Nikkor
50mm f/1.4 AI Manual Focus Standard Lens. Mint-. Tested. See Test Images.
See Hi-res images taken with this lens on
Youtube...
This is a near pristine example of one of Nikon's
high quality AI lenses from the 1970's and 1980's when Nikon didn't make
anything except high quality pro lenses. This is the last, and best optical
design AI specification lens. This one, lens number 4529426, was number 583,725
in a total manufacturing run of 910,681 units of the AI 50mm f1.4 lens made by
Nikon Japan between March 1977 and June 1981. This one was made just under a
quarter of the way through the production run, so we can be pretty confident
that it was made just over half way through the production run around January
1980.
Key features
It has stunning optical and mechanical performance
(see the pictures attached and at the Dropbox link further down) in a compact
package, weighing around 255g. This 50mm is extremely well made, having far
better optical and mechanical properties than the more modern AF lenses Nikon
makes today. As with others I have tested, this lens seems to me to have
excellent edge sharpnesss. Have a look at the test images and see if you agree.
See full review of this lens on Ken Rockwell's lens
review page
Lens compatibility
Use on Digital Cameras
It works on all digital cameras with varying ease.
N.B. Most modern Nikon digital cameras have an
electronic rangefinder bottom left of the viewfinder. One can use this with MF
lenses to get precise focus
On the D810, D800, D800E, D750, D700, D610, D600,
D500, D300s, D300, D200,D7200, D7100, D7000 series cameras, it can give full
matrix metering and aperture-preferred auto (A) and manual (M) modes, and
encodes the shooting aperture and focal length in the EXIF.
The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI works on the lesser cameras
like the D80, D70 and D40, but without any metering - you'll have to use an
external meter or guess using the LCD.
Use on Film Cameras
The Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AI is ideal for manual focus
cameras like the FA, FE, FM and F2AS.
The F100 and most film cameras offer centre
weighted metering with this lens, while the F4, F6 and FA are unique among film
cameras in offering matrix metering with it.
For further reading on the subject, please visit
Ken Rockwell's most instructive website on the subject
Overall Lens Condition: Mint-
Mechanical / Cosmetic: Mint-
The lens is in near pristine mechanical and
cosmetic condition. It is unmarked apart from a few tiny nicks and rubs to the top
edge of the conical ring atop the focus ring. They need a magnifying glass to
be seen clearly. The focus ring action is premium Nikon; buttery smooth with no
play at all in the action. The painted lettering is bright and completely intact.
The aperture ring is smooth and 'clicky' and free moving. The iris blades are
nice and snappy. The iris is in perfect condition and free of oil. The bayonet
mount is also in as new condition.
Optical: Mint
Not a great deal to say here. There is no detectable
dust in the lens. The optics are otherwise flawless. There is no fungus, haze,
mould or Balsam separation. This lens produces punchy, colourful and contrasty
images straight from the camera as can be seen from the test images. The front
are rear elements are pristine, the filter having done its job of protecting
the front element.
Image quality
Image quality is superb. The Ken Rockwell review
explains the characteristics of this lens in some detail. The images attached
attest to the quality he sees. I took the images on a Sony A7R 42.4MP
Mirrorless camera. It also works flawlessly on my Nikon D7200 and other Nikon
film cameras, but I wanted to show off the astounding resolution the lens is
capable of and also to show its full-frame capability. The 100% crop (when
viewed on your PC screen at about 10" across would be equivalent to a
full-size print of about 8 feet by 5 feet.
The Ebay Upload Images
The test images were shot in Newbury, UK. The first
image is of the high street. It was shot wide open at f/1.4. The next two images
are 100% centre and edge crops of the same image. It is dead sharp in the
centre and excellent at the edges. Note the slight CA typical of this lens when
used at maximum aperture in broad daylight. The next image is of the same
scene, but this time it’s a 100% centre crop at f/2. The slight CA there is at
f/1.4 has almost completely gone. The next two images are again of the same
scene, but this time they are centre and edge crops at f/4 and f/5.6. They are
perfect. The next image is of a building shot at f/5.6. The crop is again at
100%. The next images of the mossy wall were shot at f/1.4 and f/4 respectively
and show the lovely Bokeh and DOF that this lens renders.
The Youtube Images
On Youtube, I have uploaded a series of images of
the high street from f/1.4 all the way through to f/16. Notice the slight
violet hue Chromatic aberration and Veiling on areas of high contrast at f/1.4.
Only crazy people and lens testers shoot at f/1.4 in broad daylight. However, this
is well controlled. It produces images with an almost dreamlike quality at
night: just what this lens was designed for. As an aside, it's interesting that
the CA renders as violet on the later AI optics rather than red on the earlier
PRE-AI optics. Performance is perfect.
Any CA is pretty much gone by f/2, and it's perfect
by f/2.8. It's razor sharp all the way up to and including f/16. I've taken
some centre and edge crops in the sequence folder (look at the edges at f/11
and 16). It's dead sharp across the frame. also published an f/1.4 sequence as
well and some more shots with 100% crops.
What's in the box?
Lens, Kenko MC Skylight 52mm filter, front and rear
lens caps.
Please check out my other Nikon listings on eBay