Best Nikkor Pre-Ai/Ai "Normal" lens?

[jrose125]

Hey guys/gals,

After a brief hiatus (3 months), I got my hands on another Nikon: A Nikon F (non-metered prism) that came with an immaculate 35mm f/2.8 Pre-Ai. While I'm perfectly happy with it at the moment, 35's aren't really "my thing".

With that being said, I'm looking for "The Best" normal focal length Nikkor lens, preferably f/1.8 or faster. I would prefer to keep the lens Pre-Ai as I think they look badass, but I realize that there were great advances in optical performance later on, so I won't rule out something Ai.

I almost bought a 55mm f/1.2 Pre-Ai a week ago but decided to hold off to see if I could come up with a better suggestion here. Any suggestions are appeciated! 😎

 

[Chubberino]

105mm f/2.5

 

[someonenameddavid]

105mm f/2.5

Sonnar or Planar formula?

 

[jrose125]

105mm f/2.5

Nice lens but that's a telephoto, not a normal focal length lens 😀

 

[Robert Lai]

Nikkor 50mm f/2 HC, or 50mm f/1.8 AI will do it for you.
Very nice standard lenses at inexpensive prices.

 

[Rob-F]

Nikkor 50mm f/2 HC, or 50mm f/1.8 AI will do it for you.
Very nice standard lenses at inexpensive prices.

I concur. Those are two lenses that answer the description of normal focal length and f/1.8 or f/2. And the 50/1.8 is a very fine lens for cheap!

 

[ruby.monkey]

The Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 is an obvious suggestion. Lovely rendering, usually reasonably priced. There's also the 5.8cm f/1.4 although you may find the focal length a little long for your tastes.

 

[Ranchu]

I like this one, I haven't used the earlier ones though. I liked the early 1.8, but it has a green cast, too much for color imo.

http://www.destoutz.ch/lens_50mm_f2_3102260.html

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/ai502a.jpg

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

 

[Shac]

Nikkor 50mm f/2 HC, or 50mm f/1.8 AI will do it for you.
Very nice standard lenses at inexpensive prices.

Agree - if you go for the 1.8 get the first version

 

[jrose125]

The Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 is an obvious suggestion. Lovely rendering, usually reasonably priced. There's also the 5.8cm f/1.4 although you may find the focal length a little long for your tastes.

I like the sound of that. I see that Keh has a Nikkor-S and Nikkor-S.C. version. I did a quick Google search but couldn't find an answer on what differentiates them. Any idea?

 

[jrose125]

Agree - if you go for the 1.8 get the first version

First version as in Pre-Ai?

 

[Contarama]

I have a 50/2 S...renders like a Zeiss Contaflex if you ask me...love it will never part with my copy. I also have a short barrel 50/1.8. That one has a modern style of drawing and is very good. Love that one too but not as much as the old 1963 S. The 58/1.4 is fantastic but much pricier...if you can find a good copy.

 

[Contarama]

SC is newer and more coatings. The H is a different formula. Dont quote me on that but I think I remember that correctly. You have to watch it on the Nikkor 50 lenses. Some folks feel the 1.4 is the best...others prefer the 1.8 and still others want the fast 1.2 (which I think is a waste of money myself)

I'm not the greatest photographer or even a good one but I can provide a few sample snaps if you'd like me too.

 

[CameraQuest]

Its not fast, but the 55/3.5 Macro is a very sharp lens, even at infinity

 

[Robert Lai]

The 50mm f/1.8 AI/AIS had several variations. The first had a "long nose". By that the barrel was long, and the first lens element was deeply recessed. I had this lens for over 20 years.

Later ones became more compact. They modified the optical formula slightly so that they render differently from the original AI lens.

That's what he means when he says "if going for the 1.8, get the first one". I.E: the original long barrel AI.

 

[Srono]

Hey guys/gals,


With that being said, I'm looking for "The Best" normal focal length Nikkor lens, preferably f/1.8 or faster. I would prefer to keep the lens Pre-Ai as I think they look badass, but I realize that there were great advances in optical performance later on, so I won't rule out something Ai.

New Voigtlander lenses for nikon mount are great too.

 

[DanskDynamit]

I mean, do you really need our answer? practically you did it yourself: a normal lens, f1.8 or faster.
then get a 50 f1.8 or 1.4
🙂

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Its not fast, but the 55/3.5 Macro is a very sharp lens, even at infinity

Earlier compensating version is slightly better close up slightly poorer at infinity IMHO, but we are discussing a very sharp lens indeed and the point of running an SLR is surely to shoot either close or telephoto otherwise surely one would use a rangefinder? :angel:

 

[sevo]

Its not fast, but the 55/3.5 Macro is a very sharp lens, even at infinity

The 55/2.8 is even better for general photography, but worse for 1:2 to 1:1 macro as the CRC floating element does only correct for infinity to 1:2. More modern close-range corrected macro lenses go straight down to 1:1, the Mamiya 80/4 (the first widespread CRC macro lens) has a extra "macro spacer" mode that sets the floating element to 1:2-1:1.

 

[sevo]

Later ones became more compact. They modified the optical formula slightly so that they render differently from the original AI lens.

As far as I know, the first generation shorter AI-S lens had the same formula as the long-nosed AI one, it is just missing the integrated shade. The pancake E lens has a different formula, supposedly the same as the f/1.8 50 AF.