NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S: A true 1:1 macro lens with advanced AF

Beneath the hood are 16 lens elements in 11 groups and the entire optic weighs in at just 630g. Shooting out in the field means exposing your gear to the elements and to ensure the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S delivers great results every time, it features extensive sealing to combat dust and moisture. Nikon’s fluorine coating also helps to keep water, dust and dirt from settling on the front lens element and makes cleaning the lens much easier too.

S-line lenses represent the cream of the Z-mount crop and the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro’s sublime image quality, beautiful bokeh and cutting-edge features have certainly earned the coveted badge on the barrel. It paved the way as the first NIKKOR Z-mount optic to feature a true 1:1 maximum reproduction ratio, allowing subjects to appear full size in relation to the image sensor. This lens allows you to capture details that cannot be seen by the naked eye, opening up a whole new world of photography for you to explore. The lens’ VR combines with the 5-axis VR of compatible cameras to provide up to 4.5 stops of compensation, so you can shoot handheld close-ups confidently.

The NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is optimised for close focusing; it uses a new autofocus algorithm to mitigate minor movements that can alter the effective aperture. Full AF performance is available, even at the minimum focus distance of 0.29m. When paired with the 105mm focal length, this allows you to capture frame-filling subjects from a good working distance, crucial when photographing insects and wildlife. The AF system boasts an innovative new multi-focus system, driven by a stepping motor which smoothly and accurately focuses from close range to infinity in near silence, which is ideal when shooting video. To boost AF speeds and accuracy further, you can use the built-in limiter switch to curb the focus range to 0.5m to 0.29m.

Shooting in challenging lighting conditions is a common occurrence for photographers, but this lens is packed with technology to help you capture great images in the most difficult situations. This includes three Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to correct for chromatic aberrations and an aspherical lens element to minimise aberrations, including coma, even at the widest apertures. The entire optical construction of 16 lens elements in 11 groups ensures exceptional detail, contrast and visibly reduced light fall-off, even at the edges of the image.

Certain lens elements also benefit from two advanced Nikon coating technologies. Nano Crystal Coat virtually eliminates internal reflections from lens elements and is used alongside ARNEO Coat to reduce ghosting and flare. The former combats light entering the lens diagonally, while the latter mitigates light entering vertically. This allows you to capture great images, even when shooting towards a light source.

Fast telephoto primes make ideal portrait lenses and the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S is capable of capturing dazzling lifestyle, fashion and wedding pictures. The 105mm focal length provides the illusion of a slightly compressed perspective and when combined with wide apertures, effortlessly separates subjects from beautifully blurred backgrounds. The large Z mount’s light-gathering properties and the lens’ fast aperture also makes it possible to shoot quality handheld images for longer, as ambient light begins to diminish.

The NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR is designed to be easy to use and configurable to your own shooting requirements. In addition to the zoom and focusing rings, a control ring can be assigned a single function via the Z-series camera menu: aperture, ISO or exposure compensation. There’s also a customisable function button (L-Fn), which allows you to choose from a variety of functions including AF Lock and subject tracking. A standout premium feature is an OLED screen, which is particularly useful in low-light situations, and can be configured to display various information, including the reproduction ratio.