| NOTE: In an attempt to revamp & rearrange content in this website, there is now a newly developed section featuring various MF Nikkor lenses, please bookmark the new site for future updates. As for SLR bodies, please refer to: - Nikkormat, Nikon EM/FG/FG20, FM series, FE Series, Nikon FA, Nikon F, Nikon F2, Nikon F3 & Nikon F4 |



Nikkor 105mm F2.5

Nikkor 105mm f/2.5
For a great view of the lens mounted on a Nikon FM2n with MD-12,
Click Here !


Nikon has quite an extensive line of medium telephoto lenses to offer.
The DC Nikkor range reveals the direction of the optical engineers at Nikon are heading towards. But, it is bulkier (due to bigger maximum aperture it offers), expensive (naturally), though its de-focus feature built in does make an attractive for those who specialise in portraiture photography.

Well, for those who have not got the financial muscle to invest into one of those or for those who are very satisfied with an entry and wish to have a good, economical and high performance portrait lens in mind, this is the lens.

F5 105mm.jpg Your 105mm can be used on the latest 35mm AF bodies from Nikon. But minus the AF, auto exposures functions (Aperture priority still works)...and of coz, the newer metering capabilities.

In a high tech, all zoom oriented of modern days, photographers are looking for mobility and efficiencies are started to subsituting multiple of prime lenses in their camera bag, which is primarily the key factor of the hot selling point of current modern high powered and performance zoom lenses. For a moment, many may have disregarded a prime lens like the 105mm f/2.5, when its fixed focal length looks "embarassing", when being sandwiched between and compared.

The latest & much faster 105mm Nikkor is a AF-DC lens.

Never mind of how others think, when it comes to best overall price and performance ratio, this lens triumphs! Built upon a very rich background, this lens remains a favourite among many (including me). The constant refinement and updates saw this lens getting more and more compact in size, the current version with a telescopic lens hood built in, as opposed to the snap-on type ten years ago; which is a nice and handy feature. The picture coverage of 23° 20' is very ideal for head and shoulder portrait shoots, but many may find it slightly too short for a purpose or application for that (One of the reason why the 1st DC lens selected 135mm as its focal length). It can focus down to 1M (3.5ft) and uses the standard 52mm filters which comes very handy as well.
105mmAuto P.jpg

A friend of mine has been keeping
this auto Nikkor P for the last 20 years.
Still looking good and image captured
were sharp but contrast was not as high
as the modern 105mm.
But its weight gives a very solid feel.

I would recommend a buy if you are looking for a telephoto to start with your photography. Perhaps, it make sense to look out for the manual version on the used market - which is so much cheaper in comparison. The maximum aperture of f2.5 is sufficient for moderate "blur" of the background in a head and shoulder portrait, but best if used in a situation calling for half length body in vertical format.

I always mount a 20mm f2.8 and accompany with this lens on my camera for my personal general photography in most situations. Yes, I always keep a camera in my car for the last 15 years. Its rugged and high quality of construction withstands the extreme heat and high humidity in the tropics very well and comfortable to recommend this lens to anyone.


Optical construction .jpg

Look at the simplicity in the optical design of this lens and you may understand why it can yield such an extraordinary image quality.

Old version

The old work horse - one of the earlier version.

Upgraded version

The version prior to the upgrade, I owned one of this, the lens hood can be stored inversed back and locked. Current version (see the top of this page - manual version) is more compact and with a built in telescopic lens hood. To verify the version betwwen the two is simple. The coating for the older version is greenish and the newer is pinkish. It requires a separate lens hood (Snap On type) and can be stored reverse in, see illustration. The newer version, as said earlier: came with a built in telescopic lens hood and more compact in size.
Nikkor 105mm f1.8 (14k Jpeg)
If big aperture lenses are your cup of tea, perhaps this 105mm f1.8 could be your companion to substitute the 105mm f2.5. Optically constructed in 5 elements in 5 groups. Weighing 580g compared with its f2.5 counterpart of 436g. Takes in the more popular 62mm filters (If it is f1.4 could have made the lens bigger and takes 72mm filter). Sharp as a razor blade, but you have to cough out almost one time the cost for the f2.5 version. Nevertheless, the extra stop in its widest opening does provide more options in the creative control of the depth of field. Comes with a built in telescopic lens hood.


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