Nikon Baiwei test shooting: the mystery of the lost aperture of the macro lens

"IT168 Review

When the center recently tested a series of macro

lenses

, we paid more attention to the lenses from the subsidiary factory Performance. In fact, in terms of technical configuration and product price, the original macro lens is more powerful.

AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED is< /p>

Nikon

has launched a very high-standard macro lens. It not only has a VR (optical vibration reduction) system that has not been involved in the sub-factory Baiwei, but also applies Advanced nano-coating, ultra-low dispersion lens and internal focusing design, as a gold ring lens, it is also a high-quality member of Nikon's own lens array. .

Nikon

AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED (

Click here to view larger image

)< /p>

Because this lens uses an optical vibration reduction system and an ultrasonic motor, the lens appears very thick and weighs 790 grams, making it more stable to operate, although in order to achieve exquisite macro effects, we often need to do so. We use AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED on a tripod, but its VR has greatly improved our handheld shooting effect, which is also difficult to compare with the macro lens of the subsidiary factory.

Nikon

AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED (

Click here to view larger image

)

In this macro lens review topic, we did not borrow Nikon

AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED lens, but it does not prevent us from passing it.

D200

Let’s review its imaging performance with some of the photos it took a few years ago

Test taking pictures of beauties with Nikon’s 105mm macro lens.

Taking portrait photos is only a very small application aspect of the Baiwei lens

But through portrait photos we can see the imaging sharpness (resolution) and focus of the lens. External softening effect. When the 105mm focal length is used to shoot a portrait of a normal-sized person, it just needs to be shot at a longer distance, and this can create a depth of field sufficient to express the height of the eyes or the bridge of the nose, while the outer focus is gently softened. The transition effect also looks very natural. When we take portraits at close range, the hair in focus is clearly visible, and even the fine hairs on the skin can be reproduced clearly, and the fibers and texture of clothing can be expressed more naturally. . Of course, purely from the perspective of photo sharpness, the performance of this lens is not as exquisite as

Nikon

Some classic lenses, not even as good as AF-S DX 18- The sharpness performance of low-end kit lenses such as 55mm is sometimes good, but the effect of AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED is suitable for portraits, but it may not be enough for other subjects.

More samples of Nikon 105mm macro lens

When shooting small still lifes, flowers and other subjects, it is often necessary to use a macro lens

for high-resolution reproduction Compared with this feature, the details of the object are clearly displayed in the photo. Because we want to reproduce details realistically, we want to see sharp images at this time, which is why we often want lenses to produce sharper images. After all, the ability of the lens to reproduce details cannot be reversed through

software

. Sharp images can be softened through post-processing, but originally soft images cannot express objects. The original appearance of details cannot be achieved through post-processing. Overall, the imaging effect of AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED is relatively natural and comfortable. The quality of the edges of the picture has declined, but the uniformity of image quality throughout the picture is still at a good level. The following are some samples taken with AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED

D200

:

The Nikon macro lens loses two pixels at its large aperture. files?

Maybe use a Nikon

camera with a macro

lens

Users who have taken photos have this impression: when we shoot with a macro When focusing on a close subject, the available aperture of the lens cannot reach the nominal maximum aperture. For example, like AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED (or other macro lenses with

Nikon

mount), we set the aperture through the camera to The maximum f/2.8, when it is focused to infinity, is achievable. However, as the focusing distance decreases, the maximum available aperture of the AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED will gradually decrease.

When we set the focus distance of the AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED to the minimum, that is, when we can obtain a magnification ratio of 1:1, what is displayed on the body (both full-frame and DX formats are applicable) The aperture has even been reduced to f/5.6! Where did the two aperture stops go?

The maximum aperture f/2.8 available when focusing at a distance

The body shows Nikon

The maximum aperture of the macro lens shrinks when focusing at a distance?

Please note that when we describe the above phenomenon, we have been emphasizing two key points: one is Nikon

, and the other is the body display. Because users who use

Canon

cameras and similar macro lenses will not encounter this situation; and if

Nikon

Users use the aperture ring on the macro lens to set the aperture, for example, it is forced to f/2.8, but the maximum aperture displayed on the Nikon body may still be f/5.6 !

"In fact, this is not a malfunction, nor is it a special case of Nikon

. Let me briefly explain the principle: When using a macro lens with a high reproduction ratio (such as 1:1) at close range When focusing from a distance, the lens group in the lens is in a special state, and the optical center of the lens reaches the focal plane (

film

or digital image

sensor

< p> plane) is longer, the imaging beam in the lens shrinks, and the light transmission area at the aperture cross section decreases. From the perspective of the light reception of the focal plane, it is actually equivalent to the effect of narrowing the aperture. According to this

Nikon

The body will display a smaller aperture than the set aperture, causing the maximum available aperture to fail to reach the nominal aperture.

The incident light cross-section is smaller than the nominal aperture. Schematic diagram of aperture

After careful comparison, we found that in fact Canon

also faces this problem, but

Canon

The camera doesn't let us know. For example, when shooting with the EF 100mm Macro, although when focusing at close range, the

Canon

body shows that the maximum available aperture can reach f/2.8. At the maximum aperture, in fact, the brightness felt on the focal plane cannot achieve the effect of f/2.8 if you use

Canon

and

Nikon

For system comparison, the aperture of the 100mm f/2.8 1:1 macro lens is also set to the maximum and the focus is closest.

Canon

The body shows the maximum The aperture is f/2.8, but the actual metering result will be the same as that of Nikon which displays f/5.6 aperture. The same sensitivity and shutter speed can be achieved by using the same body. Exposure brightness. In other words, from the perspective of exposure effect, macro photography of

Canon

and

Nikon

will face The issue of maximum aperture? loss?, but

Canon

’s body still displays the aperture value through the aperture aperture size set by the lens, but

Nikon< /p>

The body displays the aperture value based on the light transmission effect.

Nikon D3

[

Quotation

Parameters

Purchase on Taobao

]X cooperation

Tamron

Depth of field effect shot with 90mm f/2.8 1:1 macro lens< /p>

Although the macro lens will lose the maximum aperture in terms of exposure effect, in fact, when shooting with the automatic metering system, regardless of Canon

,

Nikon we There is no need to make deliberate exposure compensation. Both will meter and expose based on the actual focal plane light reception. In addition, we found the pattern of the depth of field effect of recent focus shots: when shooting within the larger two-stop aperture, The depth of field of a photo is almost unaffected by the aperture setting, and will only change significantly when a smaller aperture is used.