nikon 50 AIS not as sharp as 50 D ?

Terry Breedlove · Oct 6, 2014

I have a really nice Nikon f3 HP and in fact it is my favorite Camera. I have a 50 1.8 AIS lens for it and it is in very good shape. No dust scratches or fungus. After coming back from Vietnam I noticed the shots I took with my F 100 with the 50 1.8 D were so much sharper and contrast was better. I put the D lens on my F3 and indeed my shots are better but I hate the focus feel as compared to the AIS lens. My question is are the 50 1.8 AIS lenses not as good as the D lens or is it just my lens ? I am going to buy another 50 and was hoping to find a nice one on ebay, but if the 50 1.8 AIS lenses are not that good then I will go for a brand new 50mm f 1.2 lens instead. I am in serious lust after the 1.2. . Photo 50mm 1.8 D and TRI-X 400 at 400.

BrianShaw · Oct 6, 2014

What diferences are we supposed to be seeing; All 3 images look the same to me.

darkosaric · Oct 6, 2014

AIS 50mm prime lenses are as good as the D 50mm lenses - problem can be from sample to sample (how good is the condition of the lens).

analoguey · Oct 6, 2014

Dont buy the 1.2, if you want a faster lens, buy the 1.4 AIS instead. (Or if you prefer, the D)

I didnt like the 50D when I used it, much prefer the faster AIS or the 35mm G

Xmas · Oct 6, 2014

Terry Breedlove said:
Photo 50mm 1.8 D and TRI-X 400 at 400.

If you want to compare lenses you need a 500 kg block of concrete with camera clamp and a test chart and PanF. And forget about scanning the neg...

You do have bad GAS.

Noel

BrianShaw · Oct 6, 2014

BrianShaw said:
What diferences are we supposed to be seeing; All 3 images look the same to me.

So... is that the sharp image, or the not-so-sharp one?

I've used a 1.4/50 AI-S Nikkor since 1982 and never had a shrpness complaint except when handholding at slow speeds.

mdarnton · Oct 6, 2014

If you shine a light in from the back and look into the front of the lens, I bet you will find that the interior of the AIS lens, being older, is foggy on the elements, and this will degrade both sharpness and especially contrast. If you send it in and have it cleaned, it should be equal to the AF-D lens; I believe they are the same formula.

The f1.4 lens is sharper than the f2; the f1.2 is not. If you're concerned about ultimate sharpness, especially at larger openings, it would be worth buying the f1.4, but for use in normal light, at least a couple of stops down, they're functionally about the same.

Vilk · Oct 6, 2014

analoguey said:
Dont buy the 1.2, if you want a faster lens, buy the 1.4 AIS instead. (Or if you prefer, the D)

I didnt like the 50D when I used it, much prefer the faster AIS or the 35mm G

exactly the opposite of my experience.. and advice. the 1.4 was annoyingly unsharp (note the "was")

darkosaric · Oct 6, 2014

If you want crazy sharp and something little different than you have now (so that you can justify the buying ), and not so expensive - 55mm micro nikkor f3.5 is the way to go.

snapguy · Oct 6, 2014

fools errand

I sold many, many photos to magazines over a 30-plus year career but only had one in Life magazine (that I know for sure about). It was taken at an indoor track meet (Millrose Games) and was taken with a 50mm Nikkor at f1.4. I never owned a 50mm F1.4 lens until recently (everything is dirt cheap these days). and I think chasing after superfast lenses to "improve" your photography is a waste of time. I knew a Hollywood starlet who was fast, but she wasn't good. Bless her soul.

Ricardo Miranda · Oct 6, 2014

Which version of the Nikkor 50 1.8 AIS is? There are at least 3 versions:
Japanese domestic version, also known as the 1.8S - small pancake style with soft rubber on focusing ring and metal ring for the aperture.
long noose version - pretty much identical to the AI version with rabbit ears..
Later pancake version - hard plastic focusing ring and plastic aperture ring.

And then there is the Series E 50mm 1.8 AIS. Later pancake lens is identical optically.
The AF Nikkor 50mm 1.8D is a rework of the later pancake optical formula.

mdarnton · Oct 6, 2014

Vilk said:
exactly the opposite of my experience.. and advice. the 1.4 was annoyingly unsharp (note the "was")

Interesting.....my 50/1.4 is annoyingly sharp.

BrianShaw · Oct 6, 2014

mdarnton said:
Interesting.....my 50/1.4 is annoyingly sharp.

Mine too.

Terry Breedlove · Oct 6, 2014

I am perfectly satisfied with my 50 1.8 D which by the way I have owned since it first came available way back when. Other than the fact that it is an auto focus lens and using it with the F3 a manual focus camera just doesn't work as smooth as the AIS lens. On my F100 it is perfect for my purposes and will remain my go to lens for that set up.
However I really like shooting my F3 and I want a good 50 for it. I noticed that the 50 AIS lens I owned just wasn't as sharp and contrasty as the D lens so I was wondering if it was this particular lens or all 50 1.8 AIS lenses in general. For example I hear that the 35mm f 1.4 AIS lens isn't very good. If it was as sharp and contrasty as my D lens I would be perfectly happy with it.
I shoot a lot, almost every day and I am shooting more and more paid portraits with my film cameras so buying a brand new 50 1.2 AIS lens doesn't bother me. Especially since I will own it forever and will use it so much. After looking inside the 50 AIS a few minutes ago I need a new lens. I might just pony up the bucks and go that way with the 50, 1.2. I have to buy something anyway so I might as well get the one I really want plus I can buy it brand new.

PS : That shot as I noted was with the 50 D. Just wanted to share.

Terry Breedlove · Oct 6, 2014

mdarnton said:
If you shine a light in from the back and look into the front of the lens, I bet you will find that the interior of the AIS lens, being older, is foggy on the elements, and this will degrade both sharpness and especially contrast.e.

Thank you so much. I did that and yep it just isn't as clear as my D version. Problem solved.

gone · Oct 6, 2014

My recommendation is for the 50 2.0 lenses. Incredible IQ for the money, w/ bokeh that rivals a Leica lens (at just a wee bit of the Leica cost). I never cared for the 50 1.8 lenses. Rough bokeh.

Terry Breedlove · Oct 6, 2014

snapguy said:
I sold many, many photos to magazines over a 30-plus year career but only had one in Life magazine (that I know for sure about). It was taken at an indoor track meet (Millrose Games) and was taken with a 50mm Nikkor at f1.4. I never owned a 50mm F1.4 lens until recently (everything is dirt cheap these days). and I think chasing after superfast lenses to "improve" your photography is a waste of time. I knew a Hollywood starlet who was fast, but she wasn't good. Bless her soul.

I don't think you are getting it. I am not looking at a super fast lens to improve my photography. I don't want a new lens, I need a new lens. Because the 50 AIS I have is not giving me shots that are as contrasty and sharp as my 50 D. If it did I would be perfectly happy with it. However since I am in need of another lens I am thinking I might go for the 50 1.2 AIS. For three reasons really. One I can buy one brand new since Nikon still makes the 1.2 version and also because it is the sharpest 50mm lens at f 2 and I really like the way it renders at f1.2. Now honestly I wouldn't shoot with it at f1.2 that much but it would be there when I wanted or needed it.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 6, 2014

momus said:
My recommendation is for the 50 2.0 lenses. Incredible IQ for the money, w/ bokeh that rivals a Leica lens (at just a wee bit of the Leica cost). I never cared for the 50 1.8 lenses. Rough bokeh.

Me too. I have two, both single coated Nikkor Hs and I like them so much I got rid of the other Nikkor 50s I had.

Terry Breedlove · Oct 6, 2014

momus said:
My recommendation is for the 50 2.0 lenses. Incredible IQ for the money, w/ bokeh that rivals a Leica lens (at just a wee bit of the Leica cost). I never cared for the 50 1.8 lenses. Rough bokeh.

In the past I usually kept my 50mm f1.8 D lens stopped down because I wanted a big area in focus. Primarily shooting groups of two or more and street photography with it. Stopped down a little it is brilliantly sharp and the perfect lens for me. It is just recently that I have been using it more and more for natural light portraits and appreciate the shallower depth of field sometimes. I also own the 85 1.8 D and it was my main portrait lens but it is showings it's age and I am using my 80-200 F2.8 D lens in its place. Those are all auto focus lenses on my auto focus camera.
I bought a really nice little F3 camera about 6 months ago and I fell in love shooting it but the 50 AIS lens I have for it just simply isn't performing very well. That became very evident when i got my shots back from the lab and could clearly see side by side that the D lens was way better. So the new 50 I will buy next and the 28 mm AIS lens I intend to buy for it will be the only two lenses I will most likely ever use with it. I simply love that F3 and I want a good lens for it.

Xmas · Oct 6, 2014

Lenses with fog normally clean up ok...

mdarnton · Oct 6, 2014

Yes, in fact when I got my 50/1.4 it looked pretty bad. I sent it in to the local Nikon affiliated repair shop, and it came back like new. My experience with old lenses (which is almost entirely what I have) is that a trip to the shop is worth the money, so I try to buy cheap, and include a CLA in my projections.

Bill Harrison · Oct 6, 2014

Nikon 50's ish...

+1 on the 55 macro f3.5 (not 2.8)

RalphLambrecht · Oct 6, 2014

Terry Breedlove said:
I have a really nice Nikon f3 HP and in fact it is my favorite Camera. I have a 50 1.8 AIS lens for it and it is in very good shape. No dust scratches or fungus. After coming back from Vietnam I noticed the shots I took with my F 100 with the 50 1.8 D were so much sharper and contrast was better. I put the D lens on my F3 and indeed my shots are better but I hate the focus feel as compared to the AIS lens. My question is are the 50 1.8 AIS lenses not as good as the D lens or is it just my lens ? I am going to buy another 50 and was hoping to find a nice one on ebay, but if the 50 1.8 AIS lenses are not that good then I will go for a brand new 50mm f 1.2 lens instead. I am in serious lust after the 1.2. . Photo 50mm 1.8 D and TRI-X 400 at 400.

View attachment 95640

I never had a 50f/2 but my 50f/1.8AIS is any bit as good as my 50f/1.4D
I have quite a few Nikkors from the 1970s(that's when I went pro)They are all excellent.I like to see a comparison test old vs new. I'm sure new will not win hands down;old Nikon glass is very good and cheapfor what it is

JRoosa · Oct 6, 2014

Good to hear people are happy with the 50 1.8D. I just got a used one in great shape for $80 from the shop down the road for my F100. I was tempted buy the 1.4D, and even thinking about getting it new, but good sense took over and I have $270 I wouldn't have had otherwise to spend on something else, and I'm only missing out on 2/3 of a stop.

-J.

Terry Breedlove · Oct 6, 2014

The 50 1.8 D has been my little work horse. Sharp as a tac small and light. I bought it new as soon as B&H had them in stock and I think I paid $99 back in the day.

nikon 50 AIS not as sharp as 50 D ?

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