Nikon Nikkor 55mm F/12 Non Ai Manual Focus Review
The Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 PC is the 5th of the 7 versions of the lens. There are ii notable changes in this version. Showtime, the lens has a improved coating, designated by the "C." Second, the aperture band was inverse to a scalloped style that makes it easier to grip. An issue to look out for is grease drying out or becoming oily. Almost all of the vintage macro lenses I have come beyond accept tighter focusing rings than they should. The 55mm Micro Nikkors accept been the worst. Out of the 7 or 8 I have come across, a couple had their focus rings completely locked up. One had so much oil on the aperture blades, drops had fallen off onto the elements. This version is a "not-Ai" lens. The lens mount has no cutout to interface with the Ai meter coupling ridge that is on modern SLRs and DSLRs. Trying to mountain this lens on ane of those camera bodies will cause damage. There are no problems with adapting the lens to a mirrorless photographic camera. Checking eBay prices on November 1, 2018, copies can be constitute for $twoscore-$60. Equally fourth dimension goes on prices will change with supply. Check eBay to meet what the electric current market place prices are. Lenses in better corrective condition and ones that accept accessories volition go for more money. Searching for all versions of the lens showed some going for less than $xl. Amazon prices were twice as much as what was existence sold on eBay. There were also fewer available with no pictures. I did not have much luck finding copies on the big online camera stores. The lens is just able to achieve 1:ii magnification on its own. The M2 extension tube is 27.5mm and when used allows for 1:ane magnification. The M2 tube will not striking the meter coupling ridge which means the lens can be used from 1:2 to ane:1 magnification on a DSLR. Another selection is to use a PK-3 extension tube. This tube is also 27.5mm long and has a meter prong coupling pin. It will pass metering information to film bodies with the meter prong. However, the metering data will non be correct due to lens extension. The PK-thirteen will not work. The tube is the correct length, 27.5mm, just has Ai meter coupling ridges. The Micro Nikkor PC will not easily mount onto the tube. If forced, the tube or lens will be damaged. UV Micro Nikkor 50mm f/4.5 - 1988. This lens was designed equally a replacement for the 55mm UV Micro Nikkor. It has half-dozen elements in 6 groups. Like the previous version, it was designed to be used for UV photography. The Beginner's Guide to Macro Photography The Complete Nikon System by Peter Braczko Structure quality of the lens is in line with the lenses manufactured during the 1970's. All of the parts are expertly machined. Even after 45 years, none of the parts are loose. Equally far as I can tell, everything is fabricated of metal. I am bold the majority of the lens is aluminum, with a nickle plated brass mount. There is a knurled rubber grip effectually the focus ring. I observe that the scalloped aperture ring does make it easier to grip. The discontinuity is clicky and moves in total stop increments. There is 1 exception, as the lens can be ready to f/iv. At that place are prongs on the lens to attach to a photographic camera's metering coupler. This feature is limited to being useful for Nikon motion-picture show camera bodies from the 1960's and 1970's. Cameras from the 1980's onward use an Ai ridge or CPU contacts instead. This versions has a non-Ai mountain. The lens volition put pressure on the Ai meter coupling ridge, potentially causing damage, and making information technology difficult/impossible to change the discontinuity on the lens. A conversion can be washed to notch out the aperture ring, allowing the lens to fit correctly. Nikon offered a service to catechumen lenses after introducing the Ai alter. The conversion is as well relatively easy to exercise. In that location are likely lenses that take been converted for auction, and they will usually exist described every bit existence "Ai'd." The focus ring on my copy of the lens sounds and feels similar the grease has stale up. This is not surprising because the lens is nearly fifty years onetime. The discontinuity ring and diaphragm work flawlessly. The optics are clear and have virtually no dust inside. Information technology is in great usable condition. I have had several other versions of this lens in the past. I did not go on runway of the verbal versions, simply three had problems that rendered them useless. In one re-create the grease had broken downwardly into oil and there were drops of it inside the lens along with the diaphragm bract being completely coated. The grease in two other copy had stale up and the focus band was locked into identify. Testing was washed with a Sony A7 and Novoflex adapter. For college magnification the lens was reversed on a PB-4 bellows using a BR-2A reversing ring and a D750. RAW files were exported from darktable with the default acuminate and base of operations curve practical. I am going through vi other macro lenses to find one to go along. The lens is very well corrected. It has a flat field of view, no noticeable field curvature, and no chromatic aberration. At that place is vignetting, but that goes abroad when the lens is stopped down to the sharper apertures. Unmarried test images were taken with the lens on a Nikon Lead-four, which was mounted to a WeMacro motorized focus rail. I did not make notes on the aperture being used equally it is difficult to go a unmarried image in focus. The depth of field started off razor sparse, and only got smaller with further bellows extension. Focus stacking would become better results. The lens works well when reversed. No adapter or special slice of equipment is needed to control the lens when reversed. The 52mm front end threading means it screws right onto a Nikon BR-2A without the need of a stride upwardly or footstep down ring. This is a lens worth getting with 2 caveats. The first is that you lot don't already have a usable macro lens in the fifty-60mm focal range. 2d, the price is adept. In that location are lots of other comparable lenses that perform similarly. The lens is a expert purchase for around $fifty, especially if you want to reverse the lens.
Used Price and Where to Buy
Lens Specifications
Manufacture Nikon Fabricated in Japan Year Released 1973? Original Price $???.?? Version Micro-Nikkor-P.C. Elements Groups 5 ele. four gr. Focal Length 55mm Aperture f/three.5-32 # Aperture Blades 6 Discontinuity Control Manual, Auto Diaphragm Focus Type Manual Hard Infinity Stop Yes Magnification 1:2, one:one w/ extension tube Minimum Focus Distance 24.1cm (9-1/ii"), 21.4cm (viii-thirteen/32") Working Distance eleven.1cm (4-three/viii"), 5.7cm (2-1/four") Filter Threads 52mm Weight 240g, 344g w/ extension tube Dimensions Construction Material Aluminum Accessories
Lens Versions
Sources
Build Quality
Design
Sample Variation
Testing setup
Exam Shot Sharpness Comparison
Other Examination Shots
Close Up & Macro
Reversing the Lens
Comparable Lenses
Conclusion
Source: https://www.outsidetheshot.com/nikon-pc-55mm-f-3-5-macro-lens-review/
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