The manual focus Nikon Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5, an all metal and glass 5 elements in 4 groups lens (with the focus ring of rubber-like plastic), is a progressive development that started with the Micro-Nikkor 1:3.5 f=5.5cm introduced in 1961. The lens, considered one of Nikons sharpest lenses, has an incredible reputation for image quality, exceptional sharpness, and flat-field optical characteristics. The lens, ideal for both close-ups and normal shooting, has an aperture range of f3.5 to f32, and a double-helicoid focusing system that focuses from infinity to down to 1:2.
The 55mm 1:3.5 is part of a highly acknowledged trio of Ai Micro-Nikkor lenses, with the first two, the Ai 55 and Ai 105mm, introduced in 1977 as updates of the previous pre-Ai series, and a third, the Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4.0 IF, as a true Ai-native Nikkor lens, The 200mm f/4.0 IF, introduced in 1978, was the first lens within the micro-Nikkor lens family with an Internal Focus system (IF) and was the first to incorporate a rotatable and removable tripod collar. All three lenses, sometimes used as 'universal' lenses, have ultra-close focusing capability and render high image quality at all subject distances from macro to infinity.
By itself, the 55mm 1:3.5 is lightweight at 240 grams, takes 52mm filters (just like the other two), has a body diameter of 66 mm, and measures 90.5 mm fully extended. The lens needs to be fitted with the PK-13 extension tube or bellows to get the magnification to 1:1. Product development of the lens includes the introduction of the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 in 1961, a simplified and user-friendly Micro-Nikkor Auto 55mm f/3.5 in 1963, the Micro-Nikkor P Auto 55mm f/3.5, the multi-layered coating Micro-Nikkor P•C Auto 55mm f/3.5 in 1973, the Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 in 1975, and the Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 in 1977.
As a guide to its use, the focal ring of the Micro-Nikkor is engraved with 4 (four) magnification and distance scales, the upper two representing the magnification scale, for magnification with and without the PK extension tube. At the same time, the lower two are the imperial and metric distance scales, graduated in meters and feet from 0.241 m (9-l/2 in.) to infinity. A set of depth-of-field distance markers is also available engraved on the holding barrel.
The Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5 was updated to the Ai-S Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 in 1979.
The Ai Nomenclature
Nikon introduced the Ai, or Auto Indexing nomenclature, in 1977, with the lens having a ridge that catches a feeler on a ring surrounding the lens mount on the camera, via which Ai lenses indicate their maximum aperture to the camera. This does away with the rituals of aligning the aperture index and lens mount claws of pre-Ai lenses to the camera body to set the metering range of the lens. All you need to do now is to mount the lens to start shooting.
Nikon Ai lenses do not come with a pin notch above the lens locking notch on the rear bayonet mount (as seen on Ai-S lenses), with the smallest aperture (largest number) on the aperture scale ring colored blue, as opposed to orange for Ai-S lenses. Ai lenses also have a second, smaller row of aperture numbers etched towards the back end of the lens mount to allow the photographer to see the selected aperture through the aperture readout window.
To let enough light fall on the aperture numbers, the lens's rabbit ears, now redundant but kept as a token of backward compatibility with older cameras, have a little hole drilled on each side of the lobe.
Lens Compatibility
The manual-focus Nikon Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5 works with most Nikon cameras, film, and digital. It is compatible with the Nikon professional camera series, the F, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6 models), with added Matrix metering capability on the FA, F4, and F6.
On enthusiast and advanced (professional) digital Nikon SLRs, the lens works on the likes of the D3X, D3, D700, D300, D200, D2, and F6, which use the "Non-CPU Lens Data" menu option to set 55mm and f/3.5 to get full matrix metering, EXIF data and finder read-out of set aperture. Metering can be aperture-preferred as well as manual
The lens, however, will not work in Programmed or Auto modes on entry-level Nikon DSLRs (D80 and below), which does not carry the 'Non-CPU Lens Data' as a menu item, while the camera itself is missing the aperture-indexing finger for full-aperture metering with older 'Ai' lenses. Metering with the Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5 is stop-down when used with these cameras. The same goes with the Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro, whose body is also based on the Nikon D80.
Flat-Field Characteristics
While a macro lens allows subjects to be focussed extremely close so the image appears larger in the viewfinder, and in the final print, the other characteristic macro lenses are optimized for is their 'flat-field' or 'curvature of field' characteristics.
Flat-field lenses, as these macro lenses are sometimes referred to, feature less field curvature and render a flatter and more accurate plane of focus across the whole image as compared to images rendered with 'curved-field' lenses where, as in a normal case, the center of the frame remains sharper than the edges.
The Ai Micro Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 excels precisely here. The lens is well-corrected for field curvature at extremely short distances, making it perfect for macro photography. Accurate, excellent images reveal the lens’s depth-of-field characteristics throughout the aperture range and remain controllable at every f-stop, a character important for its continued use by discerning macro shooters.
The CCD Challange
While you will find that there are already countless reviews of the lens on the Net, and chances of you finding this page listed on the top fold of your search result display is second to none, the ultimate of this review, is to see how well the lens adapts to the CCD sensor scenario. As you have noticed, CCD sensors are coming back with a resurging interest that is picking up momentum, especially among analog enthusiasts looking for alternatives to the ever-increasing film cost for film photography and its associated services cost.
My test here was with the lens mounted on a 10MP CCD Nikon D200, making the lens equivalent to a short telephoto at 82.5mm on a 35mm full-frame camera, where I normally shoot in Program Auto with variable aperture setting. The copy of the Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3,5 I am reviewing here, an Ai version, has a serial number between 991581 and 1106077, which I believe came from the final batches of the lens produced in 1979 before it was superseded by the newer Ai-S Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:2.8 series.
Early Images
The true reveal of the 55mm Micro Nikkor, as with all macro lenses of a standard focal length, is its ability to function effectively as both a macro lens and a standard lens. Lenses like these are made for people who want to shoot the occasional macro (without going for big-budget dedicated lenses) and switch back to standard primes without changing lenses. The standard caliber Nikon Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5 is an excellent choice for this need.
On the 1.5x crop APS-C sensor of the D200, the Nikon Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5 is equivalent to a short 82.5mm tele lens. Images will be cropped to a tighter, already zoomed-in, field of view, an advantage for macro shots, but the opposite, for normal shots if have to move further back to fully frame an image scene. Manual focus on the D200 is fully supported by adding the lens information to the 'Non-CPU Lens Data' on the camera, and focus confirmation via the in-focus indicator on the viewfinder display bar.
On the CCD sensor, with the magnified focal length, images are slightly compressed, and colors are rich, vivid, and natural. With a heavier contrast that can be manipulated on the desktop image editor, colors pop off the image as they should. While it may be too true to say that images captured with CCD sensors are almost film-like, they do have their own charisma and characteristics of their own. With the Nikon Ai Micro-Nikkor 55mm 1:3.5, images were already sharp when shot at f3.5, going all the way up to f22.
Tapestry of the Green
Much of the benefit of having the manual focus Ai Micro Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 is its versatility and multi-use capability, a lens acknowledged for its incredible sharpness and image quality, and a lens that is readily available on the auction listings at prices that are still fair to reasonable. The lens is a solid performer, though slightly slow, but when used for either macro or normal shots, it never bats an eyelid at the assignments it was set to. The lens is potentially a permanent stayer on your camera or the all-time go-to in the camera bag.
Digital SLR cameras with CCD sensors, vintage as they were in production 10 to 15 years ago with technology that has been bypassed and considered redundant, are equally easily available on auction listings or in brick-and-mortar stores. With prices for the asking, selections are large and varied. For use with Nikon F-mount lenses, the camera with a CCD sensor recommended is the Nikon D200 or its derivatives.
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