This thread was the reason I got a 105 2DC.
When it hits, it is superb with a lovely 3d effect and presence.
My issue (on my second copy now) is that it is my most unpredictable lens to get focus right.
Is there a proposed best way to af tune this lens (e.g. flat target vs 3rd object)?
Makes sense to try fine tuning at different R/F settings or just stick to 0? I know that changing R/F needs refocusing on the field.
I have tried a version of lens align and also FOCAL on 810 and auto af tune on 500 and 850.
Either Iam the worst finetunist there is or there is something else in play (i.e. distance variance...)
Thanks to anyone for any thoughts.
Here's one with the Fuji S3 Pro...
I've only had my used copy of a 105mm DC f/2 for about a week but the shots of guinea pigs and people I've made did look great (when in focus). As it was difficult to get good results it prompted me to buy Reikan FoCal Pro (I have other prime AF/D lenses). I'd read that autofocus with this lens is rather hit and miss and you can get a high proportion of dud images.
Yesterday, I calibrated the lens to my D750: I set the DC ring to 0. D750 on a tripod 4m away from the printed target taped to a wall. The "+/- Calibration" test showed I needed -12 AF fine-tune. It also showed a higher than average range of astigmatism and more than typical variability in autofocus (compared to other users' results). But both of those are still 'acceptable'. Made me worry nonetheless that my copy is a poor one.
I haven't had a chance to take 'real' shots with the new setting but am hoping for the best. Others have said the real 0 position for the DC ring isn't always 0; it could be -1 or +1, for example. So your idea of testing with it in different positions makes sense and something I will probably do at some point.
With it being a rather pricey lens and so much positive talk around it, it hasn't yet matched my expectations. However, what has put my mind at ease was reading a professional photographer's take on this lens - that it's a tricky beast to deal with and it ISN'T as sharp as other lenses. It will always be soft toward the wide end and it's sharpest around f/8 (my FoCal tests also showed this). You also have to take into account that as a portrait lens, that's a good thing because it softens the details most people don't want to see in an image of themselves.
So if you haven't already, continue your tuning with the flat FoCal target and see what happens. Good luck!
