AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm F2.8G IF-ED

Turn out your wallets price tag on this is bound to make the eyes water.

AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm F2.8G IF-ED

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022103nikonafsvr105.asp

Paul C

With the enhanced VR system (VRII), photographers can capture sharp images at shutter speeds approximately 4 stops* slower [at near infinity to 3m (1/30x reproduction ratio)] than would otherwise be possible.

Does this mean VR is only active from near infinity to 3m focus distance? That would be odd...but they don't give any specifications for VR from 3m to 31cm (closest focusing distance).

~Matt Segal

That's the lens I was waiting for. I was a bit disappointed with the sharpness of my current 105 at non-macro shooting distances, I hope this new version performs better!

Luiz

Any data about the price?

The ancouncement says that the TC14E,TC17E & TC20E are supported but not with autofocus.

Can anyone hazard a guess as to why this might be ?

Jeremy Brookfield

Any data about the price?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

~ US$1000.

Looks like the right time to get a used nikkor 105mm :-)

Any data about the price?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nikon Switzerland are quoting 1398 SFR as the "suggested" price. In comparison the "old" 105 macro is 1628 SFR.

These prices include 7.6% sales tax so 1398 equate to about 990 USD (without tax). However Swiss prices are horribly inflated when compared to BH Photovideo.

The markup is becoming less over time but 15-20% is still normal.

Jeremy Brookfield

Looks like a winner. I like the fact that once a manual focus port becomes available (if the current ones dont fit) you can do manual and auto underwater without any problems. Id bet AF TCs will become available soon from third party companies, and maybe their TCs will already work just fine.

Cor

Looks sweet. Can't wait to see some results. I would't be convinced that there would be any appreciable macro quality, meaning real 1:1 or greater, but there might be some value in the longer distance fish shots as Luiz stated. Time will tell.

Joe

I'll certainly be getting one. Absolute no brainer purchase for me as the current 105mm is my second most used lens. Plus that VR is going to be a great help for long exposure macro shots, that are another of my staples.

Seems like Nikon have finally started reading my wish-list letters.

Alex

Now just an AFS F2.8 12-24mm, please. As sharp as the 17-35mm!

The internal focusing may change port requirements. This may fit in some 60mm ports? Which would be handy for travel.

Alex

You are right Alex, I haven't noticed this before. Here is the text from the official specs:

"The Internal Focus (IF) design provides a constant lens length and eliminates rotation of the front lens element".

Should work with current extension ring recommendations, but also with shorter rings. It would be really great if it fits behind the same ports/rings as the 60mm lens.

Luiz

P.S.: I was unpacking my stuff and checked. The lenght of the fully extended 60mm is about the same as the old 105. Bad news are that the new 105 is longer (4.5 as opposed to 4.1 inches).

So this would help with the slow shutter/rear curtain as well?

Rand

The internal focusing may change port requirements. This may fit in some 60mm ports? Which would be handy for travel.

 

Alex

This was the first thing I was thinking when I read the article. It looks like it'll be close. The Ikelite #5505 (that I use for the 60mm) says it fits lenses 11.5mm and smaller. Nikon lists the length as 11.6mm so sligtly larger. It will be interesting to see if it really fits or not. The newly recommended port (when I bought the 5505 was reccommended it has a bit of breathing room but does not vigenette) for the 60mm won't work as its listed for lenses 10.4 cm.

Also, the AF-S is a huge feature for those trying to switch between AF and MF. If it does fit in the 60mm port, you can just use the zoom gear to focus. Super easy.

I don't know though. I just invested in a 105mm and port and though I'm not sure my wallet can take annother 800-1000 investment replacing something I already have. Of course I've been known to throw out reason in the face of gear lust before.

So this would help with the slow shutter/rear curtain as well?

 

Rand

The way I see it, this lens can help in 3 ways:

1) VR could be used for slow shutter speeds (with or without flash, maybe Alex's filters?) to help keep down camera shake. This could allow natural light (filters) or motion shots (rear curtain sync). Or even Alex's underwater telephoto technique.

2) AF-S will definately improve focus speed and lessen the need for manual focus. This is the biggie for me as I found it hard to manually focus on small moving basslets etc. while looking through the D70 viewfinder. Low light is another common UW problem and I think AF-S will help here.

3) Internal focusing and M/A mode (part of AF-S) will allow this to be used in standard Ikelite flat ports for both M and AF. Which size is the only question in my mind.

Does this mean VR is only active from near infinity to 3m focus distance?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In a close focus situation the size of the camera movement that is necessary to cause loss of sharpness is minute, and the motion is very fast, so I would imagine that the VR system is not precise enough/fast enough to give real benefit at close focus distances.

Which is what we were all hoping for

We'll see. You could be right. But at least the VR would be helpful for Alex's underwater telephoto technique which is greatly helped with filters and long exposures. Here the distances are long enough for VR to help.

Oh absolutely. And if the 105 VR has the same bokeh as the older 105, in combination with the VR, it could make a really nice handheld portrait lens for above water use. I imagine we are going to see a lot of Mustardian longlens fish portraits winning competitions in the next couple of years, they'll probably become the pigmy seahorse of the "naughties".

Actually the telephoto technique is a strobe lit balanced light technique and actually doesn't usually need long exposures because you need to open up the aperture to be sure of getting good flash coverage on the fishy, and as a result getting a decent blue isn't too tough.

For example the poster child for this technique, "not that bloody snapper again" as it is now known by me, was shot at 1/45th at F13. Which can easily be hand held when using flash.

I see VR being most helpful for long exposures at high magnifications, where small camera movements are larger in relation to the subject and it is easy to blur an image.

This image for example was shot at 1/13th @ f32 with a +4 dioptre. Oh damn it. I am going to have to buy some new dioptres too! I think VR is going to be great for this sort of thing.

Alex

Ok, thanks for the clarification Alex. What was the approximate subject distance for these sort of photos? How do you get strobes to cover the distance?

Thanks for the help!