The headline feature of the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens is, of course, that it’s a macro lens (Nikon uses the term micro instead of macro with their lenses). And a macro at 105mm is an excellent option for things like flower close-ups.
I also owned the previous model, and while both are excellent optically, this newer one is an improvement in several respects. For one, it has much faster and better focusing. For another, this one has built-in vibration reduction; that comes in especially handy for hand-held photography.
I use it a lot for product photos and for flower photography. It works quite well for portrait photography, but Nikon now has a better option for that: their 105mm f/1.4E ED lens. But aside from using it for macro, I’ve found the 105mm f/2.8 to be a surprisingly versatile lens. Being a prime, it’s obviously not going to be ideal or even useful for every kind of photography, especially general walking-around travel photography, but it works remarkably well in a wider variety of situations than I expected.
It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a minimum of f/32. On the macro end, its minimum focus distance of 1 foot (30.48cm) and its magnification is 1:1. It has 9 rounded blades, uses a 62mm filter, and weight around 1.6 pounds (720 grams). It’s designed for full-frame cameras, but you can put it on a DX camera with an APS-C cropped sensor, which will have the effect using a focal length of 152mm.
So here’s a small selection of photos I’ve shot with this lens to give a sense of how it performs in various shooting situations and at various settings.
Lens Vignetting Test Shots
First, though, here’s a panel of shots taken against a clear sky to illustrate the amount of lens vignetting at various apertures.
Sample Images Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D850 camera at ƒ / 14.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 29.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 10.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 7.1.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 16.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 8.0.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 36.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 9.0.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 8.0.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 16.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 10.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 7.1.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 13.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 36.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 11.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 13.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 5.0.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 18.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D850 camera at ƒ / 9.0.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D850 camera at ƒ / 7.1.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 32.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D850 camera at ƒ / 11.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 11.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 10.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 16.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 16.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 9.0.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 7.1.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 10.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 9.0.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₆₀₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at f/3.2 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₆₀ sec at f/3.2 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₃₂₀₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/7.1 at ISO 1250.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₄₀₀ sec at f/7.1 at ISO 400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at f/4.0 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 160.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/6.3 at ISO 4500.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at f/3.2 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₅₀₀₀ sec at f/3.2 at ISO 400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/5.0 at ISO 720.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/4.0 at ISO 560.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₂₅₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/13 at ISO 400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at f/4.5 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at f/5.0 at ISO 720.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀₀ sec at f/4.0 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ sec at f/5.0 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₁₂₅ sec at f/5.6 at ISO 400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₆₄₀₀ sec at f/3.5 at ISO 400.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₄₀₀₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₃₂₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/7.1 at ISO 1250.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₅₀₀ sec at f/3.2 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/7.1 at ISO 2200.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/2.8 at ISO 3200.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/3.0 at ISO 450.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₃₂₀ sec at f/4.0 at ISO 100.
Taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON D810 camera at ƒ / 18.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₆₄₀ sec at f/3.3 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀₀ sec at f/3.3 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₆₀ sec at f/3.2 at ISO 100.
Photo taken with a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens on a NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D810. ¹⁄₂₅₀ sec at f/36 at ISO 1800.
Find them At
I bought mine at B&H Photo. You can also find them at Adorama and Amazon.
Wallace V Kaufman says
Why no shots with smaller than F 7?
David says
No particular reason other than I think it’s just what I had on hand at the time I originally posted it (a while ago). I’ve just added some newer shots at smaller apertures.
AK khan says
hi,
please help me I am interesting to buy Nikon 105mm but please advice me this lens best for fabric closeup and fabric product photography please any expert explain me
David says
I’m not sure there’s a “best” lens for that purpose, but the 105mm ƒ/2.8 would seem like a good choice. But you should also be able to get good results from any true macro lens and even some non-macro lenses. It really depends on what specifically you’re going for.
Megan Pritchett says
Do you have any portrait shots anywhere that you shots with this lens?
Sam says
These are amazing! I am hoping to use this lens on a Z6 body for macro as well as portrait use.
Any experience on using this on a Z body? Any suggestions how this lens performs for portraits?
David says
Hi Sam. No, I haven’t tried it on a Z body, sorry. But it’s my go-to when I need a standard corporate headshot. I don’t tend to do a lot of standard portraiture–when I do, it tends to me environmental portraiture with wider angles.