bs kite wrote:
Reference the Nikon 55mm f2.8 AiS Micro:
1. Do you have it or have you had it?
2. What is your opinion of it?
3. Have you used it to digitize film?
Thank you.
Robert
Hi Robert,
1. I have one. But have too the 55/3.5 ai and can tell you no difference with the more expensive 55/2.8.
2. Superb lens, both for macro and general photography
3. Yes a lot, but I used also the 55/3.5 AI with the same good results
Sorry because I have not the time now for more detailed comments (I know the other person here that used 55/2.8 or 3.5 for slide diditizing is John - perhaps he can help you with additional coments).
You can see my humble "old slides & negatives" album at flickr where 99% of images were made with ES-1 slide copying adapter or a PB-6 bellows with a PS-6 slide copying adapter (more recent digitizings):
I suggest using f/5.6 or at most f/8 for the 55/2.8 or the /3.5 (best performance optically) and of course RAW and base ISO of your body. I suppose a 24MP sensor is more than enough, but you can have bonus pixels with the D810 or D850.
Oh, last but not least, there are these two links where I got a lot of useful info:
Old slide (Fujichrome RDPIII Provia F 100 - pushed to ISO 200) from March 2002, Brazilian Savannah, Prata-MG.
F90x + Nikkor 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 AF at late afternoon.
Duped by D7200 + 20mm extension tube + Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 ai-s @f/5.6 + ES1 slide copy device. This combo makes a ~1:1 repro of the original slide. I had to add the BR2A+BR3 adapters between the lens and the ES-1 for allowing the proper focusing distance.
Oh, and just in case you think the 55/3.5 AI is cheaper because is a poorer performer, take a look at this old test I made:
Comparison of Micro-Nikkors 55mm f/2.8 ais and 55mm f/3.5 ai, with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 ai + 20mm tube just for reference.
All lenses set around 1:2 magnification.
All shots taken with a D600 + tripod + built in flash + remote shutter + live view focusing in the centre.
I suggest a visualization at the original (largest) size to evaluate results: https://www.flickr.com/photos/labecoaves/14482001069/sizes/o/
Caution: N = 1 for each lens; copy variation can be a factor here.
