Nikkor-P (Sonnar) 105mm f/2.5 vs other lenses

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

Have to say I quite like this lens. It holds up nicely against the other lenses in the test:

First a few comparisons:

InfinityComparison by devoscasper, on Flickr

The later formula Minolta does best in the corners wide open and @ f/4, but from f/5.6 the difference with the Nikkor is negligible. The Topcor slightly behind, but still pretty good. Contrast of the Minolta centrally is not so great wide open, compared to the other 2 lenses.

MidDistanceComparison by devoscasper, on Flickr
I have a slight preference for the Nikkor in this test. It's nice and contrasty wide open.

BokehComparison by devoscasper, on Flickr
I think the Nikkor has best (softest) bokeh. Of course it has also a slightly longer focal length, which may explain this. The Topcor has a slightly longer MFD, so I had to back up a little bit.

A close focus sharpness test is still missing. Hope to do this later.

Then a few images from the Nikkor, clickable for full size. First three wide open, last one @ f/4:

AutoNikkorP10525_16 by devoscasper, on Flickr

I think the bokeh transition is great of this lens.

AutoNikkorP10525_4 by devoscasper, on Flickr

AutoNikkorP10525_2 by devoscasper, on Flickr

AutoNikkorP10525_15 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1216 Location: Winnipeg Canada

Thanks for posting this.

The nikkor is certainly sharp. Trade-off seems to be a bit of glow, and slightly weak contrast. It holds up surprisingly well against the Minolta's newer coatings. Nice wide open performance- it appears you have gotten yourself a fairly optically clean copy. Congratulations!

-D.S.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

Thanks, I’m curious how it will do with close focus objects. The Topcor is very good at it I noticed.

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 662 Location: New Zealand

The Nikkor lens seems to have a fair amount of purple fringing where the tree is in front of the white van that doesn't get any better with stopping down. The other two don't seem to suffer as badly, although the screen shot is not of the exact same part.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4087 Location: Switzerland

Here's a complementary test including the following lenses - 100% corner crops from the 43 MP FF Sony A7RII:

* Canon new FD 2.8/100mm
* Konica AR 2.8/100mm (first version with metal focusing grip)
* Minolta MD-I 2.5/100mm
* Nikkor-P 2.5/10.5cm (Sonnar type)
* Nikkor-P.C. 2.5/105mm (Xenotar type)
* Nikkor AiS 2.8/105mm Micro
* Topcor RE 2.8/10.5cm

CLICK TWICE ON THE IMAGE TO GET THE FULL RESOLTION !!

I have two Sonnar type and two Xenotar type Nikkors; the two Sonnars look fairly similar, the two Xenotars (from the same generation) are pretty different => results of the better copy shown here.

I was a bit disappointed by the results of the Minolta when looking at Caspers results, but I can confirm them here. I was used to use the MD 2.5/100mm on 24 MP FF, and there results "wide open" look better. Otherwise - af f5.6 - the Minolta is very good and has - together with the Micro Nikkor - the least lateral CAs.

S

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1216 Location: Winnipeg Canada

Interesting results. Is this wide open, f4, and f5.6?

I've found in most instances this focal length should be used with a hood.
The Ai-s Micro nikkor seems to do fairly well on general scenics. How short is the focus throw on it?

Thanks for posting this here.

-D.S.

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

The old Sonnar type Nikkor would't be my first choice for landscapes, although it does better (in terms of sharpness) than I anticipated.
It has very likeable features as a portrait lens though IMO.

For landscapes I would probably grab my Pentax-M 100/2.8, which performs very good accross the frame from wide open and weight near to nothing. The Minolta AF 100/2.8 is another one I like a lot, although much heavier.

Judging from Stephan's test, the Canon FD 100/2.8 does a pretty good job as well. It seems to be the sharpest wide open of the bunch.

vivaldibow · Expire: 2021-03-09

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4087 Location: Switzerland

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

Close focusing test:

bokehclosecomparison by devoscasper, on Flickr

Had to shift the last 2 100% crops to another part (sharpest part) of the flower, because some focus shift seemed to have taken place. Not sure if this was due to the lens, tripod or whatever. The Nikkor seems to have the softest bokeh, possibly because of its slightly longer focal length. Subject distance is about 1.2 meters.

pabeu · Joined: 25 Apr 2018 Posts: 72

All really really close. Topcor looks into my eyes like the best colours even though on the warmer side. Nikkor seems to favour the reds and from these samples to have the best microcontrast IMO. Topcor's bokeh looks like the more distinctive with it's own character. Guess that would be a matter of personal preference.

cbass · Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 450

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

cbass · Joined: 27 Jul 2019 Posts: 450

caspert79 · Joined: 31 Oct 2010 Posts: 3225 Location: The Netherlands

martinsmith99 · Expire: 2013-11-18

Another Nikkor victory IMO. The purple fringing would be fairly easy to fix.