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Nikon D800

LENS: D800 + AF-S 105/2.8G ED-IF VR Macro

The reader is strongly advised to read the lens evaluation notes.

Quick summary

The Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8G VR macro offers very good performance here (but past experience shows that it falls short of the Zeiss 100/2 Makro-Planar or Leica 100/2.8 APO-Macro-Elmarit-R).

As a macro lens, the 105/2.8G VR is likely optimized for close range performance, not this more distant example. While it performs quite respectably here, it is most definitely not my preferred lens for distance shooting at this focal length. Micro contrast is very good over most of the frame, but the limitations are clear; it would start to feel strained with a higher resolution camera.

Stop it down to f/5.6 - f/8 for optimal results over the frame. Aperture f/16 is degraded by diffraction and can be used if absolutely needed, but f/22 and f/32 are strongly blurred.

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Diglloyd DAP is DSLR-oriented, but also contains workflow and other topics. Much of the focus is on Canon and Nikon but also Pentax and Pentax medium format.

Special emphasis is placed on lens evaluation, focusing on Canon and Nikon and Sigma lenses, but with a few others like Rokinon/Samyang.

  • Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
  • Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly some of the new Sigma Art lenses vs Nikon and Canon.
  • Workflow discusses image organization, raw conversion and post processing. Many examples show processing parameters for direct insight into how the image was converted.
  • Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
  • Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
  • Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
  • Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.

Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Nikon or on Canon or on Pentax.

Aperture series 2.8,4,5.6,8,11,16,22,32 available in full article
Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF VR macro

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