Which Nikkor 50 Do You Prefer?

weldong · Mar 4, 2010

gamincurieux said:
Made in China, but like I said, it's a great lens, I love it

I am not sure if you are just saying that your 50mm 1.8 is made in China or if you are saying the that the AF 50mm 1.8 (non-D) is made in China.

But for clarity, the AF 50mm 1.8 (non D) that I have is made in Japan. It is the model that the housing is not completely plastic and a push button for the F22 lock. I also have the 50mm 1.8 D (made in China) btw, still a great lens, but I think the non-D version is a bit better opened up.

gamincurieux · Mar 4, 2010

Oh who knows, some were & some weren't I guess, Nikon trying to save a buck at different times. My non-D is made in China. I had been under the impression that they were made in China across the model, that's why they're so cheap. Not so, it seems.

fotch · Mar 4, 2010

I have the F1.2, a couple of F1.4s, and F1.8, F2.0. as well as one of the Nikon Macro lens. I prefer the F1.4 most of the time because it has both the ability to shoot in low light and/or have a minimum depth of field. Out in the field, it is handy to have the camera ready for a variety of situations.

Stopped downed, I don't think it matters all that much. The slower lens are lighter, however, if weight is an issue, should be shooting with a RF.

jimsberg · Mar 4, 2010

Have a 50/1.8 AF and a 50/1.4 AIS, both for many years. Both are very excellent normal leses.

jcfn · Mar 4, 2010

50mm F1.8 E even though it is not a nikkor.
Incredibly compact, amazingly light, disposably cheap and sharp enough for most people most of the time. Also surprisingly robust given its humble origin.

macrorie · Mar 4, 2010

These things are always very subjective and can be complicated. I own the 50mm 2 AI, the 1.8 AIS, the NAI compensating aperture 55mm 3.5, the AI 55mm 3.5, and the 50mm NAI SC 1.4. I like them all, and I think the 1.8 AI is probably the sharpest in general terms (at various distances, etc), but it has really jarring bokeh on wide open shots. I usually use the 55mm AI micro when I want to nail the sharpness variable without having oof backgrounds look like an earthquake is in progress. But, hey, there is variability between individual lenses, especially after they have been around for 30-60 years.

2F/2F · Mar 4, 2010

Nikkor-S 5 cm f/1.4. It is a single-coated beauty from the first professional Nikon SLR system. I have never used a Nikkor 50 that I like any better (and I have used a lot of them).

If not that one, then the f/2.0 version of the same vintage.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 5, 2010

50f2 Nikkor-H is my choice for the slower 50mm lenses. For the faster 50's, either the 50f1.4 Nikkor-S (not SC - the SC doesn't have enough contrast) or the compact 50f1.4 that came out in 1976 and became the AI lens. Both versions have the same contrast and resolution capabilities, but the compact version doesn't feel much heavier than a 50f2.

For the micros, either the 3.5 or the 2.8 are nice. I've yet to have a 55f2.8 AIS with the supposedly common problems of sticky aperture or stiff focus, and I've owned at least four copies over the past 19 years.

-J

ljsegil · Mar 5, 2010

Based on yesterday's shots my current favorite is the 55/3.8 micro, but that could change any day now if whatever is bugging my 55/2.8 micro straightens itself out, however the 3.5 does seem to have an edge on sharpness over the 2.8. And the 45/2.8P is a lovely optic. I'm ready to part with my 50/1.2 if anyone cares to contact me off list. Can't lose with a Nikkor.
Larry

Colden · Mar 5, 2010

So many 50s.

Might soon be getting a 50/1.8d to go onto a compact N75 for a fast & light combo.

John_Nikon_F · Mar 7, 2010

That's a good lens. Even the early 50f1.8 AF is no slouch and will work on a N75 just fine.

-J

KrankyKraut · Apr 1, 2010

The 50mm f/2.0 is really special. Most beautiful color reproduction and contrast. Also I really like the new 50mm 1.4 AF-S G. Great, vibrant colors and edge-to-edge sharpness.

Erik Petersson · Apr 1, 2010

jcfn said:
50mm F1.8 E even though it is not a nikkor.
Incredibly compact, amazingly light, disposably cheap and sharp enough for most people most of the time. Also surprisingly robust given its humble origin.

I agree. The E gives me the smallest gear possible. I carry around a FM2 with an 50mm 1.8E a lot of the time.

DanielStone · Apr 1, 2010

so far, I'm with the 50mm 1.8D crowd.

great lens, even better price! a definite 'sleeper' in the crowd IMO

-Dan

fschifano · Apr 1, 2010

I aree that the 50 mm f/2 is a real gem. I got mine attached to a Nikkormat FT3. I wasn't expecting the lens to be as good as it is, but it sure is. I disagree with the E series not being a Nikkor. It too is a darned fine little lens. It is more lightly built than the higher end Nikkors, but the optical performance doesn't leave much to be desired for my purposes. These can often be found at bargain basement prices too. The only bad thing I can say about this is that it is a little more prone to flare than say the 50 mm f/1.8 AI. That's mostly due to the fact that the front element is right out front and not as recessed as it is with the higher end f/1.8 lenses. A cheap rubber lens hood manages the problem well and easily.

John_Nikon_F · Apr 4, 2010

The Series E was made by Kiron, IIRC, which is why it's not called a Nikkor. In 1985-86, Nikon brought manufacturing of the Series E 50f1.8 in house and turned it into the 50f1.8N Nikkor AIS. It's the same lens, just with a different aperture ring that isn't stepped, unlike the earlier E lens.

With respect to the 50f2, lately been shooting one of my 50f2 Nikkor-H lenses. Enjoying the higher contrast. It does seem a bit more contrasty than my 50f1.4 AI, but not much more. A lot more than a 50f1.4 Nikkor-SC, though, which tends to have this weird "creamy" color cast to various images.

-J

RMP-NikonPro · Apr 4, 2010

50mm AIs f1.2 is a Gem!!!

davelam · Apr 4, 2010

I well enjoy my Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AI, infact, lots more than my 50mm f2.0 AF-D... I also have a 50mm f1.8 that is quite compact, and smooth, but the 1.4 to me is invaluable.

AmsterdamMartin · Apr 5, 2010

I have a 50mm f/1.8 AF-D, and a 50mm f/1.4 AF-S.
Most of the time I use both lenses at f/2.8 or more. The only difference in practical use is dat the AF-S has some distortion while the AF-D has zero.
Therefore the AF-D is still my favorite, my basic lens for 35mm.
For shooting wider than f/2.8 the new AF-S is the winner by far. Although often negatively reviewed I think the bokeh is very nice.
The AF-S is much better built, has instant manual focus override. And it is supplied with a nice deep hood.
Shame it's filter size is 58mm, while all my B&W filters are 52mm, just like my other AF-D primes.

For me both are complementary and I keep them both.

Nikanon · Apr 5, 2010

the 80-200 f2.8 ED AF is a GEM, TACK sharp, beautiful price and a really solid lens. Although, my personal favorite is the 100mm F2.8 series E.

nambun · Sep 16, 2010

I have a F4 and 50 1.2 AIS. It's the best of the best

Jerevan · Sep 16, 2010

The single-coated Nikkor-H 50/2 is my favourite. I've owned four of them. It is perfect for my Nikon F2. Run what ya got!

lxdude · Sep 16, 2010

gamincurieux said:
Oh who knows, some were & some weren't I guess, Nikon trying to save a buck at different times. My non-D is made in China. I had been under the impression that they were made in China across the model, that's why they're so cheap. Not so, it seems.

Yes, my non-D AF Nikkor 50/1.8 with rubber standard style focusing ring (I guess that's version 2) was made in Japan.

dynachrome · Sep 16, 2010

I have a slew of 50mm Nikkors and I see that other standard Nikkors from 45 to 55 have been mentioned. Only the old 58/1.4 and 58/1.2 Noct were left out. Of the slower lenses my favorite is the 50/2 K. The Nikon body I have used the most is a black Nikkormat FT2. I have a 50/2 AI but the FT2 doesn't require AI. The slow 50 I like after that is the original 50/1.8 AI. It has a combination of good build quality, performance and flare resistance because the front element is recessed more than in later 50/1.8s. My favorite f/1.4 Nikkor is the first K model. I think it's the prettiest and I like the way it works. The 50/1.4 I have used the most is an old pointy prong Nikkor S. In addition to these f/1.4s I have the round prong Nikkor S, the SC, the second K, an AI and an AIS. My 45 is the GN C. I like it but I haven't tried the earlier GN with nine aperture blades. I have one 55/2.8 AIS and eleven various 55/3.5 Micro Nikkors. If the light is lower I will use the 55/2.8. My vote for the prettiest one is the 55/3.5 K and the one I use the most is the 55/3.5 PC.

bblhed · Sep 16, 2010

I have a newer AF AIs 50mm f/1.8 plastic job, and while it delivers great colors and is tack sharp and has more broke than an art fest, I find that when I use it for manual focus it feels like it has enough sand and gravel in it to fill a kids sandbox. Honestly I don't use this lend nearly as much as I would like to because of this. I have been on the look out for a new 50mm f/1.8 because I like the pictures it delivers, but I worry about getting another "crunchy" lens.

Which Nikkor 50 Do You Prefer?

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