Nikon 105mm f/2 DC

[fjrabon]

Very intrigued by this lens, but there's a lot of contradictory/confusing info out there. I have read Rockwell's review of it, but I always want at least another take besides Ken, because, um, you know. Love the guy, but I don't always trust his reviews completely.

Anybody have it? Have hands on experience? Can point me to a great review I missed somehow?

 

[tirediron]

Trever1t recently bought this lens, and I believe Derrel's used a bit as well. It's one that I've looked; almost bought a used copy that showed up on Craig's List last year, but couldn't quite pull the trigger.

 

[Mach0]

Trever1t recently bought this lens, and I believe Derrel's used a bit as well. It's one that I've looked; almost bought a used copy that showed up on Craig's List last year, but couldn't quite pull the trigger.

I think he bought the 135 but still a DC nonetheless.


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[tirediron]

Mehhh... toe-may-toe.... toe-mat-toe!

 

[Derrel]

The 105 DC shoots directly toward the light pretty well. The 105 DC has very few lens elements, only 7 elements, and the rear-most piece of glass is a flat-plane piece of glass, SUPER easy to clean!!!...This lens is NOT a 17,18,19,21 element zoom lens. The few elements, deeply recessed smallish front element, built in lens shade, and the good inner baffling and blackening help to deliver high contrast images even in flat, low lighting conditions, like open shade, later or earlier in the day.

The screwdriver focus system works GREAT on the pro Nikons. This is a lens that can be shot toward bright light without flaring. It's very sharp. It will last two lifetimes. Mine is 15 years old and has held up astoundingly well.

 

[Mach0]

The 105 DC shoots directly toward the light pretty well. The 105 DC has very few lens elements, only 7 elements, and the rear-most piece of glass is a flat-plane piece of glass, SUPER easy to clean!!!...This lens is NOT a 17,18,19,21 element zoom lens. The few elements, deeply recessed smallish front element, built in lens shade, and the good inner baffling and blackening help to deliver high contrast images even in flat, low lighting conditions, like open shade, later or earlier in the day.

The screwdriver focus system works GREAT on the pro Nikons. This is a lens that can be shot toward bright light without flaring. It's very sharp. It will last two lifetimes. Mine is 15 years old and has held up astoundingly well.

Have you ever compared to the85 1.4? I'm curious how sharp is it. I hear that they aren't that sharp at f2 but then again that was the 135


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[Derrel]

Have you ever compared to the 85 1.4? I'm curious how sharp is it. I hear that they aren't that sharp at f2 but then again that was the 135 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't do a lot of side by side comparisons any more. Here's the only current, recent 24MP stuff I have on this machine. This is just my August 31, 2014 AF fine tune tests, JPEGs with .WAV files. 76 images and 76 sound files. Maybe some of this will be of interest. I know the 84/1.4 and 85/1.8 G are in there, and the rest of my main portrait lenses. Feel free to download and listen. Sorry I don't have any flat-field tests, just testing center focus and looking for fine-tune issues. But you can see the center sharpness, and get some idea of the OOF rendering, and CA levels. DropBox link:

Dropbox - 2014 0831 D3x focusing JPGs and WAVs copy

 

[nerwin]

Both the 105 DC and 135 DC are amazing portrait lenses or so I've heard. I don't have any experience with them but have read and watched a lot of reviews on these lenses. Pretty much everyone has good things to say about them, they produce some of the nicest bokeh out there. They are older lenses and Nikon still makes them and probably will continue for a long time and I don't think they'll upgrade them with VR and AF-S anytime soon..what ain't broke, don't fix!

Matt Granger did a decent review of the 105 DC, but take his opinions with a grain of salt as well.

 

[Braineack]

I can see the difference between Trever's 85mm 1.4 and the 135 DC.

 

[Joves]

I got to play with the 135 flavor of it once, when a friend, and I were out camping. All I remember about it is that it was nice, but it was not one of those just grab, and shoot lenses. You really have to learn it to get what you want. I didn't in the two days I had it. But it was more a case of user error over the lens. If I could find one at a really good price, I would snatch it up, but I am not going to just get one to have one.

 

[Derrel]

I threw in a few more files into that DropBox folder, a handful of proofs, one TIF file, and a couple NEFs from the 105 DC, 85 1.4-D, 135 DC, and one comparo shot from the 80-200 AFS. The 135 and 80-200 AF-S shoot was done on Auto ISO at 1/400 second and f/5.6, so there's some comparison value. The 105 DC and 85 stuff is all shot with flash at smaller f/stops, like f/6.3, 7.1,and 8.

 

[Phoenix77]

I bought the 105 f2 dc recently. It took a while for me to decide which lens to buy for portraiture. I used my Tamron 90mm non VC macro lens for portraits but I could not get a shallow enough DOF. The reason I chose the 1o5 was that I was primarily more interested in having excellent bokeh and shallow DOF for portraiture. This was the primary reason for the DC series lenses : portraiture & excellent bokeh. IMHO, the 105 DC's bokeh is the in the same category as the 85 f1.4 based on reviews that I've read. The 105 DC was cheaper as I could not afford the 85mm f1.4 G. I Am using a D7000 body (and an old D80 body) and observed a somewhat a greenish CA on the bokeh highlights but its not too distracting. I also considered the 85 f1.8G but I just opted for the 105 DC instead. If I would need a 85mm option in the future, I can easily save up for the lens since its cheaper than the 105 DC and more readily available (here in the Philippines) new or used.

I agree with Derrel that its a sharp lens. I've shot it at f4 for head & shoulder type of portraits and its really sharp. Even at f2 setting its still a sharp lens. I like how the transition from the sharp and out of focus areas are rendered in the image.

Focusing on the D7000 & D80 is quick enough but it's not lightning quick.

Hope this helps.