Nikon NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4 AI-s [FX, DX and coverage, metal 52mm filter thread, 8.8 oz./249g, 1.5'/0.45 m close focus, about $150 used if you know How to Win at eBay]. enlarge.
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September 2022 Nikon Reviews Nikon Lenses All Reviews
50mm f/1.4 G [2008-today]
50mm f/1.4 AI [1977-1981]
50mm f/1.4 NIKKOR-S AUTO [1966-1974]
58mm f/1.4 F [1959-1962]
Sample Images
Pier, Avila Beach, 8:44 AM, 12 April 2013. bigger. [1977 Nikon EL2, 1983 Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-s, Nikon A2 [81A] filter, Fuji Velvia 50, f/8 at 1/45, process and scan at NCPS, Perfectly Clear.]
The Three Stacks, Morro Bay, 4:54 PM, 12 April 2013. bigger. [1977 Nikon EL2, 1983 Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-s, Nikon A2 [81A] filter, Fuji Velvia 50, process and scan at NCPS, split-toned print, Perfectly Clear.]
Introduction
This is Nikon's classic 50mm f/1.4 manual-focus lens. It's almost identical to the previous 50mm f/1.4 AI [1977-1981]. The 50mm f/1.4 NIKKOR-S AUTO [1966-1974] and 58mm f/1.4 F [1959-1962] are older, softer optics at large apertures.
This classic manual focus lenses is marvelously sharp when stopped down a little, and still a competently performer wide-open.
The mostly plastic made-in-China 50mm f/1.4 G [2008-today] is a little sharper wide-open, but won't work on most classic 35mm Nikons, and has more distortion.
Compatibility
It works flawlessly with every manual focus Nikon ever made, from the original Nikon F of 1959 through the FM3a.
It works perfectly on every professional 35mm Nikon [F, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6], and adds Matrix metering on the FA, F4 and F6.
Use the FTZ adapter and it should work somewhat on Nikon's Z-series mirrorless cameras.
Of course it won't autofocus on any camera, but usually offers color matrix metering and aperture-preferred auto exposure if you like. It offers Aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full Program auto exposure on the Nikon FA, and Matrix Metering on all FX cameras as well as the Nikon F4, Nikon FA and Nikon F6.
On all FX digital, Z-series mirrorless cameras, better DX cameras and the F6 be sure to set "50mm" and "f/1.4" at MENU > SETUP > NON-CPU LENS DATA, or wherever your camera hides the Non-CPU Lens Data option.
The meters of cheaper digital [D90, D5100 and below] and cheaper 35mm cameras [N80 and below] will not couple [or work at all] with this lens, so you'll be on your own guessing exposure using the rear LCD or an external meter, or get a tiny Gossen Digisix meter and hot shoe adapter, or the free Pocket Light Meter app to meter manually.
See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AI, AI-s" column for this lens.
Specifications
Name
Nikon calls this the Nikon AI NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4s.
Optics
7 elements in 6 groups.
Common modified double-Gauss design.
It's multicoated on all air-to-glass surface, which Nikon calls Nikon Super Integrated Coating [SIC/NIC].
All versions of this AI-s lens, as well as the previous 50mm f/1.4 AI [1977-1981] have SIC.
Ignore eBay sellers thinking they have a special one; they've all had SIC since the 1970s when it was new.
Diaphragm
Front, Nikon 50mm f/1.4 at f/5.6.
7 straight blades.
Stops down to f/16.
Aperture Ring
Yes.
Metal.
Full-stop clicks.
Close Focus
1.5 feet.
0.45 meters.
Maximum Reproduction Ratio
1:6.8.
Angle of View
46° diagonal on FX and 35mm.
31.5° diagonal on small-format DX.
Focal Length
50mm.
On a small-format DX camera, this lens makes pictures that see an angle-of-view similar to what a 75mm lens would see on a full-frame camera.
Hard Infinity Focus Stop?
Yes.
This is great for astronomy; just turn to the stop and you have fixed laboratory-perfect focus all night.
Focus Scale
Yes.
Depth-of-Field Scale
Yes, colored lines corresponding to the colored f/stops on the aperture ring.
Infra-Red Focus Index
Yes: red dot in depth-of-field scale.
Filter Thread
52mm, metal.
Does not rotate.
Size
Nikon specifies 1.57" [40mm] extension from flange [1.99" or 50.5mm overall] by 2.48" [63mm] diameter.
Weight
8.780 oz. [248.9 g], measured.
Nikon specifies 8.8 oz. [250g].
Hood
HR-1 rubber.
HS-9 snap-in metal.
HN-7.
Quality
Made in Japan.
Teleconverters
TC-200/201 and TC-14A.
Price, USA
September 2022
About $150 used if you know How to Win at eBay.
April 2013
About $150 used or $470 new at B&H.
Performance
Overall
It's softer from spherical aberration wide-open, and ultra-sharp from f/2.8 onwards.
It's built like a tank for a lifetime of great pictures.
Distortion
It has the typical mild to moderate barrel distortion of all of Nikon's 50mm f/1.4 manual-focus lenses.
Plug these figures into Photoshop's lens distortion filter to correct the distortion. These aren't facts or specifications, they are the results of my research that requires a lot of data collection and computation.
FX and Film
at infinity
+1.4
+0.5
© 2013 KenRockwell.com
Mechanical Quality
It is these AI-s on which Nikon built the reputation on which it now lies. These lenses are from the era of the 1960s through the 1980s when Nikon was the undisputed top pro camera for all sports, new and action use. No other brand, not LEICA and not Canon, even came close.
This, and it's kind, are the very best lenses ever made by Nikon, built for more than a lifetime of professional use.
It's 100% all metal without one molecule of plastic.
All markings are engraved and filled with paint.
Here's what really sets these lenses apart from everything else on the planet: the focus feel. Focussing works without play, and flicks back and forth almost undamped with just a single fingertip. The extraordinary precision with which these lenses are crafted lets it focus smoothly and without play without needing any more than the slightest lubrication. Lesser lenses use thick grease to fill up the slop in their lesser focus helicoids, and make those focus rings more stiff, requiring two fingers.
Sharpness
f/1.4: Spherical aberration lowers contrast. A lot of coma in the corners making them quite soft. Falloff.
f/2: Much better. Falloff much less.
f/2.8: Quite good, falloff and coma gone. Sharp all over.
Recommendations
This is a great choice for any Nikon, especially all manual-focus 35mm Nikons.
If you've found all the time, effort and expense I put into researching and sharing all this, the biggest source of support for this free website is when you use any of , especially this link to them new at Adorama or this link directly to them used at eBay [see How to Win at eBay], when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Please always use these links when getting any of your gear so I can continue to share what I know. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere. Thanks for your support! Ken.
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