Lens Test Glossary     About these reviews

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Introduction

This lens was standard with most Nikon cameras in the 1970s. There are no sharper lenses made, and today you can buy these for next to nothing since most people seem to prefer slower, fuzzier zooms. It is better than the f/1.4 version.

Personally I don't like the 50mm focal length. I use a 35mm as my "standard" lens, and an 85mm as a short tele. I no longer even own any 50mm lenses, and because many people don't, either, you can have these just about for free.

Specifications

It takes standard 52mm filters.

It has a seven-bladed diaphragm that stops down to f/22.

It has six elements in five groups.

Performance

It is very, very well made.

It has no distortion, unlike the f/1.4 version.

It is pretty good at f/1.8, much better than the f/1.4 lens is at f/1.4.

By f/2.8 the image quality is just about perfect.

This lens has just about the best performance you can get for your Nikon.

Recommendations

Personally, even a stick-in-the-mud like myself has given into the convenience of zooms, and finds the 15 year old 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 AF lens just as sharp, and free from distortion at the 50mm setting.

Because few people want these lenses today you can pick them up for about $20, making them one of the best deals in photography. They are very, very fine lenses.