Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm F 2 8G ED Review | 54 Data compared

The Nikon 60mm f/2.8G AF-S Micro-Nikkor is identified on KenRockwell.com as an extremely sharp, versatile macro lens that offers 1:1 reproduction, rapid autofocusing, and internal focusing on all Nikon FX/DX DSLRs. Key advantages include its ability to autofocus on entry-level bodies (D40/D60) and its excellent, distortion-free optical performance. However, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a very short working distance that can hinder macro photography and the removal of the aperture ring, limiting compatibility with older film cameras. Rockwell concludes that the older 60mm f/2.8 AF-D variant is often a better choice due to longer working distance and lower cost, making the AF-S version a necessary upgrade only for specific, motorless camera users.

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Macro Nikkor as a compact, 425g lens featuring high-quality construction with a weather-sealed mount and outstanding, sharp resolution across all apertures. Key advantages include fast, quiet Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus, Nano Crystal coating to control flare, and an internal focusing system. Conversely, the review notes a lack of a focus limiter switch, which can lead to hunting, and significant vignetting at wide apertures. Additionally, achieving 1:1 magnification requires a very close 18.5cm working distance, which can cause lighting issues by casting shadows on the subject.

The Nikon AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G ED is a highly versatile, full-frame compatible prime lens featuring a 39.7-degree viewing angle, which functions excellently as a standard focal length optic or as a 90mm equivalent portrait lens on DX format bodies. It boasts a sophisticated optical design containing 12 elements in 9 groups—including two aspherical elements, one ED element, and a Nano Crystal Coat—enabling it to achieve a true 1.0x macro magnification ratio. In lab testing, the lens delivered exceptional performance, demonstrating impressive image sharpness that peaks at f/4, near-perfect zero distortion (-0.04 score), and negligible color fringing. However, the lens is not without its drawbacks, notably lacking built-in optical image stabilization which can limit its utility during handheld general shooting. The review highlights major pros, including its compact and lightweight build, its versatile standard viewing angle, and its full 1.0x macro capabilities. On the downside, the cons include a higher price tag for its class and an uncomfortably short macro working distance of only 2 inches (5cm) between the front of the lens and the subject. Ultimately, it serves as...

The Nikon AF-S FX Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED is a highly capable short telephoto macro lens with a 1:1 focusing ability that offers a more comfortable working distance than longer focal lengths. Its build quality is robust, utilizing heavy-duty plastic, and featuring an all-internal focusing design with a wide, smooth-resistance manual focus ring. In terms of optical performance, the lens is exceptionally sharp across the entire aperture range—even at f/2.8 and into the corners. Additional optical pros include practically non-existent distortion, outstanding flare control due to its nano-coated element, minimal lateral chromatic aberration, and incredibly smooth, circular bokeh thanks to its 9 rounded aperture blades. Despite its high value, the lens has several distinct limitations to consider before buying. For design cons, its 428-gram weight can cause fatigue during long periods of neck or shoulder strap use, and its autofocus performance is merely average, occasionally producing an odd squeaking noise. Optically, vignetting is quite pronounced at wider apertures, and longitudinal chromatic aberration is noticeably present when shooting wide open. Finally, the short 60mm focal length creates functional drawbacks for specific...

The PCMag review characterizes the Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED as a compact, 15-ounce lens that functions as both a standard prime and a 1:1 macro optic. It delivers exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness with zero geometric distortion and features a robust construction with a metal mount. Conversely, the lens lacks optical stabilization, which is common in competing, longer-focus macro lenses, and it exhibits significant 4-stop corner vignetting when shot at f/2.8. While performance improves at smaller apertures, the review concludes it falls slightly short of alternatives like the Tamron 90mm f/2.8.

January 2008 redesign. Built-in sonic AF motor. 11-element optical design. ED glass and internal focus. 1:1 life-size magnification. 7.28″ close focus distance. Weighs 15 oz (425 g). 62mm filter thread size. DxOMark score of 28 points. Priced at $546.95. 👍 Sonic AF is great for general use. 👍 Good uniformity wide open. 👍 Peak performance hits at f8. 👍 Lighter weight than old model. 👎 No manual aperture control. 👎 High chromatic aberration. 👎 Notable vignetting & distortion. 👎 Lower sharpness than expected. 👎 Sacrifices stopped-down sharpness. 👎 Bad for non-electric extension tubes. Want to see how it compares to third-party macro lenses like Tamron or Sigma?

The Nikon Nikkor AF-S Micro 60 mm f/2.8G ED review on LensTip highlights it as a splendid and highly recommended full-frame lens that provides a massive leap forward from its 1993 predecessor. The tester praised its solid, compact build and internal autofocusing system. On the optical front, the lens delivers sensational image quality and sharpness in both the centre and on the edges of the frame right from its widest aperture, making it an excellent tool for macro photography. Furthermore, users can expect virtually zero distortion, low coma, slight astigmatism, high light transmission, and accurate colour rendering, alongside quiet and accurate autofocus performance. Despite its stellar overall performance, the review notes a few specific drawbacks to consider before purchasing. The chief optical drawback is its significant vignetting, which LensTip notes is the price paid for keeping the lens housing small and compact. The lens also suffers from slightly elevated chromatic aberration when shooting near the maximum relative aperture. Finally, the omission of a physical focus limiter switch can make focus-hunting tedious under challenging conditions, and some photographers find its short...

The Photo Review Australia evaluation of the AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED lens highlights its exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness, flat-field design, and fast, silent autofocus via the Silent Wave Motor. The lens provides 1:1 magnification, a nine-blade diaphragm for smooth bokeh, and robust handling suitable for both FX and DX cameras. Photo Review However, the review notes the lack of image stabilization (VR), which complicates hand-held macro shooting, and observes that the exterior barrel and filter threads are constructed from polycarbonate rather than metal. Despite these drawbacks, the lens is praised for its high-quality optics and versatile performance.

The Nikon AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED is a high-performance macro lens evaluated here as a general-purpose and street photography tool on FX-format cameras. Structurally, it delivers excellent build quality that feels superior to Nikon's f/1.8 primes. It features a smooth, stable, and quiet internal autofocus system that boasts superior accuracy over competitors like the Tamron 90mm. In terms of optical strengths, the lens produces elegant, highly detailed imagery with excellent contrast and color retention under strong light. It also provides exceptional control over spherochromatism and longitudinal chromatic aberration (LoCA) across macro to medium shooting distances. Conversely, the lens has several distinct drawbacks to consider before purchasing. The most prominent optical flaw is severe wide-open vignetting, causing visible light fall-off and an exposure drop of nearly a full stop at f/2.8. It lacks a focus distance limiter and is prone to focus hunting or failing to lock onto subjects in extremely dim environments. Additionally, LoCA unexpectedly becomes visible when focusing at longer ranges toward infinity. Finally, because it is a macro lens, the effective aperture automatically drops from f/2.8...

The Nikon 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Micro Nikkor is an excellent macro lens that offers significantly improved sharpness over its predecessor, achieving tack-sharp results across the frame on DX sensors by f/5.6 and highly impressive, even performance on full-frame bodies like the D3. It provides a full-size 1:1 reproduction ratio at a minimum close-focusing distance of 0.185 meters (0.6 feet). Key advantages include its silent, high-speed AF-S autofocus system with full-time manual override, an internal-focus design that stops the lens from extending during use, a curved 9-blade aperture for smoother bokeh, and advanced optical coatings (ED glass and Nano Crystal) that deliver excellent resistance to chromatic aberration and almost zero geometric distortion. However, the lens has notable drawbacks, particularly regarding light transmission and physical handling. Because it is a G-series lens, it lacks a physical aperture ring, restricting backwards compatibility with older camera bodies, and it omits the focus-limiter switch found on the previous model. Furthermore, full-frame shooters will experience severe corner shading (vignetting) of over a full stop (1.25 EV) when shooting wide open, which requires stopping down to...