Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm F 2 8 VR S Review | 54 Data compared

The Photography Life review identifies the Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro as an elite-tier lens offering exceptional sharpness, even wide open at f/2.8, along with minimal distortion and beautiful bokeh. Key advantages include its 1:1 macro capability, effective 4-stop Vibration Reduction (VR), and quick, accurate autofocus for non-macro subjects. Conversely, the review notes ergonomic drawbacks, specifically that the wide lens barrel near the mount can cause finger cramping for users with larger hands. Other cons include an audible focusing motor, an inefficient focus limiter switch design, and limited necessity for an upgrade from the F-mount version if mainly shooting stopped down.

The Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S is an exceptionally sharp, premium macro lens designed for the Nikon Z mirrorless system that earned an Editors' Choice award. This $999.95 lens is built for durability, featuring solid construction with dust, splash, and anti-smudge fluorine protection that makes it well-suited for outdoor use. Key strengths include its outstanding resolution from center to edge, a flat field of focus optimal for reproduction work, and close-up capabilities achieving a 1:1 life-size magnification factor. Furthermore, its highly effective built-in optical stabilization works seamlessly with camera in-body stabilization (IBIS) to enable stable handheld macro work and crisp exposures at slower shutter speeds. The physical design also adds modern conveniences, such as an L-Fn button, a focus limiter switch, and an integrated OLED digital information panel that toggles between f-stop, focal distance, and magnification. Despite its high marks, the review identifies several notable drawbacks, particularly regarding handling and video usage. The lens is driven by dual STM motors which provide quiet and highly accurate autofocus, but the response is on the slow side and not...

The Nikkor Z MC 105mm f2.8 VR S is an exceptionally sharp macro lens that delivers remarkable detail, clarity, and beautiful bokeh, making it an excellent tool for both close-up photography and short telephoto portraiture. Designed for Nikon’s mirrorless system, it balances very well on camera bodies like the Z7 and features a robust, weather-sealed construction ideal for shooting in damp, outdoor environments. The manual focus action is a major highlight, offering a smooth, firm rotation with excellent resistance and zero slack when changing directions. Additionally, its built-in Vibration Reduction (VR) syncs flawlessly with the camera's In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) to significantly improve framing and stability during handheld shooting. Despite these advantages, the lens does have a few drawbacks and adjustments to consider. It features a larger physical footprint than some older macro lenses, though it compensates for this by being surprisingly lightweight at 630 grams. The increased working distance compared to a 60mm focal length forces photographers to set up further away from their subjects, which can occasionally make framing more difficult depending on the terrain. Finally, while the...

The ePHOTOzine review highly praises the Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S as an "Editor's Choice" professional macro lens for Z-mount cameras, noting outstanding sharpness, smooth bokeh, and robust build. Key advantages include nearly zero distortion, minimal chromatic aberration, effective image stabilization, and an OLED information display. On the downside, the review highlights that the maximum aperture changes to f/4.5 at the closest 0.29m focusing distance and that, while heavy at 630g, the weight is well-balanced, leaving no major performance issues. The lens is described as a "seriously outstanding" performer with no significant optical or physical flaws.

The Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is a highly acclaimed, pro-grade macro lens for full-frame Z-mount mirrorless cameras that delivers sensational image quality across its entire aperture range, maintaining razor-sharp resolution from the center to the extreme corners. Designed with a fully internal focusing mechanism that keeps the lens length fixed, it features a Dual-Motor Multi-Focus system that provides super-fast, nearly silent, and highly accurate autofocus. Alongside its full 1.0x macro magnification at a practical 15cm working distance, the lens excels as a short telephoto option for portraiture, offering smooth background bokeh and excellent control over ghosting, flare, and chromatic aberrations thanks to its specialized element coatings.

The lens stands out for producing exceptionally sharp images with virtually zero field curvature or color aberrations, even when shot wide open or in harsh contra-light environments. Its built-in optical image stabilization (VR) works beautifully alongside native camera body stabilization to deliver a solid 4-stop hand-held advantage, alongside pleasing bokeh and an almost completely silent operation during video capture. On the downside, the lens cannot be used with Nikon's Z teleconverters, limiting it strictly to 1x magnification unlike some competitors like Laowa that offer 2x magnification. Furthermore, it exhibits a noticeable 8% focus breathing when shifting focus from infinity to 1.2m, and the barrel's OLED display is difficult to read in sunny conditions unless manually adjusted to full brightness.

The Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR S is an exceptionally sharp macro lens for the Z-mount that doubles as an excellent portrait and general-purpose telephoto lens. Optically superior to its F-mount predecessor, it delivers near-peak sharpness wide open at f/2.8 across the entire frame, maintaining highly impressive corner integrity. Key advantages include its lower price point ($1,000) relative to its Canon and Sony rivals, robust weather-proofing, a helpful built-in LED magnification display, and significantly reduced weight (dropping 120 grams compared to the older version). Furthermore, chromatic aberration and linear distortion are kept remarkably low, and vignetting is virtually non-existent when shooting at close macro distances. However, the lens does have a few distinct drawbacks. Its flare resistance is its worst trait, occasionally producing colored prismatic spots and colored flaring between sun-star spokes when exposed to strong, in-frame light sources. Autofocus performance can also slow down or hunt when working with low-contrast subjects in the close macro range. This hunting is further complicated by a flawed focus limiter switch that lacks a "1m-to-infinity" setting, forcing users onto the "Full" range during regular...

The Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is a professional-grade macro lens designed for full-frame Z-mount mirrorless cameras, earning a perfect 5 out of 5 rating for its exceptional sharpness across the entire frame. Built with 16 elements in 11 groups—including an aspherical element, three extra-low dispersion glass elements, and Nano Crystal, ARNEO, and fluorine coatings—it delivers superb control over reflections, flare, and ghosting. Key handling advantages include full weather-sealing, an internal focusing mechanism driven by a quiet Dual-Motor Multi-Focus STM system, and a built-in Vibration Reduction image stabilisation system that offers up to 4.5EV of shutter speed compensation for distant subjects. Physically, the lens weighs 630g, stands 140mm long, and features an informative OLED 'DISP' screen alongside advanced controls like a customizable control ring, a Focus Limiter switch (full or 0.5-29m), and an L-Fn button. The lens achieves true 1:1 life-size reproduction at its closest focusing distance of 29cm, providing a highly practical 13cm working distance that prevents the photographer from casting unwanted shadows over the subject. Notable pros highlighted in the review include its robust weather-sealing,...