Nikon 55mm f/2.8 Micro AI-S

I wish the F2.8 was an F2. Then it would be fantastic as a normal lens. As it is, it is too slow for indoors available light.

F2.8 is slow to me on this focal length but ok on a zoom or a telephoto.

picture quality (what else counts on a micro?) the low weight and small size makes it easy to pick it as 2nd or 3rd for a walkaround.

maybe the plastic build, but it's already 15 years old and still very good.

Optical quality 1:1 magnification

Plastic construction Small focusing ring Useless distance scale

Really sharp and contrasty, close and far, wide open, centre to corner. Metal finish, 52mm thread, low flare, low distortion. Overall quite excellent.

Only goes to 1:2 and it sucks in a lot of dust as you focus from one extreme to another.

1:2 macro + high quality normal lens in a very compact package. No need for a lens hood (glass is well recessed so flare is not an issue).

None I can think of.

Very light and well built ; Incredible sharp images ; Has done miracles for me doing products for catalogs

None

Excellent build quality, and optical quality. Very sharp images corner to corner - definitely one of my sharpest performers ; This lens is built like a tank

1:2 mag. ratio ; I would love it to have 1:1 - but again nothing is perfect

Light, sharp, great for travel. With macro function and 'standard' focal length, it's excellent for travelling light.

Not the sharpest. I always have the strange feeling that micro lens is better than normal one in terms of definition. It's of course better, but not 'much' better.

Compact, fast for a macro, good optics

I found the earlier 55mm f3.5 Micro Nikkor P to be sharper and give better overall image quality.

Mechanically first rate, (compared to the often loose feel of some of the current offerings). Sharp at all distances due to Close Range Correction (CRC), making it usable as a general lens as well as a macro range lens. Deeply recessed front element...

Not truly a weakness, but a fact of the vintage, this lens only goes to one half life size without the PK-13 extension tube. This might make the transition a bit less smooth than the current 60mm, which goes to full life size, but one benefit is that...