The Nikkor Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S ($999.95) is a much-anticipated lens because it’s the first premium macro for the Nikon Z mirrorless system. It’s an optical stunner, capable of producing images with exquisite detail and focusing close to capture objects at life-size magnification. Z system owners shopping for a new macro need not look further. It’s an easy upgrade choice for photographers moving from Nikon SLRs and the venerable AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm F2.8G IF-ED, as well as the best macro lens for those starting off the Z system, making it a clear Editors’ Choice award winner.
S Line Macro
The Z MC 105mm is large for a prime lens, but its size is not out of line for a stabilized macro. It measures 5.5 by 3.3 inches (HD), weighs 1.4 pounds, and supports 62mm front filters. The included lens hood adds a couple of inches in height; it locks in place, with a push-button for release. The lens is part of Nikon’s premium S line and incorporates dust, splash, and anti-smudge fluorine protection—it’s well suited for use outdoors.
The Z MC 105mm feels solid in hand. Materials are a mix of metal and composite, while the manual focus ring is rubberized. Aesthetics are monochrome—the barrel is basic black and all of the on-lens text is in a white typeface.
The lens includes a digital information panel: It swaps between the f-stop, focal distance, and magnification factor. The Disp button, just to the left of the OLED screen, toggles those settings. Also on the lens body are an L-Fn button, a focus limiter switch, and an AF/MF toggle. The limiter comes in handy for close-up work—Nikon’s dual STM motors drive focus smoothly and quietly, but by no means quickly. You can use the limiter for close-up work—with it turned on, the Z MC only looks for focus from 11.4-19.7 inches (0.29-0.50m).
Focus with the Z 7 II is very accurate and the camera includes some useful assists for macro work. I remapped the AF-ON button for 1:1 magnification—a quick press zooms in for tight autofocus, invaluable for handheld and tripod work alike.
In-lens stabilization helps for handheld use too—it works in conjunction with camera IBIS and is very effective. You’ll enjoy a very steady view when working handheld at 1:1 and reliably crisp 1/4-second exposures at distance. I was able to stretch it to a full second with some extra care, albeit with hit-and-miss results.
Nikon’s Z lens control rings continue to frustrate me. In theory, a dedicated control that can flex to set the f-stop, EV, or ISO is entirely useful. In practice, it takes some real effort to dial in minute adjustments—it’s just very sensitive. This ring is more heavily dampened than the other Nikkor Z lenses I’ve used, but it still takes care to make gentle adjustments. You may find it more useful and it’s easy enough to turn off entirely if it gets in the way.
Manual focus is a little easier to handle. The ample control ring turns with some pleasing resistance; the response ramps based on how quickly you make the twist. Frame magnification is helpful as a focus aid, too. There are some drawbacks for video—the ramped response means you can’t make repeatable focus racks and there’s a significant change in angle of view as focus changes, otherwise known as the breathing effect.
Nikkor Z MC 105mm In the Lab
I paired the Z MC 105mm with the 45MP Z 7 II and Imatest software to check its resolution. It’s practically faultless, netting outstanding results from center to edge at f/2.8, as good as you can expect from a 45MP sensor (5,000 lines). The field of focus is very flat, a benefit for reproduction work.
The lens just as good stopped down, resolution holds steady through f/11. Results are just a little bit less crisp at f/16, but still excellent. Diffraction is more of a concern at f/22 and f/32—you’ll want to skip using them for the sharpest images. If you need more depth of field, Nikon cameras include a focus shift function for photographers who employ focus stacking.
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Distortion is nominal—in-camera corrections compensate for an ever-so-slight barrel effect when working in JPG. Adobe includes a correction profile for Raw capture, which takes care of a slight vignette visible when working at f/2.8.
It’s easy to blur backgrounds with a short telephoto lens, especially when focusing close-up. The 105mm F2.8 is no exception. Backgrounds fall away into nothing and the quality of the blur is quite good. Defocused highlights show a cat’s eye effect toward the edges of the frame when working wide open, while the circular aperture rounds them out at f/4 and smaller settings.
The Best Z System Macro
Nikon played it safe with the design of the 105mm macro—rival Canon pulled out all the stops with its RF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM Macro ($1,399). That lens focuses closer for 1.4:1 magnification and has a clever control ring to change the look of its bokeh, a plus for artistic shots. Even so, it’s hard not to appreciate the Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S on its own merits. It may not push the envelope in concept, but it’s a macro without any notable optical flaws.
We’re not quite as ecstatic about the control ring, but aside from that, the lens handles well. The stabilization makes handheld use at 1:1 practical and is good for longer exposures at distance. Autofocus isn’t lightning-quick, but macro work is typically more deliberate—Nikon’s Z 70-200mm F2.8 VR S is a better option for action photography.
If you’re shopping for a 1:1 macro lens in Z mount, there’s one other autofocus option to consider. The Nikkor Z MC 50mm F2.8 costs less, $650, but it skips out on dust and splash protection, and has a shorter working distance for 1:1 work. If you’re open to manual focus, the Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO is one to consider—it sells for around $500 for Z mount cameras and focuses closer for 2:1 results, and just about matches the Z MC 105mm in angle of view.
The Nikkor Z 105mm includes the in-lens stabilization that the other Z options don’t, and at around $1,000, its price is in line with similar lenses for other systems. For Nikon Z photographers, this is the best available macro lens and our Editors’ Choice pick.
