105E ... bulky ... slow AF ... superb IQ

[longzoom]

Miracle images wide open, some magic even at f2.0. Looks like the old Noct - outstanding wide open to 1.8, maybe. After that, very high quality ordinary lenses, no more wonders. My own thinking, of course. Thanks for posting!  LZ

[Jørgen Ramskov]

I also tried using it for a bit of low light action. I used f/1.4 a lot, but even at a distance of 30 meters or so, the DoF is simply too shallow. The shots are from a TeamGym gymnastics competion. Teams compete in 3 disciplines, floor routine (rythmic), trampette and tumbling. For the photographer, the advantage is that you know roughly where the peak action is going to be for the trampette and tumbling. My failure was to use a too shallow DoF, but I got lured by the f/1.4 of this lens

#1 The floor routine does include jumps too

2017-03-04 TeamGym - Jysk mesterskab 126 by Joergen Ramskov, on Flickr

#2 Tumbling

2017-03-04 TeamGym - Jysk mesterskab 364 by Joergen Ramskov, on Flickr

#3 Trampette and vault

2017-03-04 TeamGym - Jysk mesterskab 489 by Joergen Ramskov, on Flickr

#4 Trampette

2017-03-04 TeamGym - Jysk mesterskab 507 by Joergen Ramskov, on Flickr

#5 Trampette

2017-03-04 TeamGym - Jysk mesterskab 565 by Joergen Ramskov, on Flickr

#6 Trampette

2017-03-04 TeamGym - Jysk mesterskab 589 by Joergen Ramskov, on Flickr

[longzoom]

Beautiful captures, very moody! But as you said, DOF is very shallow wide open. Especially in portraiture, in my try. I must have 2 eyes sharp, not profile or direct front only... So as was said before, I, personally, prefer 85, too. That's my own opinion, again! THX! LZ

[Bent Hjarbo]

Very nice shots, which shutter time did you use? My problem when trying at gymnastics is the low light levet in some halls.
You got the gymnast very sharp, nice.

[Ilkka Nissilä]

I use the 105/1.4 wide open for action a lot! With the D5 the focus is nearly always bang on. I think it's partly because of the relative lack of LoCA and high sharpness, the AF sensor gets a clear signal without confounding side lobes.

I don't find it slow to focus; it is slower than 70-200/2.8E for sure, but at least with the D5, I get a higher percentage of shots in focus with the prime than the zoom, even considering both lenses wide open so the 105 has a more demanding task due to no VR and shallower DOF. However, with the D810 the situation is not nearly as good regarding in-focus rates with the 105.

[charlie]

Erik: I very much agree, seeing the window shot next to this one - big, positive difference.

I don't know, I'm quite fond of the backlighting detail coming through the tulips leafs and pedals on the window shot. The lighting from the first and the clean background from the second would be my vote. 

[Jørgen Ramskov]

Longzoom: Thanks. I've never tried the 85, so I can't compare. My normal lens is the 24-70mm.

Bent Hjarbo: Most of the shots were shot at 1/2000. I'm usually fighting the low light levels too. The vastly improved high iso performance we got with the D3/D700 and in the cameras since then has done wonders though

Ilkka: Interesting, but no doubt the D5 has much improved AF system compared to my D750. I don't think the 105 is slow, but on my D750, it's certainly slower than my 24-70mm and my 70-200mm.

Charlie: I like the light of the window version too, I think a combo would be my choice too.

[Erik Lund]

That is easy, open the window,,, 

[Jørgen Ramskov]

I don't have the lens anymore though.