Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat Review

According provided by Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat Lens thanks to the store www.fotika.com.uawhere you can find a huge number of different used photographic equipment, including this model.

Review of Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Review of Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Nikon's 'Micro 60 (55) /2.8' range of autofocus lenses includes four models:

  1. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 55mm 1: 2.8 - produced from September 1986 to November 1989. Optical design - 6 elements in 5 groups, the same as the manual predecessor Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1: 2.8 (AI-S).
  2. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8 (MKI) - was produced from 1989 to 1993. Optical design - 8 elements in 7 groups.
  3. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8D (MKII) - the second version, released from 1993 to 2008. The main difference from the version MKI is an opportunity transmitting the focusing distance to the camera.
  4. Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat (MKIII) - still in production since January 2008. This model is presented in this review. It is fundamentally different from the previous two.

Prior to the Nikon 60 / 2.8G, all 'Nikon Micro Nikko' macro lenses were manufactured exclusively in Japan. But with the release of the Nikon 60 / 2.8G, with its newfangled plastic body, some of the production moved to Thailand. Thus, you can find Nikon 60 / 2.8G made both in Japan (just for this review I was lucky to get a Japanese version), and in Thailand.

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Nikon 60 / 2.8G focuses quite quietly thanks to 'SWM'-motor (Silent Wbird Motor - quiet wave motor) and refers to the lens'AF S'type (with built-in motor focusing), and therefore it will automatically focus on any Nikon digital SLR camera.

Focusing speed is fast. Most likely due to the fast autofocus, this macro lens and lost focus limiter... If there was also a limiter here, it would be possible to achieve an instant reaction, which is very important when refocusing again. Nikon 60 / 2.8G is one of the few lenses in which I am completely satisfied with the autofocus speed in macro photography (but not the accuracy and tenacity).

During focusing, the front and rear lenses remain stationary, as the lens uses internal focus, for which the letters are responsible on the case 'IF'-'Iinternal Focus' - 'Internal Focus'.

The minimum focusing distance is only 18.5 cm, while you can shoot macro with a 1: 1 magnification (i.e. the subject being shot will be projected onto the camera's matrix in a real 1: 1 size). Nikon 60 / 2.8G has a window with a distance scale in meters and feet, as well as a special scale with a magnification ratio from 1:10 to 1: 1. There is also a depth of field scale, but only for F / 32 values. The lens was cheated with a mark for working in the infrared spectrum, as well as a hard stop for fast focusing to infinity.

On the lens housing you can find focus switch 'M / A - M'... In the 'M / A' position, autofocus operates with constant manual focus priority. The 'M / A' mode is very convenient and useful - you do not need to switch the lens to the 'M' mode for manual focus or focus correction. As a result, I turned on 'M / A' and forgot about this switch forever.

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Let me remind you that MDF is measured from the subject to the focal plane (i.e., to the camera matrix). Due to the length of the lens, it is not always clear how close to shoot with 1: 1 magnification. I have measured that when focusing on MDF, the distance from the filter to the subject is only 4.5 centimeters. If you install a hood and try to shoot macro with maximum magnification, then the distance between the subject and the hood will be only 1 cm.In any case, when shooting at very small focusing distances, the lens is very close to the subject, and if this object is alive creature, then it will not be delighted when it will be poked with a lens. Because of this feature, it is recommended to use longer macro lenses such as Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105mm 1: 2.8D or Nikon ED AF Micro Nikkor 200mm 1: 4D.

For macro photography in the range from 25 cm to MDF, the built-in flash turns out to be useless - the lens completely or partially blocks its light. These problems are aggravated even more when using a hood - even with additional, external light sources, you can easily get a shadow from it.

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Useful observation: despite the fact that the lens has a large, wide, rubberized focus ring, it rotates 180 degrees, which is not that much for a macro lens. While working, I noticed one little thing that does not work very well with the lens. The bottom line is the following - in order to slightly move the focusing ring, you need to 'rip' it from its place. At the same time, smooth focusing is lost, since after such a 'jerk' the ring flies over the desired value. The force is not that great, but when working in macro mode, where, due to the very small depth of field, every degree of rotation plays a huge role, this 'slightly jerky' focusing method is very nerve-racking. A similar effect is found on many other lenses, most pronounced on the 'dark' Nikon ED AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm 1: 3.5-5.6G SWM VR IF Aspherical.

You won't notice such a trifle during automatic focusing, but I personally experienced that during manual focusing in macro mode it is very unnerving. I would like a real `` oil '' focusing from such a nanocrystalline macro lens, for example, as in Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 1: 2,8 f = 100mm T *. I want to emphasize that this is not a problem, but slim lens featurethat 99% of users will not notice.

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Another observation: the focusing ring is very weakly 'stretched' in the range from infinity to 50 cm. If we take the classic 'half a ruble', eg, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G, then in the latter the full stroke of the focusing ring from infinity to the MDF equal to 45 cm is as much as 200 degrees. At the same time, the focusing ring of the Nikon 60 / 2.8G in the range from infinity to 50-40 cm rotates only 15-20 degrees, which is 10 times less than that of 'fifty dollars'. Thus, for ordinary standard photo tasks that do not require macro photography, with the usual 'fifty dollars'it will be much more convenient to focus manually. This little nuance has a big impact on the convenience when shooting portraits with a macro lens.

During focusing, the lenses move behind and in front of the diaphragm (that is, not one group), most likely this is the use of Nikon CRC technology - Close Range Correction - image correction at short focusing distances, which additionally displaces some lenses during focusing by very small focusing distances.

When testing this lens, I noticed that with the front cover on, trying to auto focus from infinity to MDF takes about twice as much time as with the cover removed. This means that in low light conditions, the lens will focus more slowly, trying to 'catch' on something. In conditions with normal illumination, the lens is much quicker to drive lenses from infinity to MDF, even if it still fails to focus on anything. Typically 'AF' type lenses have the same lens speed and travel time from MDF to infinity.

There is a message from some users that with some cameras, this lens does not want to start focusing automatically if the image is initially out of focus. It is treated with an easy manual focus correction, after which the automation comes back to normal. Perhaps this is due to the algorithm of the focusing system.

Optical design Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Optical design Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

The optical design of the lens consists of 12 elements in 9 groups, with 2 elements being aspherical and one made of low-dispersion 'Nikon ED' glass. Nikon 60 / 2.8G has an 'N' in its name. 'N' stands for 'Nano Crystal Coat' - nanocrystalline coating of optics. Such enlightenment allows you to cope well with glare and flare, and also creates excellent color reproduction. Unfortunately, only one lens has' N'-coating, the rest of the lenses have the usual Nikon multi-coating. By the way, I have not yet seen Nikon lenses that have more than one 'N' coated lens.

Aperture blades Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Aperture blades Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

The Nikon 60 / 2.8G aperture consists of nine blades that form an almost even hole at any F value. Like most macro lenses like this, the Nikon 60 / 2.8G can use F / 2.8 only when focusing on infinity. As soon as you start focusing towards MDF, the number F increases proportionally. When focusing on MDF, you can shoot with a maximum aperture of F / 4.8. Aperture closes to F / 32 when focusing on infinity and to F / 57 when focusing on MDF.

Focus Mode Switch Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

Focus Mode Switch Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat

The lens is assembled well, does not cause any mistrust in the hands. The bayonet is metal, the thread for light filters is plastic, the body is made of plastic. Nikon 60 / 2.8G weighs 425 grams. The set includes a lens hood Nikon HB-42, which can be installed backwards. In this position, access to the focusing ring is completely lost.

The lens uses small filters with a diameter of 62 mm.

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat Lens Hood

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat Lens Hood

As befits a macro lens - it creates a very sharp image, even at open apertures. Only on strongly clamped apertures diffraction makes itself felt. Despite the large number of special elements in the optical scheme, the lens still suffers from chromatic aberrations a little. Plus, when focusing at infinity and shooting at F / 2.8, a strong vignette is noticeable. Nikon 60 / 2.8G handles side and backlight well. I did not notice any noticeable distortion. In macro photography, aberrations are a little unnerving, which color the area in front of focus in purple, and the area behind the focus in green.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 145 MB, 14 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the camera Nikon D700 и Nikon D80. On Nikon DX cameras (i.e. cropped cameras) EGF lens will be 90mm.

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat Lens Hood

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat Lens Hood

Prices for Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat can look at that link, or in the following price block:

All autofocus MICRO / MC NIKKOR lenses

Z-mount FX:

  1. Nikon Nikkor Z MC 50 mm 1:2.8
  2. Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105 mm 1: 2.8 VR S

F-mount FX:

  1. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 50 mm 1:2.8 R-UW
  2. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 55 mm 1:2.8
  3. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1:2.8
  4. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1: 2.8D
  5. Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat (Japan or Thailand)
  6. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1:2.8
  7. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1: 2.8D
  8. Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 105 mm 1: 2.8G ED VR SWM IF Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat (Japan or China)
  9. Nikon ED AF Micro Nikkor 200 mm 1: 4D
  10. Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 70-180 mm 1: 4.5-5.6D ED

F-mount DX:

  1. Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 40 mm 1: 2.8G SWM
  2. Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 85 mm 1: 3.5G ED VR SWM IF Micro 1: 1

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat on ZK

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat on ZK

Results

Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Micro 1: 1 Nano Crystal Coat is a pretty lens. True, for many photo tasks in macro photography, it is still better to use longer lenses, for example - Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 105mm 1: 2.8D... If the money for the new Nikon 60 / 2.8G is a pity, then the old version Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8D (MKII) it won't be much worse. And for Nikon DX cameras there is a cropped analogue of this lens - Nikon DX AF-S Micro Nikkor 40mm 1: 2.8G SWM.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Sasha Minsky

 

 

Comments: 34, on the topic: Review of the Nikon N AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm 1: 2.8G SWM ED IF Aspherical Nano Crystal Coat

  • Sergei

    I had it, then sold it, now I'm sorry, I really like the color rendering from it and the macro is cool!

  • Igor

    A couple of months I faced the choice of 60 from nikon or 60 from tamron. Tamron outweighed. What I do not regret even an inch. The first thing that won is toad. The price tag is the difference at times with the native glass. 2.0 versus 2.8 for Nikon. (Although 2 is nothing if there is no artistic intent). Speed ​​.. Nikon tears Tamron (although in Tamron there are all the same buns in the form of internal focusing and autofocus with the ability to twist hands etc.
    In one with Arkady I agree, if for insects then the focal one needs more than you can say.
    I suppose that in Tamara my Tamron can and will reveal its potential .. As long as there is only a film from the full frame. I'll wait for the summer. Then I'll try.
    On the crop. ? ... Well, I don't understand it yet. I'm talking about mine.
    And so .. As always, Arkady ... a good overview. Thanks.

    • Mike

      I will please you, but Tamron 60 is an exceptionally cropped lens and in ff you will see a beautiful black circle.

  • Sergei

    I forgot to add that I sold because he was trying to find an object at close range while focusing, apparently because it was a makrik with such firmware.

  • Igor K

    Oh thank you! Your reviews are like a good book - they definitely come across at the right time) And now I am looking at the macrics for universal stock tasks. The pictures will be like your last example with a clothespin. Advise for a full frame is it focal or better than 90,105?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In general, 105 is preferred.

      • Igor K

        thank you

    • Spider beetles

      Finally, prices in rubles. For more than a year, he frowned at the end of the reviews, recalling the hryvnia rate. The review, as always, is excellent. Everything about the case. I myself use the 105th.

  • Igor K

    camera ff

  • Anton

    The picture shows nothing special. At a price of $ 1000, you get a fairly highly specialized lens without any special strengths.

  • Ivan

    I have been using this lens for 1.5 years. It’s not so easy to take a close-up without additional lighting, but I use it as universal and satisfied) You can take a look yourself http://vk.com/sagirov_ivan_foto ... I think he is worth his money) compared with others) he won)))

  • Alexander Gvozd

    Great lens! It’s a pleasure to shoot them, the photos are worthy! You can shoot not only macro, but also portraits, objects and even the landscape! Thanks for the review!

  • Oleg

    You’re a strange person, Arkady) on portrait and telephoto lenses you have some flowers in the macro genre, but you didn’t bother to take examples of normal macro on a macro lens)

    • Alexander Malyaev

      But I agree. For street photography, there are much more interesting options, but its profile side - macro - is practically not disclosed.

  • Sasha Minsky

    The glass is super, I completely agree with the review about its versatility. It focuses quickly, the picture is sharp and juicy.

  • Alexey Fedotov

    As always, Arkady’s article is on top, everything is clear on the shelves, I own it;) 105g and I am very pleased with it. Thanks for the review.

  • Alexey Fedotov

    By the way, a friend’s question has a previous version of this model and a d90 carcass, so after a few clear shots it focuses over and the subsequent pictures are taken with back focus, everything worked well on my d800 camera, did anyone encounter this problem. Please tell me.

  • Alexey Fedotov

    People!!!! And what has all the money already contributed? Well, with a scraper on the gimbal, spend a couple of hours !!! Let's help the whole world Arkady !!!! He is trying for us alone, and we won’t thank that or what? All run to ATMs and web wallets you give to tomorrow by 70%, and so if inflation is slow we will eat everything sooner than share !!!

  • Alexey Fedotov

    Today I’ll go and translate another 500 !!!

  • anonym

    you didn't guess with a light bulb in the photo, for such photos you need 6F12P or 6S19P, here they have an electrode system - "beauty" just for macro, well, this is not the topic, if anything, erase my text

  • Ariana

    Good afternoon. I really need advice on choosing a lens for the Nikon D3200 camera!
    A portrait is needed to shoot wedding details, for example, to take portraits of people outdoors and indoors (in apartments) with good blur and aperture.
    Thinking of buying a 85mm 1.8G. But I'm not sure that it will be possible to shoot portraits in the apartment, especially if the apartment is small! What do you think about it? Are my doubts justified? Perhaps you will tell another fixed-lens portrait, for example 60 mm 2.8 Af-S? (Budget for more than 12 000 UAH)
    Thank you very much!

  • Peter

    The stabilizer is not enough for him.
    A clothespin excites a little)

  • Ilya

    Good
    What are the alternatives in the line and for other manufacturers with a price tag of up to 100000r?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      You can look at the selection here.

  • Novel

    I am looking at a used one, I will buy 7200 for a crop item. Or is it better to consider 105? Although it seems to me that it will be necessary to go far with him, since it will already be 157mm ...

  • Andrei

    Test photos on nikon d 7000, nikon d750 with this glass and 105d

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/48Sq2T7FCN9cxXVLA

  • Basil

    Already 100 years in a row I read that 105mm is preferable. Preferred for what? To take an ant's eye? Then yes, and it’s even better to take 200mm and fasten it onto the macro rings, then it’s not so much that you can shoot the eyes, the carnivores of the ant. Why does no one understand that 60mm with macro sharpness was invented for food photography or any other subject? What is also preferred here 105?

Add a comment

Copyright © Radojuva.com. Blog author - Photographer in Kiev Arkady Shapoval. 2009-2023

English-version of this article https://radojuva.com/en/2014/12/nikon-n-af-s-60-mm-2-8g-ed-if/?replytocom=80506

Versión en español de este artículo https://radojuva.com/es/2014/12/nikon-n-af-s-60-mm-2-8g-ed-if/?replytocom=80506