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Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon 105mm f/1.4E Review

Nikon 105mm f/1.4E

By Nasim Mansurov 85 Comments
Last Updated On November 13, 2022

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Table of Contents

  • Overview and Specifications
  • Optical Features
  • Lens Comparisons
  • Summary
  • More Image Samples
  • Reader Comments
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Lukas Herngren
Lukas Herngren
November 29, 2021 2:59 pm

Hi! I wonder if you could do a full review of the Nikon NIKKOR 105mm f/1.8 AI-s? Best regards Lukas Herngren!

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Johannes
Johannes
February 7, 2021 10:59 am

Nasim, would you still call the 105 1.4 the best telephoto portrait lens for Nikon shooters, especially adapted to the Z mount?

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tanmay
tanmay
Reply to  Johannes
January 13, 2023 6:16 am

Using with my Z9 now. I have to say it works better than on my D850. Dont expect it to nail focus 100% times for fast moving subjects. But portraits it just works like charm!

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Mike
Mike
December 28, 2019 9:59 am

I know this lens is not intended to do landscape work but I’m impressed at how clearly it separates the layers from foreground to background in your images. In fact, I’m stunned. Were you using any kind of filter on your lens for these photographs ? Thanks for your great lens reviews. I often come here for technical information on lenses that interest me and also for inspiration.

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Nasim Mansurov
Nasim Mansurov
Author
Reply to  Mike
December 28, 2019 12:28 pm

Mike, for some of the images, I used a circular polarizer. That’s really it…

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David G
David G
April 11, 2019 12:37 am

And why do you hate Ivanka so much. I don’t hate Ivanka. A lot of people hate the Obama family and Clinton family as well. I don’t hate any of them.

Please keep your narrow-minded political naivety out of photo sites. Thank you…

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Reply
Nasim Mansurov
Nasim Mansurov
Author
Reply to  David G
December 28, 2019 12:29 pm

David, I guess you were intending this comment for someone else – I never said a word about politics in this review.

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Christopher Tanner
Christopher Tanner
March 20, 2019 11:44 am

I keep hearing that the Nikon 105mm F1.4 e has an effective focal length of 95mm and is not a true 105mm. Does any know this to be true and if do does this happen with all lenses thus making the 85mm f1.4 less then a true 85mm?

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Nasim Mansurov
Nasim Mansurov
Author
Reply to  Christopher Tanner
December 28, 2019 12:31 pm

Christopher, most lenses, including very high-end lenses “breathe”. Please see my article on focus breathing. Focus breathing heavily depends on focusing distance, but it goes away as you focus towards infinity.

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Rick Benda
Rick Benda
November 17, 2018 9:17 am

Maxim it’s always a jot to read your articles. I’ve got a question. I know it’s late in this article. Right now I have a chance to pick up a Zeiss Milvus ZF2 1.4/85 Nikon Mount for a good price. I was looking at the Nikon 85 1.4 G. The sigma Art 85 1.4 and this Zeiss lens. All would cost the same price. The Sigma looks good but has some little issues. Everything I read on the Zeiss is outstanding. The Nikon has such a good following. I’ve owned Zeiss 1.4s in the past and I loved them. Have you had a chance to look at the Milvus? Am I reading wrong that it’s probably the best 85 out there. Second the manual focus is not a big deal to me but is it a hassle in the studio on a D850 or D800. My mind is swimming with all the options. Thanks for your input.

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Lou
Lou
October 5, 2018 12:48 pm

OK, I just got done shooting my 105 1.4 on my Spyder calibration tool. When I loo then transferred the image to Photoshop since you can look at a higher magnification. I cranked it up to 500X mag and it may have been a tad off. I am not used to looking at images at 500X mag. Should I just go by the 100X mag?

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Lihkin
Lihkin
Reply to  Lou
October 25, 2018 8:34 pm

500X mag? Now I’ve heard everything. ???

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Lou
Lou
October 5, 2018 11:00 am

I picked up a refurbished Nikon 105mm 1.4 about a week ago when Nikon had a discount on their refurbished gear. I shot a few shots and looked at them in LR and either I need to calibrate it of something. It doesn’t seem tack sharp at 1.4 Maybe I will test it on my calibration scale I have in better light.

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jj
jj
August 23, 2018 2:07 am

I love the way this lens renders but find it difficult to nail focus when shooting at 1.4 (wide open) on my d850. Before you question me about technique, let me assure you that I have experience here. I’ve been shooting 1.2 and 1.4 lenses using manual focus for years (Nikkor 50mm 1.2AI, 58mm 1.2 Noct, Zeiss 85mm 1.4, etc.). So maybe I have a bad copy, but wide open focus is weak, chromatic aberration is present, and things don’t sharpen up well until f2 or lower…

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polizonte
polizonte
February 2, 2018 2:14 pm

Great review. My first copy back-focused and needed an AF fine tune of -17 to -19, for use with my D810 and D800e; after exchanging it for a second copy, that is spot on with no adjustment, I really like this lens.

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