A serendipitious journey
Superb Nikon color rendition, and fast continuous auto focus makes the stalwart Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens an outstanding portraiture lens.
The minimal focus distance of 0.31m, an aperture of f/4.5 and fast continuous autofocus permitted a relatively slow 1/250 sec shutter speed for the Nikon D850‘s pleasing macro closeup of these Mimosas, which were violently blowing in the breeze.
Botany Bay is a wildlife preserve on Edistow island in South Carolina. This landscape photograph was not taken during the so called “golden hours” but instead during harsh midday sun and handheld without the benefit of a tripod, at a relatively slow 1/320 sec shutter speed. The Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens employing a f/16 aperture and employing Tamron’s vibration control on a Nikon D850 has seemingly allowed the breaking of rules.
Night was falling fast on the opportunity to photograph this tiny Orchard spider. This tiny subject who was barely visible in rapidly encroaching nightfall, required manual focus and a shutter speed limited to 1/250 sec for flash to function. f/16 yielded adequate depth of field for the Tokina at-X PRO M 100mm F2.8 D Macro lens mounted on a Nikon D850.
The bokeh of the composition due to the zoom compression is noteworthy. Nikon D850, Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR lens, 1/3200, 480 mm, f/5.6.
A Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR lens, aperture f/5.6, 1/4000 shutter speed, mounted on the Nikon D500 captured this bird in flight image. I’m certainly not alone in my enjoyment of the venerable Nikon D500/200-500mm combination.
The 1.5 crop factor of this APS-C camera coupled with the 200/500mm delivers a incredibly budget friendly f/5.6 750mm range without any of the image distortion, and auto focus degradation associated with teleconverters.
Even though the 45 mega pixel full frame capabilities of Nikon’s D850 complement the 200/500 quite nicely, this D500’s lower resolution produces a good result, particularly if the D850 output requires cropping which the D500’s 750mm equivalent range may not require.
A Tokina at-X PRO M 100mm F2.8 D Macro lens coupled with Nikon’s D850 captured this image. The color rendition of this macro lens often surpasses the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens and the Nikon AF FX Micro-NIKKOR 200mm f/4D IF-ED Fixed Zoom lens.
Tokina has created a classic lens and for more than half the price of the Nikon offerings it produces spectacular results.
A Nikon D500 mounted with a Nikon AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 G IF-ED DX lens wide open at f/2.8 was used to capture this image. At f/2.8 the nice bokeh, beautiful color rendition, and foreground sharpness mitigate the f/2.8 shallow depth of field of the rear pedals to render an overall pleasing image. As can be seen by the overall sharpness, this classic lens’ lack of vibration reduction is easily parried with the 1/1600 sec shutter speed used in this image composition.
The venerable Nikon AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 G IF-ED DX lens first announced in 2004 continues to intrigue in 2020.