Nikon 5.5cm (55mm) f/3.5 Micro-NIKKOR Preset Nippon Kogaku Japan, PAT Pend Manual Focus Lens {52}

Early Micro-NIKKOR 55mm f/3.5, Preset Focus, Patent-Pending Optics

Before Nikon standardized aperture rings with click-stops, this 55mm f/3.5 Micro-NIKKOR carried the "PAT Pend" marking that identifies it as an early Nippon Kogaku production run. The preset manual focus design requires setting your working aperture on one ring, then racking the second ring wide open to focus and back down to shoot, a two-step method that predates the automatic diaphragm mechanisms found on later Nikkor glass.

At a fixed 55mm focal length and maximum aperture of f/3.5, this lens was built for close-focus macro work, the original purpose behind the Micro-NIKKOR line. The moderate telephoto length keeps working distance reasonable for tabletop subjects and flat-art reproduction, while the f/3.5 maximum aperture reflects the optical priorities of its era: flatness of field and edge-to-edge resolution over speed in dim light.

Collectors and shooters who appreciate mechanical, all-manual operation will find the preset system a deliberate way to work, one that forces you to think through exposure and focus as separate, sequential decisions than a single autofocus press. Nippon Kogaku branding on the barrel places this among the earliest Nikon-badged optics before the company's international rebrand, making it a lens with as much historical interest as optical use.

Who It's For

Macro and close-up shooters who want a fixed 55mm focal length purpose-built for flat, even reproduction of small subjects will get the most direct use out of this lens. Film photographers running fully mechanical bodies benefit from the preset aperture system, which needs no electronic coupling and functions identically today as it did at manufacture. Collectors of Nikon optical history will appreciate the Nippon Kogaku Japan branding and "PAT Pend" marking, both signs of an early Micro-NIKKOR variant predating later automatic-diaphragm revisions. Photographers who prefer deliberate, manual workflow over autofocus convenience find the two-ring preset operation a hands-on way to control exposure and focus independently.

Key Features

• 55mm fixed focal length for macro and close-focus work
• f/3.5 maximum aperture prioritizes edge-to-edge flatness of field
• Preset manual focus system with two-ring control
• Nippon Kogaku Japan branding identifies early production
• PAT Pend markings on barrel from original development run
• All-manual operation with no autofocus or automatic diaphragm

FAQ

What does "PAT Pend" mean on this lens?

It marks the lens as an early Nippon Kogaku production run, made before the company adopted the Nikon brand internationally. The patent-pending marking identifies it as part of the original Micro-NIKKOR development.

How does the preset focus system work?

You set your working aperture on one ring, then open the second ring wide to focus, then stop it back down to your preset aperture to shoot. It's a two-step manual process that predates automatic diaphragms.

What's the practical focal length and maximum aperture?

Fixed 55mm focal length at f/3.5 maximum aperture, designed for close-focus macro and flat-art reproduction work.

Why would I choose this over a modern 55mm macro lens?

If you shoot manually anyway, the preset system forces deliberate thinking about focus and exposure as separate decisions. It's also historically significant as an early Nikon-branded optic from the Nippon Kogaku era.

Is this lens fast enough for low-light work?

At f/3.5, no. The aperture reflects the optical priorities of its era: flatness of field and edge-to-edge resolution over speed in dim light.

What kind of subjects is this lens built for?

Close-focus macro work-the original purpose of the Micro-NIKKOR line. The 55mm length keeps working distance reasonable for tabletop subjects and flat-art reproduction.