Nikon 50mm f/1.4

NIKKOR AI-s (1981-2021)

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   Recommendations

 

Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI-s

Nikon NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4 AI-s (FX, DX and 35mm 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    Nikon Manual-Focus 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         top

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   Recommendations

Pier, Avila Beach

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

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.)

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Introduction         top

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   Recommendations

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B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

Crutchfield

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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       intro     top

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   Recommendations

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         top

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   Recommendations

 

Name

Nikon calls this the Nikon AI NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4s.

 

Optics            top

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            top

Nikon 50mm f/1.4 front

Front, Nikon 50mm f/1.4 at f/5.6.

7 straight blades.

Stops down to f/16.

 

Aperture Ring            top

Yes.

Metal.

Full-stop clicks.

 

Close Focus            top

1.5 feet.

0.45 meters.

Maximum Reproduction Ratio            top

1:6.8.

 

Angle of View        top

46° diagonal on FX and 35mm.

31.5° diagonal on small-format DX.

 

Focal Length        top

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?            top

Yes.

This is great for astronomy; just turn to the stop and you have fixed laboratory-perfect focus all night.

 

Focus Scale            top

Yes.

 

Depth-of-Field Scale            top

Yes, colored lines corresponding to the colored f/stops on the aperture ring.

 

Infra-Red Focus Index            top

Yes: red dot in depth-of-field scale.

 

Filter Thread            top

52mm, metal.

Does not rotate.

 

Size            top

Nikon specifies 1.57" (40mm) extension from flange (1.99" or 50.5mm overall) by 2.48" (63mm) diameter.

 

Weight            top

8.780 oz. (248.9 g), measured.

Nikon specifies 8.8 oz. (250g).

 

Hood            top

HR-1 rubber.

HS-9 snap-in metal.

HN-7.

 

Quality         top

Made in Japan.

 

Teleconverters            top

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         top

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   Recommendations

 

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 manual-focus lenses 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         top

Sample Images   Intro   Compatibility

Performance   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 these links, 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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12 September 2022, April 2013