105mm DC on a D850

[aerobat]

I have an offer for a used 105mm DC at a good price. Anyone still using it on a modern DSLR?
I can test it tomorrow. What else to look for apart from the lens shade thread damage and worn out or broken DC shift ring?
Any thoughts are very appreciated.

[Birna Rørslett]

Smooth focusing when the collar is turned.

[aerobat]

Many thanks Birna,

Maybe you could answer if my plan makes any sense. I currently don't have a Nikon Z and can't easily adapt older lenses.
I really like vintage macro looks. So as the 105 DC has a particular (bubble) bokeh, I thought of using it with an apochromatic close-up lens by NISI.
Not looking for 1:1 ratio but flower photos, butterflies and such. Do you think this could work to produce bubble bokeh close-ups?

Thanks a lot Daniel

[Jack Dahlgren]

It has close focus similar to the 135mm DC so you might want to look at this thread:

https://nikongear.net/revival/index.php?topic=3088.0

It shows a number of images of flowers and the like at closest distance with Defocus control cranked. Not sure if this is the "bubble" look you are hoping for, but it is distinctive, and if the lens is set at normal settings the results are great. I use this lens on Z cameras. The 105 will be similar, but without as much magnification. Not sure how a closeup lens would change things. You could probably just use a simple extension ring instead.

[BruceSD]

Many thanks Birna,

Maybe you could answer if my plan makes any sense. I currently don't have a Nikon Z and can't easily adapt older lenses.
I really like vintage macro looks. So as the 105 DC has a particular (bubble) bokeh, I thought of using it with an apochromatic close-up lens by NISI.
Not looking for 1:1 ratio but flower photos, butterflies and such. Do you think this could work to produce bubble bokeh close-ups?

Thanks a lot Daniel

I own dozens of fast, manual focus bokeh lenses.  I also own a Z6 and the Nikkor 105mm DC lens.   When I want bubble bokeh, I will use one of my many MOG, Fujinon, or Projector lenses.  While the DC Nikkor produces interesting and variable bokeh, it does not produce "bubble bokeh" per se.

[BruceSD]

A couple soap bubble images using MOG lenses

[aerobat]

Many thanks Jack and Bruce. I may opt for mirrorless with its greater choice of adaptable lenses.

[Birna Rørslett]

Rodenstock XR 100mm f/1.6 can easily be adapted to Z cameras. It reaches infinity and as close as your extension allows. Its bokeh is superb.

When the 100/1.6 is operated in the mentioned manner it is a very sharp performer. Be aware of its 100/1.5 relative which is not of much use to photographers, due to the very short register distance.

[aerobat]

thanks Birna - in the meantime I tried the Nisi APO close-up lens on the 85mm f/1.4 G @ F2.8 from approx 20cm distance:

[aerobat]

Comparison with the AF-S 60mm F/2.8 G Micro which handles the unsharp areas much better:

[Toby]

Many thanks Jack and Bruce. I may opt for mirrorless with its greater choice of adaptable lenses.

If your interest is macro, or relatively close focusing, you can quite easily use M42 lenses on NiF mount. A cheap adapter ring is available--just the ring, no glass. This allows for focusing from about portrait distance with a 100mm lens. You can also get a ring to adapt Exakta mount lenses to M42. With those two I was using a Trioplan on my old Nikon 800. You can also find ways to adapt cheaper alternatives, like the Diaplan 80mm projector lens, to NiF. This lens has bubble bokeh comparable to the Trioplan at about 1/10 the cost. With a little ingenuity, and some old Nikon K extension tubes, you should be able to construct a push/pull system with the lens inside the tubes, using them as a sleeve. If you want more info, I can give you details. Of course mirrorless gives you more options, but for what you want, this should work.

[Albi1961]

First Test