Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Reviews
Perfect what I need
By Cheak
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-06-02
It very sharp lens, fast AF and accurate . This is the second one, bought this one for my friend.
I can't say enough about this Macro Lens
By Timothy
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-17
I've shot Nikon Macro 105mm lens for 2.5 decades. This lens beats it hands down, especially the older 105's like mine. While I love my old 105 and still use it and freely loan it to careful friends who are photographers, this Z Macro beats the 105mm hands down. It's brighter, significantly liter in weight, sharper, AF's faster, etc etc. So especially if you don't have a macro lens or yours is ancient like mine and you are investing in the future with a Z camera, don't look back...don't save the few dollars the older technology Nikon macro would save you. This is the lens for you. I now carry my old macro for my D850 and the new one for me Z7 II.
Fast AF, tag sharp lens
By Cheak
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-16
I had this lens aout a month, I love it.
State of the Art macro lens
By Robert
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-12
I was never impressed with the Image quality of the previous Nikon 105 macro lenses and had been using a Zeiss 10/2 Makro Planar.
This Z 105 f/2.8 MC lens is a very high quality macro lens. Clearly better than its F mount 105 Nikon predecessors. Significantly less CA at f/2.8 than the manual focus Zeiss 100/2 that I've been using
Sharp...but flawed.
By Disappointed...
Rated 3 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-18
Borrowed this lens from a friend to see if I might want to get one for myself. It is a very sharp lens...you shouldn't be disappointed in this regard. HOWEVER, there are two obvious shortcomings my limited use of the lens on my Z5 has revealed. First, and as pointed out by a previous reviewer, there is a terrible amount of focus breathing which renders focus stacking/merging all but impossible (unless there is some software that can correct for it that I am unaware of). Secondly, the lens is NOT quick to focus (at least compared to other macro lenses I have used), a point other reviewers have made about this lens as well. No lens is perfect of course but Nikon could certainly have released a more refined macro lens than this. Have decided not to purchase the lens.
More Than A Macro
By John
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-12
I bought this lens for it's macro capabilities to use on both my Nikon Z9 and my Z7ii. It's wonderful for macro work, and I especially love the image stabilization allowing for crisp handheld macro shots when my tripod isn't close by. I'm now into my 70's and although I'm in pretty good shape, I know that my hands aren't as steady as they used to be. But the surprising thing for me is that I use it for so much more than macro. I regularly shoot handheld portrait shots at dog shows along with the occasional burst for a movement shot. And, this is a wonderful landscape lens as well. I have a wonderful Zeiss Milvus 100mm f2m ZF.2 Macro as well which takes glorious macro shots (and landscape shots), but it tends to stay in the lens closet while this Nikon macro always to be on one camera body of the other. The only negative on the Zeiss lens is the lack of autofocus (and stabilization in the lens) which confines it to tripod still photos for the most part. I'm thinking of selling the Zeiss as part of a trade-in for the Nikon Z 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 VR S lens. I also own 3 other Nikon Z lenses, and they're all keepers, but the 105 Macro has a place in my heart.
Captures flowers perfectly
By Mitchell
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-29
Great lens. I got it a few weeks ago. I am still learning and enjoying this process very much. It's focusing it tremendous. I've tried other lenses for macro use. This beats them all.
Superior Product Experience
By Paul
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-25
First things first - I really love using this lens line. These lenses are primarily used for outdoor macro photography sessions and some studio work. Both lenses are used with Nikon z9 and z7ii cameras exclusively.
I have used many lenses for macro photography for many decades from several manufactures and watched as lens science has greatly improved the resulting image quality of macro photography. Nikon engineers seem to have really pushed the science forward and I believe these are the best overall macro lenses I have owned and used so far.
I have been using two copies of this lens for approximately a year now and have been very impressed by the the image quality and build quality of both lenses. The lenses are both extremely sharp in the middle of the image and good sharpness is maintained across the image extending into the corners. I don't hesitate to use these lenses wide open but I seem to get the sharpest results between f4.5 to f11. The resulting bokeh produced by this lens looks superb and is easily controlled. I have not seen any issues with chromatic aberrations or fringing using this lens and it handles contra-light/backlight situations in a very manageable fashion. The build quality for both lenses seems to be superb and they mount to my cameras without slop or play even after extended use. The internal focus mechanism works very well with ring/lens mounted flash units allowing them to stay in a fixed position and not move in and out when focusing while also minimizing flash vibration, movement and sag. The large focus ring is easy to use but could benefit from slightly more resistance in its movement (minor issue from my experience). The auto-focus seems slightly more responsive when paired with a z9 but I rarely employ this feature for macro photography shoots. Please note that this lens line does not have a manual aperture option and cannot be used reversed or on a bellows without an electrical connection jumper.
It cannot go without mentioning that focus breathing is noticeable and evident with these lenses and can become an issue although it seems well controlled (at least with my two copies). Most lenses designed for photography exhibit some measure of focus breathing - some very much worse than others. Focus breathing can lead to ghosting and color bleeding in multiple image stacks as well as making the process of stacking multiple images nearly impossible. That being said - focus breathing issues can be eliminated with the use of a decent quality MACRO RAIL! I routinely use these lenses with macro rails especially in super close image photography with high-count image stacks or especially when using bellows to increase lens magnification.
I don't use the internal focus stacking functions incorporated on the Nikon z cameras I own so I am unable to speak directly to its effectiveness or use with this lens line.
All in all I have really been impressed with these lenses and would not hesitate to recommend one for macro photography use.
I hope others have the same great experience I have enjoyed using these lenses!
Cheers.
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