Nikon Micro 55mm f/3.5 AI : Specifications and Opinions

Reviews

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Silvio Sciclitano

sent on 29 Ottobre 2024

Pros: Nowadays, value for money. Then: optical rendering, construction. Ergonomics, aesthetics

Cons: For me, nothing.

Opinion: Bought used with little money I use it, as well as on Nikon FF, on M4/3 (E-M5) + adapter: I greatly reduce the expense for lenses, I get excellent results for me, without automatisms or autofocus I have a lot of fun. I was surprised, for good, when I tried it on the E-M5, as well as the other Nikkor AI-S I bought (50mm, 105mm, 300mm). The most surprising thing is that as the aperture narrows, diffraction seems to decrease (unlike on the Nikon FF).

Aval

sent on 02 Aprile 2022

Pros: Exceptional quality even with modern FFs with ultra-dense sensors. Used at ridiculous prices. Very light and space-saving, it allows you to shoot macros even freehand. Also valid as a general purpose, but limited by manual focus.

Cons: The short focal length limits its scope of use to objects and flowers. For insect photography it constitutes a limit. The only real limit is represented by the need to mount the extension tube to get to the 1:1 ratio.

Opinion: It was my first macro lens, purchased in the second half of the 70s. I grew up with him... For the macro of flowers, objects and still life is practically unbeatable. Today I prefer the micro Nikkor AF 105 2.8, not so much for the AF that in the macro I practically never use, but because it allows me to keep a certain distance from the subject and does not need to mount the extension tube to get to the 1:1 ratio.

Ignbr

sent on 09 Agosto 2020

Pros: Optical and mechanical quality

Cons: Appearance of out-of-focus light points

Opinion: Bought for a very low amount, it adds to my vintage normal optical park (as many as 7, everyone has their own mania). This also offers the macro possibility: 1:2 without the extension ring, 1:1 with the ring but losing focus indefinitely. What to say, the mechanical quality is very high. The optical quality, closing at least one stop the diaphragm, holds the 24 mp quietly. Used indefinitely I definitely prefer my two Planars (Zeiss Rollei and Contax), for their obvious greater plasticity and the Mamiya for the most pictorial rendering. In macro use the sharpness is very high, but the out-of-focus light points tend to take on a very marked hexagonal appearance that sometimes disturbs in the reading of the image. The value for money is still very favorable.

Gsabbio

sent on 27 Marzo 2018

Pros: Excellent optics and mechanics

Cons: they do not produce it anymore

Opinion: Old chicken makes good stock ... it is not always true, but this lens perfectly respects the rule. It is a macro lens, but it is also valid for all photos for focusing on long distances. It is manual, so with the big current sensors it becomes very critical in the fire setting because on FF the minimum out of focus becomes immediately evident. However, used in macro, especially if with a tripod, this is not a problem, since there is plenty of time to correct the framing and fire. Personally I use it to duplicate my old slides with macro bellows and D800. On the 1: 1 ratio at full aperture highlights a bit 'of chromatic aberrations and loss of sharpness at the edges, closed at f8 is simply perfect on the whole field framed with a sharpness that goes far beyond the grain of the Kodachrome 25 professional. The result, compared to my Canon FS4000 US scanner is far better in all respects (this scanner goes really well on the negatives but charge un marked contrast on Fuji films (Velvia etc ...) and unfortunately the digital dust elimination system introduces digital errors on the Kodachrome). The only problem is that duplicating on bellow becomes evident every minimum grain of dust on the film or even on the opal glass of the door dia, so a maniacal care is required for cleaning. Having said that, it is a truly recommended approach to a macro enthusiast because on the basis of my experience, it is really difficult to think of a view that can go markedly better at short distances, where I mean better: the best performance is then really perceptible. To return to my experience with the 55 micro: once duplicated with the AF 60 micro f2.8 (great optics) but the results on Ektachrome Slide Duplicating have never been satisfactory (even because of the further passage on film); with the arrival of the FF on the digital and with the 55 micro f3.5 all this is forgotten, as mentioned the sharpness goes widemore than the resolution of the film, while the wide dynamic range of the D800 sensor in post production allows incredible recoveries on high and low lights, even beyond what was visible on the slide with an excellent lentino. Rated 10

Giulio Biondini

sent on 28 Febbraio 2017

Pros: the light is fantastic

Cons: used on camera without autofocus is hard to focus if the subject is not perfectly still.

Opinion: great lens, vintage, all manual as I like without the light of the best in you. great detail and decided blur but at the same time soft. in an unfavorable light situations it tend to sweat a little and is rarely suitable as everything to do if used on cameras without autofocus. lens that is affordable but not recommended if you are looking for something quick and practical.

user36759

sent on 08 Aprile 2015

Pros: High optical quality and construction, today is cheap ... it is beautiful?

Cons: No defects

Opinion: Lens quality. Solid. Excellent for use on 24x36 because the viewfinder bigger and brighter than on aps-c, where, however, has the advantage of being a moderate tele macro. According me.rnPer the 24x36 recommend it without a doubt, as is normal with something extra capacity macro (1: 2) format .rnrnSul reduced performance is still excellent, but is too short to be a tele macro and perhaps too long to be versatile, accordingly prefer a 60 afd or af-s by dell'af.rnrnA whatever format it is an excellent product, built to last.

user36759

Stefanoba

sent on 04 Novembre 2014

Pros: incredible sharpness, solid

Cons: Manual only

Opinion: honestly I do not put in against the fact that it is a short throw and that requires you to get close to the subject, it is obvious given the focus, if you do not want to approach the subject you take a 105 ---> 180mm.rnNon see a downside the fact that is manual regarding the macro, to make the macro AF practically not used, if you must do street instead can be certainly a point in its sfavore.rnstiamo talking about a lens that is 40 years played and which obviously not even know what the result of the AF.rnonestamente canon aps is stunning. money well spent. my old Canon 100 macro is now retired! rnciaornrn

Francesco Cassulo

sent on 26 Aprile 2014

Pros: compact, all metal, incredible sharpness

Cons: Manual only

Opinion: I put in against that only manual, but I think it is rather a PRO. This lens is one of Nikon's sharpest I've ever tried, just the 105 nikon 78 is just as sharp, and 200 in 1989. Affecting optics images as a ninja sword, however, does not forgive the error. The whole manual, so no type of AF, such as certain machines with my D90 even the metering, so much the better, you really learn to read and write light.

Zerba

sent on 12 Giugno 2013

Pros: startling clarity, depth 'of field nano-magnification ring M2, compact and beautiful

Cons: completely manual, being a short distance from the subject 55

Opinion: kindly stolen from my mother's camera kit (NIKKORMAT 70s) I bought on ebay adapter ring just for fun and found to possess a lens incredible! that cuts sharp, with good contrast and colors of departure. Excellent and compact for street and portraits. perfect for macro if it were not for photographing the subject must approach extremely. Especially if you mount the tube extender M2 turns into a microscope and you need a sled to the focus.