jvandegr's Full Review: Hewlett Packard AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D Lens
In search of a good normal macro lens for my Nikon FM3A, I did a lot of research online, talked to several professional photographers, and found that two lenses were consistently mentioned: the Nikon 55mm 2.8 AIS, and the Nikon 60mm 2.8 D AF. Because the 60mm D AF has a 1:1 reproduction ratio and the 55mm AIS has a 1:2 reproduction ratio, I decided to spend some time testing the 60mm D AF because I thought it would be nice to have true “life size” reproduction without the extension tube required by the 55mm AIS. I spent some time in the local camera store with a demo lens, and then borrowed a friend’s recently purchased lens to do some real testing.
Features
The Nikon 60mm 2.8 D AF is a normal focal length lens specially designed for high resolution macro photography. With a true 1:1 reproduction ratio, this lens defines “life size”. This is an autofocus lens designed for use with all Nikon SLRs, although the autofocusing system will not work on manual bodies, such as the FM3A or F3. Apertures range from f2.8 to f32, making this a very versatile lens. The Nikon HN-22 lens hood is recommended for reducing flare. This lens accepts 62mm filters. It weighs approximately 1.0 lbs. and is just short of 3 inches in both length and diameter. This weight is enough to provide some balance on most camera bodies without adding much to your camera bag, and its size is relatively compact for a fast autofocus lens.
Mechanical Performance
Macro work is almost always best performed by manual focusing; autofocus lenses offer no advantages whatsoever in macro photography. Accordingly, Nikon was wise to include a large, auto-to-manual switch and a large, easy-to-grip manual focus ring on this lens. This rubberized grip is similar to those found on manual focus Nikkor AI and AIS lenses. Unfortunately, the manual focus ring on this lens does not perform as well as those on the AI and AIS lenses. Specifically, it is considerably over-dampened. This is better than under-dampening, but still less-than-desirable, given the precise focusing required in macro situations. Although I was able to achieve focus at very close distances every time, I felt like I was working harder to get the focus. Is this a reflection of a tendency toward cheaper construction in modern autofocus lenses? Possibly. Speaking of which, the aperture ring is without question the worst I have ever used, regardless of manufacturer (Canon, Sigma, Pentax, etc.). The plastic construction of this ring feels particularly cheap, but this is the least of my complaints. On both the demo lens and the new lens, it took several attempts to select any desired f-stop. The ring felt overly tight and failed to stop at any number without further adjustment. It never clicks easily into place, as other reviewers have suggested. Again, these observations are based on two 60mm D AF lenses. The salesperson in the camera store said that this is because apertures are usually selected within the camera on most new Nikons, so Nikon is less concerned about the quality of the aperture ring. Guess he forgot about the FM10, FM3A, and F3HP, not to mention all the photographers who find it easier to quickly twist a ring than select from a menu. I can’t excuse Nikon for this.
Aside from these issues, the overall feel of the lens is very good. It feels substantial, well-balanced, and the controls (rings, switches, indicators) are intuitively placed. The all metal mount attaches easily and securely to the FM3A and F5 bodies, which I used for testing the lens.
Optical Performance
This is a very sharp lens, corner to corner, especially from f4 to f32. As with any lens, it is sharpest at its moderate apertures, especially at f8 and f11. Here, this lens is likely to amaze almost anyone. It is still sharp at f2.8, but usually less so than the Nikon 55mm AIS at the same aperture, based on my test photos. MTF ratings collaborate these observations. In many shooting situations, this sharpness difference would not be significant enough to choose one lens over the other. However, f2.8 is a critical aperture in macro work for decreasing depth of field (blurring the background). Because of this, I consider the Nikon 55mm AIS to be an optically superior lens. Color rendition is nearly identical between these two lenses, and is simply superb in either case.
UPDATE: After taking more test photos at f2.8 with both the 55mm AIS and the 60mm 2.8D, I'm not as convinced that the 55mm AIS is always sharper than the 60mm 2.8D. The more photos I look at, the more I'm becoming convinced that these are equally sharp lenses under most circumstances.
Conclusions
Optically, this is a relatively fast and high-quality macro lens. Mechanically, this lens needs some refining, compared to the Nikon 55mm AIS. New, these lenses cost the same. Used, the 55mm AIS can be found for half the price. Which one should you buy? It depends on your needs. If you do a lot of true 1:1 macro shooting and don’t want to hassle with the extension tube for the 55mm AIS (which really isn’t a hassle), then you’re unlikely to go wrong the 60mm D AF if you can live with its few mechanical shortcomings. A good used 55mm AIS will probably give you years of sharp macro photography, as long as you don't need the autofocus or constant 1:1 reproduction.
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