Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)

This time I have prepared a review of the lens from my personal arsenal of photographic equipment. The hero of the review is a tiny little Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, version MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN).

Happy review Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)

For review Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN) versions

Radozhiv already has a review of a similar lens - Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MKII, MIJ version).

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)

Important: The Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 lens (MKII version) exists in three versions, depending on the country of manufacture:

  1. Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 - MKII MIJ (Made In Japan), a review of this version can be look at this link.
  2. Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 - MKII NJ (Nikon Japan), the version is shown in the review you are currently reading.
  3. Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 - MKII MIC (Made In China), a review of this version can be look at this link.

The first Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 MKII lenses were produced in Japan (mij), then production moved to China (NJ, MIC). In order not to traumatize users so much with the inscription 'MADE IN CHINA' ('Made in China'), the inscription 'NIKON JAPAN' ('Nikon Japan') was applied to the lenses for a certain time. In fact, all versions of the NIKON JAPAN (MKII NJ) were made in China. The 'JAPAN' prefix just means that Nikon is Japanese.

I did not find any differences between Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MKII version, Made in Japan, MIJ) and Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MKII version, Nikon Japan, NJ, shown in this review).

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN) and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8

Two older 'NON-D' version lenses: Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN) and Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm 1: 1.8 (MKI)

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:
  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'.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, MKII version, NJ (NIKON JAPAN). View shown on a film camera.

Sample Photos

There are 100 photos in the gallery without treatment.

Jpeg source photos download from this link (1.09 Gb). The archive is 453 photosfilmed in 6 months on Nikon D70. Oddly enough, but I enjoy working with this old and very cheap Nikon D70 and the old and very cheap Nikon 50 / 1.8. The camera cost me $ 50, the lens - $ 90. On a 6 MP CCD sensor, even at F / 1.8, acceptable sharpness is obtained. I did not regret the shutter and filmed as much as my soul wanted. Photos from this collection are used by me in an article about choosing a Nikon DSLR.

  • Some photographs were taken in RAW format with subsequent conversion using the original ViewNX-I ver. 1.0.1 64 bit without additional changes in the source files. It was done just because Nikon D70 cannot shoot in RAW + JPEG L FINE format (can only RAW + JPEG L BASIC).
  • The vast majority of photographs were captured in regular JPEG with 'L Fine' quality (maximum image size, maximum image quality).
  • Some photos were taken using a Hoya 52mm SKYLIGHT (1B) JAPAN
  • Some photos were taken using a Hoya 52mm SKYLIGHT (1A) JAPAN
  • Some photographs were taken using a polarizing filter. GREEN.L CPL 52mm
  • Some photos were taken while using Hoya 52mm SKYLIGHT (1B) JAPAN + filters GREEN.L CPL 52mm
  • Some photographs were taken using a light filter. Hoya HMC UV (c) 52mm
  • Some of the photos were taken with a 'naked' lens without any filters.
  • Some photos were shot using Nikon SpeedLight. SB-900installed remotely. The built-in flash acted as the master master flash. Nikon D70.
  • Some photos were rotated 90 degrees using the Windows Photo Viewer. Therefore in EXIF as the processing program, 'Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer' may be specified. Image quality does not change when rotated. Photos without rotation (as is) in the field in charge of the software have the entry 'Nikon D70 V. 1.03 '.
  • In the gallery on the site, photos are reduced to 2048 pixels on the long side using FastStone Photo Resizer for Windows Version 3.1. The same program imprints data from EXIF (lens, camera, ISO, excerpt, aperture, copyright). The compression method used is Lanczos3 (Default) with a compression quality of 70%.
  • The vast majority of photos were taken at ISO 200, however, in the photographs I indicated the value of ISO 200 * (with an asterisk), since Nikon D70 writes the ISO value to EXIF in a non-standard place that is not read by the vast majority of programs to display EXIF. Photos that were not shot at ISO 200 were most likely taken at ISO 250, 320 or ISO 400. A good EXIF ​​viewer can be found. here.
  • To achieve aperture values ​​of F / 1.8, 2, 2.2, 2.5, 2.8, 3.2, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.6, 6.3, 7.1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 used step exposure '1/3 step'. To achieve aperture values ​​of F / 2.4, 3.3, 4.8, 6.7, 9.5, 19, a step was used exposure '1/2 step'.
  • The original names of some files have been changed from 'DSC_xxxx.JPG' to 'qDSC_xxx.JPG'. Nikon D70 resets the counter after 9999 frames, so file names can be repeated and cannot be placed in the same folder. Nikon D70 does not allow setting new file names by changing the default 'DSC' prefix.
  • On the Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 NIKON JAPAN and Nikon D70 I shot about 14.000 frames, as well as about 2000 frames on Nikon D700 and 2000 frames per Nikon D90 and a little bit on Nikon D2H.
  • Photos processed with Nikon D70 can be viewed here and at 500px in a separate gallery here. On Nikon D90 here. On Nikon D700 here.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Video review

A brief video review can be viewed on my channel here.

Prices

On sale Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8 (MK II) is not new to find. I recommend a newer model for use Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8D, prices for which you can look at this link

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Alexandr_N

 

 

Comments: 66, on the topic: Review of Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm 1: 1.8, version MKII, NJ (NIKON JAPAN)

  • Max

    Arkady, thanks for Radozhiva!

  • Igor

    Thanks for the interesting reviews and with DR !!!

  • Michael

    Congratulations! Thank you so much for the reviews - a pleasure to read.

  • Valerii

    Vіtannya!

  • Simon

    Everyone allows himself to whom he marries Canon, Sony or Nikon ... About glasses, and even more so ... There is no ideal camera as there is no ideal wife, but there is one that you love ...
    Happy Seven Years Arkady!

  • Andrew Ch.

    Arkady, thank you for Radozhiva! For more than two years I have been a daily visitor to this site. Such objective information as you have nowhere else. All the best and, if possible, more new reviews! Best regards from Kerch, Russia.

  • Anna

    Congratulations!!! Such a serious date! Well done Arkady! So many years already says a lot!

  • Robot

    Congratulations, cool blog!

  • Vladimir Kravchenko

    Happy, thank you. I commented only once on your post.
    And I will say that with your site, I have been friends for exactly one year. Unfortunately I know a lot of things about lenses, unnecessary performance characteristics, sharpness, infa and so on. His head is simply clogged. And this does not help in, for example, photo shoots. In short, smart books on composition to help me. And then if the model is without initiative, then it rarely manifests itself in me. And so, I read almost all of your articles, I like it. But I won’t. This is purely mechanics, a piece of iron. Like a robot without a soul. Here is this info for me how to scratch with chalk on a blackboard called to the blackboard.
    This is no hidden blow, nothing wrong. I am writing what I think. As for a hobby, I already know too much) It's time to go to film or something))) Well, where, this is a very important topic. It is necessary to become beyond the mind in matters of composition.
    Good luck to you, I like the presentation of your material. It seems to me that you are such a person who does not hide his knowledge. That shares everything that he knows.
    It will be great. If there is a separate thread dedicated to the nuances of working with everything. Light, models, colors, settings, details, processing. Right here it’s concise, and served in your style. I think that in general, the level of skill of Ukrainian photographers will rise to heaven. This is both competition and a great way to develop what is already developing with an endless trial and error method.

  • MLEX

    Happy Birthday, Happy! Happy Birthday, Happy!

  • B.R.P.

    Congratulations! Inexhaustibility to you! And great success!

  • Anatoly

    Happy Birthday!
    Thank you, Arkady, for your site and for your reviews!
    For the third year I have been carefully reading and reviewing. If I'm looking for something on lenses, the first thing I do is look for information on your website. It happens sometimes and I worry if such a lens is not on the site (review). No other resource provides such a complete and thoughtful picture. And even sample photos! I have a lens number 5 (listed in this article), together with Nikon Df, as well as Nikon AF Nikkor 70-210mm 1: 4. The latter very well bought on the occasion. At the moment it has become almost the main one for me (portrait and “reportage” photography).

  • Tatyana

    I join in the congratulations!!! I read, read and will read your reviews and articles! I wish you success, prosperity and expansion !!!

    • Nicholas

      Tanya, you are a real flash!)) Of joy.

      • Tatyana

        That is, that is !!! if there is a flash, then where without it)))))

  • kwon

    Happy Birthday, Radozhiva !!! Arkady, thank you for your brainchild !!! Success in creativity and prosperity !!!

  • Alexander

    Congratulations! I wish your work bring you more joy, profit and grateful readers!)

  • Sergei

    Congratulations, 7 is a good number, good, good reviews, rich clients, loyal readers ...

  • Paul

    Congratulations! This is one of my favorite photo sites.

  • Sergei

    Thank you Arkady for the sea of ​​useful information. Congratulations!

  • anonym

    On behalf of all Anonymous !! Congratulations!!

  • Pastor

    7 years is already a period. Many projects managed to start in much less time, pour in a lot of money and close themselves. And RadoZhiva is still Alive, she is still developing. After all, a couple of years ago it seemed to me that there was nothing to survey - and without that there is an almost complete set of all kinds of DSLRs and accessories. But Arkady constantly brings out something new and interesting. As for me, Radozhiva is the best Russian-language photography site on the entire Internet, which is confirmed by communication on other forums. A link to an opinion from this site is most often quite weighty, much more reliable than even to the old Ken, or DRL, which many equate with bribed publications. The rest of the Russian Internet sites are either not well structured, or are written with an emphasis on the technical component, or do not have examples. And as for me, just such a volume of information on photographic equipment is simply not found anywhere. If at the Lenskclub or photo camera two words from the technical characteristics are said about the lens, then Arkady has a full review with examples, with a bunch of useful links and a detailed description of the lens features.
    In general, the site is very high quality, I have been reading it for 4 years already, I hope it will not fade out and people will constantly feed Arkady with interesting carcasses and glasses. Thanks to Arkady for his work, which seems to be a hobby, but in fact it is serious work.

  • Alexandr_N

    Happy birthday Radozhiv! With all my heart - thank you Arkady! Good luck and prosperity to your blog!

  • anonym

    CONGRATULATIONS!!! Thank you for developing such a necessary site and wish you success!

  • Igor

    Good day.vіn maє motor

    • Arkady Shapoval

      has

    • Oleg

      Not nutrition chi statement?
      The motor isn’t the same, and the autofocus will be available exclusively on cameras with the engine. Tobto on the young carcasses (serії 3xxx and 5xxx) will not be autofocus.

  • Vyacheslav

    Congratulations and wish to develop further and how good wine to get better)))

  • javenue

    The question is, so it should be that the picture on this lens feels like it is approaching the distance from the beginning, it is small in itself and should see something like the human eye, but it is already close at first. Sorry, the question is very Dummies. Nikon 50 mm nikkor lens

    • KalekseyG

      Well, as it were: 1 JVI has its own coefficient of increase. 2 on EFR 75mm crof

      • KalekseyG

        Ochepyatka - on the crop

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