It is, indeed, like two different lenses… at f/1.2 through f/1.6, it is a pleasant portrait lens that can create a mysterious and very subtle glow in some conditions, as well as giving subdued contrast and very slightly soft details; especially outside of the image center area.
But once you get to f/2, the sharpness and contrast jump back to “normal” and from f/2 down, it’s the very sharp and contrasty lens you expect a 50mm prime to be. I think the unique results are well worth the challenge of being able to focus it consistently wide open; I ordered a custom focusing screen (has a micro-prism center spot) for my D750 so I can more easily take advantage of this lens.
Thomas Herren
January 6, 2021 6:31 am
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity it buy it new for CHF 620.00, and I really love using it at f/1.2. The dreamy rendering of close-up/headshot portraits is more pleasing in my view than any skin softener in picture editing ☺ If you are looking for an affordable specialty lens, this is it.
Airy Magnien
July 22, 2020 6:34 am
The review says it all – it is a lens with two personalities; very sharp from f/2, quite dreamy below. Yields very good rendering of highlights and popping colors at smaller apertures. I have two copies (AI and AIS); the AI seems to vignette slightly less. I use it routinely for street shots (esp. shooting demonstrations or other street events).
Radu Dinu Cordeanu
July 2, 2019 3:38 am
I just discovered this review and I am glad You like this lens. For me it was love at first sight. It is a strange lens made for foreground at 5 m or less or for portrait.
Bob Ridge
June 23, 2019 9:27 am
I inherited one 20 years ago covered in fungus, but had it CLA’d at Nikon in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is quite soft at 1.2 but has a very nice glowing characteristic much as you have described in your article. It also has an extra click between 1.2 and 2, and the aperture does close slightly. I also guess around 1.4. In Japan at least, Nikon still sells this manual lens, as well as the 50/1.4, and the 55/2.8, 20/2.8 and 24/2.8. Best wishes from Japan.
Ricky SF
February 17, 2019 8:27 pm
I noticed two unusual things with the lens…
When rotating the aperture ring to f1.2, it goes passed it just about 1mm. There’s also a small click between f1.2 and f2. Is this supposed to be f1.4 but just not written on the ring? It just felt a little odd.
Should I just buy a different copy or this normal?
Hello, I noticed the same issue regarding the aperture ring moving slightly beyond 1.2. this ‚confuses‘ the aperture reading id my D800. However once you’ve got a tactile feel, you hand will ‘remember’ not to move beyond that point and everything is ok. This is a fantastic lens btw
Nelson
December 30, 2018 9:11 pm
Hi Nasim, Great review and I decided to keep this lens after reading. I bought this lens for many years and finally brought it with me to Kashmir last month. I shoot it mostly on f/1.2 on portraits. More than half of them out of focused and how nice I wished it came with AF. However, I kept most of the images despite didn’t nailed on the subject’s eye because of its creamy bokeh that makes the images look like art. I am still wondering should I get the 50mm F/1.4G or F/1.8G, even after reading your reviews several times!
Himadri ganguly
October 28, 2018 12:04 am
flic.kr/p/2bZfvTe Look at the image ! Thanks to you I decided to go for it than 1.4g and with raynox 250 on d810 produced this image SOOC and won many an accolades Simply the glass for ‘dream production ‘
michael kevin
September 2, 2018 7:23 pm
I bought one of these “used” from Japan a couple of years ago. It appeared as to have never been taken out of the box, as the seller claimed. It has been my favorite walking around lens ever since & can’t wait to see how it functions with the Z7.
prepalaw
March 6, 2018 7:00 pm
Received this lens today – used but in brand new condition. The color rendition is super excellent, as show by the photos above. Only because of this article, I bought this lens. And like my photography friends, I will not make any equipment purchase without first checking this website. I thank you very much for providing such articles, packed with truthful and technically correct information. peter
It is, indeed, like two different lenses… at f/1.2 through f/1.6, it is a pleasant portrait lens that can create a mysterious and very subtle glow in some conditions, as well as giving subdued contrast and very slightly soft details; especially outside of the image center area.
But once you get to f/2, the sharpness and contrast jump back to “normal” and from f/2 down, it’s the very sharp and contrasty lens you expect a 50mm prime to be. I think the unique results are well worth the challenge of being able to focus it consistently wide open; I ordered a custom focusing screen (has a micro-prism center spot) for my D750 so I can more easily take advantage of this lens.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity it buy it new for CHF 620.00, and I really love using it at f/1.2. The dreamy rendering of close-up/headshot portraits is more pleasing in my view than any skin softener in picture editing ☺
If you are looking for an affordable specialty lens, this is it.
The review says it all – it is a lens with two personalities; very sharp from f/2, quite dreamy below. Yields very good rendering of highlights and popping colors at smaller apertures. I have two copies (AI and AIS); the AI seems to vignette slightly less. I use it routinely for street shots (esp. shooting demonstrations or other street events).
I just discovered this review and I am glad You like this lens. For me it was love at first sight. It is a strange lens made for foreground at 5 m or less or for portrait.
I inherited one 20 years ago covered in fungus, but had it CLA’d at Nikon in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It is quite soft at 1.2 but has a very nice glowing characteristic much as you have described in your article. It also has an extra click between 1.2 and 2, and the aperture does close slightly. I also guess around 1.4.
In Japan at least, Nikon still sells this manual lens, as well as the 50/1.4, and the 55/2.8, 20/2.8 and 24/2.8.
Best wishes from Japan.
I noticed two unusual things with the lens…
When rotating the aperture ring to f1.2, it goes passed it just about 1mm. There’s also a small click between f1.2 and f2. Is this supposed to be f1.4 but just not written on the ring? It just felt a little odd.
Should I just buy a different copy or this normal?
Hello, I noticed the same issue regarding the aperture ring moving slightly beyond 1.2. this ‚confuses‘ the aperture reading id my D800. However once you’ve got a tactile feel, you hand will ‘remember’ not to move beyond that point and everything is ok. This is a fantastic lens btw
Hi Nasim, Great review and I decided to keep this lens after reading.
I bought this lens for many years and finally brought it with me to Kashmir last month.
I shoot it mostly on f/1.2 on portraits. More than half of them out of focused and how nice I wished it came with AF.
However, I kept most of the images despite didn’t nailed on the subject’s eye because of its creamy bokeh that makes the images look like art.
I am still wondering should I get the 50mm F/1.4G or F/1.8G, even after reading your reviews several times!
flic.kr/p/2bZfvTe
Look at the image !
Thanks to you I decided to go for it than 1.4g and with raynox 250 on d810 produced this image SOOC and won many an accolades
Simply the glass for ‘dream production ‘
I bought one of these “used” from Japan a couple of years ago. It appeared as to have never been taken out of the box, as the seller claimed. It has been my favorite walking around lens ever since & can’t wait to see how it functions with the Z7.
Received this lens today – used but in brand new condition. The color rendition is super excellent, as show by the photos above.
Only because of this article, I bought this lens.
And like my photography friends, I will not make any equipment purchase without first checking this website.
I thank you very much for providing such articles, packed with truthful and technically correct information.
peter
Hello,
Could you please tell me where you got it from and how much was the price? I’m planing to buy a used one. Thanks.
In my case, it’s the usual suspect: eBay.