In 1983 the Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 with CRC (Close Range Correction) or floating elements in other words, was released. This is the manual version of what you are thinking of.
This lens is a ten element design and quite good, but from my own personal experience, unless you use the inbuilt lens hood to keep light away from the front element, you will have low contrast pictures. It also requires the PN-11 extension ring to allow you to do 1:1. Not a great imposition, but unless you have that accessory, you will be a bit restricted in your micro photography.
By the way, that little pin in the side that you see in the picture, is a focus lock. The Micro-Nikkor in warm weather can and does move from the position you have set in almost any position, except level. Very frustrating, so that little focus locking pin is a must to have and use. The Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 that I bought new decades ago last century, does have that creeping problem in warm weather. It does not have that locking pin, I wish it did.
It is a nice lens, but I would suggest the 1990 AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 on paper, is a better lens for your intended purposes.
The AF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 is a 9 element design and can be focused straight out of the box to 1:1. I don’t have, nor have I ever used the AF unit, but I would suggest it would be the better lens, especially as you have stated electronic camera bodies may be used in the future.
Mick.
Forgot to add, my information about the AF version was gleaned from the Nikon Compendium, pages 151-152. First English Edition 1993, by Rudolph Hillebrand and Hans-Joachim Hauschild.
