Lens: Micro-NIKKOR Auto 55mm f/3.5

[Kevin Childress]

Need a little help interpreting a couple things about this lens. I'm confused between what I see in the literature versus what I see stamped into the lens itself.

The first image below is a screenshot of the lens' literature. Take a look at the Applications chart on the right. If I read it correctly, the camera and lens alone produce a maximum of 1:2 reproduction ratio. It seems one must add the M ring (extension tube, which I also have) to achieve 1:1 reproduction ratio. Is that the way you read it?

But when I look at the close-up magnification scale on the lens, I see this (image below): When the lens is adjusted to its' closest focus one can see 1:1 at the top of the close-up magnification scale. Would this not seem to indicate the lens is capable of 1:1 reproduction ratio by itself??  But also, I'm not certain what the other numbers to the right of the ratios mean, so I'm not sure where those numbers come into play. I assume the numbers relate to the closest focusing distances (metric and imperial) for those reproduction ratios - is that correct? The scale reads as:

1:1    -----  21.4    8 13/32"

1:15  -----  22.3    8 3/4"

1:2    -----  24.1    9 1/2"

 

[Kevin Childress]

Never mind the original question. I shot some tests yesterday and it is what it is ... the Micro-NIKKOR Auto 55mm f/3.5 does indeed require the M2 extension tube to achieve 1:1.