Nikon 55mm f/2.8 Micro AIS Macro Manual Focus Lens - Grey Market

2018-03-10T19:00:00

I personally don't care much for the 50mm focal length on FX. I use a 28/2.8 AIS as a normal. However, the 55/2.8 Micro-Nikkor is easily the sharpest lens I have. For 1:1 work I found the TC-201 may give a bit better results than the PK-13 tube, neither as good as its native 1:2 though. In the past I used the 60/2.8 which goes directly to 1:1 but bought this lens and a couple other MF Nikkors new a few years ago. Construction of the MF Nikkors is vastly superior to the AF lenses. I use AF lenses only if I really have to. I've had all my MF Nikkors "chipped" so they perform as AI-P. I HIGHLY recommend doing this. This lens is an absolute bargain. Glad to see Nikon still makes it after more than 35 years of production!

Notamilgramman

Originally posted at

2014-12-18T19:00:00

I have owned one of these in one form or another since about 1969 and would not be without it. My wife also uses one as her all-around lens. Focusing is easy, even in low light. Speed is adequate for general use. Small size makes it easy to carry. Image quality is great. Works in macro mode MUCH better than any zoom lens with a so-called "macro" setting. You do need a good tripod to really get all the performance this lens is capable of delivering. Every photographer should have one.

Bronto48

Originally posted at

2013-11-16T19:00:00

this is a lens perfect . excelent sharpness, best mechanics performance, ring focus perfect, 2.8! and very good macro lens! this is a lens for ever!

bichote

Originally posted at

2013-11-06T19:00:00

I have five lenses..from 1972 to 1998...used on F2, Nikkormat, F3 and Oxberry and Forox animation and copy stands...now on D600 and D610

Jupiter

Originally posted at

2013-10-16T20:00:00

My favorite lens is the buttery smooth 55 2.8 f.2.8. A bit short for hardcore macro work, but my Mamiya 120 f4 does the trick for that. The 55mm works when things are tight. Brings clarity in the fog of night, turns smiles into sunshine. Its crisp, clean, and just the right length for portraiture. Best of all, its manual focus is perfection. Feels great, looks great, and at 2.8 works quite well with modern focusing screens and focus confirmation systems. Just a joy to hold. Truly a bridge between 35mm film and digital photography.

Dav3g

Originally posted at

2013-08-26T21:00:00

Not only great for Macro but a decent portrait lens and good for all around photography at this focal length.

RONALD W.

2013-05-28T21:00:00

Currently using on DX format camera, it is a great learning tool for Macro photography. The resolution, sharpness and overall quality is outstanding. This is a classic Nikon lens, and I hope they never discontinue it.

MainePhoto

2012-10-06T20:00:00

I bought this lens in 1986 to use for close-up work on a Nikon F3. Today it is perfect on my Nikon D800E. I also have the AF-S Nikkor Micro 60mm f/2.8, and the AF-S Nikkor Micro 105mm f/2.8.

Tex

Originally posted at

2012-05-13T20:00:00

i inherited this lens from my grandfather ten years ago along with countless other lenses and film camera's since the 60's onwards... out of all the modern macro lenses i used its the the best clarity, all the lenses inside are still crystal clear and the moving parts still work like a dream after 30 years of fairly hard use and treatment

FotonFoxPhotography

Originally posted at

2012-04-23T20:00:00

Estou contente com a precisão e qualidade das fotos principalmente quando se trabalha com macro!

Jotinha

Originally posted at

2012-04-13T20:00:00

I have had three 300 2.8’s, three or four 300 f4’s, a 105 2.8 micro, this 55 Micro, 24 2.8 and a few other Nikkors. This 55 2.8 has simply remarkable clarity. images taken with this lens are bright and significantly clearer than all my other images. Maybe this is why they have not archived this lens. The model you see there is the very model I had back in the 1980’s.

shooting n.

Originally posted at

2011-12-01T19:00:00

I carried this lens + FE2 across four continents and used it for everything from close-up nature shots to astronomy to concert venues. Also shot artwork for insurance purposes, where the macro really shone. Mostly Kodachrome and Tri-X pan. A lightweight, very versatile lens, and the smoothest focus action. Sometimes I did wish for it to be just a little wider angle, but ease of having one lens that did nearly everything was unmatched.

The M.

Originally posted at

2011-11-23T19:00:00

Good for taking pictures of flowers and all general subjects. PK-13 works well with this lens.Light weight and built to last a lifetime.

Photo B.

Originally posted at

2011-08-10T20:00:00

We just had the product for a month. We treated our camera like a baby and we still got a broken lense. We sent it to Nikkon and they won't pay for the repair. Very dissapointed I wish I could take everything back.

Dissapointed

Originally posted at

2011-06-22T20:00:00

I've had this lens as my go-to lens for doing quick and dirty copy work (like copying a mug shot handout from the police department, copying info from a sports program, etc.) in my years as a photojournalist. In addition to doing copy work, it's also good as a normal lens and for those occasional extreme close-ups when I'm trying to be artistic. It's also a very light lens, so it's not such a burden to carry in my camera bag.

NikonEd

Originally posted at

2011-04-15T20:00:00

This was the first Nikkor lens I ever bought... what a great choice it turned out to be. I have used it for about 30 years now. I shot Kodak Technical Pan film with it and made huge enlargements with great results. If you don't know, Tech Pan was the finest grain film Kodak ever produced. Today I still use it on my D3 and D3X bodies, and I'm certain of the best image quality possible. I love this lens.

Britographer

Originally posted at

2010-07-30T20:00:00

I got this lens only recently, but it has impressed me. I got it to use on my film body, but I have also used it on DX format digital. I think this lens will replace my 50mm f/1.4 AI-S lens for general use. Although the fast speed and ability to minimize depth of field is nice, the 50mm f/1.4 is a little weak at the larger apertures (of course). This 55mm f/2.8 seems sharper and I like the ability to focus close. Both lenses have their uses, but in halfway decent light there is no reason not to just use the slower lens. I have the latest 60mm f/2.8 AF-S micro which I use on my D40. This older design seems comparable in most aspects, perhaps a little softer wide open at infinity, but just as sharp stopped down a little or close up in my experiences thus far, which is to say, extremely sharp. The newer lens does have autofocus (not very useful if you are shooting in macro ranges, though) and the Nano crystal coating; I am guessing this lens would have more flare/ghosts than the modern version if sunlight was hitting the lens directly, but the front element of this lens is so deeply recessed that it is pretty unlikely. The barrel of this lens seems sufficient as a hood. The new lens also focuses all the way down to 1:1 on film or the sensor, whereas this lens only focuses down to 1:2 without an extension tube. I rarely need to get closer than 1:2 for my shooting, but it is something to be aware of. I do have a PK-13 extension tube, but haven't used it yet. The minimum focus distance is 9.86" or 0.25 meters, so like all macro lenses with relatively short focal length, the working distance is fairly short. It's about 4 inches at the maximum 1:2 magnification. It is possible you will block your own light or scare your subject if you are shooting insects etc. with this lens. In those cases you should probably look at a longer macro lens. I don't find it to be a problem for my uses. One thing to note is that this lens extends a lot as you focus down to 1:2 magnification, unlike the modern lens which does everything internally. It extends to almost four inches from the flange at the maximum magnification, and longer if you are using extension tubes, of course. Also like the modern lens, this lens does lose light as you focus closer. Sometimes my split image rangefinder blacks out a little, but it is still usable. If you meter externally you will need to find the exposure compensation factors at the various distances.

icouldbeahero

Originally posted at

2010-07-29T20:00:00

I've had at least one of these in my bag since 1991. Works great as both a macro lens and a normal lens. It does have the ability to create sunstars if stopped down to f/22 while shooting with the sun in the frame. My favorite combination with this lens is a Nikon F or a Nikkormat. Small enough to carry around, yet has the capability of locking the mirror up for low-light situations.

NikonF2A

Originally posted at