Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 lens review and test

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If you have a camera, at some point you have tried to shoot macro, maybe by holding a magnifying glass in front of the lens or maybe with some extension tubes.

I know because I’ve done the same.

But this time I have a proper 1:1 macro lens to show you. Let’s take a closer look.

The lens is made mostly of plastic, it weighs around 420g, it is 74 to 100mm long and it has an external diameter of 72mm, with a 62mm front thread.

The iris has 7 blades, the aperture is clicked and it goes from f2.8 to f32 without half steps.

The focusing ring is rubberized, it turns 160 degrees and the minimum focusing distance is 21.9cm, granting a 1 to 1 reproduction.

It uses a screw drive autofocus, it has a manual auto selector and a switch to limit the focus range from 30cm to infinity.

It has a Nikon F mount.

The lens is well balanced when focused to infinity, but it becomes front heavy when extended. Overall, it is fairly light, so it’s not a problem.

What can be annoying is that the focus goes from 2m to infinity in just a couple degrees.

Wide open it is very sharp and full of detail in the center but it falls off toward the corners.

By f8 it gets very sharp all over the frame.

Chromatic aberration is present but rarely destructing wide open and it quickly disappears stopping down.

Colors are a touch cold, with good contrast and lacking some saturation.

Specular highlights are soft, without artifacts and backgrounds are smooth.

When shooting towards a source of light it produces some flares, but I haven’t had issues in normal use without a sunhood.


I never know what to expect from Nikkor lenses: some I really like and others I passionately hate.

Obviously, this 60mm macro is a specialized lens and it does a great job at that, but it is still versatile enough to be used outside of the macro realm.

I do find the very short focus throw between 2m and infinity quite annoying, but I can live with that.

It’s neither too big nor too heavy, image quality is solid and it does scratch that macro itch.

Overall, I like it.

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