For the opportunity lens review Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm Many thanks to Dyachuk Roman.
TTX Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm
Focal length: 50 mm
Diaphragm: maximum: F / 1.4, minimum: F / 16, with intermediate values 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11
Number of aperture blades: 7 pieces
Optical design: 7 elements in 5 groups
Front Filter Diameter: 52mm
The weight: 320g
MDF: 0.6m
Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm, presented in this review, was launched in 1962, in those years the lens was called Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm. The first version had only 6 aperture blades. Version Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm appeared a little later in 1966 (possibly in 1969) and already had 7 aperture blades. Although, you can find 6 petal. There are several further modifications of this lens, for example Nikon Nikkor-SC 1: 1.4 f = 50mm NON-Ai, which was produced from 1973 to 1974 and was equipped with multi-coating. Optically and functionally, they are practically the same lens.
In general, it is customary to abbreviate to call this lens Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai. This is native standard fast manual fix lens from Nikon.
The lens is called standard because what a person sees through the viewfinder when using this lens is very similar to the normal human eye. Yes, you don't need to think that the lens is autofocus due to the presence of the inscription “Cars“. This inscription means auto iris controlit happens both on all old Nikon lenses - you just need to set the aperture value on the lens using the aperture ring. You can always aim at a fully open aperture of F / 1.4, and when the shutter is released, the camera will automatically close the aperture to the desired value, and then open it again to F / 1.4. In short, everything happens exactly as on all modern Nikon lenses. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of manual optics.
True, there is one serious limitation when using this lens on modern Nikon digital SLR cameras. This lens simply cannot be installed on the part of the CZK cameras from Nikon. This is due to the fact that he has PRE AI type and requires AI conversion. Converting to AI is a very simple process, you just need to grind off the excess part of the iron "skirt" of the aperture ring and add a special piece to the skirt to transfer the aperture value to the camera.
Attention: on a number of cameras Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai can be used without any alterations, just install and start shooting. Which cameras will sit on exactly Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai you can easily find in my article about old PRE AI lenses. Personally, I used it without any problems Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai on cameras Nikon D40but on D200, D700, D80 the lens refused to become. I did not remake the lens (I did not convert it to AI) due to the fact that it is not mine, but I was simply provided with it for writing this review.
Attention 2: when working with Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai on some cameras, even with AI-CONVERTED, it will not be possible to work in automatic modes. Only the manual M camera control mode will be available. More details in the section AI-S.
In fact, if you discard the small non-docking with installation and metering exposurethen after two, three shots on Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai you immediately understand that this is a very good, suitable "glass" for which you do not mind paying money. Marketing has dictated its own terms, and many owners of luxurious DSLR cameras by type Nikon D7000, D3200, D5100 almost always use a whale lens and don’t even know that all the old Nikon optics work wonderfully on new ones, very productive CZK. Normal lenses like this fifty dollars Nikon 50mm F1.4 N0n-Ai a lot and their price is sometimes much lower than even the 18-55 whale lens, therefore, I recommend that all real amateur and connoisseurs of photography get a fast fifty dollars, old manual optics can be an excellent replacement for quite expensive 50mm F1.8G, 50mm F1.8D, 50mm F1.4G, 50mm F1.4D.
Basic information about Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm
- Even if you set the Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm to Nikon D700, auto focus will not be performed. It doesn't matter if there is a “screwdriver” in your camera. This is a manual lens, and therefore, to focus, you will need to get into focus exclusively manually. For this, the lens has a special focusing ring. The ring is metal, without rubber bands, but with protrusions like a nut. It is very convenient to focus, the ring itself rotates almost 180 degrees. When focusing, the front lens does not rotate, but only moves forward by half a centimeter. When focusing, all lenses in the lens barrel move. Focusing accuracy on all Nikon cameras can be seen by the green dot in the bottom corner of the optical viewfinder. More details about the tricks with focusing in the section AI-S.
- True, Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm loses in the minimum focusing distance to modern analogs. Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm has an MDF of 60cm, and almost all modern fifty dollars have an MDF of 50cm. This does not stop me from using the lens.
- The lens is very ancient, older than me, but it functions wonderfully, moreover, it was constantly used. The entire lens is solid iron and glass, nothing more. True, over the years of use, the focusing ring loosened a little. But the Made in Japan label protects the lens from destruction.
- The Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm filter diameter is the most widespread - 52mm, there is nowhere easier to find a filter for it. I used Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm with my protective light filter.
- The lens can be used on both FX and DX cameras. On Nikon DX APS-C cameras with 1.5X crop factor, the lens will have EGF equal to 75mm, which is almost ideal for portrait photography.
- Of course, the Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm lens is very small and compact. Noticeable by the fact that aperture values are indicated different colorsso that you can easily and quickly find the desired value on the DOF scale. Like that: F4, F8, F11, F16. DOF at the lens is very small.
Image quality
Despite its age, the lens produces normal image quality already at F2.8. Even at f / 1.4 there is sharpness, but the face is soft due to spherical and chromatic aberrations. Spherical aberrations give the picture an interesting artistic look. When the aperture is closed down to f / 2.8, the lens becomes very sharp. On DX cameras with open apertures, you can take interesting artistic shots, portraits. Also, at F / 1.4 there are no “nuts” in the bokeh, but when closing, the most common “nuts” are obtained. The lens reproduces contrast well, but is afraid of flare from side and back light. The lens does not have multi-coating, but only the usual one, so side light is a serious problem. The color rendition is quite pleasant.
Personal experience
Huge aperture F / 1.4 allows very easily blur the foreground and foreground in photoswhich is very useful for a portrait. Also big aperture helps to avoid movement when handheld photography... If you are chasing an interesting lens “design”, you may like sample photos from Helios-81H and Nikon 50mm f / 1.2 AI-S Nikkor MF. I personally use Nikon 50mm f / 1.4G AF-S Nikkor. The lens from this review I even used at the wedding, on the second camera, to create sketches for a photo book or collage. I'm not out of place here to paint all the obvious details, I do this so that the person who has used autofocus all his life is not afraid of the old manual Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm.
Sample photos on Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm
All sample photos in this review were taken on a camera. Nikon D40, RAW -> JPEG auto levels, Q = 80%, resized to 1600 * 1200 and printed data from EXIF. No processing. Sorry, Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm didn’t want to make friends with my full-frame Nikon D700 and this review will be without examples on the FX camera.
A small test comparing one of the oldest and newest
Everything is taken off the tripod on the Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm and Nikon 50mm f / 1.4G AF-S Nikkor ... This is a dirty test, as Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm could not sit on my D700, I held it with one hand in the bayonet mount (without clicking on the camera), and the other focused on Live View. A few shots were taken, the best one was chosen. Sharpness was pointed at the tip of the longest cactus arrow. ISO 200, 1 \ 320s, F1.4, white balance manual, equal to 5560 degrees Kelvin, JPEG L, color adjustment VI. Here link to full-size (24MP) comparison file. No processing. The new Nikon gives a warmer, sharper and sharper picture, which is to be expected.
All Nikon 50-58 / 1.4 / 1.2 autofocus lenses
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4 AF Nikkor (first version, MK I) - the lens was produced only in Japan from 1986 to 1991
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4 AF Nikkor (second version, MK II, also known as the 'N', or the 'NEW' version) - the lens was only available in Japan from 1991 to 1995
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4D AF Nikkor (third version, MKIIIbetter known as 'D'-version) - the lens is available from 1995 to this day. There are two subversions that are no different.
- Nikon 50mm 1: 1.4G AF-S Nikkor SWM (fourth version, MKIVbetter known as 'G' version) - the lens is only available in China from 2008 to this day.
- Nikon N AF-S Nikkor 58mm 1: 1.4G Nano Crystal Coat SWM Aspherical (version better known as'58/1.4') - the lens is only available in Japan from 2013 to this day.
- Nikon Nikkor Z 58mm 1: 0.95 S Noct - The lens is available from 2019 to this day. Premium Lens for Mirrorless Cameras Nikon Z... It does not have automatic focus, but has a record aperture. Complex optical design with 17 elements in 10 groups, with 4 ED elements and 3 aspherical elements.
- Nikon Nikkor Z 50 / 1.2 S - The lens has been produced from 2020 to the present day. Professional S-line lens for mirrorless cameras Nikon Z... Complex optical design with 17 elements in 15 groups, with 2 ED elements and 3 aspherical elements
Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.
Conclusions:
Nikon Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm is a good prime lens with a huge aperture and with good image quality. Attracts in the lens aperture and nice bokeh. Bad side - slight soft effect up to F2.8 aperture
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
As always - a great review, I give a separate link in my Vkontakte group “Dandelion Lushnikova”. I have already modified 5 pieces of exactly the same lenses for Ai, so that they can be installed on any Nikon carcasses, I pasted Dandelion Lushnikov on them, which made it possible to work with this lens in all camera modes. And happy buyers of these 5 copies are already filming their photo masterpieces with it! Software at open aperture values after alignment with Dandelion can be completely avoided!
Thanks. The soft effect is not related to focus, the lens is sharp at 1.4, but the aberrations give a light veil, like on a monocle. You can avoid software by shooting scenes with low-contrast objects. For portraiture, this is not important at all.
Hi Arkady could you tell us a little more about the lens And
hi, can you say something about industrial 51?
but you can do a little more detail on how to modify it for the D90, there is a lens and other parts for it, only I can't find instructions on how to do this ...
I meant exactly the software, like blur in the open, which lends itself very well to adjustment. True, the procedure for disassembling such a lens and regrinding it takes 3-4 hours of careful work. Of the 5 that I had on sale, there were 3 different modifications in terms of the mechanical device and I had to pretty much search the network for a diagram of the correct disassembly of each modification.
Okay then. In any case, thanks for the information. I send people who want a dandelion to your page.
Good day. I have this lens on the crop. when fully open, it is very soft and unsharp. please tell me how to deal with this, if this is certainly not a commercial secret.
Cover the aperture, sharpen RAW, there are not the most successful lens options
Good day to you. Maybe it’s not right, but I’m looking for information how to properly regrind it. (Alteration in AI). And if there are any analogues of Dandelion Luzhnikov in Ibei in the course. I live in New York on glass flea markets. I found it in English, but I still think in Russian for confidence to read.
Thank you, you tell them to write to me that they came according to your advice.
okay.
The image is just JAH! Just SCARY CHROMATIC ABEATSIS. Now I think about the meaning of all the cihs since the old photographs speak like Soviet optics would be scrambling for nikonivska. Gelios-44, Yupiter-11, Mir-1 are about `` active '' in the release of 60 `` their rock '' give a picture of the yak is actual and current, and the whole thing is ... thirsty.
True, it must be borne in mind that the Helios had a very strong variation in quality. And to judge all Nikon optics by one copy is a very thankless job. At the same time, Soviet optics boasts one or two lenses with 1.4, and even very rare instances :) And I ask you to pay attention that this lens has not ha, but spherical aberrations, because I think that you are not completely competent judge.
Not competent. I am not an amateur photographer. Mav on uvazi from the blue oblyamivki near the big peels of the quetka Isn't that chromatic aberration? It is good, having gone through cheaply, combing all Nikon optics with one comb. Emotions ...)) About the range of quality can be good.
It happens that I am also often mistaken. There are spherical (they give a white veil, a halo) and HA, which also give them color. The spherical ones are very easy to overcome by closing the diaphragm, they are extinguished by 2.0, and the H.A. somewhere at 2.8, that's why I wrote that at 2.8 it's just super :)
So that's why the question arises - is the point in SO 1.4, if you can only use it with 2.0?
The point is that 1.4 is suitable for a number of tasks. Please read the review more carefully and what it is about.
Arkady, it is clear that somewhere you will have to sacrifice quality for the sake of an extra stop of aperture, and the software also looks good in portraits, but we did not see the portraits :) And what we saw at 1.4 looks, to put it mildly, not very convincing :) And I wrote about bokeh - the comment was lost somewhere. For an amateur bokeh, as for me, very much an amateur. Not the best lens for this focal / hole combination.
I added a pair shot with 1.4G and 1.4 non-ai, you can supplement my conclusions about quality. It is not always possible to make a portrait, since the lens is given for a couple of days and asking people to allow publication of a picture is not always enough.
Thanks for the interesting review. And a special thank you for the very revealing comparative test of the first Nikorr and the very last. For me, the test showed that the pictures are almost identical, if you do not carry out per-pixel battles, which means resized processed pictures that we are used to looking at are indistinguishable! And the difference in price is huge, I think the old fifty dollars can be taken for 60-80 dollars. I sold Helios 100m77 for more than $ 4, although it is 1.8.
Nikon 50mm F1.4 Non-Ai is an excellent native alternative to modern expensive optics for unhurried shooting, with the same performance, but with slightly larger artifacts, but at an objective cost!
Now the price of such a lens in the BGN state starts on the most popular website for the sale of photographic equipment in the United States - from $ 70 (and such a lens is now in short supply, you need to monitor constantly) delivery - $ 59,99, so consider how much it will cost , but, it's still 2-2,5 times cheaper than the price of an autofocus one.
I’m wondering why it’s necessary to pull this lens from the United States?
Great view, great shots, with a fence and flowers, it's just magical. I love old nikkors, they have some kind of zest. I myself often shoot with the predecessor of the one described in your review - NIKKOR-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 5.8cm (in fact, the same thing, only much sharper when clamped), plus I recently bought NIKKOR-S Auto 1: 2.8 f = 3.5cm , a good tandem turned out. Yes, there is software on the open, but for me this software is better than Photoshop dry sharpness like 35 / 1.8G. Bokeh is not for everybody, but that's exactly what I like. S-nikkors bought not because of poverty, there are a lot of modern G-fixes in stock. But when there is no need to rush, I prefer the old ones. In general, thank you again for the review and photos.
PS By the way, it would be very interesting to hear your opinion about yet another "antique" - Tokina AT-X 90mm f / 2.5 Macro. Have you ever come across one? If not, I highly recommend trying, I was very impressed with it myself - http://dpoltavsky.livejournal.com/2875.html
I haven’t fallen into hands yet. Thank you for sharing the information.
From the USA - because I am sure that they send me a lens in excellent condition ... I have already ordered 10 different fixes, the condition of the lenses was the same as if from the factory! Only slight abrasions on the body. There is a scale of states, and a description of each instance, exactly the one that you buy. Keh.com
Then it really is a good option.
I have such a fix with a dandelion installed by Andrei Kuryanov. Great lens for ridiculous money. He's re-sharpened on AI. I use on the Nikon D5100.
but there is a scheme for regrinding it in AI on Nikon d7000
This was produced from 1973 to 1874 and was multi-coated. Optically and functionally, they are practically the same lens. ”
A typo in the date, thanks for the excellent review, as always :)
Thanks. Updated.
this lens costs about 400 bucks. Instead, you can take Nikkor 50mm 1.4D. Does it make sense to take Nikkor-S Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm?
There is a sense, but not always obvious.
zdrastvuyte Arkady, u menya nikon D60, xochu sprosit, mogu ya ispolzovat Nikon NIKKOR-S Auto 50mm f1.4 na mayom D60,, bez peredelok obektiva? spasibo
Da, smozhete ispol'zovat 'bez peredelok.
Hello! Tell me, is the Nikon Nikkor-SC 50 mm f / 1.4 non-Ai better than this instance, and even when compared with the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G? Thank you in advance!
Nikon Nikkor-SC will be almost the same, 1: 1.4G - more contrast and sharper in the open. Please note that this is my subjective opinion.
Hello Arkady! There is a Nikkor S 50mm 1,4 auto, Nikkor E 50mm 1,8, Mamiya-sekor 50mm 1,7 and Arsat H 50mm 2 on sale at almost the same price. Which advice would you recommend based on experience and practice?
I would take Mamiya, although all the lenses are good.
Thank you
zdrastvuyte Arkady nedavno ya sprosil u vas mogu li ya ispolzvat etu linzu na nikon D60,, sapsibo za otvet ,, vot nedavno kupil Nippon kogaku nikkor-s auto 1: 1.4 f
= 50mm, pochti novoe, zaplotil $ 80, ustanavil na D60 rabotayet otlichno, no zvuk zatvora drugoy, chem kogda stavlyu nikkor AF-S 18-200mm ,, mojet li eto povredit kameru, ?? i yesho on rabotaet tolko na Manul rejime (M), eto doljno bit tak? zaranie spasibo
Yes, everything is as it should be, the sound should be different, in more detail about working with old lenses in this section - https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/06/nikon-ai-s-old-lens-about/
Good afternoon! Surprised your choice in favor of the Mamiya-sekor 50mm 1,7 (several posts above). Can you give some arguments in favor of such a choice?
thanks for the review
but the word "artistic" should not be sculpted anywhere. there is no connection at all between “artistry” and the degree of blurring
In this review, the word “artistic” has been applied exclusively to aberrations and not to the lens, please do not take the words out of context.
Arkady, good evening. What would you choose MC Helios 81H or this?
Hello, please tell me, will the Nikon AF 50mm f1.4 lens mount on the Nikon D90? Or just with Lushnikov’s dandelion?
I have a similar glass but newer. install a dandelion and can send for a test if necessary. and the conversion is done.