Silky smooth focusing, image quality, and superb build make this my go-to lens for 3/4 portraits, nature, and bokeh-licious shots on both my Canon DSLRs, Canon film camera, and Nikon 35mm film camera.
Pros:
* Much smoother manual focusing than the newer Canon EF or Nikon 50mm AF lenses
* Closer focusing distance and more compact than the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AiS (about 18 in vs. 20 in)
* Super-sharp from f/2.8-f/9.5 (DxO resolution with the 5D mark II is 15 perceptual megapixel, as high as any other lens on this camera)
* Very good flare-resistance
Cons:
* Mild "condom-ring" bokeh with specular highlight sources (like christmas lights); better than the Nikkor 50mm 1.2, worse than the more bokeh-friendly Sigma 50mm 1.4 and Canon EF-II 50mm 1.8
* Mild chromatic fringing wide open with DSLRs (almost zero on 35mm print film)
* Very shallow depth-of-field wide open requires careful focusing (I use Live View or the Eg-S precision-matte interchangeable screen on the 5D MkII); not a problem on legacy pre-1982 ground glass screens (e.g., Nikon FM & FE)
* If you intend to use this on a Canon DSLR or 35mm film body, know that most of the Nikon-to-CanonEF adapters have an annoying bit of "play" to them. I haven't yet found a brand that is truly rock-solid
For those who love a silky-smooth-focusing manual-focus lens with superb color, contrast, and resolution, highly recommended.
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This Item  Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AI-S |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $187.00 | -10% $176.95 Typical: $196.95 | $376.95 | -10% $196.95 List: $219.95 | $138.00 | $102.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 8 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, May 2 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 | Get it May 8 - 13 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Auto focus | ||||||
| Picture quality | ||||||
| Quality of material | ||||||
| Sold By | T-Camera-Japan | Amazon.com | Green's Camera World | Amazon.com | Digital Village | FotoPal |
| lens type | Standard | Wide Angle | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| compatible mountings | Nikon F | Nikon F(DX) | Nikon F (FX) | Nikon F (FX) | Nikon DX, Nikon FX | — |
| lens design | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime |
| focus type | manual only | Auto Focus | Screw drive from camera | Ultrasonic | automatic | Manual Focus, Auto Focus |
| minimum focal length | 50 millimeters | 52 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 0.45 meters |
| max focal length | 50 millimeters | 52 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 0.55 meters |
| fixed focal length | 50 millimeters | 35 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters | 50 millimeters |
| real angle of view | 46 degrees | 1 us school grade | 31 arc minute | 0 arc minute | — | — |
From the manufacturer
Fastest normal manually-focusing Nikkor lens.
Provides bright viewing, even under dim light conditions.
Characteristics of a Portrait Lens
Blurred backgrounds
Fast lenses have a wider aperture, allowing in more light in less time. They help you to give sharp focus to your subjects, while letting backgrounds softly fall away.
Sharp shots in low light
Shoot crisp candid shots at dimly-lit wedding receptions, restaurants or nightclubs - without the blur.
Fast focus
Capture pin-sharp portraits with impressive detail and vibrant colour reproduction.
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Also perfect for… Street PhotographyWith wide to medium focal lengths, street lenses give you have the flexibility to capture the whole scene or just a part of it. These lenses are comfortable to carry around all day so you're always ready to shoot. |
Blurred backgroundsFast lenses have a wider aperture, allowing in more light in less time. They help you to give sharp focus to your subjects, while letting backgrounds softly fall away. |
A Revolution in GlassBefore there were Nikon cameras, there was NIKKOR - a precision optics company predating the first Nikon camera by over a decade. From its very first camera lens in 1933, Nikon has been tirelessly dedicated to crafting optical excellence with uncompromising clarity, quality and reliability. From the depths of the ocean to the furthest reaches of space, NIKKOR glass has always been the eyes of Nikon. |
Aspherical Lens Element DesignIn 1968, Nikon introduced the first camera lens to use an Aspherical lens element. These lens elements have complex curved surfaces, where the radius of curvature changes to optimise light transmission and correct distortions that occur in normal spherical lenses. They also offer superior resolution performance and contribute to a lighter and smaller lens design. |
Reviews with images
My Favorite Fifty Prime on the 5D Mark II & Nikon FE
Silky smooth focusing, image quality, and superb build make this my go-to lens for 3/4 portraits, nature, and bokeh-licious shots on both my Canon DSLRs, Canon film camera, and Nikon 35mm film camera.Pros:* Much smoother manual focusing than the newer Canon EF or Nikon 50mm AF lenses* Closer focusing distance and more compact than the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AiS (about 18 in vs. 20 in)* Super-sharp from f/2.8-f/9.5 (DxO resolution with the 5D mark II is 15 perceptual megapixel, as high as any other lens on this camera)* Very good flare-resistanceCons:* Mild "condom-ring" bokeh with specular highlight sources (like christmas lights); better than the Nikkor 50mm 1.2, worse than the more bokeh-friendly Sigma 50mm 1.4 and Canon EF-II 50mm 1.8* Mild chromatic fringing wide open with DSLRs (almost zero on 35mm print film)* Very shallow depth-of-field wide open requires careful focusing (I use Live View or the Eg-S precision-matte interchangeable screen on the 5D MkII); not a problem on legacy pre-1982 ground glass screens (e.g., Nikon FM & FE)* If you intend to use this on a Canon DSLR or 35mm film body, know that most of the Nikon-to-CanonEF adapters have an annoying bit of "play" to them. I haven't yet found a brand that is truly rock-solidFor those who love a silky-smooth-focusing manual-focus lens with superb color, contrast, and resolution, highly recommended.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2013
Pros:
* Much smoother manual focusing than the newer Canon EF or Nikon 50mm AF lenses
* Closer focusing distance and more compact than the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AiS (about 18 in vs. 20 in)
* Super-sharp from f/2.8-f/9.5 (DxO resolution with the 5D mark II is 15 perceptual megapixel, as high as any other lens on this camera)
* Very good flare-resistance
Cons:
* Mild "condom-ring" bokeh with specular highlight sources (like christmas lights); better than the Nikkor 50mm 1.2, worse than the more bokeh-friendly Sigma 50mm 1.4 and Canon EF-II 50mm 1.8
* Mild chromatic fringing wide open with DSLRs (almost zero on 35mm print film)
* Very shallow depth-of-field wide open requires careful focusing (I use Live View or the Eg-S precision-matte interchangeable screen on the 5D MkII); not a problem on legacy pre-1982 ground glass screens (e.g., Nikon FM & FE)
* If you intend to use this on a Canon DSLR or 35mm film body, know that most of the Nikon-to-CanonEF adapters have an annoying bit of "play" to them. I haven't yet found a brand that is truly rock-solid
For those who love a silky-smooth-focusing manual-focus lens with superb color, contrast, and resolution, highly recommended.
*: BlackVerified Purchase
My Favorite Fifty Prime on the 5D Mark II & Nikon FE
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2013
Silky smooth focusing, image quality, and superb build make this my go-to lens for 3/4 portraits, nature, and bokeh-licious shots on both my Canon DSLRs, Canon film camera, and Nikon 35mm film camera.Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2013
Pros:
* Much smoother manual focusing than the newer Canon EF or Nikon 50mm AF lenses
* Closer focusing distance and more compact than the Nikon 50mm 1.2 AiS (about 18 in vs. 20 in)
* Super-sharp from f/2.8-f/9.5 (DxO resolution with the 5D mark II is 15 perceptual megapixel, as high as any other lens on this camera)
* Very good flare-resistance
Cons:
* Mild "condom-ring" bokeh with specular highlight sources (like christmas lights); better than the Nikkor 50mm 1.2, worse than the more bokeh-friendly Sigma 50mm 1.4 and Canon EF-II 50mm 1.8
* Mild chromatic fringing wide open with DSLRs (almost zero on 35mm print film)
* Very shallow depth-of-field wide open requires careful focusing (I use Live View or the Eg-S precision-matte interchangeable screen on the 5D MkII); not a problem on legacy pre-1982 ground glass screens (e.g., Nikon FM & FE)
* If you intend to use this on a Canon DSLR or 35mm film body, know that most of the Nikon-to-CanonEF adapters have an annoying bit of "play" to them. I haven't yet found a brand that is truly rock-solid
For those who love a silky-smooth-focusing manual-focus lens with superb color, contrast, and resolution, highly recommended.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
R C Stewart
Superb service
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2016*: BlackVerified Purchase
Ignacio Reina
El producto no corresponde con la foto
Reviewed in Spain on March 4, 2014*: BlackVerified Purchase
kenneth
Difficult to focus
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 19, 2019*: BlackVerified Purchase
