Nikon 105mm micro VR Chromatic abberation

[simonbarker]

I try not to get too bent out of shape about the little things but this has started to bug me, I recently bought my first Nikon 105mm and it's great lens but reviewing most photos I'm seeing minor amounts of CA everywhere. Normally I'm stopped down so it's not hard to correct for the most part but it seems quite severe wide open, could anyone with experience with this lens confirm if this is normal or not?

Two unedited crops, not the best example but it was quick to hand. The first should be wide open and the other at f/8.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/129105488@N03/16662710625

http://www.flickr.com/photos/129105488@N03/16661322901

https://www.flickr.com/photos/129105488@N03/16662188151

 

[Canon Bob]

I think that manufacturers are prepared to tolerate a little lateral CA in their designs knowing that lens profiling can fix it (quite effectively) at the post processing stage. When one of them actually puts in the effort to produce a true apo-chromatic lens they find that consumers complain about the price and say how unnecessary it is with modern software correction.

 

[StewartR]

I think Bob's right. Why worry about something that is so easy to fix?

 

[simonbarker]

I think Bob's right. Why worry about something that is so easy to fix?

I'm just surprised I need to, I'd been using a Canon 60mm which needed no correction and got me great results despite being a 'budget' lens and I'd prefer not to have to any unnecessary modifications in Lightroom as it's gotten pretty slow with larger images.

I'm beginning to suspect the reason the 105mm comes out so badly in comparison is its extra focal length but I wanted to check if this is normal for the lens as I really wasn't expecting it.

 

[shreds]

Nikon f2.8 105mm micro. Had one of these for a few years and CA has not been noticeable in varying lighting situations, so maybe its a batch problem or even restricted to odd lenses?

 

[mpe]

Lateral CA can be easily corrected. But axial as shown can be problematic or uncorrectable depending on the scene as these fringed colour channels are focused on different focal planes. You can somewhat mask it sometimes but usually with adverse effects elsewhere. You can improve it by stop it down if you can.

That's why I much prefer Nikon's 60mm micro instead of 105mm despite of having shorter working distance. The axial CA on 105mm is ugly. It is especially painful when you shoot metallic objects.

 

[Canon Bob]

.... You can improve it by stop it down if you can.

CA on macro lenses will typically increase as you stop down, not improve.

Bob

 

[mpe]

CA on macro lenses will typically increase as you stop down, not improve.

Depends on lens design, but usually Longitudinal (axial) CA goes improves and lateral (transverse) CA gets worse with stopping down. It's because stopping down increases depth of field and that reduces the blurred zones

On Nikon's 105mm LoCA improves when stopping down.

 

[Canon Bob]

On Nikon's 105mm LoCA improves when stopping down.

I'll confess that my macro lenses are all from Canon, Zeiss, Pentax and Kiron so my theory was based on those and I haven't tried the Nikon one in question.

Bob