Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8 AiS question

I had one, focus was stiff - sold it, just got another one. Wide open it is pretty soft, at f4 and f5.6 is already very sharp. I am little surprised, do I have a bad example, or this is normal for this lens? Tried on close distance, medium and infinity - wide open it is soft. My micro Nikor 55mm f3.5 is crazy sharp wide open, miles better than 105/2.8. I tested the lens with D700.

Examples on f2.8 (100% crop):




Examples on f4 (also 100% crop):

Sure its not vibration? Best way to check the lens would be to use a tripod, mirror lock up and cable release.
I just processed a roll of fp4 I shot yesterday using the non micro 105mm ai, mostly f4 and f2.5, all look pretty sharp, well at least the ones that I didnt muck up on.

I did used high shutter speed, around 1/250- 1/500s, but maybe I moved in last moment and screwed the focus. In any case I will try one more test tomorrow with shutter speed 1/1000s and higher. If I still get not sharp results on f2.8 - I will use it as portrait lens on 2.8, an as macro on f4 and more.

At that close you are only getting mm's of focus depth, very hard to control that hand held no matter how fast your shooting.Try focusing on one of the aphids and use a tripod.
Really for a rose you would be better using more depth of field.

Rose was just one of the tests, nothing important. I don't have a tripod, as usually I shoot on the street. Infinity shots were also not so sharp at 2.8.

Modern Photography tested the lens, the report is in the 7/85 issue:

f/ Resolution Contrast
Ctr Edge Ctr Edge

105/2.8 7/85 (@1:49)
2.8 55 49 45 33
4 62 55 47 37
5.6 69 62 52 45
8 69 62 60 51
11 69 62 60 49
16 62 55 57 45
22 55 49 47 39
32 49 44 34 27

(@1:4)
2.8 57 51
4 64 57
5.6 64 57
8 57 51
11 57 51
16 51 45
22 45 40
32 40 36

(@1:2)
2.8 45 40
4 45 40
5.6 45 40
8 51 45
11 45 40
16 45 36
22 40 36
32 36 32



Your lens has problems or you're unsteady or you can't focus or your camera has a problem.

Sorry that the columns don't line up nicely.

darkosaric said:

Rose was just one of the tests, nothing important. I don't have a tripod, as usually I shoot on the street. Infinity shots were also not so sharp at 2.8.

Click to expand...

If you want it for street exchange for a f2.5, lighter and far less of a focus throw.
This was my last shot yesterday with the end of the roll, f2.5 @60th, Nikon f2, fp4.

darkosaric said:

I had one, focus was stiff - sold it, just got another one. Wide open it is pretty soft, at f4 and f5.6 is already very sharp. I am little surprised, do I have a bad example, or this is normal for this lens? Tried on close distance, medium and infinity - wide open it is soft. My micro Nikor 55mm f3.5 is crazy sharp wide open, miles better than 105/2.8. I tested the lens with D700.

Click to expand...

I am only on the latter but also was surprised by the sharpness.

Thanks guys. I will also make some test shots on F2, to see if D700 has an issue (I don't think so, all other lenses are focusing great).
When I use for example 180mm ED f2.8 - I get perfectly sharp and in focus images on the same cameras and on the same shutter speeds. I do have 105/2.5 - my favorite to go on the street short tele, but sometimes I want to have very close up possibility, that is why I got 105 micro.

Just dis another test on far subject: 3meters, 7 meters and almost infinity. I think that I have focus shift on my digital camera. I use seldom my digital cameras, so this is the first time that I noticed this issue, that comes very often, as I see on the web. So the lens itself is good, even on f2.8. Time for a test on F2 or F3 .