Why I bought the 105 f/2.8 Micro Nikkor
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:49 pmThanks Birddog 
About a week ago at night I heard a noise outside on some wood panelling of my little mud brick hut, which I'm living in whilst (slowly) building a house. Rushed outside to see one of the resident robust velvet geckos (Oedura robusta) had hold of a spider in its mouth, so I rushed inside, wishing I had a 105 micro Nikkor, since my old 55 micro isnt autofocus, and the gecko was high up on the wall out of reach- so no chance of manual focusing. I used the 18-70 @ 70mm, flash, and had a guess about keeping outside the min focus distance of that lens so the autofocus would work. I took a few pics, as it moved around trying to escape me, mostly only just getting it in frame (camera held as high as I could with outstretched arm, torch in other hand!)
This is a ~1/3 crop and ~20% reduction.
I realise a bit more DOF would be nice, but considering the circumstances I think it turned out quite well The original crop made a nice A4 print.
Anyway, I decided it was time to add a new macro lens and Birddog has produced the goods for me, ordered late on Monday, arrived Wednesday, a 105 f/2.8 Micro Nikkor
I couldnt find much in the way of subject matter late this arvo, its too hot and dry I think, but came across this spider, hanging on a single thread, and blowing back and forth through focus faster than I could follow it most of the time. I shot at f/25 hoping to improve my chances of keeping it in focus, and almost succeeded, but wind and macro really do not go well together in the outdoors!
Exposure compensation of -4.3 stops... Nikon Digtal cams, CP 5700 and D70 at least, like to overexpose in my experience. With my old FE2 and SB 15 I'd only use maybe -2.0EV on a shot like this where the subject only occupies a small part of the frame and there is nothing immediately behind it.
Gordon
About a week ago at night I heard a noise outside on some wood panelling of my little mud brick hut, which I'm living in whilst (slowly) building a house. Rushed outside to see one of the resident robust velvet geckos (Oedura robusta) had hold of a spider in its mouth, so I rushed inside, wishing I had a 105 micro Nikkor, since my old 55 micro isnt autofocus, and the gecko was high up on the wall out of reach- so no chance of manual focusing. I used the 18-70 @ 70mm, flash, and had a guess about keeping outside the min focus distance of that lens so the autofocus would work. I took a few pics, as it moved around trying to escape me, mostly only just getting it in frame (camera held as high as I could with outstretched arm, torch in other hand!)
This is a ~1/3 crop and ~20% reduction.
I realise a bit more DOF would be nice, but considering the circumstances I think it turned out quite well
The original crop made a nice A4 print.
Anyway, I decided it was time to add a new macro lens and Birddog has produced the goods for me, ordered late on Monday, arrived Wednesday, a 105 f/2.8 Micro Nikkor
I couldnt find much in the way of subject matter late this arvo, its too hot and dry I think, but came across this spider, hanging on a single thread, and blowing back and forth through focus faster than I could follow it most of the time. I shot at f/25 hoping to improve my chances of keeping it in focus, and almost succeeded, but wind and macro really do not go well together in the outdoors!
Exposure compensation of -4.3 stops... Nikon Digtal cams, CP 5700 and D70 at least, like to overexpose in my experience. With my old FE2 and SB 15 I'd only use maybe -2.0EV on a shot like this where the subject only occupies a small part of the frame and there is nothing immediately behind it.
Gordon
