Coastal Optics 60/4 APO macro in color

Previous entries address infrared performance with the Coastal 60/4 APO macro. Below are a few color shots on the Nikon D3 from the Coastal Optics 60mm f/4 APO macro. Aperture f/5.6 is near diffraction limited, improving a worthwhile amount over f/4, but f/8 has really nothing more to offer except depth of field, while f/11 does the usual diffraction dance. The foregoing is not a discussion about macro-size subjects, but near-infinity, so all the more impressive.

The Coastal 60/4 is a “weird” lens—showing no color fringing whatsoever, even on very high contrast edges—a sign of its superb “APO” (apochromatic) correction. Its corner-to-corner sharpness fully exploits the Nikon D3’s sensor by f/5.6, and the real (not theoretical) depth of field the lens delivers is not diminished by latent aberrations or chromatic errors.

I’m looking forward to some night-time shooting with it one of these days (!), though the f/4 maximum aperture exacts its toll on flexibility. Still, an f/2 lens with the same unprecedented performance from UV through IR would probably cost $20K, so I’m content with f/4.

Palo Alto panes
(Nikon D3 + Coastal Optics 60/4 APO macro @ f/5.6)

Barn on Highway 84
(Nikon D3 + Coastal Optics 60/4 APO macro @ f/8)