Nikon 55mm f/2.8 Micro AI-S Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

William Kazak
( Professional)

Review Date
January 26, 2005

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 1 of 11

Price Paid: $350.00 from Adorama

Summary:

The sharpest lens in the Nikon line. Good for closups. Also great on the bellows. Compact. Very decent flare control with a lens shade added.

Strengths:

I wish the F2.8 was an F2. Then it would be fantastic as a normal lens. As it is, it is too slow for indoors available light.

Weaknesses:

F2.8 is slow to me on this focal length but ok on a zoom or a telephoto.

Similar Products Used:

Most all Nikon lenses.

Customer Service:

None.

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

Toastesser
( Intermediate)

Review Date
November 22, 2004

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 11

Price Paid: $150.00 from used

Summary:

Went to town to pick a Sigma 105 Macro or 60/105mm micro, depending on the price I could get. Peeking in a stores window I saw the the (used, mint condition) 55 AF one knowing that the AI-S version was a very good one. For the price payed I skipped on the newer ones and I am very pleased with the results. 55 might be a little short for bugs, but I don't like bugs anyway, lol. For anything else it is great and gives 1:1. I also use it for studio shots and I like it there as well (can be a little bit to sharp, lol)

Strengths:

picture quality (what else counts on a micro?) the low weight and small size makes it easy to pick it as 2nd or 3rd for a walkaround.

Weaknesses:

maybe the plastic build, but it's already 15 years old and still very good.

Similar Products Used:

no other micro lenses

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: nasution
(Beginner)

Review Date
December 2, 2003

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 11

Price Paid: $100.00 from Second Hand Cameras

Summary:

This is a review of AF Micro Nikkor 55/2.8. I want to give a review of this lens because it's really a good lens and I have to put the review here because I couldn't find dedicated place for this lens. It has the same construction as the manual version, so optical quality is (i think) identical though I never compare both. It goes to 1:1. However, it's not so convenience working in life size reproductin with this lens because the distance is so small. You need a TC for longer distance. The AF of my lens is broken so I cannot tell you how fast it is although AF is not really necessary in macro. That's the reason why I could get it cheaply. I don't think the distance scale is important. It's only important to know the magnification ratio you're working on.

Strengths:

Optical quality 1:1 magnification

Weaknesses:

Plastic construction Small focusing ring Useless distance scale

Similar Products Used:

AF Nikkor 35-70 /2.8 D macro

Customer Service:

never used

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Linda Vogt
(Expert)

Review Date
November 18, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 11

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

One of Nikon's best.

Strengths:

Really sharp and contrasty, close and far, wide open, centre to corner. Metal finish, 52mm thread, low flare, low distortion. Overall quite excellent.

Weaknesses:

Only goes to 1:2 and it sucks in a lot of dust as you focus from one extreme to another.

Similar Products Used:

105/2.8 AF Micro, 50/1.8 AF, 200/4 Micro MF, 55/1.2 MF, 55/2.8AF (yes AF).

Customer Service:

N/A

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Morris Gallimore
(Casual)

Review Date
September 6, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5,
3 votes

Review 5 of 11

Price Paid: $200.00 from Used

Summary:

This is truly a gem of a lens. As a macro lens 1:2 it is great but donæt let that stop you from using it as a normal lens for both indoor and outdoor photography. I enjoy natural light photography and this has proven to be a very practical lens for this purpose providing high resolution and excellent contrast even at f2.8 to make these pictures simply stand out. Whem I travel I take the 20mm f2.8, 55mm f2.8 and the 105mm f2.5 which is sufficient weaponry with my FE2 to take some breathtaking photos. Simply a great lens

Strengths:

1:2 macro + high quality normal lens in a very compact package. No need for a lens hood (glass is well recessed so flare is not an issue).

Weaknesses:

None I can think of.

Similar Products Used:

50mm f1.8 AIS, 50mm f1.4 AF, Minolta 50mm 1.8 (55mm f2.8 provides better resolution and contrast than all of these even at 2.8).

Customer Service:

None

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.