AF-S Micro Nikkor 105 1:2.8 G ED as general purpose lens

[Birna Rørslett]

The rejuvenated Scanning ED lens, mounted to give 1.3X magnification. The CPU reports the lens as 46mm f/2.6, and I added a nice little lens shade to it.

[KarlMera]

I have done the same with the older AF 105/2.8 D. But first the AFS 105/2.8.

Very bad results. Which Nikkor lens is better?

[Birna Rørslett]

Complete control of axial or longitudinal CA never was a top priority with the earlier Micro-Nikkors. It's easy to see why as this correction is complex and not really required when the lens was used for reproduction of any kind of flat subjects. It also is less obvious when you get outside the near range, i.e. when image magnification drops, plus most users tend to stop down their lenses and the latter also mitigates CA to a large extent.

[Birna Rørslett]

Anyway, before I "dumped" my AFS 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor VR ED-IF G (puuh a mouthful), or more precisely, replaced it with the Voigtländer APO-Lanthar 125mm f/2.5, i did on occasion use it for more landscape-type photography. Which at the time implied mainly IR.

For IR the AFS 105 tended, as expeced, towards making  hot spots, but this depends on the aperature, scene and filter(s) used. For the frozen water fall here, the lens rendered the scene OK  and even at f/16, no hot spot was detectable.

[Erik Lund]

I have been through most of the Micro Nikkors as well.
105mm AF-S and 105mm AF-D f/2.8 where both replaced by the wonderful APO Lanthar 125mm f/2.5 with CPU's supplied by Birna, probably one of the most CPU'ed lens types 
The APO Lanthar is almost fully corrected so is the old 105mm f/4 and the bellows version as it is same optics also wonderful in [IR]
Best must be the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 S IMHO more or less flawless

[MEPER]

I will try out the AIS 105/4 Micro.
It could also be fun to get some 3d party Z Extension tubes and test some Z-lenses for Macro use.
Like this:
https://www.tombolphoto.com/macro-with-nikon-z-extension-tubes/
I like the closeup image he shows. I have a couple of the 24-70/4 S lenses.
The 2nd one which is brand new I got by accident as an offer at ebay was accepted. It seems because it is a kit lens some people think those are "junk" so they sell them cheap.

[Birna Rørslett]

"Best must be the Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 S IMHO more or less flawless"

Not for IR as it hot spots rather quickly upon stopping down. Otherwise I agree.

[KarlMera]

Complete control of axial or longitudinal CA never was a top priority

I do not know a Nikkor lens without CAs, except my Nikkor-M 3.5/105mm.

[Birna Rørslett]

The view camera Nikkors such as the AM 120mm f/5.6 ED & AM 210mm f/5.6 ED deliver extremely clean images. Same goes for the Nikkor-T 270mm /6.3 & 360mm f/8. The CA issues are better "masked" by film due to its lower effective resolving power anyway.

The Z native 105/2.8 MC is an example of a modern lens with very low CA. Do note that lateral CA can normally be taken quite efficiently by processing software; thus that don't bother me as much as axial (longitudinal) CA discussed earler.

[MEPER]

Here is how the AIS 105/4 Micro performed at f/4 with PN11 extension tube (makes it 1:1).
To my eye it is about the same as the other 105 Micro Nikkors I tested.
I think the 55/3.5 Nikkor-P is a bit of an achievement 60 years back without exotic glass, large computers and with only 5 lens elements :-)

[KarlMera]

The view camera Nikkors such as the AM 120mm f/5.6 ED

I have forgotten this lens, it is acceptable, but I mean af-s lenses like the af-s 2,8 105 g and af-d or ai Nikkors. The micro 4/105 is also bad corrected

[MEPER]

In real use the 105 Micro Nikkors are quite good. There are many examples of very nice pictures shot by those lenses.
I have a book with close up images taken by the Nikon photographer John Shaw. He used the 105/4 Micro as far as I remember. He also used stacked lenses, reversed lenses, Tele lenses with extension tubes (180 and 200mm). He tried to get the best out of the lenses where I try to get the worst out of the lenses just for demonstration.

A new funny example with an old Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50/2.8 (4 lens elements in 3 groups).
The background CA is a little bit worse than the foreground CA. But very well controlled. I am not lens design expert but reason for less CA could be that contrast is a little low wide open. Used for real pictures the lens really shines at f/5.6 - f/8.
The 50/3.5 version should be even better corrected. Many talented lens designers back in time. Maybe talent was more important back in time.

[MEPER]

This lens:

[MEPER]

Another well known brand Pentax. Years ago I got a Super-Macro-Takumar 50/4. I think it is a 4 lens design.
It is first time I use it. I got it from a friend that did not want it anymore.
CA is well controlled and also here better controlled in foreground than background. Wonder if there is a known reason for this.
Think I one day will try it out with real pictures. Based on reviews it looks like a fine lens. At least many people are happy with it.

[KarlMera]

Another well known brand Pentax.

Do you have experiences with Nikkors without CAs?