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Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm

Navigation

• In short
• History
• Main Specifications
• Assembly
• Focusing
• Diaphragm
• Compatibility
• Image quality
• Sample Photos
• My experience
• Video review
• Results
• User Comments
• Add your review or question on the lens

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Enlightenment of the front lens of the Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm lens

In short

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm (I will call it Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 for short) is a standard fast lens for Nikon's first film SLR cameras. The word “standard” in this case refers to the focal length. Lenses are called standard if the focal length is approximately the same as the frame diagonal. So, Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 has a focal length of 50 mm, the frame diagonal of film cameras for which it was designed is about 43 mm. Typically, for 35 mm film cameras, standard lenses are considered those with a focal length in the range of 35-85 mm (other numbers may be found in the literature, for example, 45-58 mm). The Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 is also called “fifty kopecks” because of its 50 mm focal length (“half” used to be called half-ruble coins, ie 50 kopecks).

Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 is a small, old, compact and, in general, a simple manual lens. It can easily get lost among hundreds of other fifty kopeck lenses. Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 is suitable for both modern FX and DX cameras (if only it can be installed on these cameras, which will be discussed in the Compatibility section).

If there is such a lens on the farm, you can enjoy working with it. If there is no such lens, then I don't see much sense in purchasing it.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm on the camera Nikon D40x

History

The Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 was introduced in February 1959 along with Nikon's first single-lens reflex camera, the Nikon F. Thus, the Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 became the company's first standard lens.

The Nikon F camera was presented at once with a whole line of lenses: 21/4, 28 / 3.5, 35 / 2.8, 50/2, 105 / 2.5 and 135 / 3.5. In addition, the longer 180 / 2.5, 250/4 and 500/5 lenses (from rangefinder cameras) could be used with the Nikon F using the Nikon NF adapter. The Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 is thus not only the first standard lens, but also one of the very first Nikon SLR cameras. The Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 version was produced until 1963 and was subsequently replaced by the Nikkor-H 50mm F / 2 version.

All of the company's lenses have been named 'Nikkor' since 1932. Lenses manufactured before the 70s instead of the modern 'Nikon' are labeled 'Nippon Kogaku Japan'. Older Nikkor lenses in their name also have one prefix letter of the Greek (or Latin) alphabet, which is responsible for the number of lenses in the optical scheme.

1. U unus
2. B Bini
3. T Cuban Tres Guitar
4. Q Quattuor
5. P Comb
6. H Hex
7. S September
8. O Oct
9. N Novem
10. D decem

Accordingly, Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 has 7 lenses in its optical design. The 'S' should not be confused with 'AF-S' and the 'N' with 'Nano Crystal Coat'.

Class 50/2 Nikkor lenses have not been updated to version AI-S and replaced by the Nikkor range of class 50 / 1.8, which was based on the same optical design, but with a slightly increased aperture. The approximate history of the development of such lenses is shown below.

Nikkor 50/2 Class Lens Range:

• Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm, a subversion of which is shown in this review. Optical design: 7 elements in 5 groups. The letter 'S' in the name means 'Septem' - seven lenses in the optical scheme of the lens. Issued from 1959 to 1963, there are several different versions of this lens with different numbers of petals aperture, with different marks and slightly different rings aperture and focusing.
• Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-H Auto 1: 2 f = 50mm. Optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups. The letter 'H' in the name means 'Hex' - six lenses in the optical circuit of the lens. It was produced from 1964 to 1972, there are also several subversions of this lens with minor differences.
• Nikon Nikkor-HC Auto 1: 2 f = 50mm. Optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups, the same as in the previous version. The lens received a special enlightenment. Produced from 1972 to 1974.
• Nikon Nikkor 50mm 1: 2 (the so-called "K" version). Optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups, the same as in the previous version. The lens got a modern look. It was produced from 1974 to 1977.
• Nikon Nikkor 50mm 1: 2 (Ai version). Optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups, the same as in the previous version. Updated to AI version. It was produced from 1977 to 1979.

The lens version shown in this review had several additional sub-versions. Subversions differed in the number of diaphragm blades. The first Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm lenses were produced with 9 aperture blades, after which, around 1960, the number of blades was reduced to 6. Also, the very first sub-versions were produced with a red letter 'R', which was next to with an extreme point for work in the infrared spectrum.

The lens shown in this review is serial no.566135 and is from the most recent sub-revision, which features 6 aperture blades and no 'PAT'. PEND. '.

Total more than 2.5 million were released manual lenses class Nikkor 50/2.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm on the camera Nikon D40X

Main technical characteristics of Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm:

Name of instances from review	Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm No.566135
Basic properties	FX (for Nikon FX) - lens designed for Nikon FX full-frame cameras Cars - automatic iris control S (Septem) - seven lenses in the optical scheme MF (MAnnual Pass Focus) - manual focus only PRE AI (NON AI) - aperture control ring with "ears" Non-g (Non gelded) - the presence of a diaphragm control ring metal case enlightened optics
Front Filter Diameter	52 mm, metal thread for filters
Body materials	All parts of the lens housing are made of metal
Focal length	50 mm, EGF for Nikon DX cameras is 75 mm, EGF for Nikon CX cameras is 135 mm
Diagonal viewing angles	46 ° for FX cameras, 31 ° for DX cameras
Zoom ratio	1 X (this is a fixed lens without the ability to change the focal length)
Designed by	for Nikon film cameras with Nikon F mount
Number of aperture blades	6 straight (not rounded) petals; at F / 2.8, the petals form a hole with small notches. Please note that the same lens was produced in other versions with 9 aperture blades.
Tags	marking on the focus ring with the focusing distance in meters and feet, the depth of field for F / 4 (green), F / 8 (pink), F / 11 (yellow), F / 16 (blue). Label for working in the infrared spectrum (red dot near the depth of field scale). Ring with aperture values, there are marks for F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16.
Diaphragm	from f / 2 to f / 16. The lens has an aperture ring (Non-G - lens type)
MDF (minimum focusing distance)	2 feet (approximately 60 cm), the focus ring rotates a little further than the 2 feet mark. Please note that the focus distance on this lens is indicated only in feet, but at the same time, there is a complete copy of this lens with the focus distance in meters.
The weight	200 g
Optical design	7 elements in 5 groups. The lens does not use special optical elements.Lens versions use the same optical design.
Lens hood	Metal hood f = 5cm 1: 2 Nikon F snaps.
Transportation	With NIPPON KOGAKU F back cover and front cover NIKKOR 52mm. The front cover has an old design with metal bolts.
Period	Serial production from April 1959 to December 1963, later replaced by the Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-H Auto 1: 2 f = 50mm
Manufacturer country	LENS MADE IN JAPAN (inscription on the focus ring on the back of the focus distance marking)

To shoot the lens in the light cube, I wiped the front lens with microfiber and noticed that the front lens was not convex, but flat. Usually, all the fifty-fifty lenses I used had a distinctly convex lens. As later confirmed by the optical design, the Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 has a flat front lens.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm

Assembly

Immediately I would like to note the fact that if the lenses of the Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm version were discontinued in 1963, then the copy from this review at the time of writing the review was at least 53 years old. The fact that a lens works and can still please its owner is the most valuable indicator of its build quality.

The lens body is completely made of metal with a metal bayonet mount and metal thread for light filters. In the middle the Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 has a nice chrome insert. The diaphragm control ring has classic metal “ears” for mating the diaphragm ring with the camera rheostat.

The front lens is set deep enough in the frame of the housing, which creates the effect of a small built-in hood. In the lens, I was surprised at the lack of screws on the bayonet side. In modern lenses, the bayonet mounts with screws on the back of the lens.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm

Focusing

The metal focusing ring rotates slightly less than 180 degrees. Unfortunately, the specimen that I had on review had a tight focusing ring, which did not rotate smoothly, but with the so-called “slip”. The focus ring is most likely not functioning as well as expected due to the age of the lens.

During focusing, the front of the body rim extends, while the front lens does not rotate. During focusing, the entire lens block moves.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm lens and Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm

Diaphragm

Inscription 'Cars'means only the presence of automatic iris control (so-called' jumpers'). With Nikon F mount DSLRs, you can always focus at full f / 2 aperture, and when the shutter is released, the camera will automatically close the aperture to the value set with the aperture ring. After releasing the shutter, the camera will open it again to f / 2. This diaphragm is called 'bouncing' or 'blinking'.

Aperture ring switches the aperture with clicks. The diaphragm ring on the lens from this review rotated tight. Unfortunately, the lens uses only 6 aperture blades. The petals are straight and at closed aperture values ​​form a hexagon. At F / 2.8, the lobes form a hole with small notches.

Due to the non-rounded aperture blades on closed diaphragms, it is easy to obtain 6-ray star effect.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm

Compatibility

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm, from this review, is Non-ai (PRE AI) the lens and, without its alteration (AI-conversion), there will be problems when trying to install on certain CZK Nikon. Information on this issue, with an exact list of cameras that do not require alteration for installation, can be found in the section PRE AI.

Due to this inconvenience, I will not be able to use the lens on the camera Nikon D700 and Nikon F6, but on cameras Nikon D40x и Nikon D40 the lens mounted without any problems.

You will find how to use manual lenses on modern Nikon central control centers in the 'How to work with non-CPU lenses on modern Nikon central controllers'.

Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm, aperture blades form a hole with small notches at F / 2.8

Image quality

Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 uses an upgraded optical scheme such as a Gaussian double lens, from where its basic optical properties come from. It is funny that in the future, the Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 was replaced by a Nikkor-H 50mm F / 2 with an optical design much more similar to a Gaussian double lens.

The Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 across the entire image field of the Nikon DX camera shows confident sharpness sufficient for comfortable shooting. Covering the aperture at least to F / 2.8, you can get a very sharp picture.

The lens most likely has a simple chemical enlightenment, and therefore catches a large number of glare in the backlight. Glare of blue or violet color (the same color and optical illumination). Despite the abundance of glare, the contrast drops much less than I expected from such an old lens. I am glad that for many years nothing happened with the enlightenment of optics. Enlightenment gives a faint warm hue to JVI and in the photographs.

Of course, without chromatic and spherical aberrations, there’s nowhere to go. The vignetting on the Nikon DX camera is imperceptible, as is the level of distortion.

Separately, I want to note the smooth transition of the sharpness zone to the blur zone. Unlike many fifty dollars with F / 1.4, which make the transition jerky, the Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 makes a very smooth transition even at minimum focusing distances (see grid images in the gallery). It is only a pity that on covered diaphragms in the blur zone you can get hexagons from bright light sources.

Nikon Nikkor-SC Auto 1: 1.4 f = 50mm and Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm

Sample Photos

All photos in the gallery below were shot on Nikon D40 (DX camera with crop factor Kf = 1.5). Photos without additional processing, obtained using the on-camera JPEG (only reduced to 3 MP and imprinted data from EXIF).

You can download source files in '.JPEG' format at this link (33 files in '.JPG' format, 72 MB).

My experience

Nikkor-S 50mm f / 2 is too simple. Of course, I am very glad that such "old men" still shoot well, but the range of tasks where they would show themselves to the maximum is very small in our time. Usually, manual fifty dollars are bought for video shooting, or for creative or artistic ideas. True, photographers often end up with “artistic” ideas in photographs, in which 90% of the frame is occupied by a zone of blur (blurred background).

A horde of fifty fifty lenses passed through my hands and I was glad to work with the grandfather of all Nikkor DSLRs. Even in our time, with Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2, you can squeeze out a lot and I am sure that the surviving Nikkor-S 50mm F / 2 will survive for more than one decade "TOP" (made of top plastic) Chinese Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM.

In Radozhiv you can still find an interesting article about all fifty fifty Nikon autofocus.

Old Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm and Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.4G SWM

All Nikon 50 / 1.8 Autofocus Lenses

1. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor (first version, MKI) - the lens was produced only in Japan from 1986 to 1990. It is easy to distinguish by a window with a focusing distance and a narrow plastic focus ring. There are two subversions that are no different:
   • MKI first subversion. Weighing 210 grams. It is easy to distinguish by the screw under the inscription '1: 1.8'. From September 1986 to March 1987. Serial numbers start at 2
   • MKI second version. Weighing 165 grams. It is easy to distinguish by the absence of a screw under the inscription '1: 1.8'. From 1987 to 1990. Serial numbers start at 3.
2. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8 AF Nikkor (second version, MKII, also known as the 'N', or the 'NEW' version) - the lens was produced in Japan and China. The MK II version was produced from 1990 to 2001. There are three subversions that are no different:
   
   • MIJ (MADE IN JAPAN)
   • NJ (NIKON JAPAN)
   • MIC (MADE IN CHINA)
3. Nikon 50mm 1: 1.8D AF Nikkor (third version, MKIIIbetter known as 'D'-version) - the lens is available from 2002 to this day. All lenses are made in China.
4. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical (fourth version, MKIVbetter known as '1.8 G'-version or '1.8 AF-S' version) - the lens has been produced since 2011, all lenses are made in China.
5. Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical Special Edition (fifth version, MKVbetter known as version 'Special Edition' or 'SE' or version for the camera with a retro design of the case Nikon Df) - the lens has been available since the fall of 2013. All lenses are made in China.
6. Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm 1: 1.8 S, from summer 2018, lens for mirrorless cameras with Nikon Z mount... Diagram of 12 elements in 9 groups, 2 ED, 2 ASP.

Details on the lineup of fifty dollars from Nikon can be found in my article 'All Nikon autofocus fifty dollars'.

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Video review

Video review can be viewed at my new YouTube channel - subscribe and like!

Results

The pioneer of the fifty-dollar family for Nikon SLR cameras did not hit his face in dirt and showed decent image quality. The main feature of the Nippon Kogaku Japan Nikkor-S Auto 1: 2 f = 5cm is its good build quality and nice picture on F / 2.0.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.