| NOTE: In an attempt to revamp & rearrange content in this website, there is now a newly developed section featuring various MF Nikkor lenses, please bookmark the new site for future updates. As for SLR bodies, please refer to: - Nikkormat, Nikon EM/FG/FG20, FM series, FE Series, Nikon FA, Nikon F, Nikon F2, Nikon F3 & Nikon F4 |
Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8
Micro-Nikkor lenses are one of the most famous lenses within the Nikkor lens family
and deserve to devote some pages for general discussion. I tried to provide few versions
of the Micro-Nikkor for you to make a comparision. Basically, it divided into few
groups (Both AF and Manual): The standard 50-60mm range, 105mm & 200mm. With
the new inclusion of the revolutionary AF Zoom-Micro Nikkor
70-180mm, now there are four groups to select to suit all your possible macro-photography
works.
* The Ultra-Micro-Nikkor lenses are lenses produced by Nikon for production of IC's and LSI's. There is no relation to these 35mm SLR lenses by Nikon.
This section is only focuses on the 50-60mm fixed focal length Micro-Nikkors.
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| The oldest version version of the Micro-Nikkor 50mm f3.5, that was available with the Nikon F. |
The current manual version 55mm f2.8 |
Though these lenses are made for specific field of macro photography but it is an exellent subsitute for a stadard lens. In fact, previously I always encouraged new buyers to opt for this lens instead of the standard 50mm (But those were the days before the current popular stadard zoom configuration of first time buyer of SLR -but not many listened, as the 50mm f1.4 big & shinny lens surface is more attractive...and is cheaper). Why ? Because if anyone is interested in serious SLR photography, eventually he/she have to go through the path from tele to wide and macro as well, thus, the recommendation could have saved him some money in the future. This perticular lens uses the standard 52mm filters and so it can share your investment of filters for other creative applications.
This lens is lazor sharp! But the drawback is you need to go close, very close for confronting macro work. But, when this lens is coupled with a bellow, it truely excel itself as a 5 stars macro lens on high manification photography. I have used this lens for quite few years and I know what this lens can perform optically.
The optical construction of the 55mm Micro-Nikkor
The current version of the manual Micro-Nikkor carries
half a stop bigger in maximum aperture from the older versions (There are few versions
of upgrades since its inception in 1956, first for the Nikon S series camera and
later for the SLR). Providing an picture angle of 43° and focuses down to 1:2
reproduction ratio and 1:1 with an extension ring (PK11). This version is also utilising
Nikon CRC (Close Range Correction System). Stop down to f32 to permit maximum depth
of field - critical for macro photography. With its excellent flatness of field,
it is an ideal lens for copying work as well.
PK11 that convert the lens to achive a reproduction ratio
of 1:1
Though I enjoy very much using this lens the earlier stages,
I have given it to a the studio boys and because I didn't do a lot of macro work
at very extra-close distances (Those who used this lens before will understand what
I meant). But, instead, I invested into the 105mm, first, the superb micro-Nikkor
105mm f4...
This lens is the version prior to the incorporation
of the CRC system, 50mm f3.5.
Comapre with the ealier one above and see the differences.
With the AF revolution, Nikon's first attempt was something odd with its cosmetic,
the AF-Nikkor 60mm f2.8 - gone are the familiar
extender rubber grip on the focusing barrel and the feel of Nikon's human enginnering
architecture on lenses. Eventually, Nikon listened and subsituted with an upgrade
at a later stage - though optically there are some minor refinements and most of
all, I think the earlier AF version is just taking too much power to perform AF focusing
(Macro lenses in general have extended focusing rotations on the lens as compared
to lenses of general purpose to allow users to fine tune critical focusing accuracy
at high magnification ratio).
Two variations of the 55mm Micro Nikkors. The left bearing serial number: 85xxxx and the left :94xxxx. The older version uses PK-3 ring to 1:1 life size, while the left has upgraded to use with the PK-13 ring.
This page has too excessive graphics on the manual versions. To avoid slow downloading time, click here for another page on the AF versions or older 105mm, AF and manual Micro-Nikkor lenses.
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