Nikon 50mm F1.4 AI?

Rubin Saini · Nov 13, 2018

Would someone be able to confirm that this is indeed an AI/AIS lens that will meter (produce a light meter reading) on a Nikon FE? Thanks!

Chan Tran · Nov 13, 2018

Yes it sure will work on the FE.

anfenglin · Nov 13, 2018

Seeing it like this I can not be sure that it is an Ai-S but it most definitely is an Ai, you can see that on the rabbit ears, they have holes and are not massive.
This will definitely work with the FE.

Ian C · Nov 13, 2018

The last pair of side-by-side photos in the following link clearly shows the most obvious difference between the AI and AIS lens mounts—the AIS focal-length signal notch. The focal-length signal notch of the AIS lens mount is shown inside a red circle.

Depending on the focal length, or maximum focal length in the case of a zoom lens, the signal notch is machined to one of two distinct depths. One depth is used for lenses of 135mm focal length and shorter, or zoom lenses whose maximum focal length doesn’t exceed 135mm.

A different notch depth is machined into the mounts of lenses whose focal length is greater than 135mm, or zoom lenses whose maximum focal length is greater that 135mm.

The notch is probed by a spring-loaded plunger. When the lens is mounted, the position of the plunger is used to communicate to a Nikon “Program” camera, such as the FA, FG, and so forth, the maximum focal length of the lens. This in turn determines at what point (based on shutter speed) to switch between normal and high-speed program when the camera is used in PROGRAM mode.

The article also discusses other differences making it easy to identify which type you have among pre-AI, AI, and AIS manual-focus lenses.

https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/ni/NI_article?articleNo=000001497&configured=1&lang=en_US

macfred · Nov 13, 2018

According to the Lens Version / Series Nos it's an Ai lens.

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#50fast

markjwyatt · Nov 13, 2018

This table (amongst many on the internet) seems accurate. I have a non-AI version of that lens (Nikkor-S Auto).

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

markjwyatt · Nov 13, 2018

macfred said:
According to the Lens Version / Series Nos it's an Ai lens.

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html#50fast

It might be converted (?)

macfred · Nov 13, 2018

markjwyatt said:
It might be converted (?)

Nope - I'm sure it's a regular Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 ai. The ai-s versions starting with series nos 5100001 and the engraved aperture number f/16 should be in orange (not blue like the one above).

markjwyatt · Nov 13, 2018

macfred said:
Nope - I'm sure it's a regular Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 ai. The ai-s versions starting with series nos 5100001 and the engraved apperture number f/16 should be in orange (not blue like the one above).

Nice table. Thanks!

macfred · Nov 13, 2018

markjwyatt said:
Nice table. Thanks!

You're welcome, Mark!

MartinCrabtree · Nov 13, 2018

+Some of the late Ai lenses had the F16 in orange. The only way to verify Ais by visual inspection is the slot on the face of the mount.

macfred · Nov 13, 2018

MartinCrabtree said:
+Some of the late Ai lenses had the F16 in orange...

You're probably right (though I never saw a 50mm f/1.4 ai with the f/16 in orange).

MartinCrabtree said:
... The only way to verify Ais by visual inspection is the slot on the face of the mount.

That's fore sure - the 'lens type signal notch' is the best way to recognize those ai-s lenses.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 13, 2018

Rubin Saini said:
Would someone be able to confirm that this is indeed an AI/AIS lens that will meter (produce a light meter reading) on a Nikon FE? Thanks!

it does on mine

Theo Sulphate · Nov 14, 2018

Although the lens has been identified, a few things should be noted if you can't see the top or the rear of a lens in a photo:

1. Just looking at the coupling prong ("rabbit ears"), it's possible that newer ears could be placed on an older lens.

2. The orange color (for AIS) on the minimum aperture applies not to the main aperture ring, but to the smaller ADF aperture ring.

cooltouch · Nov 14, 2018

Rubin Saini said:
Would someone be able to confirm that this is indeed an AI/AIS lens that will meter (produce a light meter reading) on a Nikon FE? Thanks!

Well, I think it has been pointed out to everyone's satisfaction that the lens pictured is indeed an AI lens. But I would like to address the OP's actual question. He was unsure of the meter coupling method, such that he was unable to identify what makes an AI meter coupling method an AI meter coupling method -- and after all, an AIs lens has just only a few slight changes to the original -- those that can be seen, at any rate. So anyway, it should be pointed out that in order to determine an AI or AIs meter coupling style, one must observe the longish curved tab attached to the aperture ring, which slightly overlaps the mount, and which couples to a tab on the camera that moves in a concentric manner. It is this longish tab on the aperture ring that is essentially what makes an AI lens an AI lens. A way of emphasizing this is pointing to an older pre-AI lens that has had its original aperture ring replaced with one made by Nikon specifically as an upgrade for that lens. Once that aperture ring is installed the lens has been "AI'd by Nikon."

MartinCrabtree · Nov 15, 2018

When F-Stop is controlled by the camera (not the ring on lens) the Ai lens progression is not linear and can/will result in exposure errors. The Ais lens is linear in response to the camera due to changes in the linkage controlling the iris. That is the major difference. Discovered this when installing chips for electronic camera use.

Ted Baker · Nov 15, 2018

MartinCrabtree said:
When F-Stop is controlled by the camera (not the ring on lens) the Ai lens progression is not linear and can/will result in exposure errors. The Ais lens is linear in response to the camera due to changes in the linkage controlling the iris. That is the major difference. Discovered this when installing chips for electronic camera use.

The Nikon FA had a meter such that it could get around this problem, by making a small change to the shutter speed. The Nikon F4, got around this problem by not offering shutter priority or program with any AI or AIs lens in the first place (i.e. turn a deficiency into a positive). So the problem is often a non problem, because they either overcame the problem with closed circuit metering, or the camera does not offer program or shutter priority with these both AI and AI-s lenses.

AFAIK I don't think that any AI lens will cause a problem unless you put a chip on it.

MartinCrabtree · Nov 15, 2018

It's an issue when the camera selects the aperture while aperture ring is set to minimum. Drives my digital stuff nutz.

Ted Baker · Nov 16, 2018

MartinCrabtree said:
It's an issue when the camera selects the aperture while aperture ring is set to minimum. Drives my digital stuff nutz.

Which model is that? My D700 will not control the aperture selection with any non-cpu lens.

ronnies · Nov 16, 2018

Ted Baker said:
Which model is that? My D700 will not control the aperture selection with any non-cpu lens.

I think he's converting his AI lens to be a cpu lens.

Ronnie

MartinCrabtree · Nov 16, 2018

Ted Baker said:
Which model is that? My D700 will not control the aperture selection with any non-cpu lens.

ronnies said:
I think he's converting his AI lens to be a cpu lens.

Ronnie

Yes it must have a chip. However during programming (using "f60") the chip on the higher end "pro" digitals you can turn on (or off) the ability to set aperture with ring instead of camera.

Ted Baker · Nov 16, 2018

MartinCrabtree said:
Yes it must have a chip. However during programming (using "f60") the chip on the higher end "pro" digitals you can turn on (or off) the ability to set aperture with ring instead of camera.

OK to summarise, unless you have intend to modify a manual focus lens with a CPU then AI or AI-s doesn't really make any difference. i.e. the changes to mound for AI-s was a sort of dead end. AFAIK Most Nikon cameras can't even tell the difference between and AI or AI-s. They don't have the necessary hardware to tell the difference. The mount evolved into using a CPU which does need the linear aperture of the AI-s mount.

Posting this for those that might be mistaken that are missing out on some feature. Happy to be corrected, but perhaps this helps.

MartinCrabtree · Nov 16, 2018

If the camera has a priority mode where the camera sets the aperture there is a difference between the two. Chip or not. It can be over an f- stop +/- in error or nothing. B&W/Color negative probably no issue. Transparencies can mean the difference between usable and unusable. It is the very reason Ais lenses exist.

Ted Baker · Nov 16, 2018

MartinCrabtree said:
If the camera has a priority mode where the camera sets the aperture there is a difference between the two.

I think that is my point which cameras can control the aperture without a CPU? I don't think there are many, the Nikon FA is one but it has closed circuit metering to compensate.

my old F4 can't control the aperture without a CPU, my D700 can't or at least I don't know how. I would be curious to know if there are others beyond the Nikon FA.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 16, 2018

Ted Baker said:
I think that is my point which cameras can control the aperture without a CPU? I don't think there are many, the Nikon FA is one but it has closed circuit metering to compensate.

my old F4 can't control the aperture without a CPU, my D700 can't or at least I don't know how. I would be curious to know if there are others beyond the Nikon FA.

There are five cameras where the difference between AI and AIS matters, as listed here:

http://www.throughthefmount.com/articles_back_difference_ai_ais.html

This article also confirms the correct statements made by Martin and others in the previous posts above.

As for the D700, it definitely can control the aperture on CPU-based lenses, which it does for my 60/2.8 G Micro Nikkor. I believe you have to go into the shooting-setup menu and specify that the aperture should be controlled by the dial.

Nikon 50mm F1.4 AI?

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