Micro 55mm Nikkor

MichaelHarris · Sep 25, 2006

with an extension tube. This is my first try at macro, I really like it. Now all I need is a calibrated monitor.

naturephoto1 · Sep 25, 2006

Hi Michael,

The photos look very good for a first time attempt. What were you using for film. Keep shooting.

Rich

pharquarx · Sep 25, 2006

This lens is a legend, known for its razor sharp renderings. Have fun.

ctr

bob01721 · Sep 25, 2006

Nice. Very nice!

MichaelHarris · Sep 26, 2006

Thanks all. I don't know alot about Nikon stuff yet, I have a Nikon extension that has no glass in it and one with glass. I haven't tried the one with glass yet.

nature, I really dropped the ball here bad. I hope I don't get wacked, I forgot what website I was at. I normally use old Nikkormats and Reala but I recently got a D70s to play with and used it.

In my defense I rarely use it, I haven't found a camera yet I like more than my Nikkormat F2T. It's black and makes me look cool.

Claire Senft · Sep 26, 2006

I am tempted to believe that Nikon with the 55mm Micro Nikkors from 3.5 forward did more for the popularity of macro lenses than all of the other brands combined.

roteague · Sep 26, 2006

I've heard good things about those lenses myself. I'm currently considering getting the new Nikkor Micro 105 VR lens, but haven't heard too much about it, other than complaints that the VR doesn't work for closeups (gee, that is what tripods are for).

MichaelHarris · Sep 26, 2006

My Micro Nikkor 55 is the old one, someone had it AIed. I think it's one of the best lens I own.

Richard Kelham · Sep 26, 2006

MichaelHarris said:
My Micro Nikkor 55 is the old one, someone had it AIed. I think it's one of the best lens I own.

Mine is also an oldish one converted to AI. Excellent sharp lens, but avoid stopping down to f32 as there is noticeable diffraction setting in that certainly takes the gilt off the gingerbread!

Richard

Dan Fromm · Sep 26, 2006

Richard Kelham said:
Mine is also an oldish one converted to AI. Excellent sharp lens, but avoid stopping down to f32 as there is noticeable diffraction setting in that certainly takes the gilt off the gingerbread!

Richard

Um, Richard, the smallest aperture that it makes sense to use depends a bit on magnification. At 1:1, the effective f/number is twice the f/number set. Since the most resolution obtainable is ~ 1500/effective, if we set the aperture to f/32 at 1:1 the best we can hope for is not much better than 20 lp/mm.

Curt · Sep 26, 2006

I have the 55 MicroNikkor lens as I had to have it for Biomed Photography. Aren't they great? You can do all kinds of scientific photography with it. I have mine on an F3 hp both bought new.

Curt

Mike Kovacs · Sep 27, 2006

A little less of an issue with the D70 crop factor but the 55mm focal length is sometimes difficult to use for macro shots in the field. Working distance is short and background coverage is not tight like on a telephoto macro lens.

They are great lenses though and for the price 55/3.5 sell for these days, totally worth owning one. Mine is an AI 55/3.5 multicoated, last type before they switched to the AIS 55/2.8.

Claire Senft · Sep 27, 2006

I used to own a 55mm 2.8 and a 105 f4. Both were highly satisfactory but the 105 needed to be stopped down to f8 for really nice results.

Daniel_OB · Oct 6, 2006

Part of image beyond focus plane with Nikkor 55mm is acceptible to me but is not as Leica or Zeiss. On your image (to poster) is also visible sharp edge and limit of bokeh field. This is however acceptible and I would classify micro 55 mm (current) as among the best (not the best) nikon lenses, and for far and for close. Also that lens is far better in just anything than the lens Kertesz ever could dream about.

www.Leica-R.com

Flotsam · Oct 6, 2006

Here's the last 55mm micro nikkor shot I took quite a while ago..
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

It is a wonderful, contrasty flat-field lens. Great for copy work and archiving. As a general macro lens, the short working distance can be a pain but it makes beautiful pictures.

katphood · Jan 14, 2009

I too have a 55mm f3.5 AI. I don't think it gets any better than that. The only downside is that if you include the sun in the frame, you'll get flare.

http://kthompson.jalbum.net/KurtThompson/CloseUp/slides/9834.html

df cardwell · Jan 14, 2009

Daniel_OB said:
Part of image beyond focus plane with Nikkor 55mm is acceptible to me but is not as Leica or Zeiss. On your image (to poster) is also visible sharp edge and limit of bokeh field. This is however acceptible and I would classify micro 55 mm (current) as among the best (not the best) nikon lenses, and for far and for close. Also that lens is far better in just anything than the lens Kertesz ever could dream about.

www.Leica-R.com

you know, there was a time that this level of nitpicking would have been thought rude, because it talks about your predilection for equipment, not the image. The point it is, it was taken of a flower, with a Nikkor.

You don't say it should have been taken of a schoollbus, you don't say it would have been better with a Zeiss.

hec · Jun 6, 2010

I have a Micro f3.5 (pre-AI ) and it's my most used lens for 35mm.

John_Nikon_F · Jun 7, 2010

Nice shots... The extender with glass is probably a 1.4 or 2x teleconverter. I've owned a few copies of the 55mm Micro, including a couple early compensating 55/3.5's with the metal focusing ring, then three later 3.5's, as well as four 55/2.8's. Currently have one of the 55/2.8 Micros. With the 55/2.8, at f/22, you can get a sunstar effect if you take a photo with the sun in the frame.

With respect to the Nikkormat, I have the Japanese home-market version of the FT2, the Nikomat FT2. Great old beast...

-J

Pumal · Jun 26, 2010

I have the Pre AI 55mm Micro-Nikkor f/3.5...Great!
AI 55mm Micro-Nikkor f/2.8...Great!
Pre AI 105mm Micro-Nikkor f/4... Great!
Pre AI 200mm Micro-Nikkor f/4... Greatest!
Olympus OM Zuiko MC Auto-Macro 50mm f/3.5... Great!
Minolta Auto-Bellows Rokkor-X 100mm f/4... Great

Micro 55mm Nikkor

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