AF Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8

This lens is the successor of the manual AIS version, which maintains the same optics but changes greatly in its physical appearances. This lens has long been discontinued, and replaced by Micro-Nikkor AF 60mm f/2.8. Specifications include:

The mechanical changes from AIS to AF version are quite significant. First, the filter thread becomes 62mm instead of 52mm in AIS version. (It bugs me to think that Nikon can make 105/2.8 in 52mm filter thread and yet goes to 1:1 but the 55/2.8 and 60/2.8 are 62mm!) Second, it goes to 1:1 magnification without tubes. The construction uses lots plastics. When focused close, a thin neck supporting a oversized empty-head (as a hood?) telescopes out of another tube that nests in the fat lens barrel --- very unsightly :-) (The lens is fully extended at 1:1 reproduction ratio in the photo above.) The following table details the differences:

AF versionAIS version
Filter thread62mm52mm
Maximum reproduction ratio1:11:2 (1:1 with PK-13)
Working distance at maximum reproduction ratio (measured from the front of the lens)2.05"4.2" (2.3" with PK-13)
Dimension74mm x 74mm63.5mm x 62mm
Fully extended length131.5mm95.5mm (123mm with PK- 13)
Full range focus traveling angle225o310o

There is no recommended lens hood for the this lens, according to the instruction manual. If one insists, I think the HN-22 for the 60/2.8 can be used. Another peculiar thing about this lens is: there is no AF-MF switch, nor the focusing range limiter as seen on the 60/2.8, but there is a "torque ring" that can be adjusted to increase focusing friction when the lens is used for manual focusing.

It turns out, the differences between the AF and the AIS versions are too great for me. The killer: the lost of (minute yet critical) 0.25 inch of working distance. The reason: my main use of this lens is for copy work. I used Nikon ES-1 slide copying adapter which holds the slide in place. ES-1 itself has a length of 1.9in, but I need to get a step-down ring to attach to the filter thread first. This makes it marginally workable to get to 1:1 slide duplication. However, I prefer a slightly larger than 1:1 reproduction ratio, such as 1.05:1, to get rid of the image of the slide mount. And it is simply impossible for this lens to achieve this without introducing further complications.

I bought this lens by assuming (and erroneously confirmed by the seller) that it has 52mm filter thread as the optics are the same. Had I known it has 62mm filter thread, I might simply go with the newer AF Micro-Nikkor 60/2.8D. In fact, the 62mm filter thread is the reason that I've tried to stay away from 60/2.8, and look for the 55/2.8. Yeah, it is dangerous to assume too much.

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Last updated: August 15, 1997.