Nikon Series E 100mm f2.8 Lens Review

Introduced in 1979 to accompany the Nikon EM and updated with a chrome ring in 1981 (mine is the earlier type).

The 100mm E Series makes a cheap alternative to the highly regarded 105 2.5. Whilst the rings are plastic the barrel is metal and focusing is smooth and precise with the lovely viscosity of classic manual Nikkors - it's far better than the shorter E Series primes. Aperture stops are easily found, but the ring is a little sloppy in feel. Usual colour hyperfocal distance marks and IR mark are present.
The lens is extremely compact and lightweight, only a little deeper than non-pancake standard lenses. My example isn't multi-coated, I've yet to establish whether later versions were.
 

Lens

Related resources:   ebay.com ebay.co.uk ebay.de google.com forum forum mir.com

 

Fact Sheet

Vendor name	Type	Product year
Nikon	Series E	1979
Focal Min(mm)	Focal Max(mm)	Focus Min(cm)
100	100	100
Aperture Max	Aperture Min.	Barrel length(mm)
2.8	22	57.5
Elements In Group	Diaphragm action	Weight (g)
4 in 4	auto	215g
Filter Size (mm)	Push on diameter (mm)	Angular field
52	62.5	24°20'
Quality Rate	Rarity Rate	DSLR compatible
		YES

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User Comments

For those of us who actually shoot with an open eye, the 100mm Series E is a great lens. It's far better then the disrespect the geeky collectors give it. They don't shoot..

(Ken Rockwell)

If there is just measurable distortion I've been unable to detect it and I've not managed to produce chromatic abberation/fringing. On a 1.5 crop sensored body, I can detect no visible light fall off even wide open.

Sharpness wide open is very good, stopped down to f4 it's superb. Out of focus areas are rendered fairly smoothly at f4. Flare resistant isn't great - If the sun is near the subject the otherwise very good contrast drops. Colour saturation is good but not astounding.

Fairly robust feeling despite the use of plastics, and flare resistance aside this is a very nice performer. Seems to be increasing in price on the secondhand market, but still available relatively cheaply, it's a great low cost addition to the kit bag.

(Richard D.)