Nikkor 50mm f2 or f1.8?

darinwc · Dec 22, 2012

Which nikkor do you prefer?
The 50mm f2 or the newer 50mm f1.8?

Dan Fromm · Dec 22, 2012

Darin, I've never had an f/2er. I do have a somewhat recent manual focus 50/1.8. Under some circumstances it produces a little reddish hot spot in the middle of the frame. I've read that this is typical behavior.

If I were you I'd go for a late (AI) 50/2.

narsuitus · Dec 22, 2012

I have never had an f/2.

I have an f/1.8 but I actually prefer the 50mm f/1.4.

Vilk · Dec 22, 2012

longnose 1.8; the long throw of the 2 becomes incredibly annoying after a while, if you try to use it for anything else than close-ups of beer coasters... they're comparable optically, both superb... but then, there's also the pleasure of discovering things for yourself, can't go wrong with either at the prices they're selling for

ps. the pancake 1.8 is competent but meh

PhotoJim · Dec 22, 2012

I have owned a couple of the f/2 lenses. They are extremely, extremely good.

The best Nikkor is reputed to be the original metal AI 50/1.8 (not the Series E or the meter coupling shoe-less newer AI 1.8 which is just a multicoated Series E).

In practice, I don't imagine it matters. They're all pretty good.

semi-ambivalent · Dec 22, 2012

I have an Ai f/2 and a long-nose f/1.8. If you want to pixel peep, of my samples, the 1.8 has it by a very small margin wide open (this would be a 64" wide print so, what's the point...). I prefer the f/2 because it does this thing wide open that I like. In fact the f/2 Ai is so sweet and so cheap I'd buy one even if I didn't have a Nikon, sort of like some people did with Windows 95 because, you know, you'll need it eventually.

s-a

BradS · Dec 23, 2012

Like the others above, I too have not owned nor even tried the f/2 but have a newer 50mm f/1.8 AIS. It is an excellent lens. However, I find I like the 28mm f/2.8 AIS so much that the 50mm almost never even gets mounted to the camera.

markbarendt · Dec 23, 2012

I have the 50mm 1.8 AF-D and love it. Never had the 2.0 but did have the 1.4. Both made great negatives.

The biggest reason I sold the 1.4 is the 1.8 has AF and I couldn't see any significant difference in a print.

Plain and simple, if my subjects are fairly close to me and mobile, as most are when I'm shooting 135 with a 50mm lens, then my old eyes greatly appreciate AF when I print.

My FM2 is feeling a bit neglected too as of late.

Robert Ley · Dec 23, 2012

I recently picked up a nice clean 50mm f:1.8 AI with a Nikon body off Ebay and am confused by the term "long nose" can either Vilk or s-a explain the term "long nose" and how I can tell if I have one of these lenses. Don't really use a 50 that much, much prefer my 35mm f:2, but I am curious about the "long nose"

Vilk · Dec 23, 2012

http://www.destoutz.ch/lenses_standard_50mm_f2.html

last row. barrel length. it's either a pancake or a longnose. there were no AI pancakes so you've got a longnose. score

fotch · Dec 23, 2012

I have both. Prefer the F:1.4

GarageBoy · Dec 24, 2012

50 f2 AI does this nice wide open veil that I kinda enjoy
Never used the 1.8, though

darkosaric · Dec 24, 2012

I have both, and 1.4, and 3.5 micro. f2 focus up to 0.6m, and f1.8 focus up to 0.45m. Not big difference, but good to know. Picture quality, sharpness - I don't see big difference, I like them both the same.

sangetsu · Dec 24, 2012

It depends on the camera. As I got rid of all my Nikon bodies except for an eye-level F and and eye- level F2, I prefer the 50/2 HC Nikkor. I have 1.2/1.8 and 1.4 lenses, but I do think the old HC lens is the best of the bunch. If I had a newer Nikon, I would get an AI conversion done on the 50/2 HC.

darinwc · Dec 25, 2012

LOL a 50mm series E just fell in my lap for a song, but I have a long nose f1.8 on order.
I really prefer the long-nose design. I dont know why people like the pancakes.
-With a full barrel, you get a built-in lens hood and an easier to grip surface. Whats not to like?

waynecrider · Dec 25, 2012

Have/had both and like both. My F2 is the last in the series of non-ai. I feel the F1.8 N series is better in build and performance. The D series I got new I had to send back to B&H for repair. Just a shitty lens right out of the box.

KrankyKraut · Dec 25, 2012

Have 50mm f/2 "K" version and Nikkor-H 50mm f/2. Also own the 50mm 1.8G and used to have the 1.8D. The "D" wasn't as good as the others. Overall, prefer the H for it's "wholistic" rendering and the 1.8G, which is a fantastic modern lens wich beats the 1.4G, which I also had. Never used the 1.8 long nose or pancake.

agphotography · Dec 27, 2012

I have the 50mm f/2-H and a 50mm f/2 AI, I love the AI version, it just feels right on my F3. I'm quite satisfied with this lens and I don't have much of an incentive to look for a faster version right now.

mohawk51 · Feb 13, 2013

darinwc said:
Which nikkor do you prefer?
The 50mm f2 or the newer 50mm f1.8?

The Nikkor 50 F1.4 AIS (late version)

damonff · Feb 13, 2013

DREW WILEY · Feb 13, 2013

I like the 50/1.8 A1s semi-pancake for a particular reason. It's really a second-string design, but one stop down is fabulously sharp, is compact, and was inexpensive enough that I can travel with it without getting paranoid. My 55/2.8 is a better optic with better build. But I seldom shoot 35mm except for rainy days or brisk walks when I don't want to have to clean my big cameras afterwards.
And I don't generally use "normal" focal lengths. So a semi-pancake fits nicely into a little nook in the bag below the 85/1.4 I mostly use.

kobaltus · Feb 15, 2013

My multicoated 50/2 are sharper than older S. Sharp wide open and razor sharp two stops
down.
Personally I prefer the 50/1.4 SC.

John_Nikon_F · Feb 15, 2013

The 50/2 H (all versions, including the AI 50/2 - they're all the same basic lens, just a different barrel with longer throw helix on the rubber focus ring versions). I have a regular AF 50/1.8 (non-D, Japanese build), which is also a decent lens, but I do think the older 50/2 beats it. Alas, my current 50/2 H is still pre-AI, so it's only used on the FTn, FT2, and the F. I also have the two better non-AF 50/1.4's. The original S version with factory AI ring, and the AI version. For some reason, the SC and the big K versions tend to have a milky green cast, especially with Fuji film, which isn't there with the older S, nor the compact K version or the AI version.

-J

Trask · Feb 15, 2013

Vilk said:
http://www.destoutz.ch/lenses_standard_50mm_f2.html

last row. barrel length. it's either a pancake or a longnose. there were no AI pancakes so you've got a longnose. score

Sorry, I'm not seeing anything that looks remarkably longer than anything else. Maybe I'm expecting the difference to be marked, not subtle. Which of the four lens on the last row is a longnose and which is a pancake? Are any of the lenses on the other rows so characterized?

OldBodyOldSoul · Feb 17, 2013

Lenses 1 and 3 are long nose, 2 and 4 are pancakes.
Look at how much barrel there is between the silver ring and the top of the lens. Or, if you like this perspective better, look at the front element - in lenses 1 and 3 it is deeply recessed while in 2 and 4 it lies almost flat with the filter ring.

In absolute terms the difference is not remarkable. It's a 50mm lens after all. If you held them in your hands the difference would be obvious.

Nikkor 50mm f2 or f1.8?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency