someone will tell you a normal reliable glass at a humane price.
By the way, I shot for about a year at 70-200 2.8. I didn't like it. Weight does not bother at all. But the picture is pretty uninteresting. In comparison, 85 / 1,8g draws much more beautifully. From the pros - fast and tenacious focusing, good stabilization. But we shoot for the sake of the image, and here it is boring.
I know a few who got down from the new 70-200 in favor of the old 80-200 mk3 because of the picture
it wouldn’t have come down from 70-200 vr2 towards the ancient 80-200. 70-200 taxis !!!
Nikon attributes the 80-200 / 2,8D to current lenses that are manufactured and sold. At the same time, MK4, MK5 are removed from production and sales.
Based on what you need from glass, if the picture, then for my taste 80-200 mc3 is at least no worse, in general, as always, check or go. And if the sports reporting, then that's another story
Good day to all, Friends.
Arkady (or someone else from a respectable public), please say about your feelings. I choose a portrait for nikon d600. Need longer than 100 mm. I chose either this 105/2 DC or 180 / 2.8 AF. I understand that they are very different, but the purpose is the same. Interested in a general impression of the lenses. The difference in price is not critical.
105 or 135 DC
Thanks. I will do so.
Television portraits are my weakness, I like to play with them. I shot a lot at 135 2,0 dc. If briefly.
!) Very specific, 2 by 135, you need to learn how to film and understand, then play with blur. You can do a lot of things. It makes you think about the end result.
2) Before you take such a glass, decide why you need it. Maybe you and 85 1.8 will be enough for the eyes. Glass is not for everyone.
3) It is interesting that on the d750th, that on the sprinkled water, only in its own way.
And quite shortly, the best portrait I shot, And I was played by almost all the popular Nikon glasses
I have a Nikon d810, how does this lens perform on a 36 megapixel sensor?
Fine! Portraits are filmed only with this lens.
Do you think a lot of things depend on the resolution? I somehow compared RAW files from the D850 (46Mp) with the D700 (12Mp) ... if you look at the scale "under the monitor", and it is not particularly important what ... there is no difference. If you look larger, for example at 100% ... then of course the difference is on the face ... but who looks like that? Everybody puts something about FullHD or a little more or a little less on the network. It is certainly better when the resolution is higher, but the lens will show itself absolutely the same. On this site there is a review of Sonya at 42 or 45MP ... and there the good old Helios coped quite well. So it's all a stereotype that for high resolution you need some kind of super-quality optics.
I still don't understand the logic of the one who invented the focusing motor to build into the carcass. After all, it doesn't take much to guess that each lens needs its own unique motor, with its own special characteristics, be it torque, rotation speed, power, etc.