Comparison of 50mm AIS and AFD Nikkors (Large!)

[Chris101]

In another thread, there is a discussion of the 50mm f/2 AIS and 50mm f/1.8 AFD lenses for Nikon SLR cameras. Since I have both of those lenses, I did a comparison of them for bokey and sharpness at f/2 and f/5.6. Here are those comparisons:

50mm f/2 Ai at f/2 full frame

50mm f/2 Ai at f/2 detail

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50mm f/1.8D AF at f/2 full frame

50mm f/1.8D AF at f/2 detail

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50mm f/2 Ai at f/5.6 full frame

50mm f/2 Ai at f/5.6 detail

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50mm f/1.8D AF at f/5.6 full frame

50mm f/1.8D AF at f/5.6 detail

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Interested readers should draw their own conclusions.

 

[Ranchu]

Excellent test, Chris, thank you very much for this. I like the colors of the f2, but the AF sure is sharper.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Chris: I can see differences in the OOF areas (white board frame etc.) in the wide-open shots, but not much else. What to the full-res files show you?

Ben

 

[ampguy]

AIS version has better bokeh.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I didn't know there was a 50mm f2 AF-Nikkor. Do you mean the 50mm/1.8 AF Nikkor?

 

[sevo]

There was not even a f/2 AI-S - the f/2 was only made up until AI, and not long into that until it was superseded by the f/1.8.

 

[filmfan]

The 50mm f/1.8 AFD is my most used lens.

 

[Chris101]

I didn't know there was a 50mm f2 AF-Nikkor. Do you mean the 50mm/1.8 AF Nikkor?

Oops, yep, that is what I meant. I was just copying and pasting too fast. Fortunately the legend gets the dats right from the Exif, so the line across the bottom of each picture is correct. I'll go fix my text now! 😱

 

[Chris101]

Chris: I can see differences in the OOF areas (white board frame etc.) in the wide-open shots, but not much else. What to the full-res files show you?

Ben

To my eye Ben, the f/2 (Ai - I was told it was an S when I got it, but how does one tell) is slightly sharper at f/2, while the f/1.8 barely edges it out at f/5.6.

Bokey-wise, the f/1.8 seems to have more prominent 'ring edges' to blur circles at f/2. One thing I did notice is that the manual focus f/2 lens is slightly longer than the f/1.8 AF lens.

 

[sevo]

(Ai - I was told it was an S when I got it, but how does one tell)

AI-S lenses have the smallest aperture marked in orange on both aperture scales, while AI has a mix of colours on the main scale and white throughout for the small through-the-finder index scale. Besides, AI-S has a few extra notches and ridges on the mount.

 

[Chris101]

Thank you Sevo! That makes it easy.

 

[Ranchu]

Not complaining, I do appreciate the pictures. I just noticed the wide open pics are focused at different distances. Looking at the hair on the top of the 'head' on the wide open shots.

Just a heads up.

😛

 

[Chris101]

Thanks Ranchu,

I used manual focus and the upper left focus point to focus on the caliper dial in all of the shots, with the green dot of the D2x as the "in focus" indicator. If that lead to a different focal plane, then I guess that is also part of the data. I will look at this more closely should it be a problem with my normal shooting. (This testy-westy stuff is not something I enjoy spending a lot of time doing - it's too much like work.)

 

[Ranchu]

Thanks Ranchu,

I used manual focus and the upper left focus point to focus on the caliper dial in all of the shots, with the green dot of the D2x as the "in focus" indicator. If that lead to a different focal plane, then I guess that is also part of the data. I will look at this more closely should it be a problem with my normal shooting. (This testy-westy stuff is not something I enjoy spending a lot of time doing - it's too much like work.)

I'm glad you did, it's helpful to me. I do appreciate you sharing your results!