Which Nikkor 50 Do You Prefer?

[jp498]

I've had or long term borrowed from Nikon:
50 1.2 AIS - buttery bokeh and bright, but hard to use wide open without careful attention to focusing. Flares easily.
55 micro 3.5 AI - all around good macro and all purpose lens. pleasing bokeh
50 1.4 D AF - fastest focusing of what I've had. very sharp; my everyday lens. Flares easily. pleasing bokeh
50 1.8 D AF - more flare resistant than the 1.4; very sharp; incredible value for the money, plasticy but still rugged.pleasing bokeh
60 2.8 D AF micro - bad bokeh for macro; lots of double-lines from out of focus lines.

Non Nikon:
45 2 Voigtlander SL2 - very sharp, creamy, well built, small. I wanted a pancake style and ended up with this instead of the Nikon. pleasing bokeh
50 2.8 macro AF Sigma - plasticy, very nice macro, weak for general purpose use. pleasing bokeh

Used with F4s, D100, D50, D300.

 

[ulysses]

I bought my first Nikkor 50 (a 1.4 Nikkor-S) 42 years ago. Since then I've owned (or still own) a 50/1.8E, a 50/1.4AIS, a 50/1.4AFD and at least one other 1.4 Nikkor-S. I'll shoot with any of them, any day. I also have a 55/2.8 Micro, and while the focal length is similar, I don's consider it a "similar" lens. Great for macro work, though. The one I use most often? the 50/1.8E, because it's on the FG that I carry with me all of the time. My favorite to shoot with? The 1.4 Nikkor-S, because it looks, feels and shoots like what I expect from a "normal" lens. But like I said, any of them work and work well. All provide a bright viewfinder, easy focusing, and sharp results. At one time I could hand-hold the 50/1.4 down to 1/15 sec in available light, but not so much any more. But I'm still never as happy as with a 50/1.4 Nikkor (any version), HP5+ and Microphen. I hope there's a darkroom in heaven...

Ulysses

 

[aroth87]

My 55/3.5 Micro is my current favorite lens. I can't even describe how much I enjoy using it, its reputation is well deserved. Right now I've got the Series E on my FE, I love how compact of a combo it is. I've also got a pre-Ai 1.4 that is in less than pristine condition. I don't use it very often unless I need to shoot at wide apertures and then I tell myself the soft images just add to the nostalgic feel.

My wife does use the Series E an awful lot though, maybe I could use just one more 50. An f2, perhaps? Or maybe the 1.8 Ais? Although I still don't have my own copy of the 105/2.5 either....

Adam

 

[nambun]

50f2, the best because: performance per price is the best
50f1.4 (ais/ai): is good.
However, 50f1.2 is fastest of Nikkor. Nobody dont want it. and expensive.

If the money is not matter with you, 50f1.2 for you. However, 50f2 is good, when you beginning shoot in 50mm.

 

[Pumal]

Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 1:1.2 f=55mm is better. S/N: 286958

 

[lxdude]

The 50mm Nikkor I really prefer is the 50mm 2.8, with a Bronica S2a attached to it!
The 50/3.5 would be okay, too...

 

[narsuitus]

I have owned and used the 45mm f/2.8 GN, 50mm f/1.8, the 50mm f/1.4, and the 55mm f/3.5 macro. I still own and use the 50mm f/1.4 and the 55mm macro.

The 50mm f/1.4 replaced the 50mm f/1.8 because I needed the extra speed more than I needed the extra sharpness. The 45mm was too small for my large hands; plus, automatic flash units made its primary function obsolete. The 55mm macro is one of my three sharpest lenses (105mm macro and 180mm f/2.8 telephoto being the other two).

 

[Daud]

The 55mm f/2.8 Micro Nikkor lens.

But the one I use most is the 50mm F2.8 Nikkor for my Bronica S2a. sorry.....but lxdude has a point.

David.

http://davidalockwood.wordpress.com

 

[Pumal]

I like the 50mm 1:2.8 with my Mamiya M645 or my RB6X7 Pro S

 

[Timestep]

In Nikon rangefinder, definitely the F/2, In SLR. I still use an f/2, but also mainly use either a 55mm. f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor AIS ( whose CFC featuue delivers full correction from infinity to 1:2, or a 50mm. f/1.2, which is surprisingly a great general use lens. The old F/2 is now kept for bad weather.