Nikon
(Nikkor) Micro 105mm f/4 AI Manual Focus Lens. Near Mint. Tested. See Test
Images
Key Features
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Fast
f/4 aperture
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Full
frame (FX) lens
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General-purpose
manual-focus Tele and macro for DX, FX and film.
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Focus,
exposure and viewing are perfect with all FX and DX DSLRs.
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Close
focus to 1ft
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Dead
sharp across the frame
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Zero
distortion
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Takes
52mm filters
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Weight
500g
See Hi-res images taken with this lens on Youtube
This is a near pristine example of one of Nikon's
high quality AI lenses from the early 1970's and 1980's: when Nikon didn't make
anything except high quality pro lenses. It's great as a general purpose Tele
lens and also for close-up studio work where manual focus is actually an advantage.
This one: lens number 191248, was number 4,812 of a
total run of some 43,803 of the AI version of the 105mm f/4 Micro AI lens
manufactured by Nikon Japan between 1977 and 1981. We can, therefore,
be fairly certain that this lens was made early on in the production run at
some point around June 1977.
The Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/4 has excellent
optics and mechanics. It is at least 90% as good as today's newest 105mm lenses
wide-open, and at least as good stopped down. Unlike the newest lenses, it is
manual-focus only, which is ideal for macro work. In fact, on AF and digital
cameras, their finder screens are optimized for lenses like this 105mm f/4, so
with modern cameras, this old lens works just great! In fact, with the
electronic focus assist on FX cameras, this lens works much better today than
it ever did on film.
See camera reviewer and photographer Ken Rockwell's
review of this lens on the Nikon Lens Reviews section of his website.
Lens compatibility
Use on Digital Cameras
On the D810, D800, D800E, D750, D700, D610, D600,
D500, D300s, D300, D200, D7200, D7100, D7000 series cameras, it can give full
matrix metering and aperture-preferred auto (A) and manual (M) modes, and
encodes the shooting aperture and focal length in the EXIF.
The Nikon 105mm Micro AI works on the lesser
cameras like the D80, D70 and D40, but without any metering - you'll have to
use an external meter or guess using the LCD.
Use on Film Cameras
The F100 and most film cameras offer
centre-weighted metering with this lens, while the F4, F6 and FA are
unique among film cameras in offering matrix metering with it.
For further reading on the subject, please visit
Ken Rockwell's most instructive website on the subject.
Lens Condition: Near Mint
Mechanical / Cosmetic: Mint-
The lens is in near pristine mechanical and
cosmetic condition. It’s unmarked bar a couple of tiny rubs on the lettering
ring and a tiny rub near the 0.55M mark. The felt lining on the hood is
perfect, and the hood action is also perfect. The painted lettering is bright
and completely intact. The focus action is buttery smooth and perfectly
weighted with no play at all in the action. The bayonet mount is in perfect
condition. The aperture ring is smooth and 'clicky' and the blades are free of
oil.
Optical: Near Mint
Not a great deal to say here. There is a very small
amount of dust in the lens, but much less than one would expect in a lens of
this age. The optics are otherwise flawless. The front and rear elements are
pristine.
Image quality
Image quality is outstanding. The Ken
Rockwell review explains the characteristics of this lens in some detail. The
attached images I have taken with this lens attest to the quality he sees.
The lens tests were shot on a Sony
A7RII 42.4MP Mirrorless camera. It works perfectly on my Nikon D7200, but I
wanted to show the full-frame capability of the lens.
The Ebay upload images
The test images were shot in Birmingham
UK on quite a dull morning. The first image is of the Malt House pub. It was
shot wide open at f/4. The next two images are 100% centre and edge crops of
the first image. This lens is dead sharp edge to edge at all apertures. The
next two images are of the same scene, but this time, we have 100% centre and
edge crops at f/8. Again, they are perfect. The next three images of the pub,
the funny plastic sculpture and the cycle park were all shot at f/4. The crops
are at 100% and the last two show the smooth Bokeh and DOF that this lens
generates. The next image is a macro shot at close focus f/4. Again, I have
cropped it at 100%.
The Youtube images
I've created a video of the test images
on Youtube. There's a sequence of the pub with 100% centre and edge crops of
images taken from f/4 all the way to f/32. As you will see, it's sharp edge to
edge at all apertures. I've uploaded some other shots and titled them so you
can see the aperture used. I've also included the Macro sequence.
What's in the box?
Lens, front and rear Nikon lens caps.
Please check out my other Nikon listings on eBay