This is not the VR model and does not have AF-S. The new models are around $750-$800. I purchased mine in January 2006 for a little over $400 including shipping. I saw several of these on eBay recently selling for about the same price 2 years later, so they do keep their value. Although I have not taken it into the field much, it is super for tabletop work. I have sold a lot of micro-stock images using this lens.

I also purchased the Nikon 60mm AF micro and I have rarely used it. The 60mm lens costs nearly as much as the 105mm and I see little advantage of owning one other than that of limited space, but that seems highly unlikely. So, the main advantage of the 105mm is that you can distance yourself from the subject.  On the other hand, the working distance is down to 6″ at 1:1. This is a great lens for skittish insects that require a certain amount of distance before they are disturbed.  I am sure that the AF-S motor helps with faster focusing and the VR helps considerably because a micro/macro lens has such a narrow depth of field in close work; however, I always use a tripod when working in the close-up situations. This particular lens is very cost effective over the VR/AF-S model considering it is near half the cost of the new improved model. In addition, auto-focus is rarely used in close-up work as it is somewhat unreliable in the micro/macro arena.

This is a prime lens (not zoom - fized length), so it is tack sharp when focused correctly. It can serve as a portrait lens; on the other hand, it shows each and every pore of a person’s face and that may be undesirable for some that don’t do any post-processing in a photo editor. All in all, you can’t go wrong with this lens. It is definitely one of Nikon’s best. The filter size is 62mm and the lens weighs in at 17.9oz (about 1 3/4 lbs.). I highly recommend this lens as one that you need in your arsenal of glass.

Technorati Tags: nikon, lens, micro, macro, closeup, prime, 2.8, AF, 105mm, review

Sometimes, putting things into a different perspective gives us a chance to see things more objectively. The Discovery Channel’s “Fearless Planet” does just that. The series of hour long episodes portray the various stages of geological and biological development over billions of years.

I have often wondered why and how places that I have visited, such as the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York and Dale Hollow Lake in north Tennessee contained fossils of sea creatures. These areas are far inland. In addition, why the dinosaurs became extinct and other mammals survived and continued evolving. The “Fearless Planet” explain theories regarding this in detail. I’s a wonderfully executed series of episodes by the Discover Channel.

Technorati Tags: planet, earth, blue, geology, geological, universe, astronomy, evolution, biological, human, time