Nikon NIKKOR 105mm f/1.4E ED 105mm

Based on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.

1. Q1 202398/1003 reviews

   Buyers in Q1 2023 praised this lens for its sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and realistic portraits, calling it a must-have upgrade.

   • 👍Excellent sharpness even at f/1.6, delivering super-realistic portraits.
   • 👍Soft, tasty bokeh that enhances portrait photography.
   • 👍Highly recommended as a worthy upgrade from the 85mm f/1.4.
   • 👍Delightful to use; users express strong love and no regret.
2. Q4 202167/1005.0★3 reviews

   Buyers praise image quality and bokeh but note the lens is large, heavy, and may be unnecessary if you own 85mm or 70-200mm lenses.

   • 👍Superb image sharpness, fast aperture, and beautiful bokeh for portraits.
   • 🤔Lens is large and heavy, often left behind in favor of other lenses.
   • 🤔Excellent optical quality but best at f4-f5.6; may be an expensive 'nice to have'.
   • 👍Outstanding subject isolation and compression, ideal for portrait photography.
3. Q3 2019100/1005.0★3 reviews

   All three reviewers in Q3 2019 praised the lens as excellent for portraits, with outstanding sharpness, bokeh, and build quality.

   • 👍Exceptional sharpness and image quality
   • 👍Perfect bokeh for portraits
   • 👍Sturdy build, though plastic
   • 🤔Minor chromatic aberrations correctable in post
4. Q1 201975/1004.5★5 reviews

   Buyers praised the lens's color and sharpness stopped down, but noted wide-open performance issues like softness, CA, and flare. Some found it excellent despite quirks.

   • 🤔Wide-open performance at f/1.4 is soft and shows CA, flare, and blotchy bokeh; stopped down it's sharp.
   • 👍Excellent color rendition and image quality when stopped down to f/2.5 and beyond.
   • 👍Lens works well on D3s and Z6 bodies, with good handling and results.
   • 👍Refurbished items from Adorama met expectations and are recommended.
5. Q1 201895/1005.0★7 reviews

   Buyers praised the lens for spectacular sharpness, bokeh, and portrait quality. Some noted it is huge, expensive, and best as a specialized tool, not a first lens.

   • 👍Exceptional sharpness, bokeh, and portrait results
   • 🤔Expensive and large; better as a third lens after zooms and primes
   • 👍Fast, accurate autofocus and excellent low-light performance
   • 👎Plastic build and rubber focus ring durability concerns over time
6. Q3 2017100/1005.0★4 reviews

   Buyers praise the lens for its sharpness at f/1.4, beautiful bokeh, and 3D-like image quality. It is considered excellent for portraits and other uses, though large and heavy.

   • 👍Exceptional sharpness even wide open at f/1.4, with beautiful bokeh and color rendition.
   • 👍Produces 3D-like images with subject pop, ideal for portraits.
   • 🤔Large and heavy; may intimidate subjects and be cumbersome for long sessions.
   • 👎E lens design prevents aperture control on older cameras, limiting compatibility.
7. Q2 2017100/1005.0★5 reviews

   All five reviews from Q2 2017 are 5-star, praising the lens as superior in sharpness, contrast, bokeh, and focus. Buyers call it an amazing investment for portraits.

   • 👍Razor sharp with quick focus
   • 👍Creamy bokeh and superb contrast
   • 👍Excellent for outdoor portraits
   • 👍Outstanding light gathering and clarity
8. Q1 201785/1004.7★10 reviews

   Buyers in Q1 2017 praised the lens for sharpness, bokeh, and low-light performance, but noted misleading macro labeling and swirly bokeh on edges.

   • 👍Excellent sharpness, bokeh, and low-light performance
   • 🤔Misleading macro capability; requires distance from subject
   • 🤔Swirly bokeh on edges works well on some images but not others
   • 👎Heavy and expensive, but worth it for portrait use
9. Q4 201685/1004.4★8 reviews

   Buyers praised exceptional sharpness at f/1.4 and beautiful bokeh, but noted slow autofocus, heavy weight, and high price. Most are very satisfied.

   • 👍Exceptional sharpness wide open, rivaling the 200mm f/2, with high contrast and color.
   • 👍Beautiful bokeh creates dreamy backgrounds and isolates subjects extremely well.
   • 🤔AF is accurate but slower than zooms; adequate for portraits but not for fast action.
   • 🤔Solid build but heavy; one reviewer noted plastic feel and China manufacturing.
10. Q3 201686/1004.7★11 reviews

    Buyers call this the best portrait lens in Nikon's lineup, praising its phenomenal sharpness, bokeh, and low-light performance. Mixed feedback on autofocus speed size, and value.

    • 👍Exceptional sharpness and beautiful bokeh; users say it outperforms 85mm and 70‑200mm lenses
    • 👎One reviewer reports significant front focus issue and slow autofocus from infinity
    • 🤔Weight and bulk are acknowledged; some love the solid build, others find it too heavy
    • 👎High price is a recurring con even among those who consider it worth the investment

Based on 63 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.