Nikon 50mm f/1.8

AI-s Pancake-NIKKOR

1.5'/0.45m close-focus

(1980-1982 Japan)

Sample Images   Intro   Identification   Format

Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

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Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Pancake

Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s (FX, DX and 35mm coverage, 52mm filters, 6.160 oz./174.6g, 1.5'/0.45m close focus, about $100 used). bigger. I got both of mine at this link directly to them at eBay (see How to Win at eBay).

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.

 

February 2018   Nikon Reviews   Nikon Lenses   Nikon Flash   All Reviews

 

Sample Images

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Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

 

Corrugated Steel with Bullet Holes, Abandoned California Mine

Corrugated Steel with Bullet Holes, Abandoned California Mine, 4:38 P.M., 23 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/8 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 64. bigger or full resolution.

 

Colorful Steel with Bullet Holes, Abandoned California Mine

Colorful Steel with Bullet Holes, Abandoned California Mine, 4:40 P.M., 23 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/8 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 64, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or full-resolution.

 

Gold and Blue

Gold and Blue, 12:03 P.M., 24 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/8 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 64, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or full resolution (warning: 25MB JPG).

 

Padlock on Wooden Door, Bodie

Padlock on Wooden Door, Bodie, 2:45 P.M., 24 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/11 hand-held at 1/80 at Auto ISO64, Perfectly Clear v3.5, split-toned print. bigger or full-resolution.

 

Circular Saw Blade with Teeth on Wooden Door, Bodie

Circular Saw Blade with Teeth on Wooden Door, Bodie, 2:51 P.M., 24 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/8 at 1/160 at Auto ISO 64, Perfectly Clear v3.5, split-toned print. bigger or full-resolution.

 

Fire Tree

Fire Tree, 3:49 P.M., 25 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/8 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 64, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or full resolution.

 

Yosemite Valley by Moonlight

Yosemite Valley by Moonlight, 9:28 ~ 9:34 P.M., 28 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s at f/4 for 8⅙ minutes at ISO 200, Perfectly Clear v3.5. bigger or full-resolution.

With a hard, calibrated infinity focus stop you can set it to infinity by feel in the dark for night photos.

The lights on the lower right are passing cars in the valley, and you can see lights of climbers on the Half Dome in the full-resolution image.

 

Introduction

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Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

New   Good   Bad

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This is Nikon's best manual-focus 50mm f/1.8 lens of all time. Nicknamed "Pancake," it has the same stellar mechanical and optical quality and 1.5 foot (0.45 meter) close-focus distance of earlier lenses, but in a much smaller and lighter package.

This is the sharpest 50mm manual-focus lens you can get for your Nikon.

In Japan they value small size and weight, and appreciate that f/1.8 lenses have better optical performance then f/1.4 lenses. The Japanese know that this lens has none of the distortion of the f/1.4 and is usually sharper, while we Americans always know that bigger is better; we prefer f/1.4 and f/1.2 lenses, even if we usually shoot at f/8.

It was originally only sold in Japan — but easy to find on eBay today.

The USA in the 1980s instead got a cheap plastic version of this 50/1.8. Don't confuse the close-focusing metal lens I'm reviewing here with this look-alike cheapie. See Identification to sort them out.

 

New compared to older 50mm f/1.8 NIKKORs

Smaller.

Lighter.

Same great optics.

Same close focus distance.

Same flawless mechanical quality.

 

Good

Great optics.

Fantastic mechanical quality.

Tiny.

Light weight.

Close focus.

 

Bad

Nothing; just don't get stuck with a Nikon Series E or cheap plastic-focus-ring version that only focusses to two feet/0.6m! See Identification, next.

 

Identification

Top   Sample Images   Intro   Identification

Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-s Pancake

Get this: Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s. bigger.

When buying these on eBay you can identify this particular lens by:

Only one row of rubber ribs on the metal focus ring. Older versions of the 50/1.8 had two or three rows of rubber ribs.

"NIKKOR," not "Series E," engraved around the front of the lens.

First digit of the serial number is a 2, not a 4, engraved on the front of the lens.

1.5'/0.45 meter close focus distance on the focus ring.

100% metal construction, except for the ribbed rubber band on the metal focus ring.

 

Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8

Cheap look-alike American version: NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s with plastic exterior. bigger.

You can identify this cheap American version by serial numbers beginning with 4, and only focussing to 2'/0.6m. If you have one of these in-hand you'll see that the focus ring is all plastic, as is the aperture ring.

Around this time Nikon also made a series of much cheaper lenses, the Nikon Series E. These lenses do not say NIKKOR, which is Nikon's brand name they reserved only for their professional-quality lenses back then.

 

Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8

Avoid this: newer all-black Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8 (says "Series E," not "NIKKOR"). bigger.

 

Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8

Avoid this: original Nikon Series E 50mm f/1.8 with chrome ring (says "Series E," not "NIKKOR"). bigger.

All these different lenses are made in Japan, just destined for different markets. The good version is the only one here that focuses to 1.5 feet, the others only focus to 2 feet. They are all super-sharp since they have the same optics and multicoating (except only single-coated in the Series E).

The reason to avoid the others is inferior mechanics and looser close-focus. All these lenses make fantastic images; just don't pay as much for the Series E or the plastic version NIKKOR.

 

Format

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Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

 

This is a full frame FX lens, and I'm reviewing it as such.

It works great on DX cameras, too, on which you may make the usual inferences.

 

Compatibility

Top   Sample Images   Intro   Identification

Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

 

This manual-focus lens works great with most full-frame Nikon cameras made since 1977, both FX digital and 35mm. Of course it won't autofocus on any camera, but usually offers advanced color matrix metering and aperture-preferred auto exposure if you like.

It also works great on better DX cameras, but won't meter with the cheapest DX cameras or cheaper autofocus 35mm cameras.

See Nikon Lens Compatibility for details on your camera. Read down the "AI, AI-s"column.

 

Big Mess of Wood, Abandoned California Mine

Big Mess of Wood, Abandoned California Mine, 4:29 P.M., 23 October 2017. Nikon D850, Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s, f/5.6 at 1/50 at Auto ISO 180, Perfectly Clear v3.5, split-toned print. bigger.

 

Specifications

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Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

 

Name

Nikon calls this the Nikon NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s. Of course it doesn't say "pancake" anywhere; that's just a nickname to help sort these out.

    NIKKOR: Nikon's brand name for all their lenses.

    AI-s: Automatic Indexing (AI), with shutter-preferred optimized linear diaphragm actuation (-S).

 

Optics

6 elements in 5 groups.

Standard double-Gauss derived design; same design used since 1978 and still sold today in the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-D.

Multicoated.

 

Diaphragm

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-s Pancake

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 Pancake at f/5.6. bigger.

7 standard blades.

Stops down to f/22 in full-stop clicks. You may set any aperture in-between clicks.

 

Focal Length

50mm.

When used on DX cameras, it sees the same angle of view as a 75 mm lens sees when used on an FX or 35mm camera.

See also Crop Factor.

 

Angle of View

46º diagonal on FX and 35mm cameras.

31.5º diagonal on DX cameras.

 

Focus Scale

Yes.

 

Infinity Focus Stop

Yes.

 

Depth of Field Scale

Yes, color-coded.

 

Reproduction Ratio Scale

No.

 

Infrared Focus Index

Yes, red line on chrome ring between yellow f/11 mark and the main index dot.

 

Close Focus

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-s Pancake

Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s. bigger.

1.5 feet (0.45 meters).

 

Maximum Reproduction Ratio

1:6.6 (0.15 ×).

 

Caps

Nikon 52mm front cap, included.

Nikon rear lens cap, included.

 

Filters

Metal 52 mm filter thread.

 

Hood

HS-11 metal or HR-4 folding rubber hoods.

I use the HR-4 folding rubber hood.

 

Case

CL-30s tubular hard case (optional).

 

Size

2.36" maximum diameter × 1.08" extension from flange (1.44" overall).

60 mm maximum diameter × 27.5 mm extension from flange (36.5 mm overall).

 

Weight

6.160 oz. (174.6g) actual measured weight.

Nikon specifies 6.0 oz. (170 g).

 

Quality

Made in Japan.

 

Price, USA

About $100 used if you know How to Win at eBay, February 2018.

About $70 used if you know How to Win at eBay, July 2013.

 

Performance

Top   Sample Images   Intro   Identification

Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

 

Overall   Manual Focus   Focus Breathing

Bokeh   Coma   Distortion   Ergonomics

Filters  Lateral Color Fringes   Macro

Mechanics   Sharpness   Sunstars

 

Overall

Performance          top

The Nikon 50/1.8 pancake is the sharpest 50/1.8 I've used; but all the latest 50/1.8 lenses are just as sharp — and 50/1.8s are usually the sharpest lenses sold by Nikon or Canon.

 

Manual Focus

performance          top

Manual focus is a dream. The focus ring slides with a fingertip. There is no play, and very little damping.

 

Focus Breathing

Performance          top

Focus breathing is the image changing size as focused in and out. It's important to cinematographers because it looks funny if the image changes size as focus gets pulled back and forth between actors. If the lens does this, the image "breathes" by growing and contracting slightly as the dialog goes back and forth.

As a unit-focussed lens, the image grows a little as focused more closely.

 

Bokeh

Performance          top

Bokeh, the feel or quality of out-of-focus areas as opposed to how far out of focus they are, isn't the smoothest — but because this lens is so much faster than any zoom, it's usually much more out of focus than with zooms. Therefore the bokeh of this lens is pretty good overall.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 pancake bokeh

Davis 6250 weather station, 17 February 2018. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

As always, if you want to throw the background as far out of focus as possible, shoot at f/1.8 and get as close as possible.

 

Coma

Performance          top

Coma, or sagittal coma flare, is often seen with fast normal to wide lenses as weird batwing shapes on bright points of light in the corners.

There is some coma at f/1.8 in the FX corners, which goes away by f/4.

 

Distortion

Performance          top

The Nikon 50/1.8 has no distortion, which is less than any of the f/1.4 or f/1.2 lenses, and also less than the latest 50/1.8G.

Bravo!

 

Ergonomics

Performance          top

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-s Pancake

Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s. bigger.

This lens is all about ergonomics. One fingertip is enough to slide the focus ring or set the aperture.

This lens, like most of Nikon's great manual focus lenses, has a silver grab ring making mounting and unmounting easy.

 

Filters, use with

performance          top

There's no need for thin filters, in fact, you can use a couple of filters at once without vignetting on full-frame.

Go ahead and use your standard rotating polarizer and grad filters.

 

Lateral Color Fringes

Performance          top

There are no color fringes as shot on my digital Nikons, which by default correct for any that may be there.

 

Macro

Performance          top

Nikon 50/1.8 Macro performance

Kienzle Flieger Automat 800/2843, 19 July 2017. Nikon D810, f/8 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 100. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

 

Nikon 50/1.8 Macro performance

1,200 × 900 pixel crop from above 36MP image at 100%. bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

If this is 12" wide on your screen, the complete image printed at this same magnification would be 75 × 50." (6 × 4 feet, or 2 × 1.25 meters)!

 

Mechanical Quality

Performance          top

Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AI-s Pancake

Nikon Pancake-NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8 AI-s. bigger.

These are the best lenses Nikon, or anyone, has ever made. This lens is as good as anything from LEICA. These AI-s lenses are the lenses on which Nikon rests its reputation today. These are 100% metal and have the best focus helicoids on the planet. They are so precisely made — usually better than LEICA's — they they need little to no grease to turn smoothly. The focus turns smoothly with just a fingertip; it doesn't have to be damped, and Nikon uses such good grease that it doesn't get gummy after decades or get stiffer in freezing weather. No other brand of lenses is this good.

It's all metal except for the focus grip, which is rubber set into metal.

Better than Nikon's latest rubber focus rings, this rubber material doesn't turn white or get gooey over the years; it stays just like new forever.

Bravo, Nikon!

 

Filter Threads

Metal.

 

Front Barrel

Metal.

 

Focus Ring

Rubber-covered metal.

 

Chrome grab & Index Ring

Metal.

 

Aperture Ring

Metal.

 

Identity

Engraved and filled with paint on ring around front element.

 

Internals

All metal.

 

Mount

Dull chromed brass.

 

Markings

All engraved and filled with paint.

 

Serial Number

Engraved and filled with paint on ring around front element.

 

Noises When Shaken

Very mild clicking.

 

Made in

Japan.

 

Sharpness

Performance          top

The only limitation to picture sharpness will be your skill as a photographer.

It's always super-sharp and contrasty in the center.

The corners are always sharp on FX, but have lower contrast due to coma wide-open. At f/1.8 the FX corners have a sharp core surrounded by sagittal coma flare.

The corners improve as stopped down, reaching perfection by f/5.6.

Nikon 50/1.8 Macro performance

bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

 

Nikon 50/1.8 Macro performance

bigger or camera-original © file to explore on your computer (mobile devices rarely display full resolution images properly).

 

Sunstars

Performance          top

With a standard 7-blade diaphragm, it makes great 14-pointed sunstars on brilliant points of light.

 

Recommendations

Top   Sample Images   Intro   Identification

Format   Compatibility   Specifications

Performance   Recommendations

 

This is the sharpest 50mm manual-focus lens you can get for your Nikon. It's small, compact, exquisitely well made and works expertly on the latest digital cameras.

I use a Nikon HR-4 folding rubber hood more for physical protection than any need to block light.

I use a clear (UV) protective filter instead of a cap. I might (or might not) use a cap when I throw this in my bag, otherwise I leave a clear filter on my lens at all times so it's always ready to shoot.

The very best protective filter is the Multicoated Hoya HD3 52mm UV which uses hardened glass and repels dirt and fingerprints. It's expensive, but it will last forever long after this lens is gone.

For less money, the B+W 52mm 010 is an excellent filter, as are the multicoated B+W and the basic multicoated Hoya filters and the most basic Hoya multicoated filter, but the Hoya HD3 is the toughest and the best.

Filters last a lifetime, so you may as well get the best. The Hoya HD3 stays cleaner than the others since it repels oil and dirt.

If I was working in nasty, dirty areas, I'd forget the cap, and use an uncoated 52mm Tiffen UV filter instead. Uncoated filters are much easier to clean, but more prone to ghosting.

For color slides like Fuji Velvia 50, I use an old Nikon A2 or new 52mm Hoya HMC 81A outdoors.

For B&W film outdoors, I'd use an old Nikon Y48 or O56, or a new 52mm Hoya HMC K2 Yellow or 52mm Hoya HMC Orange.

This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.

Thanks for helping me help you!

Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

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13, 16 & 17 February 2018