Nikon AF-S Micro 60mm f/2.8G ED

Stupidly sharp macro lens with portrait-quality bokeh that makes other primes look lazy. Skip it only if you absolutely need VR or a zoom.

What surprised us most is how this lens handles the jump from macro to portrait duty. At 1:1 magnification, the sharpness is surgical, but pull back for a headshot and the 9-blade rounded diaphragm renders backgrounds into absolute butter. Autofocus is fast and silent thanks to the Silent Wave Motor, though it sits right at the 55th percentile for AF speed in our database, which feels about right. It's accurate, not a speed demon. The lack of VR is a real talking point, but the stabilization score still lands in the 81st percentile, so handheld shooting at f/2.8 is totally doable if you keep your shutter speed sensible. The minor vignetting wide open that a few owners mention is there if you look for it, but it's the kind of thing that adds character rather than ruining a shot.

Stacked against the Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS, the Nikon is a specialist while the Sigma is a generalist. The Sigma gives you a massive zoom range and stabilization, but it can't touch the Nikon's f/2.8 aperture or macro chops. The Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM is a more modern rival with stabilization and a versatile zoom range, but it's not a true macro lens and won't hit 1:1 magnification. If you need one lens to do everything, grab the Canon or Sigma. If you want the best macro and portrait images your Nikon F-mount body can produce, this is the one.

Pricing is all over the map, with a spread from $900 to a frankly absurd $83,900 across vendors. The real-world price for a clean copy sits around that lower end, and at that number, this lens is a steal. You're getting best-in-class bokeh and sharpness that punches well above its weight. Just make sure you're not accidentally looking at a listing that's priced like it's made of solid gold. Stick to reputable sellers and you'll get a lens that feels like it should cost twice as much.

The Nikon Micro-NIKKOR 2177 is one of those rare lenses that just gets it right. It's a 60mm f/2.8 macro that's so sharp it'll make your other glass look soft, and it doubles as a fantastic portrait lens with bokeh that sits in the 86th percentile of our database. The one thing to know? This is the lens you buy when you want to stop pixel-peeping and start printing big. Owners are practically evangelical about it, and after digging into the data, we get why. The Nano Crystal Coat and ED glass do real work here, killing flare and keeping colors punchy without looking processed. It's not the newest kid on the block, but it's built a reputation as a potential classic for good reason.

If you're chasing bugs or shooting skittish subjects, the short working distance will drive you nuts. You'll be right on top of your subject to hit 1:1, and they'll bolt. Grab a longer macro like a 105mm instead. Also, if you're a hybrid shooter who needs smooth handheld video, the lack of VR makes this a pass. Look at something with stabilization built in.

Buy it. The Nikon 60mm f/2.8G Micro is a no-brainer for any Nikon DSLR shooter who wants to dive into macro or needs a razor-sharp prime for portraits. The image quality is so good it borders on addictive. The lack of VR is a bummer, and the short working distance means you'll spook a few butterflies, but the files this thing produces make you forget those gripes fast. It's a lens that rewards careful technique with images that look like they cost a lot more to make.