Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G ED AF-S

Press Release by Nikon Corporation

Nikkor AF-S 60mm f/2.8G ED Micro.

Add your thoughts and comments here.

Darn it... I just bought the 60 AF-D a year ago... I haven't used it enough and now a new 60 micro?

Its a bit expensive, but with AF-S, a round diaphragm for smooth bokeh, and nano-crystal coating I expect it could turn out to be a very attractive normal lens in full/FX format.

Hopefully, it is more usefull (i.e. at greater distances) than the existing 60mm.
Also, the focusing on the 60mm f2.8 is extremely touchy.  If these two issues are fixed it may be time to sell the old and get this one 
Cheers,
Michael

Looking at the pictures, the focus scale on the new lens is as compressed as the old one - focusing near infinity will be as twitchy as before.

   I have to concur with R. Vink on the twitchy focusing. Looking at the photos of the new 60mm,one can see that the lens goes from Infinity to the first marked distance of 7 feet in just a scant few degrees. Seven feet to Infinity,just like that. Hair-trigger focusing at beyond-macro ranges will be the norm. What's disappointing to me at least is that the front element is now right up front,very exposed,and no longer has the deeply-recessed positioning of the 55MF-55AF-60AF lenses that came before. The older short macros had,in effect, built-in lens hoods that shielded the lens mostly from direct light striking the front,and excellent shielding from rain and snow,far better than many lenses,and also made cleaning the front element kind of difficult. The new G-series lens has no diaphragm control,so it will not be reversible,and it will not work with a lot of extension tubes in existence, nor will it be bellows-friendly,nor will it adapt to Canon EOS bodies via adapter the way the 55/3.5 does so elegantly.  ED glass and Nano-Crystal coatings are good.
   
Focusing the current 60/2.8 AF-D by hand is a very delicate proposition at distances longer than about three feet,and this new G-series lens has the same VERY fast,short throw from Infinity to the mid-distances. Those thinking that this is going to make a dual-duty,portrait lens will probably be disappointed by the way the lens focuses in manual focus mode. The 55mm Ai and AiS models 3.5 and 2.8 and the current 60 Micro AF-D lens all have a focusing system that is extremely,extremely sensitive outside of macro ranges. At 7-15 feet, even the D2x's AF system can mis-focus a 60mm lens if the focus bracket is positioned just a hair off of where you want it to be. The lens is optimized for best focusing at CLOSE ranges,and the throw from Infinity coming in is exceptionally "fast"--just as in the 55mm 3.5 and 2.8 manual focus micros and the current 60 AF-D. No surprise there. Establishing repeatable AF at distances of 20-100 feet with the 60 has been a problem. It's not designed as a field lens,and this newest model appears cut from the same cloth.

I am most disappointed that they made this a G-series lens. No aperture control on the lens just kills off-list use of the lens. That's what I find the most distressing: a macro lens with no way to set aperture where it ought to be set,which is on the lens. I hate to sound like a Gloomy Gus,but I am a longtime Nikon System user,and the no-aperture-ring G-series design of this lens is simply not compatible with many macro-shooting accessories. For NEW users, who don't plan on using the lens on say an older camera, or on a Canon w/adapter,or off-list in any conceivable way,and who will not need to use many or any ancillary macro accessories, the new 60mm G-series might be a great lens,as a close-range shooter. But the focus beyond 3 feet will be hair-trigger,either with AF or manual focusing,and even the best AF systems can mis-focus enough to spoil shots with the 60 AF-D,and like the 60 AF-D, the new 60-G probably will NOT be a good lens for people photography,nor for any type of action/sports/generalist uses. I've read the posts of people who try to convince that the current 60 AF-D is a good general-purpose lens, but am not persuaded,having tried it and found that focus at past 3 feet is dicey.

Derrel, the filter size is actually 62mm, same as the older model. It's still oversized for the front element, but it's consistent with the 105VR and 200 micro. I think the ring flash fits 62mm filters, so it's probably a good move.

I agree with you about the lack of aperture ring - makes the lens useless on extension tubes, bellows or reversed for high magnification work. I'll stick to my older lens for now 

Oh, thank goodness! I've edited my post above to remove references to the erroneous filter size. I'm still dismayed by the G-series design. I'm kind of worried about how exposed the front element is--it's right out there,completely unprotected,and this lens will be used at very close ranges and possibly pointed toward light sources of various types (flashes mounted on brackets,copy stand lights, the sun,etc). It looks like the flare/ghosting potential is made worse without the deep recess inherent in the 55/60 families dating back to the 1960's. In short, it looks like this lens will need a hood put on under many types of environments,and working distance is already going to be limited in macro range without adding another 2-inches to the front.

 I wonder if Nikon will soon be releasing some CPU-equipped extension tubes of their own,and stop relying on Kenko to supply the Nikon shooters of the world with extension tubes usable with the newer lenses. I really do not see the positives in the new design. As a macro, it's a G-series. Where I live it rains a LOT. The deep recess + a lens hood on the 55 or 60 means the lens front element is far,far back and shielded from all light,and all but wind-blown rain. I'm not a fan of this new front element right out there

I wouldn't rule it out, Derrel, given Nikon's recent announcements they've made it clear their specialty lens department is here to stay, so it stands to reason that new tubes and the like may well be on the way...