50mm 1.2 AI-S question

[Igor Sotelo]

Was thinking if it’s worth having this lens if the price is very reasonable, after having the Nikon 50mm 1.4G AF-S and the classic Planar 1.4/50.

Comparing the 180mm 2.8 ED AI-S with the classic Zeiss ZF.2 lenses I have, would assume the Nikon 50mm AI-S is better made than the Planar 1.4/50, not to mention the plastic fantastic 1.4G.

But optically, does it stands out? Does the 1.2 aperture at 50mm brings something special. Is it too hard to focus on a Df or D800 being 1.2? Or how good is the bokeh and contrast?

Or should I skip on that one and save for a MF wide angle Nikkor AI-S or ZF.2 lens to better round my manual focus setup of lenses?

 

[RealVSK]

Was thinking if it’s worth having this lens if the price is very reasonable, after having the Nikon 50mm 1.4G AF-S and the classic Planar 1.4/50.

Comparing the 180mm 2.8 ED AI-S with the classic Zeiss ZF.2 lenses I have, would assume the Nikon 50mm AI-S is better made than the Planar 1.4/50, not to mention the plastic fantastic 1.4G.

But optically, does it stands out? Does the 1.2 aperture at 50mm brings something special. Is it too hard to focus on a Df or D800 being 1.2? Or how good is the bokeh and contrast?

Or should I skip on that one and save for a MF wide angle Nikkor AI-S or ZF.2 lens to better round my manual focus setup of lenses?

I have never been able to focus satisfactorily at f1.2. But I stink!! hahaha. It is a beautifully made lens. I don't have too much experience with it at smaller apertures because, like a 200 f2, you get it to use at 1.2 / 1.4.

I have a 50 1.4afd and I have taken full body shots at like f4, where I like the result also as a head shot.

The 50 1.4afs I have, I feel will perform better at 1.4-1.8 but it's feeling. Not even annecdotal or real testing.

If you can get an f1.2 reasonably, you won't go wrong money-wise. I still have to take my own advice and practice practice practice!

vsk

 

[Michigan Sandman]

Hi Igor,

The Nikkor 50mm 1.2 Ais lens is a little bit hard to focus on a Df. Especially if you are shooting wide open. Digital camera focusing screens leave much to be desired compared to focusing screens for film cameras such as Fm, Fm2, Fe,Fe2, and F3. The 50mm 1.2 Ais, along with the 55mm 1.2 Ai have razor thin depth of field when shot wide open, and the green focusing dot is OK but nothing like focusing with variety of focusing screens for Nikon's film cameras. I have the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the 50mm 2. Makro Planar, both Zf.2 lenses.

The color rendition and saturation are excellent like with most Zeiss lenses. I prefer the Makro Planar lens, the images appear to have more pop than the 50mm 1.4, and are mush nicer than the images from Nikon's 50mm 1.2 or 55mm 1.2 lenses. You will still be dependent on the green dot for focusing, but with either of the Zeiss lenses your depth of field will not be as shallow, and more images should be in sharp focus. An added bonus with the two Zeiss 50's, if you get the ZF.2 lenses you have all the meta data at your finger tips.

 

[dave gaines]

I read a review for this lens yesterday. I forget where I found it; here or on the Nikon USA website. DxOMark has a review too. If I recall, B&H has a bunch of sample photos too. It's very sharp and the bokeh is beautiful, according to the review. It's a good twilight and night photo lens too due to it's ability to focus in near dark at f/1.2.

Read the reviews. Also try looking at Ken Rockwell and Thom Hogan websites for reviews.

It looks to be a D lens with an aperture ring and it's a manual focus lens. Try focusing some of the 50 mm lenses you have in manual mode to decide if you're comfortable with and good at that.

 

[briantilley]

It looks to be a D lens with an aperture ring and it's a manual focus lens.

It's not a "D" lens, though obviously it is manual focus.

In Nikon's naming system, the "D" designation applies only to autofocus lenses, and relates to the presence of a chip in the lens to provide focus distance data to the camera processor.

 

[dave gaines]

It looks to be a D lens with an aperture ring and it's a manual focus lens.

It's not a "D" lens, though obviously it is manual focus.

In Nikon's naming system, the "D" designation applies only to autofocus lenses, and relates to the presence of a chip in the lens to provide focus distance data to the camera processor.

Thanks Brian. It just looks like other D lenses I have.

 

[Igor Sotelo]

Hi Igor,

The Nikkor 50mm 1.2 Ais lens is a little bit hard to focus on a Df. Especially if you are shooting wide open. Digital camera focusing screens leave much to be desired compared to focusing screens for film cameras such as Fm, Fm2, Fe,Fe2, and F3. The 50mm 1.2 Ais, along with the 55mm 1.2 Ai have razor thin depth of field when shot wide open, and the green focusing dot is OK but nothing like focusing with variety of focusing screens for Nikon's film cameras. I have the Zeiss 50mm 1.4 and the 50mm 2. Makro Planar, both Zf.2 lenses.

The color rendition and saturation are excellent like with most Zeiss lenses. I prefer the Makro Planar lens, the images appear to have more pop than the 50mm 1.4, and are mush nicer than the images from Nikon's 50mm 1.2 or 55mm 1.2 lenses. You will still be dependent on the green dot for focusing, but with either of the Zeiss lenses your depth of field will not be as shallow, and more images should be in sharp focus. An added bonus with the two Zeiss 50's, if you get the ZF.2 lenses you have all the meta data at your finger tips.

It’s very hard to focus the 180mm 2.8 ED AI-S on a DSLR, otherwise a fine lens. The dot and arrows start intermittently blinking way too often.

In theory the Makro Planar 2/100 has thinner DOF than a 50mm 1.2 lens, perhaps the almost 360 degrees focus throw some complain about actually helps to focus.

Focus throw is around 180 degrees on the 180mm 2.8 ED AI-S and, from what I read, it’s only 110 degrees on the 50mm 1.2 AI-S, so maybe the 1.2 would be just as difficult to focus.

On the Planar 1.4/50, focus throw is around 240 degrees. Curiously, the older Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI has a focus throw of 180 degrees.

 

[avalvo]

The Nikkor 1.2 AIS has a very specific rendering. At 1.2-1.4 is is kind off dreamy and can make for interesting portraits or other looks. At f2 it is razor sharp. Get this lens if you like the ability to shift the character. Focusing is not that big a deal.

 

[IMAGEPOWER]

I have been using the Ai-S for several years on my Df now, and I love it. FYI I also use the Nikkor AF-S 58/1.4 and several Leica M lenses on the Leica M10-R and M10-M.

The Ai-S is very soft wide open, but with "character". Depending on what you intend to photograph, it can be very flattering. If you need it sharp and contrasty wide open, this lens will not deliver. From f/2 onwards this lens becomes excellent both in contrast and resolution. Focus is extremely smooth, but difficult on a Df. I had to crosscheck with LiveView, at which stadium of the green dot I am in focus. Now I know that on MY DF I have to stay right next to the point where the left green triangle starts flickering. This is different on my D6 or D850, i.e. you will have to check that with each body you use it.

I never regretted buying it, it's a mere pleasure to use and thus kicks me out of the office and forces me to take photos...;-)

Df with Ai-S 50/1.2

D850 with Ai-S 50/1.2

Mind you there are 2 different versions on the market, mine is from the last batch, with 9 blades...

 

[Igor Sotelo]

Nice photos. I would like to have one 50mm 1.2 for the artistic look. Many Nikon shooters seem to love the 50mm 1.2 AI-S.

Maybe will get later something that's sharper from wide open in the 40 to 58mm range.

 

[annettep38]

mine is the old version.. but I love it so much that I bought it again when the first one from 1983 was really getting a bit scratchy


this is a fine lens for any portrait in context. 55 1.2 non AI in my case

you don't even need to drink the content to feel lighter with this bokeh. All from my garden, except for the tequila.





--

500px

500px.com

stolen: , my 24-70 nº297446 and my 85 1.4 AI 197908 REWARD for finding my stuff the rest is back thanks to WR from Cartago and Cañas OIJ

 

[Pinnacle Photo]

At 1.2 it has a unique dreamy look. Around f2 is gets really sharp.

Wish I I never sold mine, it would be so easy to use on the Z6!

Old test shot, focus was on the leaf in the center.

 

[dave gaines]

I have the 50 mm f/1.4G and like it well enough for a nifty 50. The longer focal length of the 55 mm f/1.2 AI or Ai-S, or even the newer 58 mm f/1.4G, would offer another shooting option to the 50 mm f/1.4G.

I see one mention here of the Nikon 55 mm f/1.2. I did not find any reviews of this lens on line yet. There are two versions made since just before 2000, The AI and the Ai-S.

Does anyone have any input on how the 55 mm f/1.2 lens performs and how it compares to the 50 mm f/1.2?

 

[Michigan Sandman]

As another OP just mentioned Nikon never made an Ais version of the 55mm F/1.2. I have the Ai 55mm F/1.2 and the 50mm F/1.2 Ais. The 50 Ais 1.2 is newer so it might have better better element coating. There are people that prefer the 55 and others that prefer the 50. For color and saturation I prefer the Zeiss ZF.2 50mm F/2.

 

[Igor Sotelo]

I have the 50 mm f/1.4G and like it well enough for a nifty 50. The longer focal length of the 55 mm f/1.2 AI or Ai-S, or even the newer 58 mm f/1.4G, would offer another shooting option to the 50 mm f/1.4G.

I see one mention here of the Nikon 55 mm f/1.2. I did not find any reviews of this lens on line yet. There are two versions made since just before 2000, The AI and the Ai-S.

Does anyone have any input on how the 55 mm f/1.2 lens performs and how it compares to the 50 mm f/1.2?

Ken Rockwell has a comprehensive review of the 55mm f/1.2 here:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55mm-f12.htm

He also compares the 50mm 1.4 AI (which he says it's optically the same as the AI-S and AF-D versions), 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 55mm 1.2 AI and the 58mm 1.2 AI-S Noct from 1.2 to 8.0.

From what I saw there, the 55mm 1.2 AI was replaced with the 50mm 1.2 AI which was superseded by the 50mm 1.2 AI-S. Though that may have been cost cutting measures to better compete with Canon, Olympus, Minolta and Pentax that made 50mm 1.2 lenses.

Nikon lenses, if I recall right, were already 30-40% more expensive than other brands equivalent lenses, with the exception of Contax Zeiss lenses.

 

[dave gaines]

... I see one mention here of the Nikon 55 mm f/1.2. I did not find any reviews of this lens on line yet. ...

Does anyone have any input on how the 55 mm f/1.2 lens performs and how it compares to the 50 mm f/1.2?

Ken Rockwell has a comprehensive review of the 55mm f/1.2 here:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55mm-f12.htm

...

Thanks. I saw the top of Ken's review and didn't scroll down to see the comments. That review is helpful.

Considering the 55 mm f/1.2 sells for over $400 used and the Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 Art lens is on sale now for $800 new, my choice would be to buy the Sigma for the digital electronics and autofocus, not to mention the higher IQ. The Zeiss Otus 50 mm f/1.4 is a good choice too, but it sells for about $3900 new, on sale now for around $3300.

 

[Topi]

... I see one mention here of the Nikon 55 mm f/1.2. I did not find any reviews of this lens on line yet. ...

Does anyone have any input on how the 55 mm f/1.2 lens performs and how it compares to the 50 mm f/1.2?

Ken Rockwell has a comprehensive review of the 55mm f/1.2 here:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55mm-f12.htm

...

Thanks. I saw the top of Ken's review and didn't scroll down to see the comments. That review is helpful.

I have a pre-Ai version of the 55/1.2 (Nikkor S C) and agree with Ken Rockwell's review.

Wide open the lens has a kind of dreamy feel. This, combined with the very thin dof wide open, can make for some nice effects. While there is, obviously, lots of blur in the out of focus areas, it's not a specially pleasant one in my opinion.

Stopped down to f:2.8 and beyond it's a good, very sharp lens.

Don't know how it compares to the 50/1.2 but I have an Ai'd 50/1.4, and if I had to choose only one of these, I think I'd keep the 50.

-Topi

 

[rich_cx139]

FWIW

The 1.2 ais has the reputation of being the sharpest of the classic 50 ish lenses at f2. I am still looking for one at a reasonable price.

Only have the c/y 1.4/50 planar - lowish contrast wide open but good resolution. It and its 1.7/50 sibling really start becoming sharp at f4.

Useful comparison at

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make of it what you will