Nikon Micro Nikkor Non AI 55mm F3.5 P Manual Focus Lens: I am very interested in macro photography. I have been watching for a macro lens on e-bay and I am many Nikon Micro Nikkor Al...

richardaparks Loc: Florida

I am very interested in macro photography. I have been watching for a macro lens on e-bay and I am many Nikon Micro Nikkor Al 55mm F3.5 manual lenses at attractive prices. I shoot a D7000. Does anyone have any experience with this lens? They are advertised with a ring that produces 1:1 images. Thank you for any comments or suggestions.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Good lens, manual focus, which shouldn't be a problem,. Personally I like the sigma 50mm macro. It goes to 1:1 with no adapter, and is auto focus.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

This is a non Ai mount lens & it will damage your cameras Ai follower tab. You need one that has been modified to Ai specs in order to be able to use it. There are plenty on eBay that have been thus modified.You can tell which ones have because they will have 2 rows of aperture numbers plus an Ai ridge on the mount end of the aperture ring.. The 55mm length is suitable for static subjects like flowers, but if your interest lies in insects, then a longer focal length lens like a 90-105 is better suited as you will not have to get as close to your subjects. Join the "True Macro" forum here on UHH for more info. I am in that forum & I shoot lots of macro with older manual focus lenses.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Just to clarify, it's not that you can't get insect images with a short macro like a 55mm, it's just that you need auxiliary lighting & insects that are not moving around. The attached shot was taken with my 105, at about 1/2 life size & then cropped (a Nikon D7100). I also used a ring light... The Male Carpenter Bee was "sleeping" on my hose reel...

(Download)

richardaparks Loc: Florida

Good information. Thank you.

richardaparks Loc: Florida

Thank you. I have much to learn and UHH is an outstanding resource.

Nikonist Loc: Ellensburg WA

I used to own the non-AI version of this lens and it was one of the sharpest I've ever used in film bodies. I suggest you check out AI conversion if you bring it into the digital world.
http://legacy2digital.com/nikon/convert-my-lens
http://www.aiconversions.com/

richardaparks Loc: Florida

Thank you for the comments and contacts. Very useful information.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

richardaparks wrote:

I am very interested in macro photography. I have been watching for a macro lens on e-bay and I am many Nikon Micro Nikkor Al 55mm F3.5 manual lenses at attractive prices. I shoot a D7000. Does anyone have any experience with this lens? They are advertised with a ring that produces 1:1 images. Thank you for any comments or suggestions.

Since the lens you describe is an AI lens, it will not damage your camera. The correct extension tube for 1:1 is the PK-13. This is the "normal" lens on my Df. I personally prefer longer lenses for most of my close-up work.

Edit: Well, I see in your title you say Non-AI, but AI in your post. You confuse me. If non-AI, you can still use it with the PK-13, for ratios 1:2 to 1:1. There is no optical difference between the two versions.

richardaparks Loc: Florida

It is a non AI. Sorry for any confusion. As I understand you I can safely use the non AI on my D7000 with the extension. Thank you.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

richardaparks wrote:

It is a non AI. Sorry for any confusion. As I understand you I can safely use the non AI on my D7000 with the extension. Thank you.

Yes, as long as it is the PK-13. The non-Ai versions were supplied either with an M, M2, or PK-3 extension tube, neither of which you should use on the D7000.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I see that you have an interest in macro-photographs. I invite you to view the UHH True Macro-Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-102-1.html . This is the forum to ask questions or discuss macro equipment and macro techniques, as well as share macro images.

To place Macro Forum on your UHH home page, you can subscribe here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/section_list.jsp .

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

richardaparks wrote:

I am very interested in macro photography. I have been watching for a macro lens on e-bay and I am many Nikon Micro Nikkor Al 55mm F3.5 manual lenses at attractive prices. I shoot a D7000. Does anyone have any experience with this lens? They are advertised with a ring that produces 1:1 images. Thank you for any comments or suggestions.

From what I have read, a longer macro will be better in terms of distance to subject. I haven't done a comparison, but that's what I read here, and it led me to get a Nikon 105mm on ebay. Very nice lens.

Nikonhermit Loc: In This Place

Screamin Scott wrote:

This is a non Ai mount lens & it will damage y... (show quote)

Scott, you are the right person to ask about the old 200mm AI Micro-Nikkor lens I have lying around. Would you recommend it for use on a Nikon D800-series camera?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Only way to know how for sure whether you will like the results is to use it. It won't damage the camera since it is an AI mount. I have one of them. I don't use it much as I also have a 180mm f2.8 and the older 200 is an f4... that said, I do shoot with any number of older manual focus lenses. Both my D300 as well as my D700 are able to have the focal length & maximum aperture input in the cameras menu system...

Nikonhermit wrote:

Scott, you are the right person to ask about the old 200mm AI Micro-Nikkor lens I have lying around. Would you recommend it for use on a Nikon D800-series camera?