An awesome standard macro lens

The Nikon 60mm F2.8 AFD micro lens is a standard prime (i.e. ~50mm focal length) with the ability to focus to life size (1:1) where the size of the image on film matches the size of the subject.

Mechanics
The lens has traditional aperture ring situated close to the camera end. It rotates smoothly and has indented click stops. The marked aperture range is F2.8 to F32. The focus ring is situated towards the front end of the lens barrel and is covered with a coarsely ribbed rubber ensuring a positive grip. It rotates smoothly. There is a clear plastic window on the top of the lens through which the focus distance and depth of focus markings are visible. Immediately behind the focus ring is the manual/auto lock ring. Press a button on this ring, rotate the ring, and the lens is switched from manual mode to auto-focus mode or vica versa. In auto-focus mode the focus ring is locked and the focus is taken over by the camera body (assuming it is an auto-focus body). The front of the lens is deeply recessed in the lens barrel. I suspect this is a side effect from the need to allow enough extension at close focus. However it has the added benefit of providing a built in lens hood, minimizing the possibility of flare. Turn the focus ring to focus closer and the the front of the lens starts to extend, and the front optical element is moved forward, optimising the optical formula for the close focus. Nikon refer to this as CRC - Close Range Correction. In essence when the focus is adjusted for near distances the position of the lens elements is changed to optimise the image quality.

Note that the lens housing is made from a mixture of metal and polycarbonate. I have used mine for many years without any signs of wear beyond a bit of brassing.

One point to note is that the auto-focus is not the fastest around. This is due to the absence of an internal motor, and the large focus range required to allow close up work. (Non AF-S Nikon lenses focus by means of a motor mounted in the camera body. A little 'screwdriver' on the camera body engages with a prong on the lens, which it rotates to achieve focus.) Anyway for close ups auto-focus is rarely if ever used. Certainly I have never used this lens in auto-focus mode. The lens does have a neat feature to help the auto-focus. There is a little slide switch on the lens barrel that prevents focus in the near region. This is especially useful when auto focus is engaged for 'normal' photography as it helps prevent the auto-focus from hunting.

Optics
It almost goes without saying that this lens produces superb results. At large distances the image quality is excellent with a touch of softness at the edges when wide open i.e. at F2.8. This is typical of even the highest quality lenses. The performance at close distance is outstanding. Wide open the quality is very respectable, and is superb when stopped down to F8. The high quality continues down to F16 and even at F22 the quality is very good, though not quite as good as at F16. The field is flat, and neither vignetting nor distortion are evident. Optically I cannot fault this lens. I am told that it is one of the all time great Nikon lenses. (This is hardly surprising given that Nikon have long had a reputation for some of the best, if not the best, micro/macro lenses.)

Note that to use the lens to its full capability, you will either need to use high shutter speeds, or a tripod or other stable support.

Conclusion
A superb lens and the lens I use the most. It can be used both for landscapes and for superb close ups. These days the fashion is to buy zoom lenses with a macro feature. To be honest the macro feature is rarely of any real quality. A 60mm macro lens is both a nice general purpose lens and gives superb results close up. Given the choice of a zoom, or this lens, I would choose this lens. (NB: It is not really a portrait lens. Something closer to 100mm focal length tends to give a more flattering result. If you want portraits and close ups, then the Nikon 105mm F2.8 AFD lens would be more suitable.)

This is one case where the cheesy salesman's line of "You won't be disappointed" is true.