Shocked this lens is so cheap! 

I've had a 1973 Nikkor PC version since the mid 80s, my favourite lens of all time! Some people say the PC version is the best of all, but they all look great to me. Anyway - don't be afraid of the older ones as long as they are AI converted (not sure if that even matters with the FTZ, but check!)

Based on your recommendation in the comments section a few days ago, I went fishing in the bay and caught a 105 mm 2.5 Ai-s in good condition. It arrived yesterday. I hastily arranged a photoshoot in window light with a beautiful, patient model - our family cat. She was just as enthusiastic about the photos as I was. - Seriously, there really is something special about this lens. I would describe it as deep, glowing colors, with fine detail resolution, even at open aperture and a very harmonious transition from foreground blur to sharpness in the subject to an unexcited background blur. Well, that sounds just as flowery as describing wines or whisky. In short, the lens is exactly to my taste! - Thank you very much for your recommendation and your videos, which I really enjoy watching.

For anyone who wants this AND the green box on the Nikon ZF: get the TTartisan 6-bit Leica M to Z adapter and any dummy Nikon F to Leica M adapter and stack the adapters, the 6-bit will unlock the focus confirmation for any of your manual Nikon F lenses (and also any Leica M lenses you may have/any other mount you can adapt to Leica M, which is many!)

Cool portraits 🎉. I have one of this 105mm, and I use it with a Z camera; it’s nice, indeed.

IMO this is the focal length where Nikon really never has had a true equal. To my surprise, I found even the current 105 macro lens to be a nice portrait lens as long as you nudge the clarity slider down a touch. Seen a ton of high end 100/105s and some other companies have made singular good lenses (Leica with the 100/2.8 macro elmarit, Zeiss with the old 100/2.0 C/Y mount non-macro planar, Olympus in the 80s with their f2.0 that was one of the earliest lenses to use the extra-low dispersion glass we see everywhere these days) Nikon has just not ever made anything less than amazing at this focal length. I used to have the f1.8 but I'd agree this second formula 2.5 is really the one to have.

I got mine for around EUR 100,- a couple of years ago. The only that is less than perfect is the hood, which sits a little loose (the felt is a little worn), otherwise minty. Agree it is an absolute steal. Maybe not as nice as the 105/2 DC, but that is a difference price class. Now I am eager to try the CV 75/1.5 - but I have depleted my “allowance” for photography 😂

I may also have a recommendation for you: To get the green square even with manual lenses, I use the Techart TZM-02 autofocus adapter and another Nikon F to Leica M adapter on top. The autofocus is not as fast as a native Z lens, but it is quite accurate. Unfortunately, the adapter sometimes refuses to focus at all, which makes it rather unsuitable for professional use. But the good news: You can switch to manual focus in camera and still have automatic eye detection with the green square and the focus-inticator > o < down in the display. Is works perfectly, even in very low light. However, this solution is not cheap. By the way: The adapter is strong enough to be able to move the Nikkor 85mm f1.4, which at over 600g is significantly heavier than the manufacturer's specification of 500g.

Love this! I have a few Nikor vintage lenses at home and some other lenses, I think a multicoated takumar ect. two 135mm, two 70-180 Or 200 ish. I just worry sometimes about using them in a situation like this. I probably should and see how well I can nail focus manually.

I own a copy of this lens, it is amazing!

Great Video!!

Amazing lens for portraits. Probably why I’ve kept one for years, and even had the glass cleaned. The only lens I have that comes close is the early 1990s Leica 90mm f2,8 Elmarit.

That’s one of the lenses that I’ll hang on to until I put my feet in the air. I absolutely love that thing!

Have this and absolutely love it, along with the 105mm f2 DC. Now that you've commented on how cheap it is.....well you know what comes next. Thanks for the video

Hands down my favorite lens when I was a Nikon shooter back in the day! It was a fav on my Nikkormat... I keep hoping for a lens for my Z50's, that 60-70mm focal length that would be a 90-105 on my Z50 (suggestions welcomed). Also, I noticed a difference to my eyes on your images. I don't know if you warmed them up or the way you processed but on YT I usually see your work on the cooler side. These images were fantastic (to me) to my viewing. I hate manual focus, but just may to find an older Nikon lens! Thanks as always, your channel is one of few I watch every video even if it is about items I would never use, I always get a nugget or two out of the videos.

Quite nice indeed! I have an Ai-converted earlier version of this lens for D850/Z7ii and it certainly has an undeniable charm.

Nice review, John. That special one lens I don’t own yet, but it is on my radar. If you like the look these old vintage lenses render, I can bet you would absolutely love the 135mm F2 DC, as well as the 180mm F2.8. Both are pretty sharp mid-frame wide open, and both do have a very nice character to them. Would love for you to check them out and give your comments, if you happen to get your hands on them.

Awesome! If you ever come across a Nikon 50mm 1.4 AIS, grab it. Shooting this lens wide opened at 1.4, and not for the bokeh, is magical. Those of you that have this lens know exactly what I’m talking about. I have five of these AIS lenses and the render is just amazing.

I also have this 105 2.5 and use it on my ZF and D810. It is a lovely lens indeed.

Used to have that lens, attached to Sony and Fujifilm cameras, beautiful rendering, great colors, absolutely loved it. However, the gaps around the focus ring are quite large, not sealed at all, and I had to clean my sensors every other shoot since way too much dust got into the camera body - which eventually was the reason to sell the lens again, despite its amazing image quality

Agree, for portraits it is great, I did a landscape shot today and realised that it did not reach infinity focus. Still I am loving it :)

Lovely photos 👌

Nice results! I have the Nikon 105 mm f/2 DC lens. It’s fabulous. I’m starting to use it on a Leica SL2 with a Novoflex adapter.

I use that same lens on my Z6II. I don't get the eye focus box, so I use the focus peaking. It's great how IBIS and focus peeking breathes new like into the lens.

Great video, thank you. Loving the affordable great lens's. The ZF is really an amazing camera. I always picked up my df over my d800. Just great camera with amazing features.

I Sold my 105/2.5 Nikkor several years ago. Regretted it ever since 😞 And, John, I'm a real fan of your bitesize pro perspective and fluff free RU-vid videos. Inst-click as soon as I see a new one posted.

If you like that classic rendering, you might like the different, but just as inimitable Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/2.8 AI-s, not just for close-ups but full-length portraits and even distant shots.

Colors are really nice. I saw a video with Nikon Vs, Minolta old lens both are very good but Minolta has a warmer look. Also there is a company converting the old Minolta lens to cinema lens now and Minolta lens are going back up on price now so if you want to get some get them now. The downfall of Minolta was they started making cameras cheap so they could get into department stores in the 80's. And then they got sued by Honeywell for their SLR auto focus. I heard they bought the auto focus technology from Leica and Leica decided not to use auto focus because they believed their users like manual focus more.

Can i ask what adapter you used? Images look gorgeous!

I have the 105 2.8. In your opinion is the 1.5 significantly better?

KEH has these lenses for around 200.00 dollars. Have you ever tried the Nikon 105 mm F1.4?

Is this the "Afghan girl" lens?

Oh yes this is a tasty lens. F2 DC is even better. 135 nikkors are also awesome. And don’t get me started on the 180d. Those lenses are all cheap AF, other than the DC f2s which are still bargains.

What adapter do you use? Thanks :)

The Afghan girl lens.