Micro-Nikkor - "autocompensating aperture"?

[Jerevan]

I have been thinking on and off for a long time that I perhaps should get a Micro-Nikkor 55 3.5, but now I stumbled on the term "autocompensating aperture" and there seems to be non-compensating aperture models out there - so is the difference important?

I am thinking of using it for the occasional close-up and possibly in summertime as an everyday lens for a Nikon F2.

 

[Graham Line]

The auto-compensating aperture was an important feature in the days before through-the-lens and full-aperture metering. Now, not so much. The compensating Micro-Nikkor opened the aperture slightly as the lens was focused on nearer subjects. I'm still using the second-version 55/3.5 and getting excellent results.

 

[Larry H-L]

If you are using it on the Nikon F2 camera with a metered prism, the TTL meter should still work fine.

If no prism meter, and using it with a handheld meter, you will have to compensate by opening up one stop if it is fully racked out, or two stops fully racked out with the 1:1 PK-13 ring.

Most macro lens have exposure compensation guides marked on the lens barrel.

Edit: clarifying that I am speaking about the non-compensating version working fine.

 

[Dwig]

The difference is extremely important.

The original auto-compensating version will not play well with TTL meters, though it was handy when using an external meter. When Nikon introduced TTL metering with the Nikon F Photomic T they chose to delete the feature in a new release of the lens. The "mated" extension tube changesd as well, from the original M-ring to the M2-ring.

 

[Jerevan]

Thank you - very good to know. The version I am looking is a non-compensating one, I guess I am set. Just need to sleep on it, before I press any buy-it buttons. 🙂

 

[Corran]

It's easy. If you are planning on shooting with a TTL meter, you should get the NON-compensating. If you plan on shooting with an external meter or none at all, get the COMPENSATING aperture Micro.

Then you can shoot from infinity to 1:2 macro without any thought to magnification ratios and aperture corrections either way. Of course if you get the compensating aperture one you'll probably want to stop down further than marked for adequate DOF, but this applies to macro in general.

 

[Jerevan]

I pressed the buy-it button, waited a few days and today I received the lens, with an M2 adapter (which I suppose I would have to use metering stopped-down, not wide open since it has no rabbit ears).

I think it might be a perfect lens for the everyday bag, feels great.