Nikon 105 F 2.5 AIS or 135 AIS?

[lost_in_utah]

I'm looking for a 105mm F2.5 or 135mm F2.8 lens and would like to give MF a try. I saw a picture of a cat a few days ago taken with a 135 2.8 (I think) and the results looked pretty good. I have a D300 currently, so the 135mm will have a bit more reach than the 105mm. Does anyone have experience and samples or either lens? These lens approach the price of a new 50mm 1.8, so that is also an option. Thanks.

 

[Leonard Migliore]

I'm looking for a 105mm F2.5 or 135mm F2.8 lens and would like to give MF a try. I saw a picture of a cat a few days ago taken with a 135 2.8 (I think) and the results looked pretty good. I have a D300 currently, so the 135mm will have a bit more reach than the 105mm. Does anyone have experience and samples or either lens? These lens approach the price of a new 50mm 1.8, so that is also an option. Thanks.

I wasn't that keen on the 135 f/2.8 cat picture. I like the 85mm f/1.8G better for cats:





For some reason there's no EXIF on this. It's 1/2000 at f/2.5 with the 85mm f/1.8G on a D300.



I really like the 105mm f/2.5. That's a wonderful lens:



Manual focus is a bit touchy on a D300; it probably works better with a Katzeye screen.

--
Leonard Migliore

 

[lost_in_utah]

I found this extensive list of photos for the 105 2.5 AIs

Flickriver: Photos taken with Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AIS lens

Flickriver - view images as a 'river of photos' and more...

www.flickriver.com

The images are fantastic.

 

[lost_in_utah]

I'm looking for a 105mm F2.5 or 135mm F2.8 lens and would like to give MF a try. I saw a picture of a cat a few days ago taken with a 135 2.8 (I think) and the results looked pretty good. I have a D300 currently, so the 135mm will have a bit more reach than the 105mm. Does anyone have experience and samples or either lens? These lens approach the price of a new 50mm 1.8, so that is also an option. Thanks.

I wasn't that keen on the 135 f/2.8 cat picture. I like the 85mm f/1.8G better for cats:



For some reason there's no EXIF on this. It's 1/2000 at f/2.5 with the 85mm f/1.8G on a D300.

I really like the 105mm f/2.5. That's a wonderful lens:



Manual focus is a bit touchy on a D300; it probably works better with a Katzeye screen.

--
Leonard Migliore

I was referring to this post

135mm AI 2.8/ ISO 4000/ 1/40sec /D700/ daylight

I just got this wonderful old lens and a first shot to check DOF, color etc. Truly a great lens IMO and rivals the best current Nikon glass. well under $100. Thanks Pete

www.dpreview.com

Thanks for your response and your photo. Where did you aim focus at on the cat? Was it also taken wide open?

 

[Leonard Migliore]

Thanks for your response and your photo. Where did you aim focus at on the cat? Was it also taken wide open?

Focus was on near eye. I stopped the lens down to f/2.5; it's a little bit hazy wide open.

I'll replace the image in my gallery with one that has the EXIF.

 

[paulski66]

I have both. I didn't pay much of anything for either one. The focus ring on the 135 is somewhat stiff (which I think I remember reading is a problem with some copies of this lens). Both have excellent build quality, and the built-in hoods are nice. They're smaller than I expected, but have a nice heft to them.

I don't use either as much as I should, but my impression of the two is that the 105 is a phenomenal lens; even on the 24mp d600, the images are fantastic. Sharp, very good bokeh. I was a little disappointed by the 135; it's good, but just not in the same league as the 105. Images not as sharp or contrasty wide open, requires some stopping down to be really satisfactory.

I really need to play around with both some more, though.

 

[digitallollygag]

Spend a bit more and go with the 135mm f/2 AIS: unbelievable bokeh!

 

[lost_in_utah]

So one person recommends the 105 2.5 and another suggests the 135 F2. I looked on KEH and all I can find is the 135 F 2.8 Ai/Ai-S

 

[paulski66]

So one person recommends the 105 2.5 and another suggests the 135 F2. I looked on KEH and all I can find is the 135 F 2.8 Ai/Ai-S

You're starting to talk about some pretty serious change when you get into the 135 f/2 territory (or for that matter, the 105 f/1.8). I mean, somewhere in the $600 range. And yes, I have heard great things about the 135 f/2, but I'm not sure I would spend that kind of money on what, for me, would be a niche lens. The manual focus combined with the focusing aids on today's digital cameras is just a bit too inconvenient for the lens to be an everyday lens.

 

[jhinkey]

I have both. I didn't pay much of anything for either one. The focus ring on the 135 is somewhat stiff (which I think I remember reading is a problem with some copies of this lens). Both have excellent build quality, and the built-in hoods are nice. They're smaller than I expected, but have a nice heft to them.

I don't use either as much as I should, but my impression of the two is that the 105 is a phenomenal lens; even on the 24mp d600, the images are fantastic. Sharp, very good bokeh. I was a little disappointed by the 135; it's good, but just not in the same league as the 105. Images not as sharp or contrasty wide open, requires some stopping down to be really satisfactory.

I really need to play around with both some more, though.

+1

I have owned or own the

105/2.5 AIS

135/2 AIS

135/2.8 AIS

135/3.5 AIS

I no longer own the 135/2.8 for the same reasons above. The f/3.5 is much much better and holds up very very well on my D800 as does the f/2. The 105/2.5 kind of runs out of steam a bit at 36MP, but it's still very good - it was my go-to lens on my D700.

If you want 105mm go for the f/2.5, if 135mm, go for the f/3.5.

John

 

[Dodi73]

Hello

I can't speak for the 135, but I had both 105 f/2.5 AI and AI-S. The AIS had an integrated hood, while the real plus of the AI version was a longer (and more accurate) focus throw and a larger (you can handle and turn it better) outer barrel, compared to the AI-S which is much slender.

The 105 f/2.5 (on a D700) was a heck of a lens, iq wise - no idea how it is on a D800. I realized that going up with megapixels means squeezing lens performances to the most..

Again, this was D700, so take it with a grain of salt, yet look at this pic taken wide open

--
All the best from northern Italy, Dino.
I'm on the NIK side of photography.

 

[Bajerunner]

One from today with my D300 and 105 2.5 AI.

https://flic.kr/p/jGFCvY

 

[lost_in_utah]

One from today with my D300 and 105 2.5 AI.

https://flic.kr/p/jGFCvY

 

[lost_in_utah]

So the Ai has the shorter focus throw, do either the AIs or the Ai have a focus confirm in the viewfinder? How does one know the lens is focused properly on a subject?

 

[Bajerunner]

One from today with my D300 and 105 2.5 AI.

https://flic.kr/p/jGFCvY

--
Amateur photographer. Enjoy.....believe in yourself..

Great pic, Baje. Thanks for posting

Thanks, see also my response to Paulski.

Also, after I shot this, they moved away a bit (I was shooting thorough shrubs etc. To get closer I would have needed a longer lens or to work my way through the shrubs to be closer, although I had a clear shot through the shrubs if I had a longer lens or more MP to crop.

I walked away thinking that a 180 2.8 would be useful in such a scenario (and yes, the AF would have worked a bit faster) and also a better appreciation for why the wildlife guys like their 300mm and 400mm lenses.

So it largely depends on what you are going to use it for static, protraits and general say architecture, landscape?

Cheers.

--
Amateur photographer. Enjoy.....believe in yourself..

 

[Bajerunner]

So one person recommends the 105 2.5 and another suggests the 135 F2. I looked on KEH and all I can find is the 135 F 2.8 Ai/Ai-S

You're starting to talk about some pretty serious change when you get into the 135 f/2 territory (or for that matter, the 105 f/1.8). I mean, somewhere in the $600 range. And yes, I have heard great things about the 135 f/2, but I'm not sure I would spend that kind of money on what, for me, would be a niche lens. The manual focus combined with the focusing aids on today's digital cameras is just a bit too inconvenient for the lens to be an everyday lens.

I agree. The thing is, focusing can be done on the D300, but in fast or tricky situations it is not ideal, personally I just do not like the green dot thingy.

I can see why someone would buy say an A7 JUST FOR manual focus, to get the focus on the EVF, that would be faster and more accurate, I *imagine8 never tried.

I did it today with subjects (monkeys) moving around, did not have too much time, but it took some patience and thought.

Best of luck to OP.

 

[Dodi73]

No, AI has the LONGER focus throw ( = more turn / more accurate ) and they both lit the green dot when in focus in the viewfinder.

AI > screw-in external hood, larger grip / longer focus throw

AI-S - integrated hood - slender, faster to operate but a bit less accurate.

--
All the best from northern Italy, Dino.
I'm on the NIK side of photography.

 

[jhinkey]

Hello

I can't speak for the 135, but I had both 105 f/2.5 AI and AI-S. The AIS had an integrated hood, while the real plus of the AI version was a longer (and more accurate) focus throw and a larger (you can handle and turn it better) outer barrel, compared to the AI-S which is much slender.

The 105 f/2.5 (on a D700) was a heck of a lens, iq wise - no idea how it is on a D800. I realized that going up with megapixels means squeezing lens performances to the most..

Again, this was D700, so take it with a grain of salt, yet look at this pic taken wide open

--
All the best from northern Italy, Dino.
I'm on the NIK side of photography.

Yes, I was very very happy with the 105/2.5 AIS on my D700 - the only issue the lens had was flare with back-lit images. On my D800 the center was still very very good, but the edges/borders/corners started getting a bit blurry (even stopped down) which made a difference for me as I used this lens for landscapes all the time. I also wished it had a closer focusing distance (I had to use tubes at times for tight close-ups of my girls). A real joy to use no matter what body it goes on - DX, FX, m43 . . .

--

http://www.seanet.com/~hinkey/Signature6.jpg

 

[rareshb]

Hi

I have the 105mm f/2.5 AIs. Great lens. Very sharp, nice bokeh. I'm not crazy about the 7 straight blades so I try to shoot it wide open, but it's small, built like a tank. Mine is almost 30 years old and works perfectly.

Here's one in studio settings



and a few to show the bokeh:

 

[GarageBoy]

105 2.5 all the way

I find the 135 on crop too long for general portraits (short of head shots)