Nikon IX (APS) Lenses
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September 2008      More Nikon Reviews

Introduction

These IX-Nikkors are designed for Nikon's crappy APS SLRs of the late 1990s.

They poke much further into the lens mount than regular lenses, so they won't mount on film or digital SLRs. If you're crazy, you can mount them in a pro film camera with a hard, full-time mirror lock up, but you'll have no way to focus or set the aperture.

You can forget these, and Nikon wishes you would, too.

If you shoot an APS SLR like the Pronea S, it works with all past and current DX and FX AF, AF-D, AF-I and AF-S lenses.

20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 (1996-2000)

Optics: 9 elements in 7 groups.

Close Focus: 1.2 feet (0.35m).

Filter Size: 52mm.

1998-1999 actual selling price: $380.

24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 (1996-2000)

Optics: 7 elements in 7 groups.

Close Focus: 1.2 feet (0.35m).

Filter Size: 52mm.

1998-1999 actual selling price: $160.

30-60mm f/4-5.6 (1998-2000)

IX-Nikkor 30-60m f/4-5.6.

This may very well be Nikon's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens ever produced. Even the rangefinder lenses of the 1950s weigh more.

Optics: 6 elements in 6 groups.

Close Focus: 1.2 feet (0.35m).

Filter Size: 46mm.

Diaphragm Blades: 7.

Weight: 3.275 oz. (92.5g), measured. (Nikon specifies 3.4 oz. or 95 grams).

Performance: Sharp at all apertures and focal lengths. Very fast AF; a great little goofy lens.

AF Speed: Probably Nikon's fastest; it's almost instant even on the crappy APS SLRs. 1 full turn of the AF screw pulls focus from infinity down to 1.8 feet.

Close Focus: 1.2 feet (0.35m)

Made in: Thailand.

1999 actual selling price: Not sold separately. Came as a kit with the Pronea S.

60-180mm f/4-5.6 (1996-1998)

Optics: 11 elements in 8 groups.

Close Focus: 4 feet (0.35m).

Filter Size: 52mm.

1998 actual selling price: $245.

60-180mm f/4.5-5.6 (1998-2000)

No one was buying the more expensive 60-180mm f/4-5.6, so Nikon made this cheaper version to replace it.

Optics: 10 elements in 7 groups.

Close Focus: 4 feet (0.35m).

Filter Size: 46mm.

1999 actual selling price: $150.

2000 actual selling price: $100.

Recommendations   back to top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Usage   Recommendations

Skip these IX lenses.

They only work on APS cameras. They won't work on 35mm film or digital Nikons because they poke too far out the rear. They'd bang into your mirror.

If you have an APS camera, newer DX and regular film and FX lenses offer more attractive zoom ranges, or faster apertures with fixed lenses.

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