I love micro photography and I never got a real good chance to practice it with normal lenses so I decided to get this for my Nikon D40x. Delivery wasn't bad. It said that I'll get it in one month but I received it in less time. Price is worth it. You can choose Manual or Auto options on it. The lens is however very heavy. You must care for it and watch not to drop it. It comes with a small fabric case too, so you do not have to worry about storage. You can take short distance photos with it as well. You just need to learn how to control and use it. I suggest this for every micro photography lover.

I RECIEVED THIS LENS THE OTHER DAY,I PUT A NIKON 62 MM WARMING FILTER ON IT. PUT THE LENS ON MY D80 WENT OUTSIDE TO TRY IT. I TOOK SOME TEST FOTOS OF VERY SMALL FLOWERS......AND THE RESULTS.........BREATHTAKING.....
THIS 1 TO 1 , 2.8 ED LENS HAS BECOME MY FAVORITE LENS VERY QUICKLY THE RESULTS ARE NEEDLE SHARP........I PRINTED MY TEST FOTOS ON A EPSON RX700 PRINTER USEING THE PREMIUM LUSTER PAPER.........WOW AND DOUBLE WOW
YOU CAN USE THIS FABUOLUS LENS AS A PORTRAIT LENS AS WELL HOWEVER I WOULD RECCOMEND USING A WARMING FILTER TO FORGIVE ANY IMPERFERFECTIONS IN YOUR SUBJECTS FLESH TONES.REMEMBER YOUR USEING A 2.8 ULTRA SHARP D LENS THATS GOING TO SHOW UP EVERY SMALL DETAIL IN FULL........ENJOY SHOOTING.

This lens is solidly built, sharp with excellent color and bokeh. I bought my copy off of Amazon and have been using it for several weeks now. The VR works surprisingly well in micro situations, I was able to shoot 1:1 inside a large bright greenhouse. It's nice to know that it's possible to shoot off the tripod, if the opportunity arises.

The lens does a great job on landscapes and portraits. The color and bokeh are terrific. It not as razor sharp as the Tamron, which is a good thing when you are shooting portraiture as you do not want to see every pore.

If you're looking for a micro that can do additional duty as a portrait and landscape lens, then this is definitely the one to consider. If you want to shoot primarily in micro mode and don't mind the lower build quality, the Tamron is a fantastic lens, and you save some serious cash. It's going to be an expensive purchase one way or another, check out some of the images for yourself by searching for the lens on Flickr or [...]

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I have had this lens for over 2 months. I love this lens as it is the sharpest Macro lens. If you are shooting flowers or Portraits this is the best lens.

Subhash

I have read glowing reviews of this lens in Popular Photography and posted online at various internet websites. Nikon has truly crafted a splendid update of a fine medium telephoto macro lens, offering features found on more expensive telephoto lenses such as IF (Internal Focusing) and SWM (Silent Wave Motor). Lens contrast has improved immensely with the new Nano Crystal Coat multicoating, virtually eliminating flare at all apertures from internal lens element reflections, especially wide open at f2.8; which means that this lens is well-suited for users of both Nikon film and digital autofocus SLR cameras, and also those who use only manual-focus Nikon SLR cameras. Another major improvement is the SWM feature (Silent Wave Motor) which allows for easy switching between autofocus and manual focus modes. The IR (internal Focus) feature will allow photographers to focus the lens without any shifts in barrel movement, helping to minimize camera shake during photography. Another useful addition is Nikon's image stabilizer, known as VF, which will allow photographers up to hand hold lenses at the equivalent shutter speeds that are four stops faster; it is a feature most useful for panning shots, such as in action and sports photography, not closeup or macro photography. The additional of two more aperture blades to this lens, will help enhance its already fine bokeh, making out-of-focus areas more lovely to behold, with less distracting, rounded shapes due to this lens's new 9-bladed rounded aperture diaphragm (In plain English, this should be an ideal portrait lens for fashion or wedding photography.). Historically Nikon has been one of the leading innovators in macro lens design; this new 105mm f2.8 Micro Nikkor is a splendid addition to this proud history of optical innovation; based on the reports I have read it is unquestionably the best 105mm Micro Nikkor lens ever made.

What an amazing piece of photographic equipment! There are no areas that this lens is less than superlative. Incredibly sharp focus, pleasing, consistent bokeh, excellent portrait lens. This is one extraordinary lens, and should be a part of any photographer's arsnel. Shipping was from Beach Camera, and I got it by standard shipping, but delivery to the D.C. area took only two days! I have been VERY pleased, and now prefer it to the 18-200 Nikkor VR lens that I bought with my D-80.

Well, not to be confrontational or anything, but the guy who said this is inferior to the Tamron 90 is on crack, NO off-brand lens can compare to a mid-to-high-range Nkon or Canon lens. This lens is far sharper than any third-party lens. It is incredibly sharp, and the VR works better than most folks imagine.

Not only is this lens good for Macro work, it's also a very good portrait lens, and even a decent short telephoto. It's got everything a photographer could possibly want.

Late last summer, I wondered why Canon and Nikon had such control over the DSLR market. I had been a Konica Minolta 5D user. I went to a camera store and tried the Canon 30D and a bunch of lenses... okay... Nice... Then tried with the D200 with among others the 105VR. I love to shoot macro/close-up and shooting with this lens just blew me away in the store. I knew then that I had to change and began the task of selling off all my gear and making the move to Nikon.

The 105VR is such a a useful lens. VR is not that useful at macro level focusing. But this lens also doubles as a very good short tele, and VR is VERY helpful in those situations!

In this crop of lenses for Nikon mount (Tamron 90, Sigma 105, & Tokina 100) there is two areas where it excels: 1) the 105VR is constant length and when you are this close to things, it makes a difference; 2) AF-S (quiet focusing). The others really do extend quite a bit, you'll be surprised it you are not used to it. Optically it is superb as sharp or sharper than the competition. Solid construction, large snap on shade. This lens is a winner.

Amazing lense... I have been impressed with every shot taken. Clarity is top notch focus is super quick. This will by far be my favorite lense. It is a bit heavier than expected but the feel is all quality.

I ordered this lens and developed buyer's remorse while awaiting delivery. It is expensive, I'm an amateur, and I thought maybe I was spoiling myself beyond justification. When it arrived, I popped it on my D40x (just to see what it could do before returning it) and snapped off a few pictures of my daughter.

Wow. One look at those casually set up shots and I knew this lens wasn't going anywhere. The detail is so acute, the skin tones so alive, the bokeh so elegantly superior to my other lenses that I feel like I've suddenly elevated my whole game. We had a classic Vermont ice storm the next day, and I went out and shot close ups (twigs encased in ice, frozen buds, etc.) and the results were equally impressive.

It's a beefy lens, but one I don't want to be without, so it's time to upgrade my camera bag.

The price may give you pause, but the results won't. It's an excellent value.

Very Sharp. Fast> I would have given it a five, but at close range the autofocus searchs alot. This is not that big of a problem because at Macro range I always manual focus. Nice lens for portrait and handheld close-ups with VR.

I wanted a macro lens. After doing a bit of research, there was no mistaking that this was one of the best that Nikon has to offer in terms of macro photography. There are a few things you need to be aware of this lens though.

1. Variable aperture. This was a shock to me. All my fast lenses (read: fixed aperture lenses) stay fast regardless of zoom or focus distance. So when I open my 80-200 f2.8 wide to it's max aperture of 2.8, it remains 2.8 unless I explicity change it. Not so with this baby. The max aperture is determined by "focus distance", so the closer you focus, the harder it is to achieve the stated f2.8 aperture. It's really a sort of a variable aperture lens.

2. Very painstaking to focus. This is a AF-S (silent wave motor) lens. All my previous experiences with AF-S lenses is that they focus silently and very very fast. This is not true for macro lenses. Because it's focusing range is so great, I found that the lens was hunting like crazy (very silently, of course). There is a focus-limit selector that you can set if you know the focus range is more than 0.5 meters (this limits the focusing from 0.5 meters to infinity but prevents macro focusing). The focus-limit switch speeds up the focusing a bit; but don't expect to whip up this lens and take the "candid moment" shot.

3. Shallow DOF. My Sigma 30mm f1.4 has a very shallow depth-of-field but then again, it's not a macro lens and cannot focus very close. This little baby has such a shallow DOF that even a tiny change in distance from camera to subject will throw the focus off.

Of course, none of these are limitations. They are basically features attributed to macro lenses. You just have to get adjusted to it.

And this is the best of the bunch. If you want to dabble in macro photography and are thinking of buying a macro lens, just go ahead and pick up one. Money well spent.

I have been shooting flowers, bugs and other things close up since I was a child (don't ask how long ago that was), but I had never produced a single photograph that I wanted to print.

With this lens, I was immediately taking pictures that were good enough to print and take pride in. With a few weeks of practice -- mostly to improve my choices for depth of field and point of focus -- I should be taking excellent shots. This is a great lens.

The 105mm Micro-Nikkor first appeared in 1984, was updated to autofocus in 1990, and got D rating in 1993. Another thirteen years passed before Nikon finally revisited the design with digital and current technologies in mind, and this time they changed everything.

While at the gross level (105mm, f/2.8, macro capability) it looks pretty much the same as its predecessor, the new design appears to be new in every respect. To wit:

1- A 14/12 element optical design replaces the old 10/9.
2- ED glass and nano-coating have been added.
3- AF-S focus motor was added.
4- VRII was added.
5- The focal length versus magnification points seem to have changed a bit.

On a film body of FX bodies such as the D3, the field of view is 19.4 degrees horizontal, 13 degrees vertical, and 23.2 diagonal. On most current DSLRs with the reduced sensor size those numbers change to 12.8 degrees horizontal, 8.6 vertical, and 15.4 degrees diagonal. This would be considered a moderate telephoto on film bodies, and a slightly longish telephoto on DSLR bodies.

The new 105mm Micro-Nikkor, like the old, gets to 1:1 (and does so without any visible lens extension). The closest focusing distance is 1 foot (0.314m). Since the lens has a 62mm filter size, Nikon's 5T and 6T close-up lenses fit nicely onto this lens, which, together, will get you down to a 9.6" (24.3cm) focus distance (note that this puts your subject within 4" of the front of the lens, though.

As with all AF-S and VR lenses, only the most recent Nikon bodies are fully compatible:

* Full compatibility: D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200, D1 series, D2 series

This is a prime micro nikon lens with VR....very nice and very capable piece of glass. It is heavy as expected of prime lenses other than that it's perfect and beautiful!

This is a great lens for Macro photography. It is really sharp and fast. This, the latest version, features Nikon's VR (Vibration Reduction) technology which, in the right hands, allows you to shoot sharp images without a tripod.

The 105mm f 2.8 Nikkor lens is wonderful. It is great for doing wildlife macro pictures. VR is great.

Just like the equivalent Cannon lens this thing weighs as much as a brick. And it is well worth it!

Tripod? You don't need no stinking TRIPOD! Listen, despite some reviews which downplay the VR on this beauty, I've used this lens to shoot handheld macro shots of Bees, up in the trees, above my head, IN FLIGHT!...that will ASTOUND you...extremely SOLID construction, and gives you results...The portraits of my 9 month old are STUNNING...I've never had so much fun with a macro. BUY!

Wow. What a great lens. I saw the results that this lens produces from photos from a friend in my local camera club. I had to have the lens. It is incredibly sharp. The perfect lens for small objects.

I love this lens, if you love to shoot close up and want a great lens you won't go wrong with this one.
It has become my favorite.

Es gibt im Bereich unter 2000 Euro nichts bessere als dieses Objektiv und dessen Schwester
das neue AF-s 60 Micro.

Wenn mal sehen möchte was man aus einer Nikon wohl bemerkt ohne jegliche weitere
Bildbearbeitung am PC in Sachen Schärfe, Tiefenwirkung (sprich Plastizität ), Farbkontrasten und
Farbneutralität herausholen kann der sollte mal eine dieser Festbrennweiten ausprobieren.

Egal ob D40 oder D300 etc. .


Und das alles schon ab Blende 2,8 Abblenden nicht nötig.



Außerdem tolles Bokeh, relativ schneller AF und super Materialverarbeitung/Qualität.

This excellent MACRO or MICRO or Portrait lens, opens up a field of photo opps that is new to this photographer.
Flowers, insects and miniatures, to name a few. The depth of field is close to an inch when needed. The VR makes handheld shots in the field. The two range limiters are helpful.
The lens is larger and heavier than I expected, but so is versatility better than I expected.

A good lens, but save your dollars and buy the older model, or the Tamron 90 macro. VR does not work up close, and that's the selling point of this lens. If you have to go manual for a macro shot, any of the other macros will suffice. I recently sold mine on ebay as I found that my Tamron 90 macro was just as sharp!! At half the price!!! Also, the 18-200 Nikon offers very good basic macro, and is much more of an all around lens!!

I received this lens in very good shape and have used this on about 30 pictures and the resolution is great. I can hold the camera in my handsfor sevral pictures but it works best to use a tripod for very steady pictures as I like very close up images. It can be used for portraits and close ups as it has a very narrow viewing angle and I go to the zoom lens for the rest. I used a Nikon D200 for these pictures

This is a great lens - it`s as sharp as it gets, has no distortions, focuses down to 1:1, it`s fast and does beautiful bokeh.
However, there are some cons - it is heavy and has minor focusing problems when in low light (on my d40x - can`t say for other models). The VR is great, but also intended for objects 3m or more away. Under that, it gradually loses stability.
Consider also it is a prime lens, meaning, there is no zoom. You will probably need to carry around additional lens if you don`t want to miss a shot. This is a must have lens for portrait and macro photography. However, if you plan on making tourist shots, cut on the bokeh and get the all-round 18-200mm. It`s slower (f3.5-5.6), but far more practical and somewhat cheaper. You can`t miss with either one. Good luck!