Which 50mm MF?

[boulderjoe]

I'm new to Nikon, just got a FA with 35-135 from my Father in law. And

it is a blast to use.

 

I have been using a Minolta Maxxum 5 with 50mm f1.4 and like the shots

I get. But now I see Nikon makes a 1.2...

 

So I ask you which lens to get 501.4 or the 1.2. And if that do I go

AI/AIS? What it the difference?

 

Thanks.

 

-Joe

 

PS If you are interested, I want to sell my Maxxum 5 and lenses to

fund more Nikon gear, I'll trade too. Contact me if you live in

Boulder to check it out.

[greg_seto]

I'm a huge fan of the Non-AI 50mm f1.4 and the AI 50mm f2. I have heard nothing but bad reviews of the 1.2. More good things about the f1.4 and f2 are that you can buy both from KEH for under a hundred bux.

[susan_smith5]

50mm f1.8 (repeat, 1.8) AI or AIS. CHEAP AND SHARP!

 

It depends on your point of view, but you can deem there are no technical difference between AI and AIS, but there are cosmetic diffs - others with more knowledge will fill you in.

 

Also check here --> http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#ai

[gary_woodard]

im with sue, what more could you want, sharper than bush on coke.

[jbq]

Don't go with the super-fast ones (1.2 or 1.4), a 1.8 or even 2 will do just about as well and will likely be sharper in day-to-day shooting. Unless of course you really want to be shooting wide-open all the time.

 

With an FA, try to get AIS lenses, they allow to use precise shutter-priority and program modes.

[nang]

Another vote for the 50/1.8. Incredibly sharp lens, and cheap as all hell. $100 or less brand new.

 

I very rarely need an aperture larger than f/4, f/1.2 (or lower) just seems ridiculous to me.

[ebogaerts]

"f/1.2 (or lower) just seems ridiculous to me."

 

It might seem ridiculous, but not only is it nice (as in completely unique images), but sometimes it's been a real help.

[david_kelly1]

what Jean-Baptiste said: AIS lenses will allow you to make use

of your FA's full capabilities; plain AI lenses will not.

[rustys pics]

I really like my 50mm 1.4 AI. I got it used for something like 40 bucks at a swap meet.

There are plenty of times when 1.8 is just not enough light, and 1.4 or 1.2 is. The short

depth of field of 1.4 is quite beautiful for portraits. Yeah, it's soft wide open, but that gives

you a more unique bokeh palette. Stop it down to 5.6 or 8 and it's sharp.

[loreneidahl]

A 50 1.4 might seem crazy to a few unimformed posters, however it is the only lens that makes into all of my various camera bags.

 

When I use a 50 1.4 or the 1.2 it is because I need to. Then the lense is used wide open all of the time. Its not crazy to me.

 

I have about 6 different 50 the 1.8 is the sharpest the 2.0 has the best bokeh. the 1.4 is a tad softer than the 1.8 wide open the 1.2 is softer yet - but your not buying a 1.2 for sharpneess at this point.

 

I used to have an FA and I loved it, eventually I wore it out. However I always used the AIS type of lense on the FA because it the FA has more capabilities with them. IE program mode, Shutter Priority, Shutter Hi, Shutter Low

[marco_p1]

In my experience, I found of big help the wide aperture of my Ais 50 f1.4 when shooting indoor portraits, even if I am using a flash and a moderately closed aperture (F4 for example). It's just that focusing is so much easier, I am more confident that the photo will be more accurately focused on the eye of the subject (the closest one). The same stands for different focal lengths: I have a very nice 75-150 f3.5 E, but for indoor use i will choose my 85 f1.8 just for the ease of focus, even if I will end up shooting at f4, which both provide. Just my way... Good luck, Marco

[david_h._hartman]

I guess it depends on how you are buying. Ive never

bought a normal lens new. When I see a nice sample at a good

price I buy. I bought a couple of 50/1.8 AI(s) that way. I only

have one now. The last one I paid $50.00 for. It was pretty much

mint. Later I picked up a 50/1.4 AIS for $85.00 or $89.00. When I

find a nice 50/2.0 AI at the right price Ill pickup one of

those. <br>

<br>

The best bet is the 50/1.8 AI or 50/1.8 AIS (early) but thought

the 50/1.4 is only 2/3 stop faster sometimes thats

important. If Im not carrying flash Ill chose the 50/1.4

AIS. <br>

<br>

Another lens to consider is the 55/2.8 AIS. It makes a great

normal and close-up lens. There will be a lot more times with a

55/2.8 that youll feel the need for speed than with a 50/1.8.

If you buy a 55/2.8 then Id certainly get a 50/1.4 also.<br>

<br>

A lot of people recommend what they have, I guess if you buy what

they use it affirms their choice. I think I need to buy that 50/2.0

AI and a 50/1.2 AIS. Then I can argue for any or all. As it is I

dont recommend the 50/2.0 or 50/1.2 ;-)<br>

<br>

Plan to enjoy this thread. Folks tend to get touchy about their

50mm and 55mm Nikkors. The truth is none are magic. They all have

their place.<br>

<br>

Here are a couple of links you might like to read. At the first

look for "Lenses" on the left...<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com" target="_new"><u>Naerfoto

Bjorn Rorslett</u></a><br>

<br>

At this one check out Tale: 2 and 16...<br>

<br>

<a

href="http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/society/nikkor/index.htm"

target="_new"><u>Nikkor -- The Thousand and One Nights</u></a><br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[brian_caldwell]

Get the 50/1.2. Its very similar in performance to the 50/1.4 at equal apertures, and is more versatile since its faster. It also makes a logical pairing with a 50/1.8 or, better, a 55/2.8.

[saikat.pathak]

I wonder if there is any "optical quality" diffence between 50 1.8 AIS (early) and the current 50 1.8 AIS. Hope Dave and others can throw some light.

[saikat.pathak]

Oops...looks like I missed this post - http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009bBe

[boulderjoe]

Thanks so much for the info guys.

 

 

-Joe

[brian_caldwell]

"I wonder if there is any "optical quality" diffence between 50 1.8 AIS (early) and the current 50 1.8 AIS. Hope Dave and others can throw some light."

 

The more recent AIS is useless IMO for landscape work due to its pronounced central hot spot at small apertures. I use my new version for reverse coupling and as a loupe, and not much else. Unfortunately, the optical deficiencies of the newer AIS seem to have been retained in the AF versions, altough I don't have first-hand knowledge of this. Stick with the old AI/AIS version.