Nikon 45mm f/2.8D ED PC-E Micro Nikkor Lens

by Nikon

• Perspective control lens with 45mm focal length and f/2.8 maximum aperture
• Lets you shift, tilt, and rotate lens while you shoot for more interesting perspectives
• Shifting range of plus or minus 11.5mm; tilting range of plus or minus 8.5 degrees
• Revolves 90 degrees in either direction; built using Extra-low Dispersion glass elements
• Rounded 9-blade diaphragm; measures 3.2 inches in diameter and 4.4 inches long

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 5.9 inches ; 1.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001BTG3NW
• Item model number: 2174
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 2, 2008

Product Description

Amazon.com

Perfect for architectural, nature, and commercial photography, the Nikon 45mm, f/2.8D lens lets you control the perspective more than with other lenses, with the ability to tilt, shift, and rotate while you shoot. The lens offers a wide shifting range--plus or minus 11.5mm--with a tilting range of plus or minus 8.5 degrees to provide exceptional perspective control. In addition, the lens revolves plus or minus 90 degrees in 30-degree increments, providing versatile tilt/shift shooting effects. As a result, you can enjoy all kinds of distorted perspectives and unique angles, giving your shots extra life.

The lens is built using Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements, which offer superior sharpness and color correction by effectively minimizing chromatic aberration. Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat, meanwhile, virtually eliminates internal reflections across a wide range of wavelengths to produce even greater image clarity. Other details include a high-performance Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC), which offers superior color performance and substantially reduced ghosting and flare; an auto-aperture control with an electromagnetic diaphragm (requires Nikon D3, D700, or D300 D-SLR camera); and a rounded nine-blade diaphragm that produces a more natural appearance for out-of-focus image elements.

Technical Specifications

• Focal length: 45mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum aperture: f/32
• Autofocus: No
• AF-S (Silent Wave Motor): No
• Compatible formats: FX, DX, FX in DX crop mode, 35mm film
• Distance information: Yes
• ED glass elements: Yes
• Super Integrated Coating (SIC): Yes
• Nano Crystal Coat: Yes
• Minimum focus distance: 0.83 feet
• Angle of view: 51 degrees
• Lens (elements): 9
• ED (elements): 1
• Lens (groups): 8
• Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:2
• Mount type: Nikon F-Bayonet
• Filter type: Screw on
• Filter size: 77mm
• Lens attachment size: 77mm
• Lens case: CL-1120 flexible lens pouch
• Lens hood: HB-43 bayonet hood
• Dimensions: 3.2-inch diameter, 4.4 inches long
• Weight: 26.1 ounces
• Supplied accessories: HB-43 bayonet hood, CL-1120 flexible lens pouch, LF-1 rear lens cap, LC-77 snap-on front lens cap

Product Description

The PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED  Perspective Control (PC) lens corrects linear distortion in order to better replicate images assen by the human eye, including straightening the converging lines of rectilinear objects such as buildings, while also introducing welcome command over depth-of-field. Their versatility makes these the perfect lens complement for a myriad of applications, including photographing architecture, nature, interiors and still-life especially product photography. When shooting subjects, such as tall buildings with a conventional lens, composition often calls for tilting the axis of a camera. This typically results in a significant distortion of converging lines, impacting the desired visual accuracy of the image. A PC-E NIKKOR lens' "shift" control provides correction for this type of distortion. "Shift" control can also give a photographer the ability to "effectively" move the apparent position of the camera providing further perspective versatility, allowing, for example, the ability to avoid unwanted reflections in an image. A PC-E lens' "tilt" control gives photographers additional creative control over depth-of-field. Known as the Scheimpflug principal,tilt-shift lenses are capable of modifying the focal plane of the lens, allowing the extension or limitation of the point of critical sharpness in the image. The combination of "tilt" and "shift" controls featured in all PC-E NIKKOR lenses gives photographers extraordinary control over perspective control which simply is not possible with conventional lenses. A special tilt/shift mechanism gives users up to +/- 11.5mm shift for perspective control and +/- 8.5-degree tilt control for creative focus. The Perspective Control lenses correct distortion and vanishing point issues with convenient side-mounted controls at 1mm / 1-degree intervals that will adju

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent lens July 22, 2009

By Kerry Pierce VINE™ VOICE

I own both the 45 and 85 PC-E lenses and both are excellent, sharp lenses that produce great images. Both are great for close-ups, landscapes and of course anything that benefits from tilt/shift capability, like table-top product photography. Properly used, these lenses give the user tremendous depth of field control and some very unique images.

I was initially concerned with the high price of both lenses and the fact that they are manual focus, but their quality in all aspects is worthy of the price and manual focus turned out to be extremely easy and precise on my d300 and d700 cameras.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nikon 24mm PCE a pricey but excellent lens February 19, 2011

By Joseph W. Mccary

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is not your average photo lens. It is intended for some technical photography. It is an excellent choice for several types of projects, I have used it for architectural work. It is great for this. I also use it for copy work for making digital copies of historic maps. By using the shift ability I can effectively increase the resolution of the image by shooting 4 images; top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right. All are overlapping and then merged together as a panorama. I can easily almost double the resolution.

Drawbacks, yes there are some. The tilt function is set to move in the opposite axis as the shift (if the shift is set to vertical axis the tilt function is in the horizontal axis. Nikon will adjust this to be the same plane for a $135 fee.

This may or may not be important to you. Also, the lens works well by making the lens set the aperture via the command dials unlike earlier PC lenses. This is NOT an AF lens.

15 of 22 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, But --- May 30, 2009

By John N

The part that works is excellent. The problem is turning the shift to align with tilt requires a trip to the factory. So it is not as functional as I hoped. Other T/S lens can be user rotated, not Nikon. Nikon should redesign this lens to allow user rotation to align tilt and shift.

Same problem for the Nikon 85mm PC-E -- designed to be limited and not user rotated.