Nikon Nikon PC-E FX Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED Fixed Review

The Nikon AF-S 60mm f/2.8G ED is a dedicated macro lens for Nikon's F-mount DSLRs. At $590, it's a specialist tool, and its scores tell the story: it lands in the 84th percentile for macro work, but its overall score is a more modest 55.4 out of 100. That's because this lens knows its job and sticks to it. With a minimum focus distance of just 8 inches, it gets you right up close to your subject, and its built-in stabilization sits in a solid 85th percentile, which is a big help for handheld macro shots.

For macro photography, this lens delivers. That 84th percentile macro score means it's sharper and more capable at close focus than most lenses you'll compare it to. The f/2.8 aperture is decent for a macro lens, landing right around the middle of the pack at the 52nd percentile. It gives you enough light and background separation for most close-up work. Where it starts to show its age is in general use. Its autofocus is in the 45th percentile, so it's not the fastest or quietest, and its overall optical score is in the 35th percentile, meaning it's not as sharp corner-to-corner at normal distances as modern primes. The stabilization is the real performance hero here, making those tricky, slow macro shots much more manageable.

At $590, the value proposition is narrow. You're paying for that specific, high-percentile macro performance and stabilization. If you shoot a lot of macro on a Nikon DSLR, it's a justifiable tool. But if you're looking for a general-purpose prime, there are sharper, faster, and more versatile lenses for the same money or less. This lens is a specialist, and its price reflects that niche.

Compared to modern mirrorless options, the trade-offs are clear. A lens like the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S is sharper, faster focusing, and sealed, but it doesn't focus as close and lacks stabilization. For macro on a budget, manual focus options like the Meike 55mm f/1.8 offer faster apertures for less money, but you lose autofocus and stabilization entirely. Against the Canon EF-S 17-85mm, you're getting a dedicated macro prime versus a versatile zoom; the Nikon will blow it away for close-ups but lose badly as a travel lens. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is cheaper and faster, but again, no stabilization and not a true macro lens. This Nikon's value is in being a complete, stabilized macro package for the F-mount ecosystem.

This is a recommendation with a big asterisk. If you own a Nikon DSLR and macro photography is your primary focus, the 60mm f/2.8G ED's stabilization and close-focus performance make it a strong choice. Its data-backed 84th percentile macro score is legit. But for almost anything else—travel, portraits, video—its lower percentile scores in versatility, optics, and autofocus mean you should look elsewhere. Buy this lens to do one job very well, and accept that it's not great at others.