Lens Review | Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI-S

July 24, 2024

The Nikon 105mm f/2.5 was popular with photographers, especially photojournalists, from the late 1950s to the 1990s. Nikon made a 105mm fast prime version from 1959 to 2005. Many lenses were manufactured, but as autofocus 80-200mm f/2.8 and later 70-200mm f/2.8 became the pro standard, fewer shooters kept the 105mm f/2.5 in their bags. Due to the large number of these lenses and their general availability, you can often find great deals on KEH, MPB, or eBay for this lens. Mint copies go for ~$200, and ones that are “well-loved” command lower prices.

The Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI-S adapted to a Sony a7rIII

This lens is famous. It has a well-deserved legendary status as it shot one of the most recognized photos in the world. Steve McCurry used this lens for his ”Afghan Girl” shot that graced the June 1985 cover of National Geographic. In the ’00s, when I was shooting a DSLR, a friend introduced me to his copy and told me how great it was. At the time, I couldn’t understand how anyone would want to manually focus instead of simply using a modern auto-focus lens (how times have changed).

A manual focus lens should provide the photographer joy when using it, and this classic delivers. The lens feels well made, with its metal construction. The aperture ring delivers a satisfying click as you change the aperture in full-stop increments. Being a relatively fast telephoto, it is compact, even with an adapter for modern cameras. This lens uses a 52mm filter, like many Nikon lenses designed for pro shooters in the 70s and 80s.

While this lens does not travel with me everywhere, I consider it part of my core set of lenses. If I’m going on a trip or know I’ll need some extra reach over 50mm, this one comes too. For its size, weight, and performance, it’s a no-brainer to give it a spot in the bag.

My current go-to kit | a7rIII | Canon FD 24mm f/1.4 L | Noct-Nikkor 58mm f/1.2 | Nikon 105mm f/2.5

As of July 2024, I adapt mine to a Sony a7rIII using a “dummy” Nikon F to Sony E adapter. There are many price points for adapters, and over the years, I’ve been let down by the ~$20 cheap ones. Mine connects to my Sony using Metabones brand adapters. They are well made, machined to tight tolerances with premium materials, and tactile design choices that make me forget the adapter isn’t simply part of the lens. You can get one for yourself for ~$100 USD. While your EXIF will not show any lens data, I add it to my flies when editing using a free Lightroom plugin called LensTagger.

Nerd stuff:

Five elements in four groups
Seven-bladed diaphragm stopping down to f/22
Closest focus 1m
52mm filters
Lens hood is a telescoping, built-in
2.5” (64mm) around by 3.1” (78mm) long and weighs 15 oz. (435g).
Made in Japan

Final thoughts:

The lens performs well across all apertures. There is light falloff at f/2.5 - f/4; by f/5.6, it’s gone, and the corners are sharp. I have no qualms about quality shooting it wide open if the situtaion calls for it, stopping down things just get more and more sharp. This lens is clinically and on par with modern optics. Wide open, as fast lenses like this are fun to shoot, you’ll enjoy nice subject separation. The out-of-focus areas, or bokeh, are pleasing, at least to me.

Likes:

Compact and lightweight (no adapter)
All metal, built to last construction
Smooth focus ring, easy to use on my Sony a7rIII
Sharp across all apertures
Accepts 52mm filters, like many pro Nikkor lenses of its time

Dislikes:

With an adapter, this lens does become front-heavy on the camera
Can be hard to focus wide open
Easily flares with a direct light source in the frame

My likes of this lens far outweigh my dislikes. Despite having far too many lens choices at my fingertips, this is a lens I have constantly reached for to shoot with for a decade. If it was twice the price, I’d feel it was a good value, and for the prices you can find for this on used sites and eBay, it is a no-brainer to pick up for any photographer who uses and enjoys a manual focus lens experience. This lens is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and faster than a modern 70-200mm f/2.8, you just have to manually focus it and zoom with your feet.