UPDATE: Full Review up and viewable HERE.
Though I have had this lens for well over a couple of weeks now, I never have really taken it out with the purpose of using it to its fullest, until yesterday. This is why these “first impressions” are coming so late, and the technical review to follow sometime later as well.
Part of the AI-s manual focus Nikkor lens family that Nikon produces (yes, you can still get some AI-s lenses–such as the 50mm f/1.2–brand new from Nikon), the 105mm f/1.8 is something of a gem. Taking into account just what it is–a short super fast telephoto on APS-C cameras–the 105mm is tiny. However, like all other AI-s lenses the 105mm is all metal and glass, built to an extremely high standard. It is quality and craftsmanship that has to be felt to believe. Though it is indeed heavy–coming in at about 20 ounces–unlike some of the plastic barreled lenses common today, there is something to be said to pick up a camera and be greeted by cold metal both on the camera (magnesium alloy) and the lens. Manual focus is smooth and dampened better than most lenses I have handled, and it better, since obviously this is a manual focus only lens!
Matthew Durr Photography 