Era-7 105mm f/2.8

Nikon AF-S Micro 105 mm f/2.8 VR Nikon replacement of their previous mid range macro lens. I love the longer range of the 105 mm over the 60 mm macro length. Nikon designates it's macro lenses as "micro". Previously I owned and loved the Nikon AF-D Micro 105 mm. This lens adds an excellent VR or vibration compensation ability to the lens to lessen shaking and un-sharp photos. This lens is excellent for portraiture due to its fast aperture (f/2.8) and longer distance (105 mm) compared to kit lenses, thus permitting nice bokeh (blurring the distance behind main subject). It's also excellent for fireworks. The 105 mm helps to better fill the frame and the faster aperture helps to shorten the time needed to get the shot. The lens is very sharp and can be hand held for non-critical macro work. For extreme close ups a tripod and remote release are needed. Love this solidly built, though hefty and somewhat expensive lens; although not really heavier or more costly than it's name brand rivals. Read full review

Tack sharp, maybe not for the casual shooter. Tack sharp for actual macro shooting, and I love the bokeh. I will give it a try as a portrait lens. The only caveat I have, and it's not really an issue if you're aware. The depth of field with lens plays a much larger role than average medium zoom lens. The same aspects that give you the wonderful bokeh can leave even details, even just a butterfly's thickness away, out of focus. That can be good or bad depending on what you want. As an example I was shooting a match box car about 16" away setting so I could see the front and one side. In order to all 2" of the car into focus, bumper to bumper as it were, I had to shoot at f13. One thing that took me by surprise is that although it's an f2.8 lens, you really can't open up to that aperture until you're focused about 6" out. I suspect it has something to do with the internal focusing. At minimum focusing distance, Nikon says a foot, the lens will only open up to f4. All that said, I really like this lens and it's going to be in my bag a lot.Read full review

So Far So Good I've only used it very little at this point, but it worked well in all aspects. The image is sharp as it should be and its focusing was easy. All of the automatic features of the camera worked fine. I can't wait to have time for more extensive use. But so far, its performance was excellent, and so was its value.