Want to Buy AN affordable Nikon AI 50mm

Red Tractors · Jan 10, 2014

Not regularly a Nikon shooter, but I do enjoy my FM. Would like to find a useable 50mm to replace the broken one it came with.

1.8/2.0/series E, whatever is decent and affordable.

I was working a trade for one with another forum member, but the 3-1/4 X 4-1/4 film holders I had are lost somewhere.

trythis · Jan 10, 2014

Consider an E series 50mm 1.8. Much cheaper and quite a decent lens

Fixcinater · Jan 10, 2014

Would my 55/3.5 Micro be suitable?

See my ad here: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Red Tractors · Jan 10, 2014

Thanks but One thing I always reach for is a fast 50mm.

Maiku2008 · Jan 11, 2014

I sent a message about a lens. My sent box is empty. Did you get the message? If not please send me a PM.

NedL · Jan 11, 2014

I'm no expert, but I recently got the 50mm f/2 AI. I like it very much and it was not expensive. It has very nice smooth and fine focus. Depends what you want to use it for whether you need something faster.

r-brian · Jan 11, 2014

I have an extra 50mm f1.4 Ai. I really don't need 2 of them. I'm not sure what you are considering as 'affordable' but I know I can give you an affordable price for a f1.4, but definitely not as inexpensive as a Series E or so.

Red Tractors · Jan 11, 2014

Thanks folks, going to hold off for now and do some more research.

I know what I want now, but I'm not sure how much I "need" it.

clayne · Jan 12, 2014

KEH has bargain deals for ~100$ for the 50/1.4 AI(s). I'd say that's pretty affordable for this lens.

Terry Christian · Jan 12, 2014

You can always buy a 50/1.8D AF brand new for about $100 if nothing else pans out.

Red Tractors · Mar 20, 2014

Just thought I would tie up the thread with how I resolved it.

Stopped by the local camera store and spotted a decent looking FM (chrome) with a clean 50/1.8 E Went back today and picked it up. $50 later I have another working (meter works!) FM.

Went home and pulled out the broken 50/2.0 to swap the Skylight filter over. Strangely as I loosened the filter a good portion of the front of lens came out with it. With nothing to lose I turned the lens over and the inner barrel slid out.

Long story short, at some point someone must have partially disassembled the lens and misaligned the pins that control the aperture and metering. Fifteen minutes of tinkering later I have a fully working 50mm/F:2.

Xmas · Mar 20, 2014

You really need a FG or EM as a backup...

But well done.

Red Tractors · Mar 20, 2014

Well Now I have two FM's and an FE. All as backups to my Pentax kit.

Which are backups for my EOS film bodies...

And if I get bored I have a decent, M42 kit, Zenit EM's, Spotmatics, and a couple of Argus STL's.

My film SLR bullpen is pretty dang deep....

Xmas · Mar 20, 2014

eek

I got two F2, a FM2n, three FG and one FG20.

It takes me longer to reassamble the aperture couplings but some are easier than others.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 20, 2014

Red Tractors said:
Well Now I have two FM's and an FE. All as backups to my Pentax kit.

Which are backups for my EOS film bodies...

And if I get bored I have a decent, M42 kit, Zenit EM's, Spotmatics, and a couple of Argus STL's.

My film SLR bullpen is pretty dang deep....

Just need to add some MD-mount gear... ;-)

In all seriousness, consider getting a MD-12 for use with the bodies, if you don't have one already. The 20 second meter shutoff is kinda nice. Plus, the fact that the advance lever isn't always stabbing you in the eye.

-J

Xmas · Mar 20, 2014

John_Nikon_F said:
Just need to add some MD-mount gear... ;-)

In all seriousness, consider getting a MD-12 for use with the bodies, if you don't have one already. The 20 second meter shutoff is kinda nice. Plus, the fact that the advance lever isn't always stabbing you in the eye.

-J

Or a MD-14 for the FG-20s my FGs seem to tolerate the motor ok and the FG/FG-20 chassis is in common

I prefer the ugly sister series E /1.8 handling to the long nose AIs or pancake AIs Cinderellas.

Red Tractors · Mar 20, 2014

John_Nikon_F said:
Just need to add some MD-mount gear... ;-)

In all seriousness, consider getting a MD-12 for use with the bodies, if you don't have one already. The 20 second meter shutoff is kinda nice. Plus, the fact that the advance lever isn't always stabbing you in the eye.

-J

Funny you should say that.

I started out with an X-370! (My first one still works) Still have the MD stuff, but I switched systems due to Minolta's legendary un-reliability.

I do have an MD-12 grip for the Nikons, I use it on occasion.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 20, 2014

Red Tractors said:
Funny you should say that.

I started out with an X-370! (My first one still works) Still have the MD stuff, but I switched systems due to Minolta's legendary un-reliability.

I do have an MD-12 grip for the Nikons, I use it on occasion.

lol, sounds like you're all set, then... Yeah, I think the X series wasn't as reliable as the old SR and SRT bodies. The XK and some of the earlier X series cameras (XD-11, XE series, etc) were fairly decent, reliability-wise.

-J

Want to Buy AN affordable Nikon AI 50mm

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency