Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/3.5 (Pre-Owned)
| Article number: | 1005466 |
| Availability: | In stock |
Introduction top
Sample Images Intro Specifications
Performance Usage Recommendations
Compatibility History Production Pricing
Nikon uses the word "Micro" to mean the same thing as "macro." I'll use these words interchangeably.
The Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/3.5 is an excellent manual-focus lens. It works perfectly on every manual-focus Nikon camera, and also works great on all better digital Nikons, especially the D3X, D700 and other FX cameras. It won't meter with the cheaper DX digital or AF cameras like the D90; for these cameras, guess and use the LCD, or use the Gossen Digisix meter and hot-shoe adapter.
For manual focus cameras, the newer f/2.8 AI-s version is still made today, and used f/2.8 versions cost very little more. This f/3.5 is a great lens, but if I had my choice, I'd get the f/2.8. I only bought this one to archive here; I already have two f/2.8 AI-s 55mm lenses I bought new over the years.
For AF and digital cameras, I'd suggest getting the newest 60mm AFD instead. For the D40, you'll want the 60mm AF-S to have autofocus.
Even for manual focus cameras today, I'd suggest getting the 60mm AFD since it also will work perfectly on your AF cameras.
The optics of all of these lenses are superlative; it's the mechanics and ease of use with AF and digital cameras which varies.
Focus Scale, Nikon 55/3.5. enlarge.
Compatibility back to intro back to top
The manual-focus 55mm f/3.5 AI works great with most Nikon cameras, film and digital.
It works flawlessly with every manual focus Nikon ever made, from the F of 1959 through the FM3a and today's FM-10.
On the D3X, D3, D700, D300, D200, D2 and F6, use the "Non-CPU Lens Data" menu option to set 55mm and f/3.5 to get full matrix metering, EXIF data and finder read-out of set aperture. It works great in aperture-preferred as well as manual modes on these cameras.
It works perfectly on every professional film camera (F, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6), and adds Matrix metering on the FA, F4 and F6.
The meters of cheaper digital (D80 and below) and cheaper film cameras (N80 and below) will not couple (or work at all) with this lens, so you'll be on your own guessing exposure using the rear LCD or an external meter, or get a tiny Gossen Digisix meter and hot shoe adapter to meter manually.
See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AI, AI-s" column for this lens.
The earliest non-AI versions should be upgraded to AI, otherwise, they are compatible with much fewer cameras. If you have a non-AI lens, see Nikon Lens Compatibility and read down the "pre-AI" column.
History back to intro back to top
Nikon made this same optical design starting in 1961, and changed the cosmetics, mechanics and coatings as time progressed.
The version shown above is the newest AI version made from about 1975 - 1979.
1956-1961
Nikon first made the 55mm f/3.5 Micro for its rangefinder cameras.
God only knows how you focused or composed without through-the-lens viewing.
Nikon didn't make a lot of these; LEICA was the market leader in those days.
1961-1969
Nikon put the same optics from the rangefinder lens in an F (SLR) mount mount for its new Nikon F 35mm SLR.
THey made at least two different cosmetic versions of this SLR lens.
Nikon made about 100,000 of these early verisons.
1969-1979
Nikon changed the optics slighty to the version reviewed here. Nikon made several different cosmetic versions, both AI and non-AI with the same optics, both single and multi-coated.
THese versions are best iditfied by serial number, or more casually, by a rubber (not fluted aluminum) focus grip.
Nikon made about 500,000 of these later verisons; about 275,000 AI and 165,000 non-AI.
1979 - today
Nikon introduced the improved 55mm f/2.8 AI-s Micro-Nikkor which replaced this f/3.5 version.
This current f/2.8 version adds CRC, close-range-correction, for optimum performance at every distance.
Nikon has made about 600,000 of these — so far.
1986-1989
55mm f/2.8 AF, Nikon's first AF micro, used the same optics as the AI-s verison.
Nikon only made about 50,000 of these.
1989-1993
A completely new design, the 60mm f/2.8 AF comes out to replace the 55mm f/2.8 AF.
Nikon made about 150,000 of these non-D AF versions.
1993-today
60mm f/2.8 AF-D, which is the same as the previous 60mm f/2.8 AF but adds the minor D feature.
Nikon made about 300,000 of the AF-D versions, or about 450,000 total 60mm f/2.8 AF — so far.
2008-today
The newest version is the 60mm AF-S Micro, which replaces the 60mm AF-D Micro. The AF-S micro will not work on cameras older than about 1993, while all these other lenses are perfectly compatible with them.
See also Roland Vink's authoritative tables for details and serial numbers.