Talk me out of yet another Nikkor

M-88 · Apr 7, 2023

So, the thing is, I already own a few Nikon lenses: 35 mm/2.5 Series E, PC-Nikkor 35 mm, 50 mm/1.8 AF and 28-105 AF-D for general use. And typically I take take one lens, which is either of 35 mm lenses, or two lenses - 28-105 and again - 35 mm. And yet here I am, irrationally craving for 50 mm f/2 Nikkor, which I used to own. 50 mm isn't even my go-to focal length and even if it was, 50/1.8 AF-D probably beats 50/2. 28-105 AF-D gives nice picture at 50mm focal length as well. So why do I want this specific 50/2?

To make my FM setup look "historically accurate" with 50/2?

To be unable to meter with my N80 if 50/2 is mounted?

To be able to torture myself with manual focus/aperture operation on my ~~digital camera~~ heresy instead of just using 50/1.8 AF?

Nostalgia?

Talk me out of it. Or don't. I'm sure I'll buy this lens one way or another and it will spend the rest of its life in the drawer. I also don't know why I prefer it over 50/1.4 or 50/1.2, either of which I could also buy and their purchase would be justified by faster aperture, at least.

madNbad · Apr 7, 2023

Skip the 50 2.0 and get the much better 50 1.8 MF. The Series E is optically as good but the metal body is worth the extra money. Have it chipped so it will work with the later electronics and it’ll be a perfect match for your FM.
The Nikkor H 2.0 50 is a great lens, I’ve owned a bunch of them over the years but they were designed to be used on larger bodies like the F/F2 or the Nikkormats. When the FM series replaced the Nikkormat, Nikon began designing smaller, lighter lenses to match. Get a 1.8, you won’t be disappointed.

M-88 · Apr 7, 2023

And then there's the question: what's the point of getting MF 50/1.8 if I already own AF 50/1.8? Don't they have the same optical formula?

Eh, the thing is, objectively speaking, I already have more lenses than I use.

BrianShaw · Apr 7, 2023

Well there's your answer... right in front of you all along!

M-88 · Apr 7, 2023

BrianShaw said:
Well there's your answer... right in front of you all along!

Sure. However, human eyesight has blind spots

Sirius Glass · Apr 7, 2023

Get the best [biggest aperture] 50mm AF lens that you can afford and will enjoy.

Kino · Apr 7, 2023

You are on the wrong website to extinguish GAS; this is the ENABLER site.

Huss · Apr 7, 2023

I really liked the Nikon 50 1.8 Series E that I had. But it was the second edition model, where they built it much nicer, and it had the silver trim ring.

M-88 · Apr 8, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Get the best [biggest aperture] 50mm AF lens that you can afford and will enjoy.

Then I wish they made 50 mm f/1.2 autofocus lens, for I didn't enjoy 50/1.4 AF-D much.

Oh wait, they do have 50/1.2 AF, but in Z mount

Kino said:
You are on the wrong website to extinguish GAS; this is the ENABLER site.

Oh well, might just as well buy all 50 mm primes Nikon has ever made.

Huss said:
I really liked the Nikon 50 1.8 Series E that I had. But it was the second edition model, where they built it much nicer, and it had the silver trim ring.

The first iteration is truly a trash lens in terms of build quality. Not a single metal piece, except for the lens mount itself. Same for Series E 35/2.5 and most probably Series E 100/2.8.

Huss · Apr 8, 2023

M-88 said:
..

The first iteration is truly a trash lens in terms of build quality. Not a single metal piece, except for the lens mount itself. Same for Series E 35/2.5 and most probably Series E 100/2.8.

This is the one I'm talking about - the 2nd gen was actually very nice to use even though it still was mainly plastic. It no longer looked and felt sh-tty.

FS: Nikon 50mm f1.8 Series E pancake AIS

(not my ad, no connection to seller)

beemermark · Apr 8, 2023

Don't look at me for help. I have more Nikkor lens and non-branded lenses for Nikon them I can count. I have one (maybe two) 50mm/1.2, three or four 50mm/1.4, some AIS and some AF.

mshchem · Apr 8, 2023

Only reason to get faster than your 1.8 is (for me) a brighter image on the focusing screen. Wait until there's a manual focus lens that's a steal for your FM maybe an AI'ed pre-AI 50 f1.4 with chrome barrel and big black metal focusing ring.

M-88 · Apr 9, 2023

mshchem said:
Only reason to get faster than your 1.8 is (for me) a brighter image on the focusing screen. Wait until there's a manual focus lens that's a steal for your FM maybe an AI'ed pre-AI 50 f1.4 with chrome barrel and big black metal focusing ring.

Not only for you, but for me as well. I mean, I thought of getting 50/1.4 lens for better character, better rendition or something. I borrowed my friend's 50/1.4 AF-D and guess what? It's clinically sharp and had I not known that photos were shot on 50/1.4, I'd think they were shot on my 50/1.8. That was a few years ago, but more than enough reason for me to drop the idea of faster aperture altogether.

Heck, a low tier Novar-Anastigmat on my Contina has more character than these clinically sharp lenses.

madNbad · Apr 9, 2023

Skip buying another Nikkor, get a Rolleiflex.

GregY · Apr 9, 2023

madNbad said:
Skip buying another Nikkor, get a Rolleiflex.

Well you can get a 50mm 1.4 Nikkor for $100 or less.... while i agree a Rolleflex is a gem.... the deals disappeared long ago.

madNbad · Apr 9, 2023

GregY said:
Well you can get a 50mm 1.4 Nikkor for $100 or less.... while i agree a Rolleflex is a gem.... the deals disappeared long ago.

I was just trying to help. The title is “Talk me out of buying yet another Nikkor.”

GregY · Apr 9, 2023

madNbad said:
I was just trying to help. The title is “Talk me out of buying yet another Nikkor.”

disclaimer..... i'd buy the Rolleiflex too!

George Mann · Apr 9, 2023

madNbad said:
Skip the 50 2.0 and get the much better 50 1.8 MF.

No way in hell that the 1.8 anything is better! What have you been smoking?

madNbad · Apr 9, 2023

George Mann said:
No way in hell that the 1.8 anything is better! What have you been smoking?

Over the years I have owned and used several Nikkor-S 50 2.0 and even more Nikkor-H 50 2.0. They're fine lenses, render nicely and handle well. I owned a Df for a couple of years and the two lenses that were used the most were the 28 2.8 Ai-S and the 50 1.8 Ai-S. The 1.8 Ai-S was sharper than any of the older 2.0 designs while still offering a nice OOF background. I love the old non-Ai lenses and have owned a lot of them but Nikon really stepped up it's game with the Ai-S lenses.

George Mann · Apr 9, 2023

madNbad said:
The 1.8 Ai-S was sharper than any of the older 2.0 designs while still offering a nice OOF background.

If you think that a sharper lens is better than the most accurate and transparent one, then thats on you.

Except for the Series E, the 1.8's are also unnaturally sterile.

Bokeh is also a subjective thing.

M-88 · Apr 9, 2023

Get a Rolleiflex?

Oh well, might just as well wait for Sirius Glass to tell me to go for Hasselblad

The whole point of wanting Nikon lens is my unwillingness to add more cameras to the list of those I already own but never use.

madNbad · Apr 9, 2023

M-88 said:
Get a Rolleiflex?

Oh well, might just as well wait for Sirius Glass to tell me to go for Hasselblad

The whole point of wanting Nikon lens is my unwillingness to add more cameras to the list of those I already own but never use.

So, have we talked you out of getting another Nikkor lens?

M-88 · Apr 9, 2023

madNbad said:
So, have we talked you out of getting another Nikkor lens?

Not really. But my car did - it decided to break down, so my funds are going to be diverted to that matter.

George Mann · Apr 9, 2023

madNbad said:
So, have we talked you out of getting another Nikkor lens?

That should depend on what films he shoots more than anything else.

If he shoots ADOX CMS-20II or Ektachrome, then there is no better 50mm than the Nikkor 50mm f/2 Ai/HC Auto.

M-88 · Apr 9, 2023

George Mann said:
That should depend on what films he shoots more than anything else.

It's Ilford. FP4+ most of the time. Otherwise - HP5+

Talk me out of yet another Nikkor

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