Nikon AF 70-180mm f/4.5-5.6D Zoom Micro-Nikkor ED Lens

MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO I USED THE VIVITAR SERIES I 90-180 FLAT FIELD ZOOM LENS FOR MACRO WORK. THE LENS WAS SUPERB. NIKON HAS BROUGHT BACK THE CONCEPT OF A TRUE FLAT FIELD ZOOM AND ADDED AUTO FOCUS. SINCE THE VIVITAR I HAVE OWNED AND USED THE 55MM, 105MM AND 200MM NIKON MICROS BUT WHEN IN THE FIELD THE TOTAL WEIGHT WAS JUST TOO MUCH....I TRADED THEM FOR THE 70-180 AND ADDED A PB-6 BELLOWS AND PROMASTER 3 RING AUTO FOCUS EXTENSION RING SET.
WITH A STURDY BOGAN TRIPOD AND BALL HEAD I'M BACK IN BUSINESS WITH A LOT LESS WEIGHT. I USE MANUAL FOCUS AT EXTREMELY CLOSE DISTANCES AND AUTO FOCUS FOR THE MORE GENERAL SCENES. PHOTOS OF THE PISTILS AND STAMENS OF AFRICAN VIOLETS ARE SHARP, CLEAR AND BETTER THAN 2X LIFE SIZE USING THE EXTENSION TUBES AND A D70.

UNLIKE SINGLE FOCAL LENGTH MICROS WHERE ONE MUST MOVE THE LENS/CAMERA RIG TOWARD OR AWAY FROM THE SUBJECT TO GET THE PROPER FRAMING, THIS LENS ALLOWS THE FOCUS RING AND THE ZOOM RING TO BE USED TOGETHER TO CAPTURE FOCUS AND FRAMING.
FLAT FIELD COPYING OF ART WORK, OLD PHOTOS OR THE PRINTED WORD ARE RENDERED IN FINE DETAIL WITH THIS LENS. AT NORMAL FOCUSING DISTANCES ITS RESULTS EQUAL MY 80-200 F2.8 NIKKOR, AT CLOSE DISTANCES ITS RESULTS ARE NOT DISTIGUISHABLE FROM THE 105 OR 200MM MICROS. I'VE USED THIS LENS REGULARLY SINCE 1998 AND IT HAS NEVER FAILED TO DELIVER EXCELLENT RESULTS.
BY THE WAY, THIS LENS WORKS WITH MY 35 YEAR OLD F2A, MY F5 ANNIVERSARY AND BOTH OF MY D70's!

FOR SOME, SPEED WILL BE THE SHORTFALL OF THIS LENS GIVEN THE f2.8 MACRO PRIMES ON THE MARKET TODAY. FOR ME, WHEN I NEED SPEED THE 85MM f1.8 OR THE 80-200 f2.8 READILY FILL THE BILL.

VIVITAR 90-180 f4.5 MACRO ZOOM, VIVITAR 55MM f3.5 MACRO, NIKKOR 55MM f3.5, 105 f2.8 AND 200MM f4 IF MICRO LENSES.

SINCE 1974 NIKON HAS OFFERED PRIME TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE (WHEN I'VE NEEDE IT, WHICH HAS BEEN RARE!).