Is this just a regular 55mm / f1:3.5 lens or something else? (Page 3): Actually, go to Ken Rockwell's chart. https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm Click on Digital...

therwol Loc: USA

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

Thank you.

Actually, go to Ken Rockwell's chart.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

Click on Digital SLRs. If you scroll around a bit, you'll see that pre-AI lenses can safely mount on all of the D3xxx and D5xxx cameras but none of the D7xxx cameras with the exception of the D7500.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

therwol wrote:

Actually, go to Ken Rockwell's chart.

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

Click on Digital SLRs. If you scroll around a bit, you'll see that pre-AI lenses can safely mount on all of the D3xxx and D5xxx cameras but none of the D7xxx cameras with the exception of the D7500.

Many thanks.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

I picked up an absolutely mint Nikon F in the Nikon carry case (leather?) w/a carrying/neck strap that has a Nikor-S Auto 1:1.4 50mm lens mounted on it plus this lens. I am unsure what exactly this lens is. Anyone care to enlighten me? Many thanks.

That is a 55mm f/3.5 macro lens. I own an earlier version of it. It seems to be mounted on an extension tube that brings the normally 1:2 closest reproduction ratio down to 1:1, meaning objects on film can be recorded the same size as they are in real life.

Nikon calls its macro lenses "Micro-Nikkors". Micrography generally requires at least a 10X lens, for at least a 10:1 reproduction ratio. Macro range is generally between 1:10 and 10:1, so the Micro Nikkor only gets to the middle of that range when using the extension tube. Nobody else uses the "micro" designation for macro lenses!

I also have a Nikon F (with Photomic FTn finder). It came in a leather case with a 50mm f/1.4 that I traded long ago. It's the classic, possibly most iconic 35mm film camera made from 1959 to 1974.

Attached is an image made with that 55mm f/3.5 macro lens and my Nikon FTn. View the download for best detail. I made that image in 1975 and copied the negative a couple of years ago with a 30mm f/2.8 macro lens on my Micro 4/3 camera.

(Download)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

therwol wrote:

Well, if you're interested, and it sounds like you... (show quote)

The 55mm macro is perfect for copy work. I used one on a copy stand rig for a decade at work. My current copy stand holds a Micro 4/3 body with a 30mm macro lens, the equivalent of a modern 60mm Micro Nikkor in function.

Those who photograph biting or stinging insects, snakes, and dangerous industrial processes will want a much longer macro lens! But the 55-60mm macro on full frame is handy for copying documents, photos, slides, negatives, stamps, coins, paintings, etc. AND it makes a really good portrait lens for two-person waist-up compositions and full length compositions.

Juy Loc: Delaware

therwol wrote:

If you want to see detail, look at the people in these pictures and also the ski lift at Heavenly Valley, easily a mile in the distance. Download and snoop around.

Yep those shots define it pretty well!

MJPerini

That is a really superb lens, I own one. I think yours is a second generation, I have the original.
These lenses have a unique feature, a 'compensating aperture'. You can tell by setting it to f/8 then looking through it at a bright wall or window. While looking focus the lens from infinity to close up. If the aperture gets physically larger, you have a compensating lens--- it is doing exposure correction for you as you focus closer.
This worked great with a hand held meter. It would be wrong with modern TTL metering.
These were right up here with the original 200mm f/5.6 Medical Nikkor with built in Ring flash which was fixed focus at ab bunch of different distances using diopter lenses supplied in the fancy leather case.....
It might be worth buying a Mirrorless camera that could mount it. I'm sure there are modern macro lenses that may be as good, but at the time, nothing could touch it.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

MJPerini wrote:

That is a really superb lens, I own one. I think y... (show quote)

Yep! I have the first generation chrome barrel 55mm f/3.5 as well. The compensating aperture was perfect for use with hand held meters.

I also have a 1980 55mm f/2.8 AI Micro Nikkor. It works best with TTL meters.

ELNikkor

[quote=ELNikkor]That lens will not fit onto a D7200. Just found out that it also won't fit onto my D200. Sorry! Just figured that since it fit on my D5100, D40, and my friend's D7500, it would also fit your D7200. Who'd have thunk Nikon would make it compatible with most bodies, but not all? Sorry about the mis-info. Still, keep the lens, you can get other bodies it will fit and work well on.

BebuLamar

[quote=ELNikkor]

ELNikkor wrote:

That lens will not fit onto a D7200. Just found out that it also won't fit onto my D200. Sorry! Just figured that since it fit on my D5100, D40, and my friend's D7500, it would also fit your D7200. Who'd have thunk Nikon would make it compatible with most bodies, but not all? Sorry about the mis-info. Still, keep the lens, you can get other bodies it will fit and work well on.

It won't fit on the D500, D600,610,700,750,780,800,810,850,1,2,3,4,5,6.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

BebuLamar wrote:

It won't fit on the D500, D600,610,700,750,780,800,810,850,1,2,3,4,5,6.

This why even we non- Nikon users get confused. Even actual Nikon users have troubles understanding their rules.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Deleted

BebuLamar

Mine does fit but someone had to cut into the aperture ring. It was a poor mod job. I much rather have it in original condition as my Df can mount it without problem. Among all the Nikon DSLRs, only the Df was designed to be compatible to that type of lens. Although you can use it on the D3xxx or D5xxx Nikon doesn't recommend it.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

I picked up an absolutely mint Nikon F in the Nikon carry case (leather?) w/a carrying/neck strap that has a Nikor-S Auto 1:1.4 50mm lens mounted on it plus this lens. I am unsure what exactly this lens is. Anyone care to enlighten me? Many thanks.

I have the EXACT same macro lens with the plastic mount cover. It is a fine piece of glass and I did use it manually mounted on my D810, D850 and now Z9. I worked but I there were some quirks using it on the Z9. However, it does produce some incredible macro photos. Your copy is gold! Hang onto it.

The Nikon M2 macro tube that is attached can be removed and you can use the lens by itself as a regular 55mm lens while still retaining the macro feature.

After seeing several of the master photo gurus posting that it cannot be used on the newer cameras I pulled mine copy out of the archives and just took these photos (without tripod) using my Z9 as I was curious to what it would do. First photo is taken with a my iPhone to show the distance with the M2 tube attached and the minimum working distance between the subject (Kennedy Half Dollar) and front of lens. The second photo is with the M2 tube attached and the third photo is using the 55mm lens without M2 tube attached.

Both photos are NOT cropped or post processed and are out of camera .jpg files.

(Download)

therwol Loc: USA

MJPerini wrote:

I have the original.These lenses have a unique feature, a 'compensating aperture'. You can tell by setting it to f/8 then looking through it at a bright wall or window. While looking focus the lens from infinity to close up. If the aperture gets physically larger, you have a compensating lens--- it is doing exposure correction for you as you focus closer. This worked great with a hand held meter.

The first version of this lens with the metal, scalloped focusing ring did have the compensating aperture. It was designed for metering off camera, and the aperture ring opened up slowly to compensation for the light falloff as the lens focused closer. The version the OP bought does not have this feature. It is a later version. It's just as well, as there could be issues with the first version when used with TTL metering.

AnotherBob

therwol wrote:

Well, if you're interested, and it sounds like you... (show quote)

Thank you for the education. I knew about the incompatibility with most modern bodies, but didn't understand why. Interesting that the Df could safely mount the pre-AI lenses.