Nikon 100

Two hundred fifteen grams

I normally do not inflate these pages with similar lenses, after all I have a page with the Nikon 105 which is a great macro lens with a very similar focal length. But this old, plasticky, manual focus lens is one of my favorites. It weighs only 215 grams. Only the mirrorless Nikon Z 16-50 and the gorgeous Nikon 50 weigh less than this lens.

It does not focus close (around 1m), and focus is only manual making it quite challenging to keep track of fast moving objects properly. But it is so light, you can easily slip it into your coat pocket when you go out.

My Nikon 100mm f/2.8

Price	Hard to get actually, but a steal at the price
Weight	Very light, 215g
Good for	Portraits, landscape
New or used	Quite rare used, quite cheep around 120

Full Frame

It works very well with full frame. No complaints. It is cheap, it is light and it is very good optically. You can not complain.

APS-C

I love longer lenses, and having a long lens at f/2.8 is quite cool, but usually a heavy proposition. If you use this lens with an APS-C system you get a 150mm for 215 grams. I can not tell you how much I enjoy that. Sure there is no vibration reduction, no autofocus, the build is a bit dinky (and the used one I have has some issues with the focus ring), still it is 215 grams.

Gallery

Although its minimum focus distance is quite far, on an APS-C camera, this lens will let you come really close.
While it is a very light and cheap lens, it is really hard to complain about the results.
Beautiful shot of a spiderweb.
Manual focus lenses make it much harder to keep fast moving subjects like this happy pig in focus. Doesn't mean that you will not manage.
Here we are showing off the aperture.
When the point you need to focus is far away and in between things that are at various distances, it gets much harder to adjust the focus, especially handheld.
I love long lenses, but I do not like to carry too much weight. So the Nikon 100 is really a great little lens. Long and light.
Technically these two lenses are comparable. Of course, the Nikon 105 is a macro, has blazing autofocus and also vibration reduction functions. It also weighs 2.5 times more.
This is for comparison with the next few shots. This is as close as I can get to the Nikon Z FC with a full frame camera. A face would completely fill the frame.
Again for comparison, this is the Nikon 105 at the minimum focus distance of the Nikon 100.
now this is a shot that the Nikon 100 can not manage. If you need to shoot something less about 20 cm wide and 15 cm high and want it to fill the frame, we need to carry a heavier lens like the Nikon 105
This is really close, but still not really the macro range of the Nikon 105.
This is the reason you want a macro lens like the Nikon 105. Very few people actually need it, but macro lenses are incredibly popular, and sell for quite a bit. I still do not understand why.

These pages are for Amateur Photographers and not really for seasoned photographers and professionals. I have no affiliation or commercial interest with any brand/make. I write from my own experience. I ended up using mainly Nikon, so I am more familiar with this brand than others. See price for notes on pricing as well as photography related links.