Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 105mm F/1.4E ED

This Nikon prime is made for full-frame Nikon F cameras. Its 105mm focal length gives a telephoto view that suits portraits and selecting people within an event. The f/1.4 maximum aperture helps when available light is limited. Check how much space your intended framing requires.

The main trade-offs are weight and fixed framing. There is no zoom or built-in stabilisation. Nikon introduced the lens in 2016. It suits photographers who want a wide maximum aperture and can plan a suitable position for portraits, weddings or indoor events.

This is a heavy prime at 2 lb 2.7 oz (985 g), 4.17 in (106 mm) long and 3.72 in (94.5 mm) wide. The 82mm front thread takes screw-in filters directly, so any filter you buy must match that size.

The 105mm focal length gives a narrower view than a standard lens from the same position. A head-and-shoulders portrait needs less space than a full-length composition at the same subject size. Check the room or location before a session. Moving to change framing also changes perspective, so choose distance for the picture you want.

The f/1.4 maximum aperture admits more light than a smaller opening. At a given shutter speed, it can allow a lower ISO in dim rooms, evening receptions and window-lit interiors. Available light still determines practical settings. Check that your shutter speed accounts for subject movement.

Depth of field at f/1.4 is very shallow. A portrait subject's eyes can stay sharp while the background blurs, which helps separate a face from busy surroundings. Focus carefully; a small head movement can shift the plane of sharpness. Many photographers stop down slightly for a touch more depth on two-person portraits.

Closest focus is 3.3 ft (100 cm), measured from the sensor. This is a minimum limit, not a fixed portrait distance. Choose your position for the subject size and background you want, then check the frame before asking someone to hold a pose.

There is no image stabilisation in the lens. A camera with body stabilisation can help with shake. The wide aperture may allow a faster shutter speed, but it does not steady the camera. Firm support helps with static subjects; a moving person still needs a suitable exposure time.

The barrel carries dust and moisture sealing, which suits outdoor portrait and wedding work on damp or dusty days. It is built to resist the conditions, not to shrug off heavy rain.

A fluorine coating on the front element helps keep dust, water and oil from sticking. Fingerprints and smudges wipe away more easily, which is handy between shots on a busy shoot.

The optical design holds 14 elements in 9 groups. It uses ED glass, a low-dispersion type that helps reduce chromatic aberration. Chromatic aberration appears as coloured fringes along high-contrast edges, such as rim light on a subject's hair in backlit portraits. ED glass helps limit that fringing, though it does not erase every trace.