Some thoughts on the old nikon 50mm 1.2 AIS

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Thanks.
I think I might keep my eyes open for a 1.2.
I would think it could produce some nice shots from my D7000.

 

[VertovSvilova]

Thanks.
I think I might keep my eyes open for a 1.2.
I would think it could produce some nice shots from my D7000.

Yes, the blades don't matter wide open and I used that "9 blade" nomenclature just to identify the 50mm AIS 1.2 over the AI and also the 55mm non-AI and AI. When comparing prices one should compare apples with apples, etc..

But you also need to be sure you can use a non-AI lens on your particular camera body if the lens you found is an earlier non-AI 55mm 1.2. You're okay with the D7000 with an AIS, AI, or AI converted lens but not with a non-AI lens.

 

[Clark.EE]

I was looking at some shots I did with my 50mm 1.2 back in the days and realized it's one of the reasons I kept my F6 after switching to Sony. Having said that, I put up a little blurb about it on my site to share my thoughts about it.

http://jorgetorralba.com/2014/09/12/ageless-nikon-50mm-1-2-film/

Quite possibly one of my favourite pics ever posted on RFF

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Yes, the blades don't matter wide open and I used that "9 blade" nomenclature just to identify the 50mm AIS 1.2 over the AI and also the 55mm non-AI and AI. When comparing prices one should compare apples with apples, etc..

But you also need to be sure you can use a non-AI lens on your particular camera body if the lens you found is an earlier non-AI 55mm 1.2. You're okay with the D7000 with an AIS, AI, or AI converted lens but not with a non-AI lens.

Yes, I'm aware of that. I've got an old 55 micro that I had converted and it works well on my D7k now. If I find a non-AI I might just try converting it myself.
Thanks for the help.
OP - Love the pics in your link taken with that lens. Thanks for sharing them.

 

[Nokton48]

I know this is a "Nikon Show" but I'm in love with my 58mm F1.2 MC Rokkor Minolta lens.

 

[lawrence]

I've had the 50 1.2 and the 35 1.4 at one time. Both are big, heavy lenses for the focal length. They both have curvature of field, and low contrast wide open. At f/2 to f/4, they have higher resolution and contrast than their 50 1.4 and 1.8 brothers. The killer for me was that both had noticeable amounts of barrel distortion. Friends and family hated getting their picture taken with these two lenses, as they said it made them look "fat".

Never had the 50mm f1.2 but definitely agree about the 35mm f1.4.

The much smaller and lighter 50mm f/1.8 AI or 55mm f/2.8 Micro serve as everyday normal lenses with no distortion for me. I haven't found any Nikon brand 35mm lens to be entirely satisfactory, so I've settled on their 28mm 2.8 AIS instead when I want a moderate wide angle.

Have you tried the 35mm f2.0 AIS? Superb lens and a much more natural look than the f1.4.

 

[Ljós]

[...]



Have you tried the 35mm f2.0 AIS? Superb lens and a much more natural look than the f1.4.

I would not go as far as to call the 35mm f2 AIS superb. Very competent, yes. Used one for two years or so as my main lens, so I am not gonna diss it 🙂 But the shortcomings, in my opinion, are: not terribly sharp at f2. I used it as a f2.8 lens. For Nikon, it is one of the not-so-big-lenses, but in the grand scheme of things and for what it does, it is not really petite. And it is not so good for night photography, quite some ghosting.
When I went from this lens to the 40mm CLE Rokkor and subsequently the 2.8 Summaron, there was a distinct improvement in image quality.

Greetings, Ljós

 

[lawrence]

When I went from this lens to the 40mm CLE Rokkor and subsequently the 2.8 Summaron, there was a distinct improvement in image quality.

Sure and it ain't as sharp as my Cron 35 ASPH either but compared to the f1.4 it's a winner as far as naturalness goes and not very expensive. Anyway I had no problems selling the f1.4 recently for more than I paid for it ten years ago as it's still highly thought of.

 

[Out to Lunch]

The lens is still in production. I bought a new one some three years ago and use it with the Nikon FM3A.

 

[Cold]

Yes, I'm aware of that. I've got an old 55 micro that I had converted and it works well on my D7k now. If I find a non-AI I might just try converting it myself.
Thanks for the help.
OP - Love the pics in your link taken with that lens. Thanks for sharing them.

I picked up a 55/1.2 non-AI a few years back and had it converted (though it sees most of its use on the front end of a FM2 or FE2 as opposed to my D300, mostly because I hate green-dot focusing). The 50s are widely regarded (and correctly so) as generally superior lenses, but I saw a collection of shots somewhere with the 55/1.2 nAI that really endeared me to it, so when I was seeking out a 1.2 of my own, I was going to be happy with either. As it happened, I found a 55 before a 50.

If you're going to fret over clinical sharpness, the 50 will be better for you, but if you like the shots you've seen from the 55, it's great too...just a different product.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Thanks Cold.
My main worry is that my micro 55 is soft at distances and I'd hate to see that in any new old lens I get. Don't have the money to spend on stuff that doesn't work for me.

 

[MP Guy]

Glad to bring light to this wonderful lens. Thanks for the comments on the pictures.

 

[Corran]

my micro 55 is soft at distances

I believe with the f/2.8 model (MF and AF models) they utilized CRC correction, making the lens extremely sharp from close all the way to infinity.

I have an older f/3.5 "compensating" Micro as well as an f/2.8 AF-D Micro. They are both fabulous lenses but the 2.8 is certainly sharper at longer distances. But, the f/3.5 might be a tad sharper up close. Maybe.

 

[VertovSvilova]

fwiw, here's Nikon's own take on the 55mm:
http://www.nikkor.com/en/story/0049/

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

fwiw, here's Nikon's own take on the 55mm:
http://www.nikkor.com/en/story/0049/

Thank you for the link.

I may have just found a lens I can live with.

 

[MP Guy]

Quite possibly one of my favourite pics ever posted on RFF

Thanks man!

 

[GarageBoy]

I think the 50 1.2 AIS was one of the sharper non aspherical 50 1.2s - would love to have one one day

 

[John Bragg]

Lenses like these are a great reason to shoot more film. Their true character is optimised with Tri-X or HP5+. No substitute for a gritty black and white !

 

[Huss]

Nikon F2AS, 50 1.2 AIS, Tri-X

 

[Robert Lai]

I like the modern Voigtlanders over the vintage Nikkors

I like the modern Voigtlanders over the vintage Nikkors

Lawrence,
I have tried the 35mm 1.4, 2.0, and 2.8 Nikkors.
After I saw what my father in law was getting out of his M3 with his 35mm Summicron (with goggles - so is this the 8 element?), there was no comparison in contrast, and absence of distortion. All of the Nikkor 35mm lenses have been sold.

Right now, I use the Voigtlander 40mm f/2 as my "35ish" lens on my Nikon SLRs. I have the 1st generation copy of this lens, which has the meter prong for my FTN meter on my F.


For the 50mm lenses, I've tried the 50 1.2AIS, 50 1.4 AIS, 50 1.8AI, 50 f/2 HC, 55mm 2.8 Micro AIS, and the 60mm f/2 AF-D Micro.

Out of this lot, I only kept the 55 Micro 2.8 AIS, and a Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4, which is a modern replica of a Topcon lens.

The latest Voigtlander lenses in Nikon AIS mount are extremely good, at great prices.