60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

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williamkazak
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p.1 #1 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

Here is the Photozone review;
http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikkor-aps-c-lens-tests/394-nikkor_60_28

Sep 05, 2008 at 07:41 AM

chemprof
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p.1 #2 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

Looks like the AF-D version is essentially just as good - and keeps diffraction at bay a little better at small apertures. The only caveat here is that the tests at Photozone are at near infinity focus.

Gerald

Sep 05, 2008 at 10:06 AM

Jack White
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p.1 #3 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

Without stirring the pot as I don't know the answer, how good are photozone MTF tests? Generally considered reliable? Interesting that my 28-70mm f/2.8 holds up in resolving power to a 60mm f/2.8 prime. I looked at the 105mm f/2.8 VR MTF charts and the bars peak at the testing limits. That's sharp!

Edited on Sep 05, 2008 at 10:12 AM

Sep 05, 2008 at 10:12 AM

panos.v
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p.1 #4 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

One thing to remember is that photozone only tests one lens. If they get a dud, or a particularly good/bad one you end up with non-realistic results. Plus they cannot do any macro distance tests either, which is kind of useless for macro lenses.

Sep 05, 2008 at 10:35 AM

90 5.0
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p.1 #5 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I am not impressed, I mean a "g" macro lens. How are you supposed to shoot this with a Nikon Extension tube

?

Nikon extension tubes don't have contacts so you have to use lenses with an aperture ring on them, or use Kenko tubes...

Maybe they will come out with some quality af-s compatible tubes now

Sep 05, 2008 at 12:28 PM

AGeoJO
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p.1 #6 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

panos.v wrote:
One thing to remember is that photozone only tests one lens. If they get a dud, or a particularly good/bad one you end up with non-realistic results.

Not quite true. They test off the shelf lenses loaned by people. On common lenses, they can get more than one copy. They tested two copies on the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Micro VR, for example.

panos.v wrote:
Plus they cannot do any macro distance tests either, which is kind of useless for macro lenses.

That's true. However, what I consider more of a drawback is that they do the test on crop cameras....

Edited on Sep 05, 2008 at 12:37 PM

Sep 05, 2008 at 12:36 PM

chemprof
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p.1 #7 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

90 5.0 wrote:
I am not impressed, I mean a "g" macro lens. How are you supposed to shoot this with a Nikon Extension tube

?

Nikon extension tubes don't have contacts so you have to use lenses with an aperture ring on them, or use Kenko tubes...

Maybe they will come out with some quality af-s compatible tubes now

I wouldn't buy one of the current Nikon extensions tubes. It's utter nonsense that they haven't updated their tubes or bellows. I'd buy the Kenkos.

Gerald

Sep 05, 2008 at 12:57 PM

chemprof
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p.1 #8 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

Jack White wrote:
Without stirring the pot as I don't know the answer, how good are photozone MTF tests? Generally considered reliable? Interesting that my 28-70mm f/2.8 holds up in resolving power to a 60mm f/2.8 prime. I looked at the 105mm f/2.8 VR MTF charts and the bars peak at the testing limits. That's sharp!

The photozone tests are very reliable, but as someone else pointed out, they usually only test one lens, so you may not see what type of variability there might be. They usually do comment on decentering, and sometimes test a second lens if they got a bad one (like with the 70-200 VR, for example).

Gerald

Sep 05, 2008 at 12:59 PM

chemprof
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p.1 #9 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

To summarize what I see, I think there's no compelling reason to "upgrade" a 60 AF-D to the 60 AF-S. That's what I see here - just a weight and cost gain, for most practical purposes. (My wife is the main user, but the 60 AF-D is one of the sharpest lenses that we own).

Gerald

Sep 05, 2008 at 01:01 PM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #10 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I bought a well-used but good-condition AF 60mm macro here on FM to test the waters, and loved it so much I sold it and bought the new AF-S. I do like the focus improvement, which is waaaaay faster than the AF lens, and also snappier and quieter. Images are sharp as hell on both lenses, although for some reason I can't describe I do like the results from the new one a little better. I also hated the limit switch

No real reason to give up an AF or AF-D for the new AF-S if you're happy. But I'm still glad Nikon updated this one, so that new buyers (which included me in this case) get the best of Nikon's technology in more lenses. And boy, the AF-S focus speed made a difference too.

Edited on Sep 05, 2008 at 03:44 PM

Sep 05, 2008 at 03:42 PM

williamkazak
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p.1 #11 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I was hoping that the new 60mm, which is 90mm on DX format bodies, would render excellent bokeh for headshots outdoors. It seems, using aspherical elements, that it does not offer the very best bokeh possible if you were to get out of focus highligts in the pic. The lens seems to appear much like a 50mm F1.4 bokeh in that regard. I am keeping my 85mm F1.8 for now.

Sep 05, 2008 at 04:18 PM

tuannie
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p.1 #12 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I used it all. 60 F-D, 105 Af-d, 105 VR but I am very happy with the 60 2.8 AF-S. Nothing so far has pleased me like the 60 AF-S G version at 2.8 (or 3.3) when I get really close.

Tuan

Sep 05, 2008 at 04:19 PM

diggitydawg510
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p.1 #13 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
I bought a well-used but good-condition AF 60mm macro here on FM to test the waters, and loved it so much I sold it and bought the new AF-S. I do like the focus improvement, which is waaaaay faster than the AF lens, and also snappier and quieter. Images are sharp as hell on both lenses, although for some reason I can't describe I do like the results from the new one a little better. I also hated the limit switch

No real reason to give up an AF or AF-D for the new AF-S if you're happy. But I'm still glad Nikon updated this one, so that new buyers (which included me in this case) get the best of Nikon's technology in more lenses. And boy, the AF-S focus speed made a difference too.

Now you're tempting me to pick up the AF-S. I really did regret selling the 60 AF to you as I thoroughly enjoyed that lens. Now that I need a micro for wedding work I'm considering picking up another one.

Sep 05, 2008 at 04:43 PM

tuannie
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p.1 #14 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I guess what I like about it is it's compact with a powerful punch

Tuan

Sep 05, 2008 at 04:59 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.1 #15 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

If the new one is as good or better than the old AF-D, it's an awsome lens.

Sep 05, 2008 at 05:19 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.1 #16 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

90 5.0 wrote:
I am not impressed, I mean a "g" macro lens. How are you supposed to shoot this with a Nikon Extension tube

?

Nikon extension tubes don't have contacts so you have to use lenses with an aperture ring on them, or use Kenko tubes...

Maybe they will come out with some quality af-s compatible tubes now

Kenko tubes work great! So why fuss that Nikon does not make them?

Sep 05, 2008 at 05:20 PM

Chris Langer
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p.1 #17 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I bought this lens for the first time and replaced my Tamron 90 with it. I really like it and I posted some sample shots before. I don't think I will ever find the link again but it was surely sharp as a tack. I use it half of the time I am out. Macro is starting to get to me and sparking interest.

Chris

Sep 05, 2008 at 05:30 PM

chemprof
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p.1 #18 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

williamkazak wrote:
I was hoping that the new 60mm, which is 90mm on DX format bodies, would render excellent bokeh for headshots outdoors. It seems, using aspherical elements, that it does not offer the very best bokeh possible if you were to get out of focus highligts in the pic. The lens seems to appear much like a 50mm F1.4 bokeh in that regard. I am keeping my 85mm F1.8 for now.

I LOVE my 85 f/1.8. I feel it's an even better bargain than the 50 f/1.8. Better image quality as well.

Gerald

Sep 05, 2008 at 05:42 PM

geniousc
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p.1 #19 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I have the old 60 AFD and the new one is on the way. The resolution looks great but the CA is really dissapointing. What's up with that? The old lens is bad enough and the new one is.....worse?

Sep 05, 2008 at 07:12 PM

gugs
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p.1 #20 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

chemprof wrote:
williamkazak wrote:
I was hoping that the new 60mm, which is 90mm on DX format bodies, would render excellent bokeh for headshots outdoors. It seems, using aspherical elements, that it does not offer the very best bokeh possible if you were to get out of focus highligts in the pic. The lens seems to appear much like a 50mm F1.4 bokeh in that regard. I am keeping my 85mm F1.8 for now.

I LOVE my 85 f/1.8. I feel it's an even better bargain than the 50 f/1.8. Better image quality as well.

Gerald
+1

Guy

Sep 05, 2008 at 07:57 PM

Justin Berman
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p.1 #21 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I am surprised Kazak is not using his 180mm if he wants ideal bokeh

Edited on Sep 05, 2008 at 08:01 PM

Sep 05, 2008 at 08:01 PM

Film_Ruled
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p.1 #22 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I won't be getting the AFS 60 any time soon.

I would lose the great backlit ability that I have with the AF-D. The front element on the old 60 is waaay in the back even at a nice portrait distance of 2 feet.

If you hand flag or put a shade on the 60 AF-D, you can pretty much shoot into the sun...

Edited on Sep 05, 2008 at 10:50 PM

Sep 05, 2008 at 10:49 PM

Mozbee
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p.1 #23 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

slrgear.com is also having a test for the 2 lenses. Their results shows higher level for the AF-S. They have also tested the AF-S on FX format. Very cool! The common factor from both places is that the level of CA could have been better! From that, Bjorn's review and other people's comments, I have the impression that the AF-S is a better lens than the AF-D.
AF-D: http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/98/cat/all
AF-S: http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/1175/cat/all

One thing, both slrgear and Photozone are now having results for both the AF-S and the ZF 50/2. I think this is more where the real contest is! AF-S with f2.8 and 1:1 or a maybe better lens with MF, f2.0 and 1:2... hum?!?

While being at slrgear, I looked at the ZF100! Can you believe that the lens is better on a D3 than on the D200, with just a very little more vignetting? That is so sswwwwweeeeeeet! I may favor the 105 VR for a better all-purposes lens and being very close in IQ for around half the price. At 50-60mm, I now have a tendancy to favor the ZF more!

What do you guys think about that?

Sep 06, 2008 at 01:36 AM

williamkazak
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p.1 #24 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

I like my 180mm F2.8 for bokeh. The 85mm F1.8 is so compact and it s always handy.
I just pulled the trigger on a Rokinon 500mm F6.3 mirror lens. Talk about bokeh, it is a mixed bag to say the least.

Sep 07, 2008 at 05:34 AM

andrewd01
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p.1 #25 · 60mm AFS Micro Nikkor Review

Why would they test on a DX

Corner performance on FX sensor is quite an important part of a lens test.

Sep 07, 2008 at 12:23 PM


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