Lens: Nikon micro-Nikkor 55/2.8 AIS
Vintage: 1979-present.
Lens Mount: Nikon F-Mount
Needed Adapters: None.
Preferred Mounting: Normal, not reversed
Filter Thread: 52 mm.
Street Price: $100-$250.
Controls: Aperture and focus settings.
Aperture: 7 blades.
Basic Function: Manual focus macro lens, changes in length with focusing. Focuses to 1:2 without assistance. Will go to about 1:1 with a 25 mm extension tube.
| Setting | Magnification | Working Distance |
| marked 1:4 | 0.25 | 227 mm |
| marked 1:2 | 0.50 | 114 mm |
| 25 ext | 0.97 | 57 mm |
| Est. Focal Length: 57.8 mm | ||
Appearance:
Resolution vs. Aperture:
This lens has its sharpest and most resolving aperture at f/4. This is a very good number, as most lenses that I see are sharpest around f/5.6 and above. As mentioned before, a larger aperture allows for higher resolution although it also limits the depth of field. Even at f/2.8 this lens performs extremely well. Most lenses are a mess at f/2.8.
Corner Sharpness vs. Aperture:
This lens has a very flat field across all apertures. Corner sharpness isn't an issues with this lens unless you are using it on an extension tube to allow it to get to 1:1.
On a 25 mm extension tube the corner sharpness suffers a bit and becomes somewhat visible (see next section graph).
Sharpness and Resolution vs. Magnification:
This lens show some of the highest sharpness and resolution numbers in the 1:4 to 1:1 magnification range that I have ever measured. Nothing more need be said, this lens is very sharp in the center of the field and generally extremely sharp on the periphery also.
The price that you will pay for this sharpness is a significant decrease in the working distance compared to its longer focal length siblings.
The corner sharpness does suffer when a 25 mm extension tube is added to bring the magnification to near 1:1.
Performance: Sharpness vs. Magnification:
I have 4 lines that represent levels of performance from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This shows where this lens fits into the hierarchy that I have created.
The Nikon 55/2.8 AIS shows outstanding sharpness performance across the macro magnification range of 1:4 to 1:1.
Performance: Resolution vs. Magnification:
I have 4 lines that represent levels of performance from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This shows where this lens fits into the hierarchy that I have created.
The Nikon 55/2.8 AIS shows outstanding resolution performance across the macro magnification range of 1:4 to 1:1.
Resolving Power vs. Magnification:
This graph represents the smallest details that are able to be resolved by this lens at various magnificaitons. If the number doesn't get smaller as the magnification rises, there is little benefit to going up in magnificaiton with this lens. This situation is also called empty magnification.
Outstanding resolution. No problems.
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center of the field (around 0.10 pixels) and mild fringing (0.40 - 0.80 pixels) on the periphery. This fringing will only be minimally visible.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is very good, typical for a modern macro lens.
Flare: This lens shows no significant flare during testing.
Distortion: This lens shows no significant distortion during testing.
Image Samples:
About 1:3 magnification, f/4, cropped and resized:
Pixel level crop from the image above:
There is very good pixel level detail, no problems.
About 1:1 magnification, f/5.6, resized:
Pixel level crop from the image above:
About 1:1 magnification, f/5.6, 1 to 1 crop:
I shot this one at f/5.6 because when cropped down it really shows the limitation of depth of field at magnification. It also shows that depth of field is dependent upon viewing conditions. The above picture looks sharp across the entire relief of the coin and was shot at f/4. But when magnified, the viewing conditions change and the depth of field is lessened. Even at f/5.6, the depth of field is significantly less than the depth of the relief.
Conclusion:
This macro lens performs extremely well across the macro magnification range with some of the highest sharpness and resolution measurements that I have come across. The field is very flat and there is minimal color fringing.
This lens has very few drawbacks. The working distance is limited as you would expect with a 55 mm focal length. The other drawback for me is that it only focuses to 1:2 without assistance. It is easy to get to 1:1 magnification by adding a 25 mm extension tube ( or 27.5 mm Nikon PK-13). Adding the extension does cause the lens to lose some of its corner sharpness, but the resolution and sharpness in the center of the field remains outstanding.