Photo: Christopher J. Fynn (CC BY 4.0)
AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D
- 105mm
- f/2.0
- Prime
- 640 g
- Min focus 0.9 m
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Quick answer
Nikon's portrait telephoto with a Defocus Control ring that lets you add spherical aberration in front of or behind the focal plane, introduced in 1993. It uses screw-drive autofocus.
Pros
- Defocus Control ring
- f/2 aperture
- Dense metal build
Cons
- Screw-drive autofocus only
- Defocus control takes practice
- No VR
Verdict
A distinctive portrait lens for tuning how background or foreground blur looks. Practice with the DC ring before relying on it.
About this lens
The Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D is an APS-C fast short-telephoto prime lens covering 105mm at f/2 for Nikon F mount cameras. The focal length is a classic choice for portraits and details.
Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D specifications
- Brand
- Nikon
- Mount
- Nikon F
- Focal length
- 105mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1993
- Optical construction
- 6 elements in 6 groups
- Autofocus motor
- none
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.9 m
- Filter thread
- 72 mm
- Weight
- 640 g
- Length
- 111 mm
- Diameter
- 79 mm
Specification source: en.wikipedia.org
What can you shoot with the Nikon AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D?
- Portraits
- Smooth background blur control
- Weddings
Its fast maximum aperture helps in dim light and gives good subject separation.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 105mm | 19.5° | 23.3° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 158mm | 13° | 15.6° |
Frequently asked questions
What does the DC ring on the Nikon 105mm f/2D do?
It sets spherical aberration to soften either the foreground (F) or the background (R) blur. The effect is most visible at wide apertures.
Does the AF DC-Nikkor 105mm f/2D autofocus on Nikon DSLRs?
Only on bodies with a built-in focus motor, such as the D7500, D750, D500 and D850. Entry-level DSLRs (D3xxx, D5xxx) and Z cameras on the FTZ adapter need manual focus.
AF DC 105mm f/2D or AF-S 105mm f/1.4E?
The f/1.4E is faster, has a silent motor and autofocuses on all modern bodies. The DC lens is smaller and adds control over blur rendering.
Alternatives for Nikon F from other brands
All Nikon F lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
