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The 55mm AIS Micro Nikkor lens is legendary for it's sharpness at every aperture. It has long been used as a standard to judge others lenses that followed it. As most all AIS lenses, it's built like a tank and with normal care is meant to last a lifetime. It can be used as a everyday carry normal lens, but it's real strengths are it's close focus ability. It's not considered fast at F2.8 but when using it in a close focus macro range DOF is thin and the 2.8 is appreciated. My purpose for my purchase is to use it for close focus portraits in mostly B&W on film to produce prints. My copy of the lens is in very good condition and I have no doubt it will perform to my expectations. Also the lens can be had on Ebay currently for a modest price around $100. which represents a incredible value given it's status as a bench mark for quality and sharpness for other lenses that it has achieved in history.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The focusing ring was way, way to stiff for normal use and that wasn't stated in the comments on the lens. You couldn't look through the view finder and focus at the same time it was so stiff.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
It is probably the best standard manual focal length lens for regular daylight (or flash) use that Nikon ever made (for night time or low light, the NOCT-Nikkor 58/1.2 is undoubtedly the best). The 55/2.8s is extremely sharp at macro distances, and extremely sharp at infinity. Even the bokeh is beautiful. A classic lens design with a small number of elements and an unbeatable tactile experience (like other lenses of a bygone era). A pure joy to use! The lens is meant to be paired with a PK-13 extension tube to attain 1:1 reproduction ratios...there are even markings on the barrel of the lens that reference the PK-13. You probably should get one of these cheap tubes if you buy a 55/2.8s. Best uses: -Regular prime lens for daylight or flash use -Copy and reproduction work -Still subject macro at 1:2, and 1:1 reprodcution with the PK-13 -Stitching wide panoramas (due to low CA and no distortion) -Manual SLR cameras Not recommended for: -Low light without flash (get a 50/1.8, 50/1.4, 50/1.2, 58/1.2, or similar instead) -Rapid motion/sports/kids (due to lack of autofocus) -Skittish bugs, since you have to get very close with this lens If you are seriously considering one of these, beware of the earliest versions of the lens, in which the helicoid lubricant tended to leak onto the aperture blades, particularly if the lens was subjected to higher temperatures (e.g., left in the sunlight). Nikon corrected this problem in later versions, although I am not sure what the serial number was at when they made the transition. 7XXXXX is probably fine, and anything with 8XXXXX or 9XXXXX is very recent production (within the past decade). Also, if your camera does not meter with pre-AF-D lenses, then you will not have in-camera metering available. This doesn't mean that you cannot use it with manual settings, you may have to shoot a couple of trial shots, while checking the exposure histogram on the rear LCD screen and making the appropriate adjustments to shutter/aperture/ISO. Read full review
Verified purchase: No
Tough build with crisp aperture clicks, a smooth long throw makes fine focus easy. This is a great addition on a Fuji XE1 with K&F adaptor .. images are super sharp especially in the mid stops .. and a bargain... just what I've been looking for... this superbly engineered metal and glass piece of art, Nikon built a forever lens in the early 1980s .. Bravo
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This macro lens is very sharp and has beautiful bokeh. It works nicely on my fuji x-e2 with an adapter, as the manual focus is easy to read and the exposure is automatic when the camera is set to aperture priority. My only complaint is the focus is stiff at first, but loosens up with use.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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