AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

I purchased this lens a couple of weeks ago and really haven´t had an opportunity to put it through its paces. However, the few photos I´ve taken demonstrate that the 105mm is definitely a quality piece of glass that not only complements my D750 perfectly, but will work exceptionally well with any of their DSLR´s. I´ll update this review as I work with it in the coming weeks. Suffice it to say, I´m more than pleased I bought this lens and anyone considering purchasing it will NOT be disappointed in the least or feel as though they wasted their money. I think the included photos speak for themselves, too.

I´ve been shooting the 2.8D version of the lens for a long time and loved it, except for the M/A switch. I often would need to manually crank the focus to 1:1 so the screw drive wouldn´t seek. I do lots of plants and bugs, so it´s mostly all hand held for me.

Just upgraded to the AFS-S version and it is like night and day! The focus is much much faster, it´s quiet, and the instant manual override means I don´t need to take my focus away from the subject.

Yes, it´s a little bit heavier, but it runs so much faster you´ll be holding it on subject much less time. It´s very much worth the upgrade.

I use the R1 flash ring, no problems. It´s probably even better than the 2.8D because the old lens had a push-pull focus that moved the flash ring in and out. This new one is all internal focus.

This lense is light and I love the bokeh it produces which for macro shots is paramount. I like to use it hands free and have found it very easy to use with and without a tripod. Quality and sharpness is just as good as my 85mm f1.4 Nikkor I use for portraits.

I purchased the 105mm f/2.8G a couple of years ago because I wanted a fast lens with more reach than what I currently had in my camera bag. The aperture changes automatically from f/2.8 when up close to the subject and the sales representative thoroughly went over explaining to me why. After photographing macro shots with the 105mm f/2.8G, what he said didn´t matter because I was amazed with the images. The lens being a Micro is a definite plus. The area I wanted in focus was sharp and everything outside the depth of field was beautifully smooth. The VR is nice when hand holding, especially when moving the camera around for video. Just remember to use an off-camera microphone for audio because the sound of the VR working can be heard and might not be the sound you want recorded in your video. I´ve used the 105mm f/2.8 for indoor sports using only available light and as soon as I aim my camera, it will focus immediately on what i want responding quickly as I select different focus areas.

I enjoy using the 105mm f/2.8 especially to photograph my Pomeranian in action during our walks and macros of my turtle relaxing under the sun. The lens has plenty to offer no matter what you want to photograph whether close ups or distant landscape or subjects in action it is able to keep up and astound. I hope you have room in your camera bag for this amazingly lens.

I purchased this lens primarily for macro nature photography with a D800 and am thoroughly delighted. The focal length gives good stand-off distance which minimized disturbance to subjects which is helpful with skittish insects, and gives enough space between the lens and subject for lighting (I use the Nikon close-up flash system -- an excellent accessory -- or occasionally a hand-held flash to get good lighting when the lens is stopped down). The lens gives crisp images with a pleasingly soft background. Other reviewers have described a tendency for the autofocus to hunt; I have seen this in macro mode, but get my best results when shooting extreme close-up with manual focus because it allows me to focus on the specific details I want so this has not been a problem. The specs for this lens list a minimum aperture of f/32 but the aperture can achieve smaller effective aperture in macro mode -- I think this is simply due to the physics the lens. The camera and metadata list the actual aperture; I´ve read other brands do not. Variable aperture at the macro end has not been a problem for me; TTL flash accounts for this very nicely. I´ve not encountered diffraction issues at small aperture. The lens gives terrific images with general photography. The images are crisp and have great contrast and bokeh.

It is a great camera and easy to work with once I get comfortable with the grip

This is in my opinion the best of all prime lenses for portrait, wedding or macro photographers.
Portrait and weddings I get the same quality as my 70-200 maybe a little better backgrounds definitely sharper but very comparable and blends well with the rest of the workflow. The vr function does a good job in even handheld macro work making it perfect for those quick ring shots, bouquet, and textures/designs on the dress etc.. The focus is fast and silent with minimal seeking, the coatings are good with minimal chromatic aberrations I could see a photographer in a bind pulling off a whole wedding with just this lens on any camera body.

The only con is Nikon not stating when shooting macro it technically becomes a variable aperture lens. I believe it has too do this because of the depth of field when working in macro or nothing would be in focus this thing can literally focus on an ant and nothing else I just believe Nikon could have stated that fact for the photographer using it for the first time thinking they are stuck in some auto mode.

Solid metal construction feels great in hand this lens with its versatility is a no brainer

Having just purchased this lens and reading all the reviews I would think there is nothing else to say but there is. Some say the VR does not work well, it does. Some say it searches to much...(that is macro photography). It is great in all respects.

1. Put it on continuous focus.
2. Set the focus tracking. Just as if I were tracking a bird or lion.
3. I choose my f stop and all other factors

Then when the breeze blows the subject it will not fire until it hits focus, then I get 3 or 4 frames of the subject. I still use my D700 and I will continue to for a time at least. They both are great together and so is the Nikon Capture NX2 editing program.

This micro lens is also a superior and professional portrait lens. It is constructed quite well, provides great color, and yields terrific contrast. Below is a portrait taken indoors with a Nikon D800 camera body and a Nikon SB-910 Speedlight. The image was taken with a shutter speed of 1/125 of a second, an aperture of f/5.6, an ISO of 450, Auto White Balance, and Matrix Metering.