rating: 5.00

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D
Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D(3) Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D(2) Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D(1)
Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D,Nikon’s most compact Micro lens for close-up and general photography

For those of us interested in doing up close close-up's, there are several options: reversing rings, attachment close-up lenses, extension tubes, bellows, macro couplers for stacking lenses, zoom lenses with a macro mode and true macro lenses. Since not all lenses work well on reversing rings and you loose a lot with most attachments, let me concentrate in the true macro lens options, micro in Nikon terms, all of them now with CRC, Close Range Correction technology.

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D Main Features

Close-up to approx. 0.22m/0.6 ft.

Close-Range Correction (CRC) system provides high performance at both near and far focusing distances

Nikon Super Integrated Coating for minimized flare and ghost, providing good color balance

90.4mm working distance

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D Specs

Weight  15.5 oz
Length  2.9 in
Lens Type  Fixed Focal Length Lens
Closest Focusing Distance  8.75 in
Diameter  2.8 in
Camera Format  35 mm SLR
Attachment / Filter Size  62 mm
Focus Type  Autofocus • Manual Focus
Min Aperture  f/32
Picture Angle  39 degrees
Focal Length  60mm
Groups / Elements  8 Elements in 7 Groups
Lens Max Aperture  f/2.8
Macro Lens  With Macro Lens
Macro Magnification  x 1

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D Performance

Overall   
This 60mm f/2.8 AF-D has been one of the lenses by which rest of the industry judges itself since 1989. The only thing it doesn't do compared to the newer 60mm f/2.8 AF-S is autofocus on Nikon's cheapest digital cameras, the D40, D40x and D60. Otherwise, I prefer it to the newer more expensive 60mm AF-S lens.

Focus
The lens racks in and out as you focus, There are three nested cups which, if you mouse over the image below, can see in action.

Front of 60mm f/2.8D. Roll mouse over to see it focus at 1:1.

Autofocus

Autofocus is fast and sure. Autofocus can hunt and grind a bit if you're running through the full range.

Since the focus range from near to far is so great, it's not unusual for AF to get a little confused if you're at the wrong end of the focus scale. It's better than the newest 60mm AF-S on the D300 and D3 at this.

Manual Focus

Manual focus requires you press the chrome unlock button and rotate the M - A ring to M.

Manual focus is swell once you get there.

Color Rendition

Color seems neutral and matches my other AF Nikkors.

Lateral Color Fringes 

There are no color fringes on the D300 or D3, which would correct them if the 60mm f/2.8 AF-D had any.

There are also no color fringes on the D200, which tells me that the 60mm f/2.8 AF-D simply has no color fringes.

Distortion  

On FX; the 60mm f/2.8 AF-D has no visible distortion (curving) of straight lines. The only way I'm able to measure this is to enlarge test images to 200% on my screen. The RMS distortion over for all my measured distances is only 0.196.

This 60mm AF-D is better than the newer 60mm f/2.8 AF-S, which has 0.376 RMS distorion under the same conditons. The distortion of the 60mm AF-S can be visible if you're looking for it.

On DX, it's not a problem.

Plug these figures into Photoshop CS2's lens distortion filter if you need perfection. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires hours of photography and calculations on the resulting data.

                FX and Film        DX
infinity            -0.1               0.0
30' (10m)         -0.2               0.0
10' (3m)           -0.3              tbd
3' (1m)             -0.2              tbd
1' (0.3m)          -0.1              tbd
1:1 life size      -0.2              tbd


Filters, Use with 

There's no problem, even on FX, using two stacked filters. There's no need for expensive thin filters.

Flash, Use with 

Since you have to get so close to your subject, the lens often will cast a shadow from the built-in flash, if you use it.

You're OK with a D300, and usually OK with a D200.

Forget it with a D40, D40x, D60 or D70. Their slightly smaller flashes don't reach high enough to clear the lens at 1:1.

You're fine with a shoe-mount flash.

It's silly to spend this much money on a specialized micro lens and not use the serious lighting it deserves, so don't worry about this.

Maximum Aperture   

The 60mm f/2.8 AF-D alters its optics as it focuses. It becomes slower as it's focused more closely.

Infinity                 f/2.8
10' (3m)                f/2.8
3' (1m)                  f/3.2
1' (0.3m)               f/3.5
10" (0.25m)          f/4
1:1 life size           f/5

Mechanics  

The Nikon 60mm AF-D is mostly made of metal, including the filter threads.

Barrel Exterior: Plastic.

Filter Threads: Metal.

Focus Ring: Rubber-covered metal.

Internals: Probably metal.

Mount: Dull-chromed brass.

Markings: White paint.

Serial Number: Laser-engraved on bottom of aperture ring.

USA Versions: Serial numbers prefixed with "US."

Ass-Gasket (dust seal at mount): No.

Noises When Shaken: Lots of klunking and clicking from all the glass and mechanics which have to move around inside to focus.

Sharpness 

This is an unquestionably excellent lens. If you can't get sharp images with it, you're doing something stupid like shooting at too small an aperture.

It's only slight limitation is if you're looking in the far corners of the FX frame with a microscope at f/2.8; if you are, the newer 60mm f/2.8 AF-S is slightly better there. Stopped down, you're only limited by diffraction and that's about it.

Nikon's specified MTF doesn't look that exciting, but that's because it's shown at f/2.8. Stop down a stop or two and you should get diffraction limited performance.

If you want a prettier looking MTF specification, pay an extra $200 for the newest AF-S version, but be forewarned: the AF-S' horrendous falloff at f/2.8 looks far worse than the sharp images from this AF-D lens at f/2.8 in the corners.


Working Distance   

Nikon 60mm AF-D at closest focus distance. Good luck lighting your subject!

I measure only 2-7/8" (73mm) between the front of the lens and the subject at the closest focus distance (1:1).

This is why I don't suggest 60mm micro lenses: you will get in the way of your lighting, making this lens mostly useless at 1:1 except for copying slides.

A 105mm gives you enough room to work and not block your light.

Think this is tight? The newest 60mm f/2.8 AF-S gives an inch (25mm) less working room!

    

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D user reviews

    "Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D is great lens for D40 series.
Doesn't do auto focus on the D40, but after 40 years of manual focusing, it is no big deal but all the other functions of the camera work with this lens, you have to lock the f-stop in at f/33 (D40 only other Nikons full function) but you can adjust the aperture setting manually with the camera "A" mode otherwise all digi auto functions work including auto aperture, most of macro photography is done in manual focus anyway and it takes sharp pictures even when you use close-up lens( the lens is marked MICRO but the term is used loosely, generally any picture taken 12 inches or less is considered macro). 60mm good for portraits and 2.8 allows usage without flash for softer effect, people, children, animals and even indoors were flash is not permitted also great for general type photo's. Remember the lens filter size is 62mm for UV and C-P-L if you use them. Does not replace the 50mm 1.8 but if you want something with macro use and close to 50mm, this is a plus and yes for those flower enthusiasts it can really make you proud. This lens can be left on almost all the time if you just want to take the camera without all the attachments. Most important it can be used on other Nikon cameras"
--- BD Artist rated: 5
    "Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D is one of my favorite lenses. i usually use it for my 1st pictures at dawn, and keep it close by in the woods for water scenes. it does a great job capturing colors, at it's sharp and easy to focus manually (for some reason, on this lens i seldom use AF). i'm less than thrilled when zooming in very far into an image -- it's not good for that. but closeups at 60mm have incredible detail -- a self-portrait i took made me cringe!"
--- Not Spying rated: 5
    "I received my micro lens yesterday and have had a fantastic experience finding a new universe to shoot. Coins, bugs, flowers, rings, everything is possible now with the Nikon 60mm f2.8 D-Series Micro. I highly recommend it! "
--- D. McNally rated: 5
    "This lens never ceases to amaze me. Before I could spend the big bucks for it, I tried cheap single element close up filters on other lenses and was not happy with the optical quality. Then I bought a cheap bellows on ebay and that was more of a hassle that it was worth. When I got this lens, I started getting the macro shots I wanted. The lens is VERY sharp and contrasty. It has 1:1 capability without extension tubes or any other accessories. The only thing to consider is you don't have much working distance. At 1:1, the subject is only a few inches from the lens. This can make it difficult to shoot insects and other critters that will be scared off. Also, being this close can cause the lens to block the light from the subject. I use a 1.4x teleconverter that increases the working distance a little, but not much. If you can't get that close, get the 105 macro. Otherwise, how can someone not like it??

Strengths:
optics 1:1 magnification without any accessories build quality seems to be very good for a plastic(polycarbonate is what they cal it) lens

Weaknesses:
short working distance can be a problem sometimes
"
--- Bill50 rated: 5
    "
You want Macro, I'll give you Macro! I removed this lens from it's box after purchasing and was very pleased with the weight of this sucker, and then I used it.

The results were amazing, sharp, fast, and easy to use. The deep lens element negates the need for a lens hood in most situations. However the thing I like about it is the limiting switch, speeds up the Auto-Focus process when shooting just straight portraits or straight macro.

However the one problem I found with the lens is even though it's a f/2.8, you focus in close and you loose a stop (f/3.8).
Strengths:
* Fast
* Sharp at Portrait or Macro Photography
* Heavy, well built
Weaknesses:
* Looses a stop when focused right in
"
--- Axle rated: 5
    "Best lens from Nikon
If I can only have one lens it will be this Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D. Actually I hardly remove it from my D50.I had to buy a D200 for birds photography because the 60mm was 'glued' to the D50. I use it for every thing from portrait to small insects. This lens is equal to 90mm 35mm equivalent, in the film days ~90-100 mm macro lens were the most popular. With digital many people had read the old books and think experts are using 100 mm macro lenses and dare not buy this 60mm and posted to every webs that 60 mm is too short for small insects. I took thousands of insect shots with this lens and will never use any other lens. It is very sharp, maybe the sharpest lens Nikon ever made. "
--- Ruchai rated: 5
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